1 October 2018 - Monday

1 October 2018 - Monday

We were all so excited to share this day, together.  Mom and I had a correlation meeting to attend at the Homestead so Zac and Hayley and Jack and Mia went down together for the 8:30am meeting.  Both mom and I had the thoughts and prayers so we attended to our duty before our preparation day began.  We drove back to Missionary Village and got everyone together and headed for Casper and a day of fun.

Here is Macie this morning excited about 'Pizza Ranch"!

On the way to Casper we stopped at Independence Rock.  The Sathre's had not stopped at this landmark so we took a few minutes and walked the area.  Actually, it was very interesting, and we got to do a little climbing around the landmark.  This is the point in the westward migration that the pioneers needed to be at, by July 4th, to avoid the snow season in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The sign in front of the Independence Rock

Climbing the Independence Rock

The historic marker telling the details of  the murder of a legal settler in the area

From Independence Rock we headed for Casper and Pizza Ranch.  We were all excited to have lunch together and enjoy the cuisine.  This has become one of our favorite restaurants to take the family to!

Here we are getting our money's worth!

After our one hour lunch period, we were able to waddle out of Pizza Ranch and welcomed the opportunity to walk the aisles of Sam's Club.  Mom and I are being very conservative in buying food for the balance of our mission.  No need to take too many supplies home!  After Sam's, we stopped by Wal-mart, and then headed for Missionary Village.  I was so ready for a nap and mom was happy to drive home!  That was the fastest trip back to the trailer for me, as I slept most of the way home!

Once we got back to Missionary Village, we were made aware that Josie had lost her phone.  She was clearly upset over not being able to find it knowing that all their personal information was loaded into that device.  We finally decided that she must have left it in the shopping cart at Sam's Club.  Tom had taken the cart to the cart corral, after loading the car, and grabbed Josie's purse but did not see her phone sitting there.

I had the impression to call Sam's Club to see if they had it turned in.  Josie spoke to Samantha, and described her phone, and Samantha told her she had it at customer service.  Talk about instant relief!  Then as Tom and Josie were about to drive back to Casper, the Spirit was not done with me.  I felt impressed to try to contact the two other missionary couples who went to Casper today.

I was able to reach the first couple but they had already left Casper.  They suggested I try the other couple who they thought were still shopping.  After three phone call attempts, I was able to talk to Sister Roberts.  They were just a few minutes from Sam's and agreed to go and retrieve the phone.  We then called Samantha to let her know a missionary couple from Martin's Cove would be in to pick up the phone in just a few minutes.

Now, this story has several tender mercies embedded in the experience.  First, the missionaries were introduced to Samantha, since she was looking for them to come in.  Second, the Roberts were so willing to minister to us in this situation.  Josie and Tom could have easily, (yet time consumingly), made the effort to drive back to Casper, yet the Roberts would not allow that to happen!  And third, a good Samaritan saw the phone and quickly turned it in to the Customer Service counter.  There was no dishonorable intentions manifested by an unknown person who contributed to such a relief effort for Josie and Tom.  We were all thankful for the positive outcome.

Tender mercy manifested by some wonderful events in a Sam's Club lot!

Then, tonight, we attended the weekly Family Home Evening.  Our family almost doubled the attendance!  We sang a song with the other missionaries and then played a Bible Game.  It was so much fun just being with our family and knowing that we would soon be back home with them after our service here.  Tommy even asked the mission president what assignments were left for the missionaries.  He told Tom about the projects remaining, and, from what I can gather, it would not take two more weeks to complete, but, we shall see...

The girls lined up just opposite the guys tonight!

The sunset just before the Family Home Evening event tonight

Today has been such a fun day with our precious Sathre Family!!  Another BEST DAY EVER!