9 October 2018 - Tuesday

9 October 2018 - Tuesday

Here we are wrapping up our last Tuesday in the mission field!  We returned to the scheduled work force as we completed our preparation day, yesterday, in getting our trailer detailed for our departure.  The morning temperature, today, was 28 degrees, and our car was covered in 3" of snow.  I was out sweeping off the car and warming it up when I realized my camera phone was inside!  However, we got some fun pictures at the Homestead as we reported for our opening assignment at the Visitors' Center at 8:00am;

Heading for our work assignment at the VC!  8:00am until noon, then the work party!

Icicles already forming from the wet snow last night

 

Just a very limited glimpse of the precious pioneer situation in October 1856

Mom and I chipped ice on all the walkways to avoid slip and falls

Beautiful picture of Devil's Gate this morning

We had four hours in the Visitors' Center with no visitors.  But we did get the walkways all cleared by 10:00am.  We huddled in the VC near a portable heater, after prepping the sidewalks.  Even though the building is on climate control of a constant 70 degrees, we were still cold!

After our relief came at noon, we changed into our work blues.  We have the young missionaries coming tomorrow to help put the handcarts, and the wagons, in the Barn and the Trek Center.  They will also head out to Handcart Parking to stack the picnic tables in that pavilion.  Part of our assignment was to set up the pattern for the young missionaries to follow in stowing the handcarts;

The empty Trek Center where about 200 handcarts will be stored

The floor was covered in some very large tarps

Here is Elder Lasher stowing some chairs

Handcarts lined up in the Trek Center for the young missionaries to follow.

This effort was duplicated in the Barn.  Half of the Barn will be used for handcart storage and the other half will still be used for an eating area.  Mom and I will be on the food preparation committee, in the morning, to prepare a meal for the young missionaries.

We then went over to the Fort Seminoe project.  They covered the original foundation with dirt last week on a rainy day, and they wanted to return, with the senior missionaries, to fill in some low spots with dirt.  The problem was that the dirt is now quicksand-type mud.  When you step in the wrong areas you sink down eight of more inches.  Mom and I did not approve of working this project.  One precious sister sunk down about twelve inches and then twisted her back.  Our motto now is if we don't feel safe in doing some of these belated projects, to just say NO!

Granny and I went back to the Barn and cleaned out the missionary refrigerators, where there was a lot of spoiled food left by departing missionaries over the last two weeks.  And then we helped out in the wood-shop.  We called it a day at 3:30pm and headed for home.  My sciatic nerve was acting up on my left side, so I rested tonight, and applied some Deep Blue heat.  It is feeling much better!  And  now, I am so ready to join mom in bed in just a few minutes!

I am still marveling at the historic 188th annual General Conference!  Both mom and I are watching the talks, together, and filling in more details about the messages meant for us personally.  Isn't the instant replays of the conference talks wonderful?  We are sure looking forward to your insights and discussions in our up-coming reunion!

Here is a fun diversion shot of mom and the sister's making a snowman!

Sister Klucken and Sister Roberts and Granny started making a snowman in front of the Fort Seminoe project.  It is no surprise that it sure beats sinking into eight inches of mud!  Leave it to those senior missionary sisters to find the positive in a very muddy project!