Sunday, July 29, 2012

Kyler's Baptism and Oscar's Tribute



This week has been a memorable one for us at MHHS.  Kyler and his family were trekking here this week.  They started at the Willie Sixth Crossing site on Thursday, arriving here at the Martin's Cove site Thursday night and then trekking here all day Friday.  They had the full experience, beginning with a touching orientation from Elder Davis and then walking along the trail across Veil Crossing Bridge and up to Martin's Cove.  They experienced a river crossing re-enactment of the Martin handcart companies November 3, 1856 Sweetwater River crossing as they sought shelter in a nearby ravine that would become known as Martin's Cove.  Last was a womans pull where Jared and Kyler hiked on ahead and Becky and Emmalie pulled and pushed the handcart alone up a steep sand covered hill.  They knew they could do hard things if necessary and this was a test of their endurance and strength after two long days of trekking. 


That night they camped at Cherry Creek Campground with trek groups of hundreds of youth who were here to experience this same kind of challenge.  They came seeking understanding of what really happened with the handcart pioneers in 1856. 


The culmination of their trekkking experience came on Saturday as Kyler was baptized in the Sweetwater River here at the Martin's Cove site.  He turned eight in February and has been anxiously waiting for July when the family could have this multi-day event.  It was a wonderful baptismal service, full of love and the Spirit and Kyler's sweet testimony that he could feel special things happened here and in the cove.


An unusual occurance took place that has special meaning to us.  Minutes before the baptism was to take place, while the program was proceeding with several speakers, a large white dog named Oscar came on the scene and went into the river near where Kyler and the guests were seated.  He stayed there a few minutes, and then when Ky and Jared descended down the bank into the river, Oscar came out.  He stood on the bank and watched as the sacred baptismal ordinance was performed, then circled around the group and watched and waited for Kyler to come up the bank and then the steps to join the waiting group of family and friends.



As Ky headed off to change into dry clothing a few minutes later, Oscar approached and stood near him, then walked with him across the grass to the restroom.  Ky leaned over and said "thanks for coming to my baptism Oscar" and put his hand on his head as they walked off together.  It was precious, and classic Oscar. 


Oscar often shows up unexpectedly for young people and trek groups.  We never know where and when he will be here.  He loves to be with the youth and will choose a trek group and stay with them their entire trek experience.  He was at the base of the cove on Friday when Kyler and his family were there.  Ky spent about 10 minutes with him that day.  He sat down beside him and just talked to him and petted him.  He told him he was being baptized on Saturday.  Later that afternoon as he and his family were driving home Kyler expressed that he wasn't surprised Oscar had come, because he was invited. 



The leadership here at the mission expressed that in the four years they've been here they've never seen Oscar come to a baptism, and never seen him do anything like what he did with Kyler at the baptism.   Those of us here who have heard Oscar stories the last 3 months know that he watches out for the youth and families who come here.  He once protected some youth from a rattlesnake that had gotten into their tent.  Another time he stopped a family from leaving in their RV without their little child who's absence had been overlooked.  Just last week he chose a young trekker who was having medical challenges and stayed with her throughout her trek experience.  He's a special visitor here to the site each summer, coming from a ranch some distance away, and showing up each trek season and staying until the last trek group leaves.  We're grateful Oscar added a special element of gentleness and love that made Ky's baptism in the Sweetwater River even more memorable and special.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Trekkers!

They arrive each week, anytime from Monday to Wednesday, and stay for 3-5 days.  They fill the air with their excited laughter and the grounds here at Martin's Cove and Willie Sixth Crossing with the vibrancy and exuberance that is found only in the young.  Most have been waiting for four years for this experience.  That's the waiting list and time frame necessary for trek groups from Wards and Stakes.  Each June the trekking season begins, as summer break from school begins.  Each August the trek groups slowly diminish, until by the last week there are no trekkers on the trails except family groups.

Buses and cars in Staging area

Kids getting their handcarts
Orientation before starting on Trek

As they meet each evening in nearby semi-primitive campgrounds (pit toilets, water pumps, fire rings and log benches scattered amidst the sagebrush); they share the stories of the hand cart pioneers they're "walking for".  Many carry a name and have researched that individual and their experiences and challenges as they crossed the plains on their 1300  mile journey for religious freedom and sacred ordinances to be obtained only in  holy houses of God. Testimony meetings at the close of their trek experience are tender and filled with love of God, appreciation for their fellow trekkers who have helped and buoyed them up through hard times on the trail, gratitude for parents who are recognized anew for their sacrifices and devotion, and a new-found respect and awe for those who came before at such a high price, all for the gospel's sake. 
There is no experience like trekking to bless the lives of the youth of the Church.  It is a marvelous work and a wonder.

Some of our groups are small - just a little family trying to understand and appreciate the handcart experience.  Oscar the dog has adopted this family for the day and stays with them throughout their experience.




This shot was taken across the valley so is not a good detail one,
but I love the American flags that each handcart carried on this
special day, the birth of our country - July 4th.


We have a few trek groups that are small, only 20-40 youth and leaders.  Most are 125-350, some up to 400.  They come from all over the USA-Montana, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Illinois, California, Arkansas, Nevada, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Iowa - & many states beyond for our smaller family groups.







