Back in the saddle again at DL&L

We're Back

Tuesday April 18, 2017
Elder Spencer Call was packed up and ready to pull out of Spanish Fork, Utah. We loved our mission serving at DL&L last summer and so excited to come again. This place is on dedicated ground and excited for the trekkers to come again this summer and have a very special, spiritual, life changing experience.

Elder Call arrived about 12:00 and the directors Elder and Sister Peart were here with the Bartons. He was the third one here. After 2 1/2 hours he was set and up with the propane, electricity, sewer, heat tape, insulated hoses, porches, and steps. He then helped the Barton's with their set up.

Sister Call has to finish up finals at BYU so she will be doing some back and forth driving until finals are over.

Howards and Ekins came up later in the day. So all five returning (seasoned missionaries are here)

Wednesday April 19

Woke up to snow.

Elder Call worked on the 9 farm trucks with some dead batteries and side-by-sides. The first casualty of the season happened with two blood blisters. Smashed finger connecting batteries in one truck.

The new missionaries started to show up today. Morettis from Lyman, Wyoming, McDowell's from Mesa, Arizona, and Clark's from Midway, Utah.

Elder Call helped them with hookups of propane, and getting all the fittings working. Also delivering the steps and porches, and helping with other things that needed done. Dinner was with the Ekins tonight since he is here without his companion.

Thursday April 20th, 

The Brinkerhoffs (last two years missionaries) came early and brought their trailer that they had sold to the Thealers, from Draper, Utah. It was great to see them again. With all the snow and rain this year the trailer sunk up to the axel in the soft ground as he was trying to move into position. With two other trucks hooked up with chains they were able to pull the trailer out and get it all set up and level.

The afternoon was doing errands with Elder Howard to Morgan, UT to get new batteries for the side-by-sides and to get one farm truck safety inspected for street use. When they returned the Andersons from Heber, Utah arrived, and Wilson's from Bloomington, Idaho. So all 11 couples are here for the next 4 months.

Friday April 21st 

The first official Preperation Meeting at 8:00 am. There was lots to go over for 2 1/2 hours. The rest of the day our Trek Directors, the Pearts, took the 6 new couples around the missionary village to show them where everything is and to familiarize them with all the operations here. The 4 second year missionaries emptied the trek center of trucks, handcarts, and side-by-sides.

Sister Call left Provo at 6:00 pm and arrived about 8:00. With Elder Call waiting at the gate of course there was a train that came by and had to wait.

It was so great for Sister Call to be here and the Pearts came to visit and welcome her here. Always great to be on this dedicated land.

Saturday April 22nd

8:00 am preparation meeting and what a wonderful time to have all 22 of us there for the first time. Greeting the new missionaries, and seeing old best friends was a special treat. This was a two hour meeting, and the spirit of this place was here again.

We left at 10:15 and got in 4 different trucks and traveled one loop of the ranch support roads. This ranch is about 300,000 acres and we trek on about 20,000 acres so there is a lot to learn of this area. I remember last year being overwhelmed with all there is to learn. Some of the new missionaries feel that same way. We assured them that they will learn it all and it will be a wonderful experience for them.

After lunch we had another meeting and learned what trail we have and what missionary couples we will be serving with and what a route review is with the stakes coming this summer.

We had a very moving flag ceremony. Elder Call, Howard, and Thealer were all past military and gave a very emotional ceremony of what the flag and freedom and country means to them. We leave the flag up for the summer and have a light on it at night. There is something special about driving up the the missionary village and seeing that flag flying.

We then got to do our service of cleaning the garbage off the on and off ramp of Wahsatch exit 191 our exit to the ranch. With gloves and garbage bags and an 1 1/2 hours later we had four truck beds full of trash. It is amazing how trashy some people can be. It looks so much better now.

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Sunday April, 23rd

We saw so many antelope on the way to church today. The people of Evanston are so welcoming and loving to the missionaries. We split up between three wards and fun to see a lot of old friends from the past summer. Another wonderful lunch at the trek center. Sunday's are great to have lunch with all the missionaries and all 22 of us were there. We had ham dinner with all the fixings. Working on the blog and game night.