24 June 2018 - Sunday

24 June 2018 - Sunday

First of all, we are so excited to see Josie and Tom and Zac and Hayley and Jack and Mia and Emma and Macie and Ron and Kathi this coming Saturday!  We are so looking forward to lots of hugs and kisses from our precious family members!  Then, we set a date for Bob and Mary and Bobby and Jacob and Anna and Johnny and Faith and Adam to come and visit us on August 17th!  Mom and I actually love serving here in the mission field, almost as much as we love our family, and sharing and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Last week we had the Salt Lake Cottonwood Stake join us here at Martin's Cove.  Mom and I were the senior missionaries at a point in their experience where I could talk to some of their trekkers.  I was thinking this was Skip and Leona Chandler's stake, and we hoped they might be on this trek activity with their stake.  We asked about them, and one of the adults knew Skip and had been a customer of his at the shoe store.  

Well today I got a text from Skip asking if we had had any contact with them.  I was so happy to have Skip send us a note!  He was one of the missionaries who taught me about the Gospel in 1971.  We have stayed in touch these 47 years and I owe my own pioneer membership in the Church to him!  As I blaze new trails for my precious family, with my sweetheart, my love grows for Skip and the sacred contribution he has made in my life, and in the lives of our children and grandchildren!!  Thank you for that note, Skip!

We had a good group of visitor's with us today in our meetings.  In Sunday School, there was a question that caught my attention that led to another question.  See what you think about this;

"What are you willing to do to have eternal life with your family?".  That question does call for a rather anxious and enthusiastic answer, something to the effect of everything...  but what if the question were this: 

"What would you be willing to do that will NOT allow you to have eternal life with your family?"  I have never thought of that approach to keeping, (or not keeping), the commandments, offering sincere and heartfelt prayers, every morning and every night, and striving to follow the living Prophets and Apostles in every detail every day!  

Going forward, I want to take a much different approach to being a family together forever by checking myself in what I am doing each day to obtain eternal life and exaltation.  Life is way too short to make unnecessary mistakes.  The repentance process, for me, must be to stay on the straight and narrow path, follow the Prophet, attend all my meetings, support the sustained local leaders, and keep each and every one of His commandments.  We must not give the Adversary any foothold in our lives to take us away from our eternal goals.  We are here to build the City of Zion in a very mortal world!  So the work I am doing needs to help me stay on the path to return to Him. 

As you have heard me say before, we must be ready, at any time, to sacrifice who we are for who we can become!  Charles Du Bos was inspired to share that idea with us back in 1922.  It is just as valuable today, as a question and a life goal check, as it was almost 200 years ago! 

Thank you for checking in with us tonight!  We love your comments and so appreciate your prayers for the success of this mission.  We will not let you down!

23 June 2018 - Saturday

23 June 2018 - Saturday

Is it just me or is the month of June flying by?  Mom and I had the Wilma detail today.  That is the power washing of the restrooms and the monuments.  After our morning prayers and scripture reading, we got ready for the early appointment start time that began at 6:00am.  Our reasoning with the early hour is to get a jump on the trekkers coming out from the Cherry Creek campground.  There were four groups that were heading home today.  The Rigby 16th ward of about 90 trekkers, and the other three groups were all over 160 trekkers each.  We thought they all might be anxious to experience hot showers and clean clothes.....

Here is that bad girl, Wilma!

We were so on top of our cleaning game this morning.  We were over half way done by 8:30am!  We decided to attend the correlation meeting and then finish the rest of the assignment.  The time at the correlation meeting, we thought, would help clear out the campground where we were scheduled to clean half the restrooms and then move to the trail restrooms.  

However, there was the one group with one of the Piano Guys who took a little longer at the campground with a testimony meeting.  Their group had over 225 trekkers and I can only imagine the special spirit that must have been present at that testimony meeting!  They put a lot of effort into making this experience special for their youth.  We waited at the campground for almost two hours before we could finish our project, and those young people were worth the wait!

