Call's Called To Serve: First week of trekking with Farmington Compton Bench Ward

Monday June 5, today is our preparation day and after getting all our projects done we went for a ride in the 4 wheeler to Romance Rock. We are not sure how it got it's name but it is a cool rock about 10 feet tall and 30 feet long and flat on top. We found a place to climb up on top, with foot and hand holds and looked around at the area. It is all sandstone and amazing that with the wind blowing dirt up on top there was cactus and sage brush growing on top. We can take that off our bucket list of things we wanted to do this summer.

Romance Rock

Elder Call on the top of Romance Rock

Sister Call on the top of romance rock, with just a little dirt, sage brush can grow

Top of romance rock. Lot's of rust color on top, and cool holes.

We then went out to see Elder Ekins fishing at a pond that is called the Cheyenne Social Club. This ranch used to be part of the town of Wahsatch and there are some buildings there that was where the wild side of town was.

We watched him fish and then he let Sister Call reel some fish in. She was so excited to have a fish on the line. This is catch and release and almost every time the line was thrown out there was a fish on the line. Elder Call was catching just as many as Elder Ekins.

We also had to go see where the buffalo jump was that Don Paul who came Sunday to talk to us told us about it.

Elder Ekins fishing

One of the fish that Elder Ekins caught.

Sister Call reeling in the fish

Elder Call catching a lot of fish today.

Tuesday June 6, was filled with all the preparations for the trekkers to come. Learning how to test the water in the water buffalo's All the sisters had to go add water to most of the port a johns since they had sat at staging for so long and had evaporated and take out the plugs and rope some that were not being used this week.

Elder Peart instructing us on how to test the water to make sure we are keeping it within the regulations.

Today was the first time we were able to see twin baby antelope. The camp was busy tonight with everyone doing last minute preparations of loading buckets and totes and last minute details of being ready for tomorrow when the trekkers arrive.

Wednesday June 7, the fun begins as we had more than 1000 trekkers on 5 different trails arrive today. We are on trail 29 with Elder and Sister Wilson. We have a small group of only 50 a ward, and only 4 handcarts. Their theme is: Find your inner pioneer, Do you live what you know? When you have a small group like this it is so fun, because you get to know almost everyone in the group.

First day of trekking,, Elder and Sister Call, ready for the fun to begin.

Elder and Sister Wilson, waiting at staging for the trekker to arrive.

There are always a few problems and a lot of chaos at staging as everyone comes and getting water buffalo driver trained and hooked up and port a john drivers, training the Ma's and Pa's on the handcarts, The trail boss announcing what families all the youth will be in. Having them load their handcarts, Then having us missionaries welcome them and tell about the ranch and this all takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Then we get to start trekking.

Elder Call teaching the game, Chicken, Taco, Boom

Lunch stop, enjoying the shade.

Coming up the big hill.

From the ridge looking down at camp.

Elder Call leading the trek today into camp.

Our trekkers stretched out on the trail. Camp is in site.

Starting down the hill into camp.

Going down the steep hill into camp for the first night.

Sister and Elder Call on our first trek on the year.

After dinner we got Elder Wilson to get in on the stick pull.

Elder Wilson having fun with the stick pull game.

The weather was wonderful today, it is always iffy the first part of June, but today was wonderful. This ward has lots of sibling on trek most of them have 2 siblings here and one family has 4. It was fun finding out who was related to who and talking to them. We left before they started planning their skits and with being the furthest trail away from the missionary village it took us 45 minutes to get home, but we were home before 8:00 pm which is amazing to be one of the first ones home.

When we got back the water pressure was really low, but we had water in our trailer tank since we had some when we came. A lot of Elders were out late at night to check on the problem and the well was dry from filling all the water buffalo's. The next day we found out the switch automatic switch was not working and they had to switch it to manual mode and we were fine.

