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