Dust, A Gust, Sad News

We started our week out with a fireside Sunday night when Elder and Sister Moretti shared their experiences of serving in Russia and the Baltic States Mission.  They shared miraculous stories of how the church was able to open those missions and the part they played in doing so.

Elder an Sister Moretti with their Russia display

Monday the Dennis Family came for FHE and talked to us about the Riverton Wyoming Stake and their part of the Second Rescue.  That was in 1992 when they started researching those who had died in the Willie and Martin handcart companies and did their temple work for them.  They also had a big part in getting the Martin's Cove, Rocky Ridge, Sixth Crossing, and Rock Creek Hollow available or owned by the church.  They came last year too but it was good to hear them again.  During their talks we had a lot of noise outside (that Wyoming wind) and a most welcome rainstorm.  We went out to discover two port a johns tipped over and a handcart blown down the hill, but what a beautiful rainbow!

Bob  with the tipped over port a john and rainbow

Tuesday was normal toilet, moving johns and handcarts and getting ready for Wednesday.  368 trekkers from the Lehi Utah Stake came in cars and 7 school buses all eager to be pioneers.  This was our largest group for the year, but not the largest to come.  Next week there is a trek with 700 scheduled to come.  I am so glad we will not be on that one.  This was a great group they had amazing music, vignettes, firesides, and lots of spirit.  They had a lot of pick ups at the gate as they ran out of some food, propane, and people coming and going!  That really makes it hard on us missionaries.  We served with Elder and Sister Theler, thankfully they were in charge and did an amazing job.  They are from Draper Utah.  We did trail 23 which is 25 miles long.

Us with Lynn Hansen (trail boss) President Whitehead (second councilor) and the Theler's

They built a Nauvoo Temple as one of their activities and had the companies broken into groups identified by different countries.  They did a cultural night where they told about the churches beginnings in the different countries and then they did a dance from that country. It was very neat.

One of the cultural dances with the temple behind

Night shot of their lighted temple

Bartons' and Thelers' by the Nauvoo Temple

They had a "mob" drive them out Thursday morning and they walked off leaving all their handcarts, tents and belongings and walked about 1/2 mile to a trail of tears vignette.  It was amazing, but unlike the real pioneers they were able to go back, have breakfast, and get their things and handcarts.  That was the dustiest day as we had to walk Shortcut road, the dustiest place on the Ranch!

Lehi youth being run out of camp by the mob!

Friday we did our Women's Pull.  That is where the men leave the women to pull by themselves up a pretty long and steep hill.  It shows both men and women that they can do hard things.  It really is a highlight of all the treks.  They had a pioneer band with guitars, banjos, fiddles, keyboard and singing that was out of this world.  They have been doing this for 10 years and are called the Hardman family pioneer band.  They played and sang old pioneer songs and one that was written for their trek.

The Hardman Family Pioneer Band.  They did the hoe down and we were sorry to miss it.  The food people ran out of propane and had to go into Evanston.  We have to take them out the locked gates.

We did the "Brinkerhoff drop off" and the kids really loved it.  It is the steepest downhill for trail 23.  That night we had a great fireside with musical numbers and a large picture of the Salt Lake Temple.  Their Stake President President Boyd talked and then they had rootbeer floats.

Friday night fireside with Pres. Boyd

Saturday we took the last 3 miles and had a morningside before going into camp.  It was so good. Daniel Beck from their stake sang Gentle Savior and there was not a dry eye in the place.  I thought he should be on American Idol.  Little did I know until I talked to him that he has recordings out there.  Look him up on you tube he is very good  He was one of the Pa's in a family.

Morningside on Saturday just before staging.  Notice the shade tarps it was hot!

We got to staging and they thought they had cancelled their pizza order and had made lunch for everyone when in came 100 pizzas for them.  They did not go home hungry.

Late Saturday night we got a text message from Valerie, our daughter in Snowflake, telling us they were life flighting our grand daughter Betsy to Phoenix Children Hospital with Asthma and Pneumonia.  We spent a sleepless night with lots of prayers and tears. She is in the ICU there but we are hoping and praying that eventually all will be well. The interesting thing is Bob and I are talking in the Evanston 2nd ward Sunday on faith through trials.  This is truly a test of our faith.

Our sweet Betsy and Valerie at Phoenix Children's Hospital ICU