We got done with our assignment at 1:30pm and headed for a district assignment to clean the Pavilion here at Missionary Village.  We finally got back to the trailer at 3:30pm and began the weekly wash cycle for our laundry.  We cleaned the trailer last night so that we could have this evening free!  Now we have no assignments tomorrow or Monday so we can recharge our service batteries.

As we were coming in to the Missionary Village, we had some greeters!  They love to play around with the missionaries until we get too close!  Mom and I sure like seeing these little ones hopping on all fours as they play in the field.

Mom and the two growing babies!

22 June 2018 - Friday

22 June 2018 - Friday

This was another exciting day in the life of these two senior missionaries!  I must say that there is never a dull moment!  We had an early start in our work assignment as we were the missionaries assigned to the handcart parking area.  This is where every trek group passes through to park their handcarts and proceed through Dan W. Jones Cove, and then into Martin's Cove.  We had about 700 trekkers today with about 65 handcarts.  We understand that there is room for 1,000 trekkers here in the Handcart parking site, but that would be quite a matrix to move them through on their treks.  

There is a shelter here where about 400 trekkers can have lunch in the shade.  Keeping the groups from overcrowding this area is such a fun project!  I took some pictures this morning of the peacefulness of this site at 7:00am;

Setting up the parking spots for about 65 handcarts and 700 trekkers!

A view from behind the handcart parking cabin - a mom and a baby antelope

The temperature was in the mid 60's for almost all of the day.  At first we had mosquitoes, but the wind picked up a little and they had a hard time landing on us!  We saw in the meadow, along the Sweetwater River, the view of the mother and the baby antelope.  Of course this picture does not do justice to what we saw.  The baby was jumping on all fours, just as happy as could be, all around  his mom.

Then our first groups began to arrive and guess which ward was first?  The Rigby 16th ward!  Sister Wynette Passmore was the first to greet us!  It was almost exactly 10 years ago that we worked together for the first Rigby 10th Ward Martin's Cove Trek!  She gave us both a big hug and then Shawn and Bonnie Hall spotted us and came running to give us a big hug as well.  Then I saw Tyler Gravatt and he was excited to see us and gave me another hug.  I could not believe the warm reception we got from these former ward members!  It was very nice.

Sister Hall in the pink pioneer dress

Here are some additional pictures as more trekkers came into the Handcart Parking area.  We were ready for them and had some great conversations;

Rigby 16th Ward handcarts parked as they proceeded to the cove

Two more groups each totally over 150 trekkers coming our way!

Here we had close to 500 trekkers 

And lots of fun pioneer outfits!  Does this look familiar?

Involved in one group from Salt Lake City was the cellist from the Piano Guys, Steven Sharp Nelson.  We did not remember specifically seeing him, but I do remember, and helped, a handcart loaded with electronic equipment, and musical instruments that they used for two presentations.  One was at the Dan W. Jones Cove presentation, and the other one was during the river crossing.  What a neat thing for Brother Nelson to be here with his stake, and sharing his talent with them on this sacred occasion!

Here is a bull snake near the restrooms at Handcart Parking

Our bull snake friend decided to come out and share some fun at the girls restroom area.  I was just about to snag him with the snake catcher and take him farther away from the area.  He is a friend to us in that he eats the rodents that cause so many problems.  However, there was a small opening, that he apparently knew about going under this cement pad, and he was gone in seconds underneath that cement pad!  He did make some girls very excited about their adventure here... I think they forgot about needing to use the restroom!

Mom and I had a great day of service here today.  We loved the challenge of keeping the trekkers moving and safe.  When they arrive here they need to resupply their water and use the restrooms.  We did our best to keep the groups from overcrowding the area by making suggestions for lunch stops or continuing their trek after a brief stop.  I think everyone was happy and the groups were so willing to assist in policing the area for trash and helping to pump water from the well.  We would not mind having this assignment again!

I can't help but think about our brother, Steven Sharp Nelson.  He was not one to draw attention to himself, but was one who wanted to make the experience for his stake members more memorable.  By coming to Martin's Cove and Sixth Crossing and then to Rock Creek, the emphasis was on remembering the sacrifices of the pioneer Saints.  What an example these pioneers have set for all of us!  

