Muddy, Trek and Birthday

We flew into Salt Lake from Austin after Brenan's (grandson) high school graduation.  We got back on the ranch late, and hit the bed exhausted.  Tuesday was "Toilet Tuesday"  The sister missionaries put water, toilet paper, garbage can liners, and prepared them for the trekkers coming in on Wednesday. We also checked the handcarts to make sure they each had two pull ropes and a pull bar.  Elder Barton, along with some other Elders, moved the port a jons into the staging areas for the various treks.
Wednesday morning we welcomed our first trek of the season.  The Magna Utah stake and 200 trekkers arrived at 9:00.  Elder and Sister McDowell were the other missionary couple with us this week.  This stake was very prepared and a joy to walk with and serve.  We did trail 14 which still has a lot of water and mud, as do most of the trails.  Debra wore her rubber boots through the first 5.3 miles hoping to keep her feet dry.  It did not work.  Her boots filled with water and lead to sore feet and blisters.  Bob also got blisters but we know that our feet will toughen up over the next 8 weeks.  That night after their 9.1 mile trek, Debra called a hoe down (she really enjoys that).  It never ceases to amaze us how the energy returns when the music and dancing begins.  Bob and the McDowell's were out dancing and helping to teach the dances.

Elder John and Jeanene McDowell and us going on first trek of 2017

Thursday after 8.2 miles, Bob did his pony express routine and delivered the letters from home to the trekkers.  He does such a great job and had them in stitches.  I think he has found a new outlet.....comedian!

Bob the Pony Express rider

Friday about 1 mile out of camp, they started dropping of the Bishops.  It was a very windy day and the kids were glad to get to camp and to set up their tents after 7.9 miles.  They unloaded their carts and began battling the wind to set up their tents. The Stake President called the kids together and asked, "where are your Bishops?  They are out there on the plains who will go and find them?"  Almost every young man and some of the young women grabbed their empty handcarts and took off up the hill running.  (they are not suppose to run, but there was no stopping them)  About 15 minutes latter the toped the hill and we could see them coming back into camp with the Bishops on their handcarts.  It was an amazing feeling to know that even though they were tired and hungry they would heed the call to the rescue!  There are amazing youth in the church!

Wind blown tents with trekkers trying to hold them down!

High on the mountain top their banners were unfurled!

Saturday was Debra's birthday.  Medicare---- here she comes!  The missionaries sang to her in the morning and Sister Call decorated our trailer.  When we got out to our group they sang happy birthday at least 10 times as we walked the final 4 miles back to staging.  Staging is where the trekkers start and stop their trek. Their buses did not come for 2 hours, and it was so fun to see them gathering in groups and playing all kinds of games.  I could not help but think that if they were home they would all be alone on their electronic devices.  This truly is an opportunity to leave "the world" and find joy in real people relationships.  Of course some were so tired they just crawled under a cart and went to sleep.  We sent them home and proceeded to clean side by side, truck, water buffalo, and port-a-jons.

Sister Gaylene Call and Debra on June 10

Exhausted sleeping trekkers waiting for their buses

Handcarts for a shady nap

Sunday after church and our missionary pot luck dinner we had a fireside with David Wolverton aka David Farland.  He is a famous writer and has over 50 published books.  He teaches writers and has taught Stephanie Meyer (Twilight), Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), James Dashner (The Maze Runner).  He wrote "In the Company of Angels" a story about the Willie handcart company.  We get the best guests and I am always learning more and more about our ancestors.

David and Mary Wolverton (Farland) Author of In the Company of Angels and 50 other books

Our internet continues to be challenging.  I will try to add pictures but if not they will be added later.