Monday August 14, preparation day and we worked most of the morning cleaning up after our family was here for family camp. We went into Evanston in the afternoon to see Elder and Sister Johnson. They were missionaries last year with us. They have a Model A car that they have been restoring. They got it running and it was in the car show a few weeks ago. We sure do miss them, it has been fun having them so close to be able to see them a few times this summer.
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| Elder Call looking at the Johnson's Model A car |
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| Kelly and Roseanne Johnson and Elder Call |
Every summer the missionaries have the cowboys and their families come for dinner. Tonight was the night. It was treatening rain and lots of wind so we moved it into the trek center. It is always fun to visit with them and see their cute kids. We had two little newest cowboy babies just a few weeks old.
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| The cute kids of the cowboys enjoying playing in the trek center. |
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| Enjoying dinner with the Cowboys and their families |
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| The newest little cowboys that were just a few weeks old. |
Tuesday August 15, today we set up everything for Trek Training on Saturday. Trek Training is a half day training for all the leaders of the Stakes that are coming next year for trek. We also feed them lunch. We have 280 people coming and had to set up all the chairs and all the displays in the Trek Center. The afternoon was working on our presentations. Elder Call is over the sound and visual (power points) that all 20 missionaries have. So there is a lot he had to get done, and helping many of the missionaries with there presentations. The Wilson's went home today. We sure miss them, with her foot surgery it's been hard for her here, and Elder Cutler told them to leave and recuperate at home. Also Sister Moretti was in the hospital on Sunday night, so we are missing both of them,
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| Some of the displays for trek training |
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| Journal Ideas |
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| Trek bags and bracelets |
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| Necklace and T shirts |
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| Pioneer clothes |
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| Pioneer clothes |
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| Games and rag dolls |
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| First aid supplies needed |
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| Pictures |
The McDowells had ribeye steaks for us tonight, they have been wonderful neighbors, these last four months. We then went with the Ekins and McDowells for a truck ride out the road called McFarland. We were looking for elk and dear and wildlife. This road goes right by the edge of Deseret Land and Livestock property and boarders Ensign Ranch. This is a beautiful valley. We checked the well when we got back, and with the moonless night it was perfect to see the milky way. We are sure going to miss these night skies with no city lights to see the constellations.
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| Some of the sage grouse we saw on our drive on the ranch tonight. |
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| Looking over the beautiful valley into Ensign Ranch |
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| Another view looking off of Deseret Land and Livestock |
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| We have loved the skies at the ranch |
Wednesday August 16, we left at 7:15 to go to the Logan Temple. We made the 10:00 session. It was wonderful to have all 20 of us there. We have missed going to the temple the last few months. With trekking the last 9 weeks we have not been able to go since May. It is so foreign to see all the beautiful flowers. When you live out in the dessert with sage brush you forget how nice it is to have flowers. We do love the wild flowers at DL&L.
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| Logan Temple |
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| Beautiful flowers at Logan Temple |
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| Sister Call and Elder Call at the Logan Temple |
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| Workers doing maintenance on the top of the Temple |
It has been a tradition the last two years to go to Maddox's in Perry Utah. They have the best rolls. Also it's so big that we have no problem getting a table for all 18 of us.
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| Eating Lunch at Maddox |
We had to do some shopping on the way home to find speaker cables for Trek Training. After trying a few stores we were able to find what we needed in a music store. Also the Ekins had to find a special part for their trailer, It was a great day spending time with the Ekins as we traveled with them,
Thursday August 17, we went through all the parts for trek training. Each missionary has five minutes to do their part. They were timed and then we all gave feedback on what to do to make it better and how to improve it. This took until after 1:00. We had pizza and watermelon for lunch. Elder Call had to help the rest of the afternoon with people's powerpoints.