Just having the experience they had in that miserably cold October and November of 1856,, and then crediting it to the price they were willing to pay to become better acquainted with God, is a lot to embrace.  And yet people come from all walks of life, and at various levels of fame, to have this choice experience.  I am so appreciative of the hundreds of hours these adult leaders have invested for their youth to have this experience.  Then, in the process of executing these plans, lives are changed for the young people, and their leaders.  

This is exactly was President Nelson needs us to be as we prepare for those mighty miracles that will occur before the Second Coming of our Savior.  What a privilege it is for mom and me to be a part of this mission!  We can't wait to share more feelings as they mature in our six months of missionary service here in the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission.

21 June 2018 - Thursday

21 June 2018 - Thursday

Mom and I were up at 4:15am this morning to prepare for our day of being Trek Hosts.  We were in for an absolutely fantastic experience!  But first a note to begin our day.  We were late getting to bed last night.  Mom was in bed by 9:30pm and I wasn't too far behind at 10:15pm.  Closing the Visitors' Center and then having an opening trek so early offers up its challenges!  But we were so excited to be with this Garfield 3rd ward!

We had our morning prayers and scripture reading.  Then we had breakfast around 6:00am.  And we were ready to leave for the Homestead at 6:45am.  We got there at the Homestead at 7:00am and put on our sunblock and repellents.  We were ready to meet our group coming in from Sixth Crossing at 7:15am!  Only they left just a little later than scheduled, and got here just a little past 8:00am.  As we met them and had the introductions, we felt the Spirit so strong and knew that they had prepared well.  And as we went through the course of the days activities, we were not disappointed in any of their talks or presentations.  

8:15am at the Outfitting Center at the Homestead

On the sand trail leading to our first activity at the river crossing

The Garfield 3rd ward trek leader was so well prepared.  Sister Wahlen had assignments at the river crossing, the rescue statues, at Dan Jones Cove and at Veil Bridge.  Every venue was so well prepared for that I just needed to record this marvelous experience here.  

For Bob Sr, the Bishop is the dentist in Rigby and remembered Bob in the hot dog wagon at Abbott's And the medical doctor was Dr. Hammer.  His partner Dr. Curtis works at the Community Care in Rigby,  with him, and is the one who gave mom and me our physicals for this mission.  Dr. Hammer's brother is a Physicians Assistant in Rexburg and remembers Josie and Ali's children from their visits.  Then for Bobby III, Brother John Bezzant told me his daughter talks about Bobby from his 5th grade class in Rigby.  How is that for connections!

At the river crossing these 4 Priests and this Laurel sang and she played the violin

The Laurel played the violin all through the river crossing

That is the Bishop on the right running out to help his ward members cross

Then the Bishop helps his Laurel and her mom make the last crossing

Can you feel the Spirit from this preparation?  The music was "Come, Come Ye Saints", and the song the boys sang was worthy of a music award!  What a sweet Spirit and the youth were reverent and so quiet during the crossing and the presentation.  They had their Bishop take the river crossing first and then he assisted every one up the bank to dry ground.  A true picture of a Bishop involved in the rescue of his youth and their leaders!  It was truly an awesome moment.

Dan Jones Cove - a Priest was their playing his guitar to welcome the group

In Dan Jones Cove, we cautioned the trek leader that there is very little shade.  All the seats are directly in the sun.  So what does Heavenly Father do?  He brings a cloud over the cove and the group had 20 minutes of shade.  It was just enough time for four youth to share a significant story in the Martin Handcart Company and then the Bishop gave his youth, their parents and the youth leaders a powerful Bishop's blessing.  We then went single file through Martin's Cove.

The Garfield 3rd ward coming to the top of Martin's Cove

The walk though the Martin's Cove was reverent and quiet.  There were a few who took the trek slower than the others, and one adult got nauseated and had to return back to the handcart parking area.  So while we waited at the top for the clearing of this sister, the trek leader asked me to share a thought or two.  I always get excited for this invitation!!  Here is in essence what I said to them and would like to repeat to my precious family and friends;

I told them that they were such a wonderful group and that there had been two significant experiences for them today.  First the river crossing where the Spirit was so strong, and I invited them to remember that feeling.  Next was the powerful blessing the Bishop had left on them at Dan Jones Cove along with the testimonies shared through the music and the talks along the way.  I invited them to, again, remember the feelings they had of the spirit testifying to them during these events.  

