Week 5

Monday we hiked the 6 mile loop here at the sixth crossing site.  For those were like us before we got here, I should explain more about this site.  The James G. Willie handcart company arrived at this site 3 months and four days after starting their journey at Iowa city.  There were a little more than 400 people in the company.  Their trip had been delayed several times for various reasons, lack of funds, short supplies, loss of livestock,  etc.  Now they arrive at the sixth crossing of the Sweetwater river, the first snow storm ( a blizzard actually) has hit them, they had expected to meet supply wagons from Salt Lake City and had used the last of their rations the day before.  The supply wagons were now a rescue team.  They killed their mostly starved cattle to try and live until the rescue wagons could make it to them.  There is a meadow about 3 miles from our trailers that the willie company camped in and some thought they would not make it through another day.  Captain willie and Joseph Elder took off on horse back to find the rescuers and bring them as quickly as possible.  Meanwhile the rescue wagons were 27 miles away caught in the same blizzard.  Two days later captain Willie led the supply wagons to the company.  8 had died while waiting for help at this place.  It was a miracle that they weren't all dead.  They still had 260 more miles to get to Salt Lake City.  When you have the opportunity to stand in this meadow with the cold Wyoming wind nearly knocking you over and it's 30 degrees and you realize that God truly preserved the majority of these people because you think how quickly you would die if it was 16 below and you were starving to death, you know that god is there!!!!!!  The trail was mostly level but the strength of the missionaries varies. 
TuesdayWorked on repeater again and other repair jobs.we went to Riverton again to get a hot spot so we can communicate better with the family and friends.  There is a little cafe called the sundowner and we got a chicken fry steak dinner with salad bar for $11.03, it was good and we even took a doggy bag home, and yes we left a large tip because we felt we were taking unfair advantage of them.    Wednesday we worked on trailer for rock creek hallow (I'll explain that place another time).  Went to Riverton  again to pick up food for the big trek leader training happening this weekend.  Yes I'm doing food here too. We got to Skype  and FaceTime the Greenes and Hatch's now that we have our hot spot.  Thursday.  Electrical is Selby's biggest job here, everything from lights to solar.  Our 19th missionary couple arrived, the  Hirschi's.  I made  10 Texas sheet cakes with some help for our training meeting.  Friday.  Went to Martins Cove and trekked 61/2 miles with 220 people again I'll explain that place another time.  We met the friends of the Elkins, the Fillerups and helped them thorough the training.  
Sat we fed 250 people breakfast and lunch.  We were part of a  Readers theater and helped in touring the camp grounds here at sixth crossing and out at sage camp.
Sunday was branch conference. Selby and I both spoke in combined RS and priesthood meeting.  Selby was given a calling in the Sunday school presidency and will teach youth In Sunday school and Young men in priesthood. We have a district (a group of 4 couples, one being the leader of the group, for us it is the Bunnage's, a wonderful couple from Cardston Canada) meeting everySunday evening to get ready for the coming week.  Part of our training is to learn the stories of the people at these sites so we told pioneer stories from memory.  We got to Skype/FaceTime with the other half of the family, Quists and Bearrys,  we truly love to see all those wonderful faces!!!
We love you all, sorry if this is too long. Selby and Cathy 

Week 4

This mission is great!  We miss everyone at home so much but the experience here is great.  We work a lot, we socialize, we are learning a ton about what happened to the people this place is honoring.  Monday was very cold again.  Selby thought being on top of a bluff in 40-50mph wind and 20 degrees not counting wind chill may have been the coldest he ever felt.  He fixed the repeater for the radios though.  
I was able to work in the kitchen cleaning and organizing, just my thing.  We enjoyed some getting to know you activities in the evening.  4 of our couples are from Canada and are the most delightful people.  So are the Americans .  We learned the square dancing that we will be having the Trekkers do.  We are a good group, everyone seems anxious to do well.  The next day we moved 43 log benches to a better location to create a new amphitheater . Yes it was freezing again.  Wednesday I went into town with another missionary to order food for a big training we are putting on April 25-26. I was happy to not be outside so much.  Selby helped build an inclosure for porta potties and is traveling all over the property doing jobs. ( we would guess the area is maybe 5 square miles that is included in Sixth Crossing).  Friday was our p-day (preparation day) and we are able to get reception when we go into town.  We went to Riverton.  We got to talk to several of you or at least texted you.  Sat we washed all the work trucks (8) and did paper work.  Our motto here is err on the side of kindness, and everyone has taken it to heart because everyone is so nice.   We went to church at Martin's Cove, it will be our regular place.  It is different listening to talks without drawing pictures and answering questions, but I'll just have to be patient.  Oh and the weather has finally gotten warm. It was 68 when we were driving home from Martin's Cove today.   We are seeing a different kind of beauty in this country side.