Thursday June 8, a long preparation meeting about all the different things that went wrong on all the treks, Elder Moretti was on gate this week and he asked if he could stay on gate all summer, and avoid all the problems, He said he got two donuts and two cookies. We have a good time with a lot of laughter among all the the things that don't go quite right.

We got to the campsite and they wanted to leave at 9:30 and they took off at 9:22. They were ready to go. Once we got to camp we had them leave their hand carts and went over to see the golden eagle nests. Some of the kitchen staff wanted to walk from camp to the lunch site, Elder Call told them it was just a mile and a quarter. All week he got harassed by Lori, one of the cooks that it was so much further. We had fun with them.

Sister Call taking her turn in the side-by-side.

Aki Rich resting at camp with her colorful socks.

Our little friends at camp watching us the prairie dogs

Taking a break on the trail

Two legged race

Single finger fence pull life and carry game

Well tonight was the night to stretch as a missionary as we called our first Hoe Down. It went really well and we taught three dances. One of them was quite hard, but they caught on really fast and danced for over an hour. Once you get them dancing they really have a great time.

Elder Call calling the Hoe Down with the help of Sister Call

Hoe Down dancing

They sure love the Hoe 'Down

Friday June 9, started off the morning with Aki Rich the trail boss with bucket yoga. She teaches yoga and it was really fun to join in and see everyone involved with this.

Aki Rich, the trail boss, teaching bucket yoga

Bucket Yoga at the start of the day

Elder Call not doing bucket Yoga very good, to start the day

Their woman's pull was amazing they used a lot of our suggestions and made it so memorable for these youth. This trail is a challenge because it is not on a support road, so we have to have the lunches on their carts and also easy ups set up on top. They had the boys and girls meeting separate at the bottom and them met all together as a ward and them a prayer with their families, before the boys leave and walk up and then the girls pull the carts up.

Boys lining the hill for the women's pull

Women's pull

Some of the carts on the women's pull

After the women's pull a brother and sister comforting each other.

Elder Call was in the 4 wheeler and he was able to find a shed today. A shed is Elk or Deer Antlers. It was a small one but he did fine one, so that was one of the things he wanted to find this summer.

When we arrived at camp the wind had picked up an it was strong and brutal. Just one of the challenges of the day for this group. Elder Call was able to do the pony express and deliver the mail. He does such an amazing job at this.He rides in on his horse Sliver.

Elder Call on Sliver the horse delivering the mail, on the pony express.

This ward had an amazing Testimony Meeting. When we are with a ward we get to stay for their testimony meetings. Lynn Summerhays lives in this ward. He was the area authority seventy over this mission that interviewed us. He is now serving a mission in New Zealand. What a special night we were able to share with them. When we finished the meeting we walked back up the hill to see a beautiful full moon. It was the end to a great day, and a tender mercy moment.

Saturday June 10, the Anderson's were with us today. Sister Wilson broke her foot. We are so sorry for her. We took one of the walking sticks that Elder Wilson made and gave it to the Rich's. They had all the people on trek sign it and are giving it to the bishop to have in his office. Since the Wilson's served most of the week with them, it will be a nice thing for them to remember them by.

Elder and Sister Call and Aki and Rob Rich (Trail Bosses, with the walking stick we gave them that Elder Wilson Made

Bishop and Elder Call

Colleen Farren, one of the cooks, and nurses, such great friends we became,
she makes the best jam.

Saturday morning trekking out of camp.

Journal, bracelet, bag, wooden game. All things from their trek this week

Sunday June 11, we had a fireside with David Farland who wrote the book, "In the Company of Angels." This book is about the Willie Handcart Company. It is historical fiction and won the best novel of the year in 2010. He spent two years researching for the book and pulling handcarts, traveling along the Old Mormon Trail, sitting in the snow.

Author David Farland, and wife, with Elder and Sister Call

Elder Theler had most of his children come up and surprised him for his 70th birthday party. He was totally surprised. After they all visited for a few hours they had pies for all the missionaries to meet his family. What a special day for him