It was then my privilege and testimony to them that although some had reservations of coming on this trek, they were to be commended for being here.  And then to feel the Spirit from these experiences was exactly what President Nelson was talking about when he said, "in the coming days, (not weeks or months or years), it will not be possible to survive spiritually, without the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  I then reminded them that what they felt at the river crossing and at the devotional at Dan Jones Cove, and the Bishop's blessing, was that spirit that President Nelson was talking about.  It was such a sweet moment for me.... I felt the Holy Ghost was speaking through me.

Later several adults came to me and said that was exactly what they needed to hear.  I am so grateful for the promptings of the spirit that helped me to say the things this precious ward youth, and their leaders, needed to hear!! 

Now, for my grandchildren.  Perhaps your feelings and the promptings of the Spirit will come to you in different ways.  However, these promptings and feelings will come.  It may be when you do something nice for someone.  It may come when you have someone you know needs some help or a kind word, and you act on that feeling.  It may come from the fasting on social media or when you share a copy of the "For the Strength of Youth" Pamphlet with a friend who doesn't know much about our faith.  It may come when you are sitting in the Sacrament meeting and feel the spirit of the Sacrament, or during a family council where you help offer suggestions for a happier family.  These feeling can, and will happen, and President Nelson has told us that we will be prepared for these kinds of experiences if we keep the commandments, and read our Scriptures, and serve other in our families and neighborhoods, and when we always pray to our Heavenly Father, who waits for you and me and each, of us every morning and every night! 

Now you know why this was such a special day!!  Thank you for checking in with us tonight!  We love you!

20 June 2018 - Wednesday

20 June 2018 - Wednesday

Mom and I had quite an "extended" schedule today.  We were up at the usual time of 4:30am and went about our morning activities as we usually do.  We also got to walk together with the Gilliland's and witnessed the sunrise.  The air is so crisp and clear, in the morning hours, and every once in a while, mom is able to walk with me.  That was the case today when we had the 2:00pm to 9:00pm shift at the Visitors' Center.  

The morning clouds just before sunrise

We sure enjoyed our walk this morning, and got back to the trailer at about 6:45am.  What is interesting about today's schedule is that we didn't have to be at the Homestead until 2:00pm.  We had about seven hours of down time before reporting for our seven hour shift at 2:00pm.  We read this morning and took our time with breakfast and then had lunch together at noon.  I even got to take a nice nap or two!  Mom even participated in the nap time after finishing some laundry.

Of course one of the first things we did at the Visitors' Center was take a picture of the handmade key fobs.  They are the talk of the Visitors' Center and here they are;

The original key fob by Elder and Sister Lasher

We hit the ground running as we began our shift.  The visitor's at the center were arriving at a steady rate, and both mom and I got to talk to different groups within minutes of approaching the center.  The visitor's were mostly members, but we did have a few prospective members during the course of our day.  Mom gave out three Books of Mormon and I gave out one;

Granny was really excited about this family!

It has been a good day, and we closed up the Visitors' Center at 9:00pm.  We had no visitor's after 7:45pm, so that last hour was a little slow.  However, we were grateful for the opportunity to serve, and tomorrow we meet our trek group at 8:00am.  That means we arrive at the Trek Center at 7:00am so I am off to catch up to mom in much needed sleep!  We love you!  Thank you for joining us tonight!  What a pleasure it is to serve in building up Zion!

19 June 2018 - Tuesday

19 June 2018 - Tuesday

Today was one of those days that everything seemed to go well for us.  Mom and I were up early to begin our day in prayer and scripture reading together.  We were not at all rushed for time since I did not walk my three miles this morning.  That three miles was done this evening when we brought a new trek group from the Homestead to the Cherry Creek campground.  

