Jun 30
It has been a very busy few days. This evening the Canadians are treating us to a great dinner to celebrate Canada Day. It is actually tomorrow, but that would not sit well to have that celebration on the Sabbath. Then on the fourth we have the typical Independence Day Hurrah and then in the evening the fireworks on the lake in Alcova. We do have a fireban, but we don't know if that includes the lake.
The sprinklers are all done and just the sod is missing.
During this time we went to the Alcova Dam and watched as the Pelicans made their approaches into the spillway churning waters. Those birds are so professional in their flying skills. Their wingspan was easy five feet.
During the the time that we were Camp Hoasts here at Ranch 66 we helped teach the visitors, and there were lots of them camping in tents or travel trailers, the fine art of square dancing. It was quite a sight with fifty percent being small children. The main thing is that everyone had fun for the three days that we danced here at the Missionary Village. Ephraim Hanks came to tell his story to all who wanted to hear it.
We also had another angry rattlesnake under one of the camp trailers and it was removed to the other side of the fence. We are sure to check every day under the motorhomes and trailers since the snakes like to lay next to the warm tires during the night.
President Lorimer from the Riverton Stake came to give us a fireside about the process of creating a visitor center, walking trails, and bridges across the Sweetwater River. There is a Veil Bridge to commemorate the Rescue and a footbridge at the water crossing site so no-one has to go through the water again.
We are the recipients of smoke and dust frfom the fires in Utah and Colorado. At time we can not see the mountains which are not that far away. A little wind does help to thin out the smoke, but it is mostly a small gale when it does blow.
Last evening we had a water mellon bash under the few trees that are here and most of the missionaries were able to come, sit, and swap stories of other missions served. It was a good time until the weather turned into a dry thunderstorm.
This afternoon Bernice and I will serve at the visitor center (VC) which covers the VC, the Blacksmith Shop, The Simones Store (Fort), the Prairie Park and the Martin's Cove welcome log cabin. Sometimes visitors just stop by to use the facilities which are the cleanest this side of New York and Los Angeles.
We wish all a great fourth of July and may you have a safe celebration. Solong, Shalom, L'chaim, until next time.
Much later:
We had a wonderful day at the visitor center. Lots of young children came to the blacksmith shop and I made Prairie diamonds for them. The custom made kind. No-one came to the Fort while I was on watch, but they sure made up for it at the blacksmith shop.
We were home, in our box, by 7:15PM and finished the cupcakes. Then off to the Canadian Day celebration at the pavilion. We had a wonderful time and the food was outstanding. We even had Canadian water to drink. Now it is time to call it a day.
Jul 1
Closing out the fast was another too much food, too many choices affair. Since we celebrated Canada day yesterday, a day early, it just spilled over into today.
We had an overflowing crowd in our three hour block and they came from all over the US of A. Some came to be with parents or g. parents and some passed by on the highway and thought to stop. All are welcome and the more the merrier.
This last week we had several General Authorities come and visit, talk to the trek-ers, and see for themselves the various posts here and at Sixth Crossing. Everyone visiting here seems to be impressed with the Spirit and the friendliness and dedication of the MHHS (Mormon Handcart Historic Sites) Missionaries.
Surprisingly there were no serious injuries this last week. One can not discount a few sprained ankles, or a few sore muscles.
Jul 2
We had a great Home Evening with one of the couples being the host and facilitators. When we first arrived here, a list was generated for all the Mondays while here at MHHS (Mormon Historic Handcart site). We drew the short straw and ours will not come up until the first week in October. It was an interactive H.E. and that way all could participate. The treats or refreshments were ice cream sandwiches, chocolate or vanilla.
That was such a nice way to finish an otherwise stressful day.
Bernice is continuing to work on the pamphlet inventory and that certainly is not an easy job. Besides the pamphlets for this site, we have pamphlets for most historic sites in Wyoming. She has to make sure that the brochures are ordered in a timely manner so that we do not have shortages. Bernice also serves in the Museum and has sewn a couple of skirts to fit into the theme of pioneer costume. With both of us sewing and computing, sometimes we even get to see the top of the motorhome table.
