Elder Call is in charge of teaching all the missionaries how to make handcarts. We each get to make one.
We had our two route reviews this week. We have to learn the routes, the routes that the trekkers are on and the support route for the port-a-johns and water buffalo, and the support roads for the food trailers. We have 9 weeks of trekking and we are the lead missionary couple on 3 of them. Each stake has to come and see their route, these take about three to four hours.
Still cold at night here, we had a frozen water one night, We bought an insulated water hose, but didn't realize you have heat tape the stand up pipe also, so heat tape was purchased.
Thursday May 12, Jolene Allphin the author of "Tell my story too" came and presented a morning side. What an amazing morning, we could of listened to her stories all day. A spiritual up lift to our week. She has done research on the handcart companies, each person and each rescuer on them. Such sacrifices they went through. Each morning at pray meeting we each share one of their stories. She shared the love story of Anson Call and Margaretta Clark, Anson is Elder Call's great-great grandfather. Anson was one of the rescuers. Elder Call shared this story in our farewell talk.
Some of our work assignments, includes, spraying weeds, cleaning, painting, welding, changing oil in trucks, making port-a-john plugs, mowing, building projects, venting the dryers, washing 7 farm trucks, moving handcarts, washing 6 side by sides, learning trails, and support routes, doing route reviews with the stakes coming, knocking down swallow nests, spraying the thistles on all the roads we trek on, picking up about 30 trash bags of garbage along our exit, and pounding in new stakes for the routes and adding arrows at critical points, covering the heat vents in the trek center, building carts, building steps and hand rails for the port-a-johns, fixing rivets for all the port-a-johns, hauling the handcarts to the staging areas, taking the pull bars and ropes to staging for the 150 handcarts. This is just some of the work projects we have each day, this is why it takes 6 weeks to get ready for the trekkers to come.
Friday May 13, at prayer meeting we were told of the Elder and Sister Caverhills who are service missionaries who builds buildings. They are on the ranch building at the cowboys headquarters that is on the other side about 30 miles away. We met them that night at the gate as we went to meet a stake there coming to rent a handcart. We invited them to our special meetings and they joined us at the Temple on Tuesday. Everyday there are these tender mercies.
Saturday May 14, This day was the sheep round up at the corrals by us and we enjoyed watching them do their work, they have quite the production line. One of the workers is in the Stake Presidency of the stake that is coming on route review next week. They don't like us taking pictures of what they do to the sheep for fear of PETA. So we just take pictures of the sheep dog taking a break. (BTW it is a big dog.)
After our work assignments we left the ranch for home for the weekend. It seemed really different to not be in our bubble of spirituality that is felt here. With only 11 missionary couples we are so isolated here and loving the spirit of this dedicated property set apart for the youth to come and feel of the pioneers and what they sacrificed for us.
We went to Jori Maxwell's wedding reception in Midway. Jori worked at the Testing Center. We had a wonderful visit with some dear friends for two hours as we set on the patio and visited. A relaxing night.
Sunday May 15, special baby blessing of Olivia Tregaskis, daughter of Alyson and David. This is Sister Call's daughters baby. A beautiful blessing given by David. We had a nice visit with family and shared some of our missionary moments.
Monday May 16, our P day and lots of weeds to take care of at our home, they grow fast in 3 weeks with all the rain, then Elder Call got some golf in with his son Jon, and Sister Call enjoyed tending Olivia for the day. It was nice to get back to the ranch where we feel it is our home and where we are to be at this time. We pulled in just as the missionaries were going to watch "Once I was a Beehive." Such a cute movie if you have not seen it I highly recommend it. Lots of laughing and some tears also shed among the missionaries.
Tuesday May 17, We had a wonderful trip to the Payson Temple and then dinner at the Family Tree restaurant in Santaquin. It was a long day, but a great day with the missionaries.
Wednesday May 18,
A beehive of activities at the ranch in order for our special guests. A fun hot dog roast and campfire and games. We laughed so hard our stomachs hurt after we were done.
Thursday May 19, Elder Mark Durham and Elder Lynn Summerhays the new and released area authority 70's came to our pray meeting. This was another spiritual experience. We felt like we had our own little general conference just for us. Elder Durham, pronounced some really special blessing on us. This is a dedicated land set apart to bless the lives of the youth that come on these treks.
We all drove that afternoon to the far east side of the ranch to learn another escape route in case of fire. WOW was it beautiful with deep canyons, aspens and pine trees, and streams. This is where the outfitters go fishing. We came out by Croydon, Utah and Lost Creek State Park. We then had dinner all together at Taggarts. Beautiful place and amazing food. Would very much recommend it. A end to a perfect day.
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