It was our pleasure to attend the correlation meeting at 8:30am, there at the Homestead.  Of course, we arrived early, and the morning air and blustery clouds were so wonderful!  At the correlation meeting, mom and I got an assignment together.  We were asked to take apart a display in the museum and fix a 100+ year old box that was put in backwards.  The box was about 2" by 6" and was made out of an early 1860's telegraph pole.  The Sun Family had been here yesterday to take their annual tour of the Homestead and noticed the error.

Mom is holding the Plexiglas display unit as I took the support screws out.

The screws had square heads on them so it took me about thirty minutes to find the right size driver.  Once I had the screws out, we set the display on a counter to begin our work.  We discovered the box had been glued down to the Plexiglas display base.  Mom and I called the Mission President and had him make the decision on whether I should try to pry the box off the Plexiglas base.  I think we were all in agreement that we should not attempt to do that because the box would most likely break.  This picture shows what was on the lid of the box that could not be seen from the front;

A typed notice on the origin of the wooden box circa late 1800's

So mom had the impression to retype the notice in the same manner that other displays had, and place it on the front of the display case.  President Pace is taking that under consideration.  That was fun to be able to handle the artifacts, and to make suggestions for the solution to this particular problem.

Then we were assigned to make two key fobs for the Visitors' Center keys.  It has become a regular occurrence for senior missionaries to put keys in their pockets and take them home.  There are two sets of these keys and the key fobs would act as a deterrent to leaving them in their pockets!  Here are some action photos;

Using the lathe in the woodshop

Mom sanding down the key fob while rotating on the lathe

This was soooooo much fun!  We were told to make it as simple, or as complex as we wanted!  So here is a boy in a workshop with every tool imaginable.  And you give him the option of simple or complex???  Complex it is!  I found some walnut scraps and knew that the hard wood would last longer than a soft wood.  I attached the wood to the lathe and started my shaping.  Oh boy was that fun!  Then mom got involved with sanding it down smoother that Adam's bum!  We came up with some impressive key fobs.  Now the issue will be whether someone will "accidentally" take the key fob home and leave the Visitors' Center keys behind.... Yes!  It was that awesome a key fob!

Then mom and I closed out our day as Trail Guides.  Our group that was scheduled at 3:30pm finally arrived at 4:30pm.  We got them after they went through Outfitting and we headed for the Cherry Creek campground around 6:00pm.  Mom and I got home at around 7:45pm and decided to call on the Gilliland's with a tray of cookies we got for them yesterday.

Preparing for rain as we began the Trail Guide assignment

This is the storm coming our way!  Notice Split Rock is framed in the clouds?

Waiting for our group at the Trek Center

That was a very good call.  They needed to talk and readily invited us in.  Their grandson, Brice, was a passenger in a pick-up truck driven by another teenage friend.  They were going too fast and rolled the truck three times.  The friend walked away with very few scratches.  Brice did not have his seat- belt on and was thrown out of the car.  The MRI has shown he has extensive brain damage, and they are not confident he will come out of the coma.

As we were talking about his family,  they told us how his family members have not embraced the Gospel.  However, he was able to give Brice a blessing, and his sister, who has breast cancer, also wanted a blessing.  When tragedy strikes, people tend to want comfort from religious sources.  Elder Gilliland joined the Church after he met his future second wife, but none of his family has any interest in the Mormon Church.  

But after this terrible accident, his daughter, who has breast the cancer, and got that blessing this past weekend, reported to him that she felt peace like she had never felt before.  And she has confided in her dad that she is afraid to die, but that she would have rather died instead of Brice going through this awful experience. 

Well, the point I am making is that there has been an interest sparked in his family, and the spirit prompted me to ask him if he had considered writing a letter to his son, Craig, who is Brice's dad, and let him know how he feels about the purpose of life and share his testimony.  He hadn't considered doing that but admitted that his son would probably read the letter many times and that could lead to some further open discussions!   We hope so, and will continue to pray for this precious family!

