July 26, 2019 - This is the week of our 2nd to last trek of the season. Sister Bernhardt and I are having a wonderful expereince here. We have learned so much more about our pioneer heritage and have become very grateful to those brave and courageous early immigrants (some of our own ancestors) for their love of the gospel of Jesus Christ and their desire to follow the Prophet of God to gather to Zion.

Each week as we have been on trek with different groups from Utah, Wyoming and Idaho, we have gained a deeper understanding of the phrase "we can do hard things". We have been spared from blisters and other ailments, which has given us the ability to assist others and strengthen them when they have had such difficulties along the trail. Each trek has had its unique challenges, fun and memories. We work with a different missionary couple each week and have come to love all of the other 10 couples that are here. August will be the month to start putting things away, meet with the groups that are coming next year and have a family trek day with our own family members.

3 Treks down, 3 more to go

Today we finished off our 3rd Trek (JUNE 19-22). It's with the Woods Cross Stake. It was our biggest group yet, having 325 in all.

Getting used to our new home

May18,2019 - We have been here for 2 1/2 weeks now and beginning to get familiar with the 6 trekking trails and their support routes. Most of the handcarts, porta johns and water buffaloes are cleaned up and ready to go. Our 5th wheel trailer has been fun to live in and we enjoy working with the 10 other missionary couples that are here. We have experienced sun, rain, snow and wind, just like they told us we would. The ranch is a beautiful place, and last week we had dinner with the ranch manager, the wildlife manager and the Cowboy boss, all who gave us presentations on their responsibilities and how trekking fit in to the ranch's purpose. I never thought much about herd management, land management and wildlife management before, and they gave us a good overview about all of it. We also took a field trip into WY with Jolene Allphin, the author of the book "Tell My Story Too" which is all about the people who were part of the Willie and Martin handcart companies and the Hodgett and Hunt Wagon companies who traveled the plains in 1856. It also contains info on many of the rescuers that came from Salt Lake into WY with food and supplies for them. We visited a memorial Mormon trail marker outside of Evanston which included the grave marker of Archibald McPhail (Willie Co.), then further into WY we stopped at a portion of the combined Oregon/Mormon Trail and walked it for awhile. Jolene told us the story of rescuer Joseph Young, who was called the Blue Angel, because he rode in during a storm on a white mule and wearing a big blue coat. We ate some homemade bread with butter and honey, and imagined what it would have been like for those starving saints to have received food and comfort from the rescue parties. We then went on to Rock Creek Hollow, just a few miles from Rocky Ridge - the site of the worst part of the journey for the Willie Co. At RCH there is a picnic area and memorial plaque and a gravesite marker with the names of the 13 people that were buried there in late October, having succumbed to the freezing weather and the difficult journey. Jolene told us a little bit about each of those buried there. It is surely "sacred ground" and we could feel it as we walked thru the area.

Today we had 2 route reviews with the leaders of 2 of the stakes that will be coming on trek this season. On the RR, we drive the support road with them and point out the campsites and other stop sites they need to know about for their trek. We go over details and show them some of the items that other trek groups have used in the past, to give them ideas for their treks. It's usually a 2-3 hr. process.  Tomorrow we will go to church in Evanston and sing a special hymn in Sac Mtg called "A Pioneering Heart". The words are beautiful and especially more meaningful to us after our field trip with Sis. Allphin. We are really beginning to get the spirit of the pioneers in our blood now - their faith, courage and sacrifice - in following the call to come to Zion.

Our Service Mission to Deseret Land & Livestock Treks

On May 1st 2019, Jill and I began our service mission here at the Deseret Land & Livestock ranch. It is in UT. close to the WY. border and just 10 miles from Evanston WY. The ranch is 300,000 acres, with 30,000 set aside for youth trek excursions during the months of June, July and early August. During the month of May we (the 11 missionary couples, 7 which are here for their 1st year) are learning the trek routes and cleaning up the equipment that we provide for the trek groups. The equipment includes handcarts, porta johns on trailers and portable water tanks (750 gals) that they call "water buffalos". Since it was a really wet winter, we may have to construct some bridges where the trek trails cross low points that are still wet. As a matter of fact, as I am writing this,we are getting a good rainstorm and it has turned to snow! And, of course, there is a 25 mph wind too. Our 5th wheel trailer is rockin'! But we are staying dry and really enjoying our time so far.

On each trek 2 sets of missionary couples go out with the Trek party. One missionary leads the trek on foot; one walks with the trekkers, mingling and encouraging; one drives a side-by-side ATV about 1/4 mile behind the trek group; and one drives a truck, leading the support people (kitchen crew, porta-potties, medical vehicle, water buffalos, camp set up crew, etc). The support vehicles need to be ahead of the trekkers to be ready for their stops and campsites. So, there are two routes to learn for each trek - the trek route and the support vehicle route. Sometines they are the same, but mostly not. Thankfully, the missionaries get to come home each night if they wish to, in the truck, to shower and get a good night's sleep!

Tomorrow morning the Jupiter Train comes through Evanston on its way to Ogden and then to the Golden Spike 150th Anniversary Celebration. The train tracks run right by the ranch so we will be able to see it pass by. Then a few hours of work in the morning before we all leave for Ogden to go to the Ogden Temple. We will probably visit Costco and Deseret Book as well.

Will post some fotos in the next blog...