In the evenings, after trekking 7-14 miles, they gather to learn how to square dance.  We have this opportunity to teach the youth 2-4 nights each week.  It's a joy to see them catch on and then become exuberant in their dancing.  Tired feet and aches and pains are forgotten in the fun of the moment.  We see how the pioneers were at times able to relax and find happiness in this simple pleasure after a hard days travel.


Trekking is GREAT!!!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Trying to Catch Up - Blog entries still coming!

One of the challenges of life in a remote campground, in a box on wheels, is the inefficiency of the technology we've always taken for granted.  Internet service has been poor to non-existent for the entire time we've been here.  Recent upgrades and extensive work and labors by an internet specialist senior missionary serving here (Elder Onstine), has finally paid off as we have more reliable service.  But the crazy WY winds and atmosphere seems to still play havoc with consistent connnections. 

All that being said...I'm trying to get many many past happenings posted on this blog.  So if you check in and it looks like there's nothing new, scroll down and take a look at older posts.  I'm adding happenings from the past in date sequence.  If you double click on the photo it will enlarge.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Rattlesnakes!

I had a close encounter with a rattlesnake this week.  It was actually one of the scariest situations I've ever found myself in, but since I rarely go anywhere without my camera these days, lest I miss some golden photo op, I have the photo to prove my close call with calamity.  Never wanted to have that experience, and now that I've had it, I hope I never do again.  Miraculously, there was a sister missionary nearby in an atv who came to my rescue as I was out in a field and afraid to go forward, backward or sideways, lest I run into another snake while trying to escape the one who was a foot or two away from me.  There are many rattlers in the area, but this encounter was way to close for comfort.  When others heard about it the story got bigger and better each time I told it!  It even went well with some music that we were rehearsing in band practice, and before you know it a new song was born!


 
When Rattlesnakes Came to Play
                           (sung to the tune of Grandma’s Feather Bed)
     July 2012 – Mormon Handcart Historic Sites in WY 

When I was older n’ dirt, lovin’ my rockin’ chair, 
It felt like time to serve the Lord, lookin’ fer adventure thru prayer.
So I took my love, I took my “box”, and headed where the antelope play. 
Had adventures a plenty until one day – when rattlesnakes came to play.

 Chorus:
He was 20 feet long and 5 feet high, coiled up and ready to strike.
Head dartin’ forward, tongue shootin’ out, just beggin’ me to come out n’ fight
It’s rattlers rattlin’, he’s callin’ his friends – “live ones here in our space”,
Almost died on the plains by Sweetwater crossin’ – when rattlesnakes came to play.

Well I love the Cove, I love Veil Bridge, love Handcart Parkin’ too, but I never will forget the Footbridge day – when rattlesnakes came to play.
I was walkin’ off the trail, walkin’ in sage, walkin’ where nobody goes
Walkin’ where only dirt and bunnies are – and rattlesnakes come to play. 

 Chorus:
He was 20 feet long and 5 feet high, coiled up and ready to strike.
Head dartin’ forward, tongue shootin’ out, just beggin’ me to come out n’ fight
It’s rattlers rattlin’, he’s callin’ his friends – “live ones here in our space”,
Almost died on the plains by Sweetwater crossin’ – when rattlesnakes came to play.

They were waitin’ for missionaries, innocent & dumb, city slickers workin’ for the Lord.
But we ain’t really dumb, we have hidden help, and rescuers are part of the plan…
There was Sister Starr, off-road rover drivin’ – buffalo meat hangin’ on the side
She swooped right in and layed him low, no more rattlesnakes out to play.

 Chorus:
He was 20 feet long and 5 feet high, coiled up and ready to strike.
Head dartin’ forward, tongue shootin’ out, just beggin’ me to come out n’ fight
It’s rattlers rattlin’, he’s callin’ his friends – “live ones here in our space”,
Almost died on the plains by Sweetwater crossin’ – when rattlesnakes came to play.


Thursday, July 5, 2012

Faith to work miracles

We recently learned of the story of Ann Malin.  To follow is the account given of her (Tell My Story, Too - Jolene Allphin):

"Ann heard the Mormon missionaries, studied, and with a prayerful heart was baptized as a member of the Church in 1850 at the age of 18.  After five years of hard work, she saved enough money for passage to America on the ship Horizon...Ann had gone to the shipping docks and was engaged as the cook for the captain and crew of this ship.  They landed in Boston on July 18 (1856) and continued to Iowa where she was hired as a cook in the John Hunt's wagon company.  This company was instructed to follow closely behind the Martin Handcart Company and render any needed assistance.

In late October, food became scarce.  If an animal fell down from exhaustion it was immediately killed and dressed for food.  The rawhides were cut into strips and used to bind the tires onto the  rims of the wagon wheels.  After a time all food was exhausted and the men cut those rawhides from the wheels and boiled them to make soup.  Ann said that as she handed the men their small rations, and saw their suffering from hunger, she prayed to the Lord to take awayh her appetite so she might give her rations to relieve the others' suffering.  She testified her prayers were answered, as she gave away her food, but was never hungry." 

Today I was reading from the Book of Mormon, Alma 31:38 ...And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should  they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.  Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.

I love the example of sacrifice and charity that Ann Malin exemplified, and the second witness that came today from Alma, that the prayer of faith is answered in time of great need.