18 June 2018 - Monday

18 June 2018 - Monday

This was our first Monday preparation day.  We were excited to get going this morning.  We had our morning prayers and scripture reading together and then I took my three mile walk.  We had more rain and colder temperatures last night, and early this morning, so the temperature in the high 40's,  this morning ,was perfect for my walk.  And these pictures were so fun to catch;

The sun just coming up in the cloud cover

The sun breaking through the cloud cover

And the whipped creme clouds from the storm last night

It was so invigorating to be out in this scenery this morning!  I am still walking the three miles in under an hour, and today it was about 50 minutes.  I think I could hit my 45 minutes if I would just stop taking so many pictures!

Mom and I attended correlation meeting this morning.  There was a good feeling with the missionaries as we have really began hitting the pace of the summer treks.There are about half of the missionaries with P-days on Monday's and most of the other half have their P-days on Saturdays.  Some get other days, but mom and I were grateful for a weekday P-day!  The traffic to Casper was so light and the temperatures hit the mid 60's to make this a most enjoyable trip.

Since we are less than 90 days away from mom being eligible for Medicare,  we called Dave Parker to begin the process of getting her enrolled.  We thought this would be very simple, but Dave asked us for our Medicare ID number.  We had no idea so he gave us the Social Security Office address in Casper and told us that this is where we could get it.  We could either call them or stop by.  This was painful information.  Calling or visiting the SS Office is like going to the DMV offices in California!  This is not what I was hoping for.

As we were coming in to Casper, we stopped in a parking lot and typed in the SS address.  Martha, our GPS stewardess, got us going. Mom offered a prayer that we could find the location and take care of our business.  Well, Martha took us through old town Casper, that looked a lot like old town Idaho Falls.  However, the traffic was very light and we found the office, easily, and guess where we parked?  Right in front of the building between two cowboy trucks;

A perfect, prayerful, pioneer driving placement of our preferred parking post!

So the first part of our arrival went extremely well.  Now we needed to sign in at the Social Security Office and wait our turn.  When we walked into the office one person was walking out after thanking the service lady.  There was no one else in the waiting area!  It took us longer to sign in that it did to get the information we needed, in a very pleasant atmosphere, and walk out almost behind that customer we saw leaving!  We found out that mom had been automatically enrolled and was set to receive the benefits on September 1st.  It was awesome!  

We then called Dave Parker back, and gave him the ID number he needed.  Dave will get her the supplement insurance policy, and the prescription insurance policy, for her eligibility on September 1st.   And now mom is all ready to go for her September birthday!!  Yes, it was that easy!  Another answer to prayer that Heavenly Father saw fit to answer so easily!

We then did our shopping at Sam's and Wal-mart, and had so much fun taking our time and enjoying our restful day.  I was able to refill my prescription as well, and oh, by the way, I was green status this morning!  We are set for another 90 days in the Rx department.  The prescription was over $63 at retail, but my insurance paid all but a $3 co-pay.  Nice!  

Mom and I celebrated our great morning's accomplishments with lunch at Olive Garden.  Mom had her favorite angel hair pasta entree, and I had my favorite salad and soup combination.  What a great treat after this morning's tender mercies!

Mom puts the "angel" in Granny!

It is becoming more apparent each day that Heavenly Father needs the best of the best of His people to step up and help Him achieve his earthly goals.  He needs more workers who are willing to help build up Zion, and be anxiously engaged in doing good things.  Mom had a very distinct impression  during her scripture study, this morning, that we needed to work here in the mission field, (and everywhere else), as if we were actually laboring in the City of Zion.  If Heavenly Father asked us to wade out in the water to clean a filter, or pick up rocks in the fields in front of the Heavenly Mansions, we would happily do it.  When He asks us to do our assignments, whatever they might be, He is waiting and hoping we are strong and faithful in our stewardship's to qualify to be in His army!

It makes so much sense to take every assignment we are given, in the mission field, in our wards and with our families, as if we were putting the finishing touches on the City Beautiful.  Perhaps the test is to see how we react to things we may feel are unfairly administered or assigned to us.  It has given us a whole new meaning to working in the Lord's Vineyard.   With the right attitude, we can do anything we are asked to do, and we can be happy in doing it!