Jul 3
The third of July already, my, how the time does fly. Yesterday I was working on a new lift station and while lifting out the effluent filter a couple of us almost fell into the open hole of the effluent storage. We had a good laugh about it and then we covered up the hole. The preventive maintenance at the homestead is a constant concern. Up to seven hundred people stop by per day, including Trek-ers, and the hygene facilities have been at maximum capacity. We are changing the pump system and leach fields so that the system can handle the daily requirements. The Lord has blessed this historic site with people who have just the kind of expertise needed here at any given moment.
Today Bernice and I were stationed at the handcart parking post. That is where trek-ers or anyone who pulls a handcart has to leave it before going into the Martin's Cove area. Oscar was there as usual with his adopted trek group from Elko, Nevada. Then several families came with their little children who enjoyed pulling and pushing their cart. We were asked to tell stories which we did and the "pilgrams" enjoyed them. It ads so much to the Spirit of the trek to know what our pioneers went through and how they handled their dire situations.
Jul 4
What a blast we had today. First, we were on restroom detail and 400 plus people do not leave clean restrooms. I almost got tired cleaning up after the trek-ers. Bernice had to call me to repentance several times.
Then at 7:00PM we got dressed into our pioneer garb to play Express Rider to a trek group. When we arrived at their camp site, they were no where ready for any activity other than fixing their evening meal. So we went back to the Missionary Village and joined the festivities there.
There were tables of various dishes, salads of all kinds, BBQ'd sausages, hamburgers, weeners. Anything you wanted, was there. Lots of water melon, ice cold to the touch and taste. We made a three bean salad with onions slivers, vinegar, oil and sugar with seasonings. We brought some of it home and will have it tomorrow when we get off in the afternoon. After the meal we danced to the Golden Oldies and one of the brethren brought his Kariokee? machine to which we sang and danced. A good time was held by all. All this after a day of managing three trek groups and several family reunion groups. Oh yes, Oscar has been around and adopted the trek group from Hurricane, Utah.
The air was very smokie for most of the day, but that did not lesson the sun doing its thing on my face. Today I did not wear my hat, but then the hat does very little to lesson the sun impact.
Time for a well deserved rest; good night.
Jul 5
Today we served in the visitor center which comprises the center, the blacksmith shop, the fort, the museum, and the humanitarian center. We have two hour shifts adn walk from one to the other. Sometimes we are very busy with explaining the various features of each place and the spirit that goes with each place.
The were some hotdogs and hamburger left from last night and after our shift we had lunch in the barn with all the trimmings. Now it is rest time before we have to go and square dance with a group from Hurricane, Utah at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Maybe it will cool down some before the dance time.
It is later now and we just returned from dancing in the wind. It was hard to hear the caller with the wind taking away the words and music. Then we stopped at one of the "boxes" close to us in circle "C" and listened as an Elder and Sister told the story of Ephraim Hanks and Thisbe Reed. It was in a little circle with their visiting family.
We started to go to the Pavilian and try to go on the Internet when we were stopped by a camper sister and invited to have a fresh scone with honey butter. She insisted that we take more scones and share them with other missionaries. We did share them with Eph. Hanks and Thisbee Reed. They had not eaten since this morning and were overjoyed to have warm scones with honey butter. There are lots of campers here for the next two days. Most all of the camp sites are filled and the cars and vans are parked such that they protect the tents from the high winds.
Outside the wind and sky are threatening. Clouds are billowing, the wind is starting to be cool, campers sit around their simulated camp fires with blankets on their laps. Maybe the Lord will bless us with some much needed rain. We haven't washed our car, so maybe it will not rain.
As missionaries left the camp this morning a rattle snake was coiled up along our road, being disturbed by the passing cars, and not wanting to waste her poison she just waited till all of us were gone before slithering along her way.
The restrooms at the "Womens Pull" attracted a rattle snake a couple of mornings ago and the "Bumble Bee" restroom cleaners made sure that this snake would not harm anyone. So far we have been very fortunate with this type of incidents. There are quite a few scrapes, ankle and knee soreness, some shoulders from putting them against the wheels, and sore tummies from eating too much and not drinking enough water. The altitude and dryness of the prairie dehydrates a body much faster than one would suspect.
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