Tulips or Two Lips on the Prarie

Monday started with mowing lawns and sprucing up the area as Elder Durham, our area authority 70, was coming with his wife for two days.  Sister Durham was just released as a councilor in the General Primary Presidency and spoke in last General Conference.  They were very fun to have around.  Each missionary couple had an interview with them to see how we were doing and to learn more about us.  We had a big turkey dinner (like Thanksgiving) Monday night and then they did a fireside.  It was so good,.  He talked about charity and how we need it for ourselves and each other and everyone we serve and gave us a blessing that as we served we would receive the gift of charity in our lives.  He also talked about doubt not fear not for the Lord is in charge.  That proved so true for me this week as we trekked with the Fruits Heights Stake (350 people and 31 handcarts).  They loaded everything in their carts, tarps, buckets, table, poles and 4x4 for building their shelters, dutch ovens, sleeping bags and everything they had.  There had to be at least 400 to 500 lbs of gear in each handcart.  Some were piled 7 feet high.  The first day of trekking was trying to retie and hold all that stuff together over bumpy trails and badger holes.   The lead cart carried the American flag.

Piled high handcarts

They decided to have the girls pull all the carts and gear up the women's pull.  They had 5 girls on each cart and trail 14 has one of the hardest pulls.  It is 1.8 miles long and I confess I doubted they could do it, but do it they did! Another testimony as to how strong and determined these young women are and how I need to rely on the Lord more and doubts my own fears and trust in the Lord.
Their theme was Ohana (Family in Hawaiian) "No One Left Behind".

you will have to look at this sideways.  Their neckerchiefs

 This was our (Bob and me) largest trek yet and their 31 carts stretched for about 1 mile at times.  We had three missionary couples assigned to this trek, the Higginson's (Debra's brother) and the Calls (also Debra's relatives from our pioneer heritage).  Their food and games were centered on the Hawaiian theme.

You have to look hard to see the front of the group in mid to upper left

 There was one game they called tulips on the prarie that was quite a sight to behold.  The medical staff referred to it as face tag, Bob called it a combination of Wrestling and the Dating Game.  They all gathered in a circle and each boy and girl were assigned a letter or number.  One would sit in the middle and they would call out a letter for a boy and one for a girl and then they would try to kiss the one on the cheek that was running before they could get to the one in the middle and kiss them on the cheek.  It was crazy watching some of the tackles that took place all to try to stay out of the middle.  This has been a tradition for their stake at each of their last 4 treks.  No one had ever gotten hurt before but this one resulted in one broken collarbone, one concussion and one black eye (the collarbone and concussion were boys).  The young women that gave the young man the concussion was given the number 54 on the back of her shirt, a football line backer number, and she wore it proudly.  These kids were intense! We also had ?batman? on the trek.

Sister Barton with ?Batman?  You should have seen his sunburn whenever he removed the mask!

They had a great fireside on Friday night with Elder Gary Coleman an emeritus 70.  He spoke about our pre-existence with our Heavenly Father and how we are all fore ordained to be here at this time.  It was good to hear, and believe me we have strong youth both physically and spiritually
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Elder and Sister Barton with Elder Gary Coleman

The wild flowers are beautiful right now, so much so that Ashlyn Wade (the 10 year old that was helping her Father with the port a jons) would pick flowers and put them in the urinals of the women's port a jons.

Wildflower bouquet in the urinal

She was a spit fire and an in-charge young lady. They named her as an honorary trail boss and believe me she could have run the whole trek.

Ashlyn Wade, 10 year old honorary trailboss.  The window says "pooped out", it was pulling port a jons.

These kids had no more than got on their 7 buses and headed out than the skies opened up and we had a MUCH needed rainstorm.  We are told there will be no more open fires until we get more rain.  So pray for us to get rain!