June 15, 2017 Finally . . . the Sixth Crossing Visitors' Center is dedicated!!

Sixth Crossing Visitors' Center Dedication

JUNE 15, 2017

Lorin and I headed back to Wyoming and stopped first at Rock Creek Hollow.  Except for the 2 missionary couples we were the only ones there, but it looked wonderful and green, and that special spirit is still there.

The Smiths are currently serving another summer mission at the Cody Murals in Cody, Wyoming, and they were able to come down for the dedication.  We met them here at Rock Creek, and it was SO great to see them again!

 Along the path we met Elder and Sister Freeman who were the MHHS Directors in 2009-2010, before the Fenns.  (Sorry, we forgot to take a picture.)
We also saw this cute couple, the Stokes, who served with the Fenns and also a year with the Bushmans. 

 After a lovely, memory-filled drive to Sixth Crossing, this is what greeted us at the gate - a river!!  It is deep and swift and was roaring across the road.  We were worried that our little Mustang might drown trying to get across.  There's a big lake to the right . . .

  . . . and another one to the left!

  Look what's missing - the former visitors' center.  
It's completely gone!!

The road down to Missionary Village was also full of water . . .

. . . with little ponds on both sides.

Pretty hard to play a round of golf 

at the Sweetwater Country Club in these conditions!

Everything looked just wonderful, and we were pleased to see how many of the trees that were planted between the trailers are growing.  Eventually they will shade the trailers and hide them from the view from the new visitors' center.

The dedication began at 6:oo pm so that the 3 trek groups who were there could finish trekking and attend.   

For that reason tickets were limited. 

 

The choir sang beautifully, and the talks by President and Sister Pace were wonderful. 

 

We sat next to John Bagley and his wife and the Brunsons, all of whom were instrumental in putting this building here.  

The Smiths and the Ormsbys sat behind us, and the Bells were there also.  It was crowded and busy, and we just couldn't get pictures of everyone.

 Elder Mervyn Arnold took the time to shake the hand of nearly every visitor in attendance (including us) and visit with them for a moment.  What a kind man he is!

Elder Soares gave a wonderful talk, bore a sweet testimony, and gave a beautiful dedicatory prayer.

Finally this building is finished and dedicated!

From the balcony it's amazing to look at all the flooding.  The trekkers have had to adjust their route to avoid the water, and there are no river crossings until the water level goes down.

 This visitors' center is very much a trekkers' visitors' center.  The displays are all about the rescue effort from Salt Lake, and at the end is a video of President Monson challenging them to seek out those whom they can rescue:  friends, family members, anyone within their circle of influence. 

After that beautiful dedication we had a crazy night at our hotel in Lander with these missionary friends, playing on our iPhones until 11:00 pm 
trying to find "Relatives Near Me" on Family Search.  

We discovered that we are ALL related in some way!  

Try it with your friends!

We headed to Martin's Cove in the morning.  

 It always feels like coming home to be here.

 The duplex on the hill is now painted a nice new brown color.

 The triplex where we lived looks pretty much the same, but better!  Now there is a nice little picnic area right there for visitors to use.

 We were thrilled to see the paved handicap parking.  

Our wheelchair daughter would have loved to use that 

when she came to visit us!

 We had not seen the new counter tops in the women's restrooms.
What an improvement!

 Elder and Sister Hunter were on R&R, 

making sure everything stayed nice and clean. 

Everything looked just wonderful:  Prairie Park, 

(love the new handcart stands!)

 The Visitors' Center, 

(love the cute horseshoe Welcome sign above this door 

and so many others)

 Fort Seminoe, 

(love the tents here and other places)

 The Trek Center and its beautiful green lawn,

(some years it was a struggle to keep this lawn alive!)

 The Barn, 

(we ate way too much at the Pot Lucks here!)

 Something's missing here - President Bushman's covered wagon!
Instead, there are piles of sandbags to hold back the Sweetwater.

We walked down to see how the willows were growing.  

They're doing just fine . . .

. . . but we were shocked to see this huge berm in the parking lot!

The Sweetwater overflowed its banks in the 1920's and flooded the entire Homestead area.  No one wants that to happen again!

Obviously it's a threat.  Look at these lakes down by the corrals!

Water, water everywhere!

And speaking of water, 

the Baptism area is completely flooded,

 even down to the handrail and the first row of benches!  No baptisms . . . 

 . . . and no river crossings.  

Look at these views from Veil Crossing Bridge. 

The Sweetwater is deep, fast, and furious!

 Pete Creek is full to capacity.

 Finally it was time to go home to SLC.
It's always hard to leave these Handcart Sites . . .

 . . . but we will always Remember them!