Biggest trek of the Year, most trekkers on the ranch this week

Sunday July 10, we sang in sacrament meeting in two different wards. Who would of ever thought we would be singing so much? The Pearts talked in one of the meetings and they did an excellent job. The second meeting at 1:00 I think a lot of the missionaries had a hard time keeping their eyes open for the whole meeting.

We had our good friend Paul Tucker and his daughter Megan and son-in-law Ben and their 3 children come up for the weekend. We took them on short 4 wheel ride, with their allergies it was short, but fun for the kids. They had a great time relaxing and watching videos, and playing games. and seeing the wildlife on the ranch.

Paul Tucker and Elder Call, friends for life

Monday night we had a wonderful family night with with the Stake Presidency from the Evanston Stake and, it was presented by the Dennis Family. They were here last Fathers Day when we came up to check out the ranch and serving a mission here. In 1985 Brother Dennis rode their horses over 576 miles from Chimney Rock to Fort Bridger. This took 31 days. He told of the different places on the trail where the pioneers came through and what happened at each place. They even made National Geographic magazine.

 This family was also involved with the "Second Rescue" in the Riverton Wyoming Stake of getting the names and doing all the Temple work for the Willy and Martin handcart members and doing their temple work. This is such an impressive story of miracles of how this all came about before the internet, that makes research so easy.

Brother Dennis did a lot of treks after that making handcarts out of the old electrical wire spools. We have come a long ways with treks since that time.

Brother Dennis, one of the first trekkers.

Jarem Dennis, sharing special experiences of trekking

7-11-16 Monday Slurpee Day. Stephanie Sabin had our 23rd grandchild.They live in Oklahoma. Proud parents Eric and Stephanie Sabin, and big brother Ethan. Little Mateo Paul Sabin arrived at 2:29 and was 7 lbs 10 ozs and 21 1/2 inches long. This is a special day, because it is Sister Call's mom's birthday and nine  year anniversary of Eric returning from his mission in the West Indies. Baby Mateo is doing well. Stephanie was diagnosed with post partum cardiomyopathy. She had a lot of specialist do many tests and will need to be watched very carefully for many months to come. They left the hospital on Saturday.

Mateo Paul Sabin, 7 lbs, 10 oz, 21 1/2/inches 

We had a rough week the last week on the handcarts and many repairs had to be done on them on Tuesday. We also call it port-a-john Tuesday now for the sisters as we get to sweep, spray them down with simple green, and wipe out as much dirt as possible. It is hard to keep anything very clean out here in the dirt. A lot of things about this mission are hard, but the rewards are so worth it. We just joke to the trekkers that dirt is the breakfast of champions.

Wednesday July 13, we had South Weber Stake come with 568 people and 47 handcarts. We were on trail 14 but did part of trail 29, so the first day was over 11 miles. We were with Elder and Sister Brinkerhoff, and Elder and Sister Higginson, Their theme was "Conquer Your Quest" They had 4 companies and one was the Young Single Adult Ward. It was good we had 6 missionaries since they spaced them out like 4 treks. They had two trail bosses for each company. They liked to do things on the trail and keep the youth out all day, instead of getting to camp and having their activities there. It was a challenge for the missionaries, but tried to accommodate their wishes.

The Call Clan, Elder and Sister Call and Tammy and Anson Bowen Call IV
his son was on the trek also and is Anson Bowen Call V.

Fireside, we had a lot of trekkers this week

Brother Welch, trail boss, Elder and Sister Brinkerhoff, Elder and Sister Call, Elder and Sister Higginson

This group had more blisters them all of our other ones put together. We think the doctors and medics put on yards and yards of moleskin. Every water stop which is about every 30 minutes of walking was 15 minutes with all the blister repair.

Elder  and Sister Snow who is the Church Historian was their guest speaker on Wednesday. We are so privileged to here some amazing firesides each week on these treks.

Elder and Sister Snow

There is a new 4 wheeler side by side that is a little bigger than the other ones and it really kicks up the dust and fills the inside with dust. We had it this week, and so the three sisters who drove it this week were covered with dirt, so we loved walking instead of having to drive it.

