WE WELCOMED SPECIAL VISITORS

This week started out with a long-awaited visit from Chris Billings, our liaison with the Missionary Department.  We appreciate him coming to visit our site and see its beauties and feel the spirit here.  Even though he is young (some of our missionaries wondered why Elder Moench was taking a high school kid all over the site) he is very knowledgeable and listened to us so he could understand our challenges and to help us find solutions.

Chris gave a wonderful training session at both sites and helped us analyze our Missionary Purpose Statement and implement it into what we do each day with visitors, trekkers, and each other.  He even used his height to change the battery in a clock high on the wall of the Sixth Crossing Trek Center kitchen! 

On Friday President and Sister Anderson came to Casper for a conference with his missionaries there, and he brought his 10 senior couples with him on a visit to Martin's Cove including the Ferrins and the Schills.  None of them were able to walk the trails so we took them in rovers to the Martin's Cove overlook and monument where Elder Moench and Elder Bushman talked to them and told them pioneer stories.  

We also showed them Fort Seminoe and then fed them dinner.  After that all our missionaries were able to attend a fireside given by President and Sister Anderson at which he gave all of us a beautiful blessing.  Then they took time to let each of our missionary couples take a picture with them before they headed back to Casper and then on to Rapid City - a six hour drive.

The family of Gideon Williams, who made us 2 rickshaws for his Eagle Project this spring, came for a family baptism and brought some brass plaques to put on those rickshaws so we would always remember who made them. 

Gideon is currently serving in the Utah East Mission.

Saturday evening was warm and peaceful and calm.  It was beautiful to look around the buildings at the Homestead . . .

. . . and to look down towards the baptism area on the banks of the Sweetwater River - one of my favorite spots on the whole site . . .

. . . and then to look up at the triplex where we live and see the sky on fire behind it!

We truly love the beauties of Martin's Cove!  

These pictures were taken just as the grasses and plants were their very greenest . . .

. . . and now they have all gone to seed, coloring the landscape a light tan and making it look dry.

This will be our last summer here.  Come and see us!!