Spiritual, Echo's of the Past, Family

Monday August 7, we left early today on our preparation day with both of our trucks and our ATV's for Spanish Fork. It was a fast trip to drop things off at home. The house looks great and we appreciate Alesha and Cory Grisham living their for these four months and taking care of it for us. On the way back to the ranch we picked up Elder Ekin's sister Kathryn Black in American Fork. What are the chances? She was my daughter's 4th grade teacher at Scera Park Elementary in Orem. We had a wonderful visit on the way back to the ranch with her, it was delightful.

For Family night we had dinner with, "The Pay Sisters," this is Marjorie Pay Hinckley's sisters. Joann Baird and Doreen Lloyd. They sang a song that goes like this, "I know just how ugly I are, my face ain't no bright shining star, but I really don't mind it, because I'm behind it, it's you folks out front gets the jar!" They are the cutest ladies and we never tire of hearing their story of the Gobble baby grave maker and how they came to acquire it.  Their Grandmother, Mary Goble and Grandfather Richard Pay were members of the Hunt Wagon Company that strayed with the Martin  Handcart Company. They shared many great family stories and even had a grave maker or their 6 week old Great Aunt that died on the trail. It was an amazing story about how it came into their possession. When they were done telling us the story we had a question and answer session about President Hinckley and Marjorie Hinckley. They have shirts that says, "What happens with the Sisters stays with the Sisters."

Elder Call, Doreen Loyd, Joann Baird, Sister Call

The Pay Sisters and Kathryn Black

Tuesday August 8, this is our last port-a-john Tuesday, so when we were all done cleaning we had to get a group picture of all 11 of us sisters on the steps. Reviewing for trek training for a few hours in the afternoon.

All 11 Sister's on the last Port-a-John Tuesday of the Summer.

Wednesday August 9, Sister Wilson had foot surgery today, she has been such a trooper this summer with her broken foot that happened the first week of trekking with us. She had surgery and then back to the ranch this afternoon.

Brother Richins who is a seminary teacher in Evanston took us on a tour of Echo Canyon today. We learned so much history of when the Pioneers came through this canyon. We hiked up to the battlements that Anson Call help make to protect themselves from Johnston's army. This is what was said in Anson's journal: "In December Vasco, Chester and myself went to Echo Canyon at the principle fortifications and labored on them. Vasco went to Bridger and Green River on the boarders of the enemy to watch their movements. He was absent 7 weeks: I was 4 weeks. The winter very mild, but little snow. The enemy is still in camp in Green River County. We have not heard but little from them this winter. There has been a constant guard kept up at he mouth of Echo Canyon of 10 men. Colonel kane arrived in Great Salt Lake. City March 10, 1858, from Washington."

Looking at the names on the rock in Echo Canyon.

Brother Dennis and the Anderson's. Brother Dennis is showing how tall the willows were in the canyon
 as the Pioneers came through the canyon in their wagons. Some were 10 feet tall.

Walking up to the fortifications.

Elder Call on our hike in Echo Canyon

Sister and Elder Call on the trail to the fortifications.

Looking down at I-80 in Echo Canyon

Advertisements on the rocks in Echo Canyon

All the missionaries on the steps of the historic school/church/museum at the town of Echo

Missionaries at the top of Echo Canyon after going to the fortifications.

Stopping along the way to learn more of the pioneer route to get to Salt Lake

Thursday August 10, we reviewed all our assignments for Trek Training, this will be on August 19, where next year's Stakes that are coming send about 4 of their key people to learn about what to expect when they come and how to plan for trek.

The rest of the day was cleaning the trek center for family camp this weekend and also cleaning our pavilion, preparing dinner for Elder Cutler, who is our Area Authority Seventy, over this Ranch. All the missionary couples have a half hour interview with him today. It was wonderful to visit with him and talk about this mission and we were both given a blessing from him. Before he left at 9:00 pm we all got a picture outside the depot. We have been blessed to have such wonderful guests come and present family nights and firesides for us. When they come there is such a special Spirit that they bring to this already dedicated land.

Elder Cutler and Elder and Sister Call

McDowells, Ekins, Calls, Thelers, Bartons, Clarks, Andersons, Morettis, Howards, Pearts, Wilsons, Elder Cutler.
All 11 missionary couples and Elder Cutler

Friday August 11, inventory all the tools at the trek center and major cleaning and making sure everything is in the right places on the shelfs, moving all the wood and handcart wheels, and vacuuming all the sawdust off the shelfs. So it was a busy morning.