Thursday is usually the night for the hoedown and then a special devotional by a member of the Stake Presidency.

Hoedowns are always fun

Friday they had a really nice woman's pull and the young men sang at the top as the woman came up the hill. With this large of a group it was really loud and didn't get drowned out with the wind. It was all good and then they had their meeting afterwards with their own individual families. We trekked down the trail about two more miles and had lunch by families and solo time with letters after lunch in a meadow. One of the young men wanted to see cows so bad. They had moved them just a few days before and there were many cow pies as evidence in eating lunch and solo time.

Solo time at lunch on the trail. 

I walked a lot with the the trail bosses of Trudy and Dirk the blue company, and got to know them and there medic Keith. It was like my own little trek, since this stake really liked to keep the 4 groups separated.

At camp they had a lot of games of tug a war, cow pie frisbe toss, calf roping, kubb, a viking game. log sawing, board games of Chinese checkers and checkers. Also crafts of tic-tac-toe made with rocks and then making punch letters on washers to make necklaces. The biggest hit was the beauty salon, where they washed with conditioner and small bottles of water the youths hair and then braided it and also did foot washing with cold water. By the third day of trekking they loved any part of being able to be clean.

Beanbag toss

Team snowshowing

Cow pie frisby

lassoing

The food all week was excellent, as all our treks feed us so well. We tell them there is only one problem with it and that is they feed us too well.

Beautiful sunsets on the ranch

At the end of the trek as we were coming back into staging thy gave us each a white handkerchief.

In Pioneer times, a white handkerchief was often waved to welcome home those who had been away, show support to those leaving to serve the Lord, and a sign of love to family and friends. Today as you complete this Pioneer Trek, we give you a white handkerchief for the very same reasons. Families can be forever. So go forth, and Conquer you Quest.

The weeks gifts, of song book, handkerchief,neckerchief,and games made.

Fifth week of trekking, textbook trek

We started out on Monday the 4th of July with pulling a handcart and walking and throwing out candy in the Woodruff 4th of July parade. It was so much fun! The whole parade is about 3 blocks long and then we turn around and walk back the other direction. There were lots of horses with the royalty from all the near by towns, lots of old cars and trailers pulling some groups. There was one dance team that had music, and us with Elder Higginson, Elder and Sister Barton playing harmonicas. We won the best entry, so with that being said you know how small a parade it was. There was so much candy being thrown out the kids had buckets full.

Waiting to go with our handcart in the parade

Some of the missionaries ready for the parade

Part of the queens in the parade

One of the cars in the parade

Trying to be Mater

This is the float in front of us with some of the cowboy families.

Elder and Sister Call in the parade

Linda Shirley, Sister Call's former manager and her roommate Janice Foutz, and Darwin and Deanna Kocherhans, friends from Orem came for the weekend to visit. We drove in the 4 wheeler over some pretty dusty trails, and they attended church with us on Sunday. Darwin went fishing on Monday afternoon with Elder Ekins, and Elder Higginson. He was the only one to catch a fish. We went to Randolph to see President Wilford Woodruff's home, and had lunch at the park. There was a group singing and doing cowboy poetry, a fun small town 4th of July.

Deanna and Darwin Kocherhans at the Wilford Woodruff home in Randolph

Linda Shirley and Janice Foutz, a fun weekend with them.

Elder and Sister Call 

Evanston is the place to be for fireworks on the 4th of July. The whole sky is lit up by everyone lighting them off. We had a wonderful view for almost an hour long show. We enjoyed a fun night with the Bartons, Pearts, and Cowans.

A long day of cart repairs and port-a-john cleaning and planning for the stake coming on Tuesday. We finished up that night after 8:00 pm.

Wednesday we started out early in staging as Maple Mountain Stake from Spanish Fork came. There theme was "Fight for the Kingdom- Press Forward in Faith." This is the stake next to us in Spanish Fork, and we went to their pre-trek fireside. Elder Call's niece and husband were Ma and Pa's and two of their children came and two of his nieces children came from Abu Dhabi. Also our dentist was one of the captains and he is also a bishop in the stake. Wednesday theme: Walk Humbly

Elder and Sister Call, four great-nieces and great-nephews, Todd and Karie Powell.

