Saturday, August 4, 2012

Missionaries at Martin's Cove

As we serve at Mormon Handcart Historic Sites we're daily involved in a myriad of projects and assignments. One day we may be in charge of cleaning restrooms at the Homestead and on the trails, another day we'll serve in the Visitors Center, another day at one of the posts on the trail telling trekkers and visitors of the experiences of our handcart pioneers.  Every day is different and every assignment finds us with different responsibilities.  We've learned very quickly the outstanding talents and skills of our wonderful missionary friends.  They're amazing and make serving at MHHS a joy.  Here are just a few of the people we serve with and places we're at.

"We wear on our faces the result of what we believe and how we behave, and such behavior is most evident in the eyes and on the faces of those who have lived many years".  Gordon B. Hinckley

FHE - Sister Francom writes music, sings, plays guitar & piano & is our neighbor on Loop B at Ranch 66 Missionary Village campground
 
Good food is an important part of missionary service!
 
Sister Graham is another delightful neighbor.  Baby bunnies abound here now.  Here one is on the little patch of grass by the Grahams "Box"
 
Elders Brunner & Iverson cooking for a missionary gathering.
The wind always seems to blow in WY, so they moved equipment out of this shed so they could grill effectively.
 
Every day those with "work crew" assignment meet in the Barn
to learn their responsibility for the day.
 
This day most of us had road clean-up.  Our little group worked all
along the highway leading to Martin's Cove picking up litter that
careless drivers had disposed of out the window.
 
Sisters Minnick, Graham & Voda setting up a quilt
in the Humanitarian Center.
 
The wagons need to be repainted.  Sisters Davis,
Francom, Pratt and Shepard hard at work.
 
Several sisters worked on quilts all day. 
We were able to complete 10 that day!
 
I love that some of our Elders even come to help sometimes
when they've completed their assignments early.
Elder & Sister Bagby & Sister Ward hard at work.
 
Elder Brunner & Sister Ward finishing up the quilt.
 
Visitors Center double duty.  Sisters Francom, Davis, Glass
and Travers work on projects when visitors are not there.
 
 

"Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness.  My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others...The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts".   Gordon B. Hinckley

Sisters Fowler & Starr are the amazing schedulers here. 
They somehow keep everyone where they need to be every day 
and are always happy, upbeat and accomdating.
 
Elder Minnick (another Loop B neighbor) serving at the Blacksmith Shop.
 
Sisters Minnick & Barrett hard at work painting
benches in the campground.
 
It takes an army of missionaries to get all those benches
painted!  It's a cold day, but Sisters Francom & Brunner are 
protected from the weather and the messy paint!
 
While Elders Simper, Haacke, Crabtree & Holman dig fence post holes.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can"  John Wooden

Sisters Smith & Hardy keep the office running smooth!

Time for a break and fun dinner of burgers and all the
fixin's for Pioneer Day celebration!
 
"We should never, never underestimate the spiritual power
of temporal service".  Henry B. Eyring
 
School groups come from the neighboring communities to learn
more about handcart pioneer history and ranch life in the late 1800's. 
Sisters Ohm, Haacke, Onstine & Varty waiting for the children to arrive.

Sister Fenn busily doing good!
 
 

Another humanitarian project - toys for children in crisis.  Here
Sister Onstine is in the process of making a fleece stuffed bunny.
 
Sisters Lindley & Spaulding work hard on yard crew every week.
 
Another day, another quilt.  Sisters Voda, Francom,
Graham & Travers with Sister Shepard knitting a hat.