Sister Theler cleaning the Trek Center

Family trek is Saturday and three of Elder Call's children and their families are coming today. Ian and Tiff Call and their 3 children, Samantha, Megan, and AJ arrived about 2:00. They are staying in their trailer. We took a side-by-side and our truck to go see the ranch and climb up to the arch. Sister Call took all 5 of them and it was raining a little bit on the way. That rain hitting you is like pellets hitting you but it was only 10 miles and we just laughed and were cold but kept on going. The weather changes here in a hurry, so we dried out really fast. We do love the rain on the ranch because it keeps the dust down on the roads. We went down to the Saluratus ponds, and everyone had fun catching frogs.

Megan Call up in the arch/cave

Ian Call up by the arch

Elder and Sister Call up by the arch. The road in the background.

Megan and Ian Call catching frogs.

Ian Call catching a frog.

One of the frogs that was caught.

Elder Call with one of the frogs.

Ian, Tiff, Samantha, Megan, AJ Call , and Elder Call

Elder Call's daughter and family came next, Lisa and Patrick Pierson, and 3 of their children, Jonny, Isaac and Camden. We had potato bar and salads, and then for the third shift of dinner, Jon and Jolene Call came with Andrew, Emma, and Brooklyn. We showed them all around the missionary village and them the highlight of the evening was playing the piano and playing pickleball until almost 10:00 pm. Sister Call was in grandma heaven of holding baby Brooklyn and playing with the grandkids.

Jonny Snow playing the piano in the trek center

Ian Call, and Brooklyn Call (this is Jon and Jolene's daughter)

Cousins enjoying being together. AJ, Andrew, Issac, Emma

Samantha Call waiting for he turn at PickleBall

AJ Call, Issac Snow, Emma Call, all playing pickleball in the trek center.

Elder Call, and Jon Call (When did my sons pass me up in height?)

Saturday August 12, Family Trek today with about 80 people. We started about 9:00 am and we had 10 handcarts, we walked about two miles and just had a wonderful morning. The cows were moved in yesterday and the kids liked having them around to trek through. Tomorrow is Emma Call's 7th birthday so at our water break everyone sang Happy Birthday to her, and also to the Clark's relative who came that turned 76. We had a nice break and had a visit from Ephraim Hanks, He was born in 1826, and was a prominent pioneer, and a rescuer of the pioneers, and healer of many.

Elder Cutler and his wife also came and trekked with us.

Grandpa (Elder Call) and some of the grandkids getting ready to go trekking

Elder and Sister Cutler on the family. (Our Area Authority Seventy)

Ian and Tiff Call

Jon and Jolene Call, with children, Brooklyn, Emma, Andrew
Celebrating Emma's 7th birthday

Ian and Tiff Call, with their children, AJ, Samantha, Megan

Lisa and Patrick Pierson, with their children, Camden, Issac, Jonny (Becca and Alison were at girls camp)

Elder McDowell, as Ephraim Hanks, he told his story to all the people on Family Trek/

Lunch was provided for everyone and we visited and played games with the other missionary families. There was side-by-side rides, some napping and fixing some electrical problems in Ian's trailer with the help from some of the other missionary families that were here. For a few hours we went kayaking in the ponds behind the trek center and a lot more frog catching.

Ian on the lake

Tiff and their dog Oscar 

AJ Call on the lake

Issac Snow enjoying the kayak at the lake 

Some of the beauty on nature

At 4:00 we had a hoedown for the kids and adults. Once you turn on the music everyone loves to dance, it's just like when the trekkers come, once the music starts they all love to dance.

Hoe down dancing, Lisa and Patrick

Enjoying the hoe down dance.

Elder Call calling the Hoe Down (O Johnny O)

We had dinner all together and shared stories of Anson Call, and about some of our special spiritual experiences on this mission with the youth as they come and trek.Bryan Snow brought up Alison and Becca who were at girls camp. Ian left about 9:00 pm. It was a very wonderful day with family. Lisa and family are staying over night once more.

Sunday August 13, we all left at 8:00 to go to Randolph, Utah and all the missionaries sang, and the McDowells and Elder Ekins talked in church. They meet in the tabernacle there for church. Geo Peart had all of us over for dinner. He has a house on Main Street, and also has a old furniture store and soda fountain. We had a great time visiting and sharing some stories from trek this summer.

Elder Call with grandson Camden,, enjoying a few minutes with a sleepy boy. 

Elder Call churning the Ice Cream

The Piersons Family, Jonny, Alison, Becca, Issac Snow, Lisa and Patrick Pierson.Eating lunch at Geo Pearts.

Sister and Elder Call at Geo Pearts.

We went with the Ekins to a Post Trek Fireside in Bountiful. This was our trek from two weeks ago and it was so fun to visit with all these wonderful people we have come to love. They treated us so well and it was such a spiritual fireside, we will treasure the memories we had with them, and stay connected with a lot of them.

A nice thank you card and DVD from the Bountiful South Stake