We were on trail 6 with Elder and Sister Hutchings, This trail is beautiful when you get to the second night camp, it is by the aspen trees. It is a long first day of 10 miles, and the third day of 10 miles.We had over 450 on this trek with 40 carts.

Elder and Sister Hutchings, and Sister and Elder Call

They had everything so well planned out and we facilitated it to make to happen. We placed a broken handcart on the trail, and then took some leaders in the 4 wheeler to place them as Indians with a sign that said Indian Territory. Then there were people dead, and a mother kneeling by the handcart and a man trying to fix the handcart. They had to walk in silence for one mile while they were in Indian Territory.

Silent vignette of broken down handcart in Indian Territory.

Thursday theme: Faith and Trust, the day started early for us as we had to be at camp by 6:00. They woke up everyone with a mob scene and driving the youth out without breakfast. Over the speakers they had gun shots and yelling you Mormons get out of here, then shaking the tents and yelling to get out. There were over 150 tents so this took awhile. Then down the trail a mile was breakfast. They had two youth that came that were non members and called out were not Mormons. On the way out they discussed with each company the extermination order, and what it was all about driving out the Mormons.

Mobsters forcing trekkers out of camp.

Along the trail was violins playing, "Come, Come, Ye Saints," as they came down by a small lake. 

At camp on Thursday after everything was set up they divided into there 9 companies and had 9 different vignettes. They rotated the people performing around after about every 5 minutes. We were taught a great fun pioneer song, The youth committee did so much planning and involved in all of this. 

A company watching the 9 different vignettes in the afternoon at camp.

Then there was games. A slingshot throw at a 9 foot Goliath. Tug of war, mine field where someone is blind folded and has to lead the people to not step on cow pies. Gunny sack races, three legged races, kick ball, relay races. They had a wonderful time. Them a hoedown that night where they danced until 10:00 way after dark. We get to drive the hoedown caller out to the gate and there was a beautiful crescent moon that seemed right over the horizon as it kept appearing and disappearing over the hills. We arrived back to our trailer after 11:00. We rely on the blessing from Elder Durham that our bodies will be renewed and every morning they are. This is sacred ground and we are blessed everyday to serve here.

Elder Call and Goliath

Blind, minefield

4 way tug-of-war

Three legged race

Hoedown

Friday theme: Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ. Friday was an amazing Woman's Pull. They took our advise on things to do to make it spiritual and it was so touching. Music at the end on their sound system and the men lining the path with their hats over their hearts and the women not running back down to help the others. So moving, that really touched the young men. There were lots of tears from these young men. It was touching to walk through these young men.

Coming up the Woman's pull

Vignettes later that day that we helped getting them in place. A couple burying a baby, and the women with jerky in their aprons from the cave. There was a Cholera outbreak and each handcart had someone get sick and ride in the handcart. When they see a post with a white handkerchief on it they are healed, they talk about how Christ heals us. The trading post for the youth to buy candy and trinkets with beans. A beautiful fireside with the wards and then with their families.

We had one young man on the trek that was blind and used a walking stick. It is amazing the faith of many of these youth and what they do to come and participate.

Blind young man with his walking stick. So impressive.

Each night they had about a five minute video shown on the side of the trailer. Wednesday was "Joy in the Journey" Thursday was "Prayer of a walking child"

Saturday theme: Endure to the End: We had such a perfect trek, at staging waiting for the buses they thanked the missionaries and sang "As I have loved you." they gave everyone a T-shirt with the theme on it and it is to remind them as they go back into the world after this trek, they are on their own trek through life.

Waiting for the buses to come, enjoying one last devotional with a talk on "What is Zion"

Brother Larsen talked about Zion and what it is: family, harmony, love, unity, communion with God and his children. Bringing all his children together and Heaven was cheering.