We left at 5:00 for Stake President Lester's Ranch. This Stake Presidency has been amazing. We have come to love them, they are so supportive of all that we do as missionaries. They have the nicest ranch with a gazebo, and rope swing across the creek. They also have a cannon that he made that shoot bowling balls. We call it high speed bowling. The balls can go about a mile. We saw it in action last summer, but there are cows in the field so we didn't get to shoot it this summer. They make the best ribs and dutch oven potatoes and baked beans. It is always delightful evening with them
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| The Howards and McDowells enjoying the camp fire,also some of the Lesters grandchildren |
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| President and Sister Platt |
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| Sister Smith an President Smith |
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Sister Lester and President Lester.
Stake President of the Evanston Stake |
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| The Evanston Stake Presidency |
Friday August 18, dress rehearsal for trek training. We finished just on time, like we want it to go, so that is good. Elder Calls presentation is on handcarts, and Sister Calls is on Family History/ Temple.
The four second year missionaries and trek directors Pearts went into Evanston for dinner tonight. This is Bartons, from Mesa, Arizona. Ekins, from Hinckley, Utah. Howards from Emmett, Idaho. Calls from Spanish Fork, Utah. Pearts the trek directors from Heber, Utah. this is their 3rd summer and they have one more year to go. We went to this place called Mama Maes. They feed the missionaries free. They are the such nice people. Mae and Marvin, told their 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 hi. It is quite a nice CD and a very kind thought for us.
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The 4 missionary couples that will be ending their mission and the Trek Directors and Mae and Marvin.
Ekins, Bartons, Pearts, Howards, Calls |
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| Enjoying dinner at Mama Mae's, the 4 missionary couples that are leaving and the Pearts our Trek Directors |
Saturday August 19, the people started showing up for trek training early at 7:30.
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| Some of the people getting ready for Trek Training to get started. |
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| Elder Peart (Trek Director) welcoming everyone to Trek Training |
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| Sister Peart talking about the Dedicatory Prayer of DL&L |
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| Elder Clark telling about the history of the Ranch |
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| Elder Moretti talking about the Key people on Trek |
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| Sister and Elder Barton, playing harmonica, telling about music on trek |
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| Elder Howard talking about transportation/trucks to pull port a johns and water buffalo and food transportation |
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| Elder Call talking about the handcarts |
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| Elder and Sister McDowell talking about communication/ walkie talkies and sound systems |
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| Elder Ekins talking about Water and the Water Buffalo |
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| Elder Barton talking about the port a johns |
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| Elder Anderson talking about trails and camps |
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| Elder Theler talking about Missionary work and inviting non members to come on trek |
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| Sister Anderson talking about food on trek/ how to cook and prepare it |
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| Sister Ekins talking about medical |
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| Sister Howard talking about activities on trek |
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| Sister Theler talking about route reviews that will happen next May |
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| Elder Call presenting about the pony express delivery and letters from parents for the youth |
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| Sister Moretti talking about journals, pictures, and videos |
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| Sister Clark talking about pioneer clothing |
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Sister Call talking about family history and Temple work
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| Sisters ready to serve lunch, McDowell, Clark, Anderson, Ekins, Call, Barton, Moretti, Howard |
After trek training was over we cleaned up all the trek center and put a lot of the trucks and side by sides inside for the winter. With 20 people helping it goes really fast. We were able to go see Elder Moretti weld a new handcart sign on the new gate that got put in, and then we went with the Ekins and their son in law and daughter to drive around part of the ranch. We were in for a treat as we saw so many dear and moose and wildlife. It was such a tender mercy to see so much wildlife tonight as our mission is coming to a close next week.
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| Sister Ekins and Elder Call getting the handcart sign positioned just right to be welded on the gate |
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| Elder and Sister Call with the new handcart sign that was put on the gate. |
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Morettis. McDowells Howards, Ekins, Pearts, Bartons, Calls.
A big thumbs up for having the gate finished with our handcart logo on it. |
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| We see antelope everyday but the deer are not found very often. |
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| We were able to see two moose, we were so lucky to see them, they are not around much. |
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Sage Grouse
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