Last Week, Logan Temple, and Trek Training

What a crazy but fun and busy week as we wind down our last week as missionaries at Deseret Land and Livestock Trek mission.  Our bodies are tired but our spirits are very sad to see this chapter of our lives come to a close.
Tuesday was busy putting more handcarts, port a jons, water buffalos, into storage.  With all the missionaries working together a lot gets done fast.  We had to take down the bridges we built because of the wet winter and so many water crossings on the trails.
Wednesday was a great day attending the Logan temple with the missionaries and then afterward having lunch at Maddox in Brigham City.  It is a nice stake house and has excellent food.  Logan was the second temple finished after the saints came to Utah.

At the Logan Temple.  The flowers were amazing.  Debra's Mom and Dad were sealed in this temple, it was the third temple in the church in the west.
Thursday we had a first run through of our parts for trek training.  Bob is doing Port a Johns and Debra is doing music.  We started packing in earnest and continued to put away mission stuff and set up the trek center for Trek Training.  Thursday night we went out to President Lesters ranch for a very nice barbeque of ribs, dutch oven potatoes, salads, and lots of yummy desserts.

Pres and Sister, Platt, Lester and standing Smith

Yummy ribs, food and company

Bob launching over the creek on the rope swing

Bob in flight, ever a boy

Debra by the famous bowling ball launching canon.  The cows were in the pasture so we could not fire it this year 

Bob by the canon holding a bowling ball....don't shoot a cow!

 Friday was our "dress rehearsal"  our presentations were timed because we have to cover all our material in 5 minutes.  We made it just under the wire!  That evening all the 2nd year missionaries went into a little diner in Evanston called Mother Maes.  They are a very nice older couple that feed all the missionaaries for free.  That is very hard for senior missionaries so we left a good tip to help cover the cost for us and the other young missionaries.  Marvin has quite a story of healing and surgery and he gave us all a CD of the songs that have come to him in his dreams.  Dan Hoffman helped him to put the music and mixes together for him.  It is quite a nice CD and a very kind thought for us.

Second year missionaries at Mother Maes  Ekins, Barton, Peart, Howard, Call

Saturday was the day....Trek training!  This is where all the leaders for next years treks come for training and orientation.  We had about 250 people plus the missionaries that we taught and sang to and fed.  Some of them went on a mini trek just to see what it was like to pull a handcart.  Hunter East Stake where we used to live is coming next year.  We had a good visit with them and talked about people that we knew and are still there.  Lindon Utah Stake is also coming next year.  That is where Debra lived her first 5 years.  There are now 3 stakes in Lindon and many more in Pleasant Grove, Alpine, and Manilla.  All four of those cities were in one stake, Timpanogos Stake, when she was growing up.  At 1:30 we both flew into action as the Hubers were coming at 4:00 to get the trailer.  We finished packing and cleaned the trailer and moved our stuff into the addies where we are staying for the next couple of days.  It was sad to see them pull off with our home for the past two summers but at the same time it was a great blessing to be able to sell it so quickly.

Bob doing his comedy presentation on Port a Johns

Debra leading Come Come Ye  Saints at Trek Training

Trek Training August 19, 2017

Sisters, McDowell, Clark, Anderson, Ekins, Call, Barton, Moretti, and Howard working the lunch line at trek training

Debra and Bob playing harmonicas for last time at D&L.  Part of her music presentation

Elder Butch Moretti adding final weld to our new gate!

Aubrey and Travis Huber the new owners of our trailer home so dear.  A very cute and happy couple!

A very packed and loaded trek center, some of the things put away for the winter.  It was like a tightly put together puzzel!

Today, Sunday was our last time to go to church in Evanston.  We attended the Almy Ward and had a missionary homecoming talk.  Elder Martin reported on his mission to Seattle.  The people in Evanston are some of the nicest people I have ever known and it is hard to leave this beautiful, peaceful, quiet land.  I have never seen skies, and stars like they are here on the ranch.  Like Elder Howard said, "I won't be sad to leave, but I am glad I was here!"  It is true but I am kind of sad to leave this place but I will carry a bunch of amazing memories with me home and for the rest of my life!  True to our history on the ranch, the cows moved in to give us a noisy and messy send off. After we watch the Solar Eclipse Monday at noon, we will head home to Mesa by way of Snowflake where we will help David and Valerie wire the house they are building.  We will get home August 23, our 44th anniversary!