Elder and Sister Hutchings, Mark and Maryann Larsen, Sister and Elder Call

The T-shirt with the Payson Temple, journal and thank you card, dog tag with the theme

Tulips or Two Lips on the Prarie

Monday June 27th started with mowing lawns and sprucing up the area as Elder Durham, our area authority 70, was coming with his wife for two days.  Sister Durham was just released as a councilor in the General Primary Presidency and spoke in last General Conference. They were very fun to have around.  Each missionary couple had an interview with them to see how we were doing and to learn more about us.  We had a big turkey dinner (like Thanksgiving) Monday night and then they did a fireside. The Evanston Stake Presidency also came. It was a very special night.  He talked about charity and how we need it for ourselves and each other and everyone we serve and gave us a blessing that as we served we would receive the gift of charity in our lives.  He also talked about doubt not fear not for the Lord is in charge. That proved so true for me this week as we trekked with the Fruits Heights Stake (350 people and 31 handcarts). They loaded everything in their carts, tarps, buckets, table, poles and 2x4's for building their shelters, dutch ovens, sleeping bags and everything they had. There had to be at least 400 to 500 lbs of gear in each handcart.  Some were piled 7 feet high. The first day of trekking was trying to retie and hold all that stuff together over bumpy trails and badger holes. The lead cart carried the American flag.

We love to see the American Flag on the handcarts

We were on this trek with Elder and Sister Barton, and Elder and Sister Higginson. Three missionary couples this week. We were the lead couple on this and we had Gary and Lisa Larson as the trail bosses and they were so great to work with. This stake has been doing treks every 4 years since 1997 and they were very organized. All of the Stake Presidency came, and Pres Edgington  has run his sheep on this ranch for many years. Pres McKay has a ranch in Huntsville and a house next to the President David O McKay's home. They both know this ranch so well.

Call's, Barton's, and Higginson's

President McKay, Elder Call, President Sargent, President Edgington

The first night in camp one of the girls asked me if we walk home at night, back to our trailers, then her Pa told her he has a heater for their tarp tents, she said really? I told her we plug it into a current bush. She asked what currents were, I explained about little red berries. She still didn't get it after I explained about electricity and current. She was so gullible. 

Tarp City

We had Hawaiian haystacks and every time we have these it rains, well it did rain not much but enough to cool it off at night. There theme is OHANA, means family, Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. A Hawaiian based theme. They had linen table clothes out in the dirt, very impressive.

Linen tablecloths for the Hawaiian Haystacks Dinner

There was one game they called tulips on the prairie that was quite a sight to behold.  The medical staff referred to it as face tag, Elder Barton called it a combination of Wrestling and the Dating Game.  They all gathered in a circle and each boy and girl were assigned a letter or number.  One would sit in the middle and they would call out a letter for a boy and one for a girl and then they would try to kiss the one on the cheek that was running before they could get to the one in the middle and kiss them on the cheek.  It was crazy watching some of the tackles that took place all to try to stay out of the middle.  This has been a tradition for their stake at each of their last 4 treks.  No one had ever gotten hurt before but this one resulted in one broken collarbone, one concussion and one black eye (the collarbone and concussion were boys).  The young women that gave the young man the concussion was given the number 54 on the back of her shirt, a football line backer number, and she wore it proudly.  These kids were intense!

They had a great fireside on Friday night with Elder Gary Coleman an emeritus 70.  He spoke about our pre-existence with our Heavenly Father and how we are all fore ordained to be here at this time.  It was good to hear, and believe me we have strong youth both physically and spiritually.

Every trek we meet people who have connections with people we know. One nurse flew with Sister Call's brother, Gary Silver who is a Doctor and went in his private plane to pick up patients in the intermountain West area. She told a crazy story about that. The port-a-john driver does research at the U of U and did a lot of research with Dr Bromberg who was the neurologist that took care of Sister Call's first husband Paul Sabin, who died of ALS, Another medical couple comes from Anson Call's wife Margaretta Clark, who Anson rescued from the Martin Handcart company.

We were on trail 14 and it was about 25, miles long. We had a wonderful week with the Fruit Heights Stake. 

Flowers in the urinals in the port-a-johns in the ones labeled for the woman

Games played, steal the pig

Hawaiian dress up relay game

Hawaiian stick toss game

Hoedown dance, they all love to get involved in dancing

A sweet sister would wash all the girls feet when they got to camp

The leaders, kitchen helpers, and support drivers on the last day

They wrote on their trailer on the last morning before leaving

The other side of the trailer at staging

Theme for the week