A WEEK OF "LASTS!"

Our last morning Correlation Meeting . . .

. . . our last work assignments for the year, including cutting down the flowers and plants we've been watering all summer . . .

. . . and putting away all the handcarts . . . 

 . . . first at the Trek Center . . .

. . . and then at the Barn, being careful to leave space around them so that the winter missionaries can walk there this winter when it is too cold and snowy and windy to walk outside.

Somehow numerous knots got ties on the last covered handcart, 
but we finally got them loose . . .

 . . . and the last wagon got pushed into the Barn.

Many missionaries went out to Handcart Parking to put away the tables under the cover of the pavilion there.

Others concentrated on draining and blowing out all the water lines, both at Ranch 66 and at the Homestead.

The Laytons posed in front of just a few of the projects they created this summer.

It was a week of many gifts:
Sister Smith and Sister Butler created two beautiful quilts for us to give away at our Christmas Party this December, 
and another one was made by the sisters at Sixth Crossing.

Elder and Sister Williams made us a beautiful sign that came from the tree we cut down a year ago in front of the Visitors' Center.

Sister Stimpson painted a pioneer scene
with a clock as the handcart wheel!

We have received countless beautiful gifts all summer long from our sweet missionaries:  books, keychains, pioneer dolls, neckerchief slides, plaques. signs, leatherwork, crocheted and knitted items, stained glass, "sheepy" items of all kinds, plus lots and lots of delicious food and many other loved and treasured gifts.  Thank you for all of them!

Finally the time came to say goodbye.  

There were lots of hugs and tears and goodbye waves.

It was hard to see those RVs drive through the archway
for the last time.

There was one last, kind of small, but fun "get rid of everything in your refrigerator" meal together at Missionary Village.  
The evening was warm and lovely with NO wind!

And then EVERYONE was gone.
What was once a bustling, friendly, loving Missionary Village is now a virtual ghost town!

Just look at the "befores" and the "afters."

That was a lonely day, but we'll see you all next summer: 

July 11, 2015!

Happy Trails to You . . . Till We Meet Again!

FAREWELL TO OUR SIXTH CROSSING MISSIONARIES!

Several weeks ago we began saying goodbye to our dear missionaries at Sixth Crossing.  A fun farewell dinner was given to honor the Hutchinsons and the Martins, winter missionaries who have given their all for 18 months and have provided loving leadership at Sixth Crossing.

Lots of beautiful gifts were given including blankets picturing the Martins, the Hutchinsons, and the Moenches.

Then last week it was time to say goodbye to ALL the missionaries.  The night before they were to leave there was another wonderful meal, trying to use up whatever was leftover.  Sister Bunnage and her amazing kitchen crew can make a gourmet meal out of anything on hand!

Sister Baker and I sang "Happy Trails to You" accompanied by Sister Petersen.

Sister Bell rounded out the night by having all those whose birthdays did not get celebrated during the summer months come up for a rousing Happy Birthday song and a delicious piece of Birthday Cake.

Then Elder Tippets and Sister Jones unveiled a special project they completed for Rock Creek Hollow - a new guest register, complete with maps, pictures, and information on the top and brochures, Books of Mormon, and two places to sign in - one for visitors and one for trek groups.  This has been a dream for Sister Jones since last summer, and now Elder Tippets has built it, and it will be installed next summer.

As soon as the dinner was over the missionaries lost no time filling the Trek Center with handcarts to be stored there over the winter.

As the last handcarts were brought in there was a beautiful sunset in the west.

It even reflected in the windows of the new Visitors' Center, 

which we hope will be in use soon - maybe even next summer!

 Now everyone has left and we say,
 "Thank you and Goodbye!  We love you!"

Don't forget our reunion:  Saturday, July 11, 2015

TREK LEADER TRAINING and a FAREWELL CRUISE

Each September we do three weekends of Trek Leader Training - something that is required for ward, stake or family groups before they can come to Mormon Handcart Historic Sites to trek.  Many trek leaders came here and camped out the night before.

On each of the Friday mornings the Trek Leaders registered 
at what we now call "Outfitting" instead of "Staging" . . .

 . . . and after a few stories at Ft. Seminoe we had a short orientation at the Trek Center . . .

. . . and then sent them out on the trail at Martin's Cove for a day of trekking.  

They started by pulling their handcarts over Pete Creek and hearing the experience of Amy Loader who cried because she was afraid to cross it.

 After a full day of trekking and learning at Martin's Cove . . .

. . . we fed them dinner at the Barn and talked about medical issues . . .

. . . food for their treks . . .

 . . . the Pony Express . . . 

. . . and a little melodrama about proper dress for the trek.  This year's melodrama had some unexpected lines that broke everyone up.

 But everyone still got the message . . .

. . . and hopefully they will be prepared when they come to trek!

  We needed two different casts . . .

 . . . and they both did a terrific job!

 Then we took the trek leaders outside the Barn 
and taught them how to square dance . . .

 . . . so they could go home and teach it to their kids.

Each of the Saturdays we had training at Sixth Crossing so the Trek Leaders could see that site also.  The missionaries there have worked hard to beautify the Trek Center with a new wooden rail in the loft area and beautiful pictures of venues along the trail and at Rock Creek Hollow.

We fed them breakfast there and then after a beautiful song by Elder Woodbury called Prayer of the Walking Child, information was given by the trek schedulers.  Elder Moench talked to them and then there was a question and answer period.

After that we presented a Readers' Theater that ended with the powerful song, God Was There, and then there was a short talk about using music on the trail. 

The last thing is called Come Take Your Place and we invite leaders to go home and think about all they have learned so they can plan their treks successfully.  

We mingled with them at lunch to answer any other questions.

SWEETWATER CRUISE !!
The Martin's Cove Farewell Party this year 
became a cruise on "Sweetwater Cruise Lines." 

Our amazing activities committee transformed the Barn into a cruise ship! 

 Everyone dressed in their best outfits and there were corsages and boutonnieres for the men (silk, of course, but still beautiful!)

After another delicious meal we had a slide show and each couple came up to the microphone to tell about their favorite vacation spot.  

Pictures were taken of us with each couple . . .


 . . . and then we were entertained by the fabulous Poison Spider Boys!

It was really a fun night!

We are going to be so sad and lonely when all our dear missionaries return to their homes!  On their way back to Missionary Village everyone got to see our latest project - lighting the archway into the Homestead! 

  Hopefully everyone will be able to find us now - even when it's dark!