Here is a story that I heard this week and I loved it.
Whatever it takes.  Whatever it takes to get me safely home, whatever it takes to save the ones I love, whatever it takes to bring us so close to You nothing can get between us, that is what I pray for, Lord.  That's always a frightening prayer because when we pray it, we imagine all sorts of awful events coming into our lives to bring us closer to God.  Unfortunately, that is often whatever it takes because we tend not to look up until we're knocked down. The thing is, God already knows whatever it takes.  For Him, "what ever it takes" was the cross. That's the length He was willing to go for us to make it safely home.  He is willing to do whatever else it might take to bring us close to Him, to save us, not just for a better, longer life here but to save us for an unbelievably awesome eternal life.  
God would rather lose His son's life than for us to lose ours, and He would rather we lose our physical life than lose our eternal one.  He is willing to do whatever it takes.  

view of Sweetwater river

at training in Willie meadow

Sent from my iPad Cathy Bearry

Week 3

So the mission field has the same time problem. We could hardly believe today as we sat in the Chapel at Martins Cove that it had only been a week since we were sitting in conference.  This is such a good thing we can see we are going to love it.  
Monday morning we finished our training in the MTC .  Liz Stoddard met us at our trailer for a tour of our new home.  We went to REI to get some more warmies.  Then off for a nice visit to the Whitings. Thursday-  Taitum is almost walking and is only10 months old.  Lauren and Andrew are wonderful parents! We drove from Logan past Bear Lake and across the high plains of Wyoming.  There are oil wells by the hundreds in that wilderness.  We across the Continental Divide and down into our future homes valley.  We are 35 miles from the closest town.  It is a different kind of beautiful here.  We will send pictures.  There are 14 lovely couples here already and another 6 coming in the next 2 weeks.  We have  already learned an amazing appreciation for the people that made that mind boggling trek back in 1856.  The wind alone is something we never feel in CA.  It is like being at girls camp here. We work on repair projects and make plans for training sessions with the adults that will bring their youth here to learn of the power of God and the courage of good people.   Saturday we walked for miles around our area and the wind blew for awhile But let up and it was a beautiful day about 65 degrees.  Sunday  we woke up to 16 degrees outside and 3 inches of snow on the ground.  The high ended up making it to 26.  We had a potluck break the fast as we observed fast Sunday today.
Our evening was filled with fun face timing with the family.  We are very comfortable in our new home even though it is 16 degrees out side we are nice and cozy inside.  Everything is organized to our liking.  We love you all!

Sent from my iPad Cathy Bearry

Week 2

Today was our first day in the MTC. WE WERE EXCITED BUT ALSO A LITTLE NERVOUS.  We arrived at 9:30 and went through a series of check-in duties.  We are staying on campus.  We were escorted to our rooms by 2 missionaries that will be leaving for France in the next 2 weeks.  The MTC has the young missionaries treat the seniors with so much respect, it makes you feel so special.   We had a welcome meeting from the MTC presidency and then were given the opportunity to introduce ourselves to each other.  People are going all over the world.  One couple will be serving in Norway 250 miles north of the arctic circle, another in Borneo (ask Maddy where that is).  About 6 couples are here for 6th crossing and another 6 for Marin's cove.    Today was basically information and a pep rally.  The most impressive part of the day for Dad was when they put our tags on us, mine was when the director of education spoke to us and assured us that we were going to have an impact for good on someone's life.  (It was also fun to hear the families voices at FHE tonight).  We were also amazed at the size of the cafeteria , is a football field ha,ha.  I thought many times of Adam having just been here and how much he loved this experience.  Carter too, but that already seems so long ago.  

Day 2 in the MTC:  We started today in a group meeting where brother Peterson taught us from preaching no greater call.  He did an amazing job.  We invite people to learn of the gospel because of the love God has for all of his children and it is such a great opportunity to help them to receive that truth through the spirit.  We then spent the rest of the morning with our district and our teacher brother Barney.  He is a young married guy that has such a great personality.  In introducing ourselves he asked us to include what Disney character we would describe our companion.  Dad said I was tinker bell and although he was being complimentary because he thinks she is cute, I couldn't help but remember Nicole saying she was too sassy and a little sleazy.  I said he was Prince Charming.  Mushy uh!  Brother Barney said he was Flynn Rider.  It fits.  We had a cute girl as our afternoon teacher, that Dad was reminded of a grown up Brooke when he talked with her.  We got to hear Elder Scott Whiting and his wife at a devotional in the evening.  We can relate to Adam saying time is amazing here at the MTC, it seems so fast and yet so much happens in such a short time.

Day 3 MTC:  started the day teaching our first lesson. We met with brother and sister Olsen for a successful experience.  It wasn't as hard as we expected.  Lots of good class time today. We are learning so much. We walked to our trailer to get some change of clothes and then walked to the BYU Museum of Art and had the privilege to view an exhibition called Sacred Gifts.  It was a display of Bloch, Hoffman, Schwartz.  incredibly beautiful.

Day 4 MTC. Time is a paradox here, we see what the kids meant.  Another great day of inspiration and knowledge received.  We had a opportunity to teach a man named Jim Wright.  He was a judge by profession.  He was was warm and friendly and we enjoyed teaching him.  We saw 2 people we knew today.  First our darling Courtney Hoskins from our high adventure hike, she is going to Lithuania.  We also saw Larry stuswalter Wendy ???name. From Gridley. He is the new mission president for Mexico City south.  
We got the truck back after several needed repairs, they were cheaper here than in CA.  We went to an institute class this evening and were impressed with an important concept of the importance of asking God questions.  Very good day!

Sat at conference:  what a great day only a few sprinkles. Talks were impressive as usual. Appreciated Hollands talk on how to handle persecution.  Nice girl time at Macy's fashion show.  Good dinner at the plum. But best of all the sweet time spent with each of the children. 

So to finish the week 2.  We just wanted to say how enjoyable conference was, great to be with part of the family but also so wonderful to hear the direction given by God. We loved the admonition to be kind, we can all use that advise.  Love you all.