Together Again!

We got a visit last week from our Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Anderson.  What a treat for me!  Sister Anderson and I were friends from high school and sang together in a double trio for three years.  We just laughed, and laughed and reminisced and had the best time together.  President also went to Gunnison Valley High School.

Mormon Handcart Historic Sites are part of the South Dakota Rapid City Mission.  Here we are standing outside the Visitors Center at Martin's Cove.

Handcart Staging

We are assigned to the staging area much of the time.  This means we are to get the groups of trekkers loading their handcarts and get on the trail as quickly as possible.

Here we were helping this VERY organized Stake get the right colored coded bucket in the right pile.

Sometimes we dealing with thousands of people in the staging area or other times just a single family.

AND Other times we just stand around with our clipboards looking happy!

Loaded and ready to go.

Some groups stop at the Trek Center for an orientation and movie.  Elder Jones is here telling them things like, "pack it in, pack it out, don't play with the snakes, drink lots of water," as well as reminding them of the faith, conviction, obedience, sacrifice, of these Handcart Pioneers. 

Wyoming Skies

Every day the skies and weather are always changing here in Wyoming.  It is beautiful and sometimes miserable weather. 

May 30-31st were so COLD! 

  When I changed from trail dress to work clothes I wore, work shirt, work vest, white vest, blue coat, ear muffs, levis, boots, hat and gloves. It was 48 degrees when we left the homestead at 4:00 pm.

This is the going into Missionary Village where we live.  Note the cool clouds in the background.

We were previledged to go on a Church Education System tour a few weeks ago and were able to see more of Wyoming.  This is coming from Atlantic City, WY. 

P.S.  It gets tricky posting to this blog.  I am in Casper, Wyoming tonight with good internet service.  At Missionary Village I am not able to post. :(  The internet is sad sad sad. :(



Handcart Parking

We were stationed at Handcart Parking this past week.  It was a lot of fun. 

This is the entrance to Martin's Cove.  It circles around the sand hill in front of me.

It was mostly families that came pulling and pushing their handcarts up the hill to our little cabin.  We were able to share handcart stories as the people move along the trail.

 In between people I was studying the stories.  I love learning about these handcart pioneers. 

THE ARMY OF MONSON!

We had a group of full time missionaries from the Salt Lake City ??East Mission.  Many of these young men are from other countries and are not familiar with the Mormon Handcart experience, so their Mission President and his wife brought them here for the day! 

"The Shawl" Ann Waddell Stewart

Last week I had the opportunity to take School Groups through the Visitor’s Center and other buildings at the Homestead.  The 4^th grade students in the state of Wyoming study Wyoming history, so at the end of the year many bus loads of children come for tours.  We dress in pioneer clothing on those days.

I was in the Humanitarian building where I was talking about how pioneer women may have used shawls. Every item of clothing was precious to them because they could take so little in their handcarts. (17 pounds per person.)  I explained that shawls had many purposes, maybe to keep warm or perhaps bury the dead in.  I was wearing a shawl that day so I think maybe that is why I shared this story about Ann Waddell Stewart and was so touched by it.

A shawl was one thing most women kept with them.  In the October snow storm, enduring subzero temperatures with relentless winds, Ann strapped her six month old baby to her body with her large paisley shawl. She then put her nearly frozen husband into her handcart, throwing away most of their possessions to make room for him.  Then pulled him this way for seven days until the rescue teams found them and helped her. 

At the rescue site at Rock Creek Hollow, fifteen people died, thirteen buried in a common grave.  Ann’s husband John seemed to be frozen to death.  He was placed with the others on the ground awaiting burial when Ann discovered that he was still breathing.  She dragged him to the fire and with the help of others revived him. 

Ann, John and their two children all made it to Salt Lake City in November 1856.

"Home, Home On the Range"

Spike is our new best friend.  We have seen him right behind our trailer nearly every morning and every night since we have been here. After all we are living in Wyoming “where the deer and the antelope play.” 

We had more trek leader training last week.  No snow this time, so we walked 7 miles, then topped off the evening with square dancing!  Guess who was the Trail Boss?

The only time I actually pulled the handcart was helping with the Women’s Pull. They told us to let those being trained do the hardest work! Whew!

 

 

"WEATHER ON THE RANGE"  If you don’t like the weather here, just wait 15 minutes and it will change. Weather announcement on the radio:  “Yes its Spring in Wyoming, but bring your coat and your flip flops, just in case.”

Happy May Day!

Yes, it **SNOWED** May 1st

  At 1:00 pm it was 28.  We were homebound until then, due to bad roads.  I think, this will be the last snow for at least another month. :) :)

P.S.  Happy May 1st Birthday to my beautiful daughter Brianne....