The Trekkers Have Arrived -- Week 6

Monday was a relaxing and fun day.  We were the first couple to be assigned to a day at the Welcome Post.  This meant we put a stop sign up and talked with each car as they came into the historic Martin's Cove site.  We determined who was here for the scheduled treks sending them to trek parking and who needed to be directed to the visitors' center. It was the first day of the real trek season and so it was steady but not overwhelmingly busy.  We took our lawn chairs and relaxed on the porch of the Welcome Post.  We met a lot of people and, of course, what could make Elder Smart happier than this?  It was a fun day to share together.

Sister Smart Greets Visitor

Elder Smart Greets Visitor

On Tuesday, Sister Smart had First Aid training and Elder Smart painted benches at the trekkers campground.  Wednesday we worked in "outfitting".  We welcomed a group of youth from Orem and a group of families from Price.  Elder Smart went over the safety orientation with the Pa's and Sister Smart helped the trek leaders and medical personnel sign paper work and learn the ropes. They picked up their handcarts and Elder Smart  took them to Fort Seminoe and told the history and inspirational stories of the fort. He then took them to the trek center where Sister Smart got things set up for the group to hear instructions and we shared more inspirational stories. We had a special visitor here today (see picture below). I think we will enjoy working as outfitting leaders.

 Outfitting Post with Newly Arrived Youth

Sharing Stories with Trekkers

Unexpected Visitor at the Trek Center

Thursday Sister Smart was a trek leader for the Orem group.  She left early (6:30) that morning to meet the group at the start of the trail.  It is always a challenge but fun and rewarding to walk the trail to Martin's Cove.  This is a spiritual place. 

On the Trail with Orem Orchard 3rd Ward

Trek Group Stopped for a Break

On the Trail

Beautiful Scenery Walking to Martin's Cove

Elder Smart washed trucks and rovers and anything else that moved for the mission while Sister Smart trekked.

Elder Smart having Fun?

Friday we worked in the visitor's center again. We always love our time there.  Sharing our testimonies with both non members and members is very rewarding.

Elder Smart received a new calling this week.  He will be serving as the Mission and Branch financial clerk.  This will take him away from some of his other duties at least once a week.

Elder Smart Getting Instruction
From Elder Maxfield on Mission Finances

Saturday is now our P-day and we spent it in Casper this week.  We visited the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.  It was a very interesting morning looking at the displays and watching the videos.  It tells about much of the stuff we talk about at the visitors' center.  The Oregon Trail, California Trail, Mormon Trail and the Pony Express.  They represented the stories from all of the groups well.  We met a couple from England (the Bishop's from Southampton, England) on our way into the Center. The Bishop's seemed surprised that Paul knew so much about Southampton.  He explained that his mother's family, the Major's, had left Southampton years ago and were some of the first Mormons to join the Church in Southampton.  Paul and Mr. Bishop had so much to share because they are both avid historians.  We  enjoyed talked for about 15 minutes.  We hope they left with a better understanding of Mormon Missionaries.

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper

New English Friends From England

Display in the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

We met several missionaries from our district for lunch at Olive Garden.  The couple sitting next to us are Elder and Sister Ward from Logan.  No, they are not any relations to Sister Smart.  They are the second set of Ward Missionaries here.  Elder Smart did his research and found a possible tie with the other two Ward couples, but none to Sister Smart's Wards.

Olive Garden in Casper

LDS  Grave site

Missionary Village (where all the missionary trailers are) is very close to the trail of the pioneers.  As we walk around the area there are several grave sites present.   Elder Smart is his usual self as he sees the graves and his interest spikes.  We have found two with names on them and he has researched and found both of them with their stories.  This one is LDS.  She came across with her daughter in the Atwood Wagon Train in 1865.  She was 87 when she died.  Her family settled in Logan, Utah.  Her son came a year later and was called to build the Oxen and railing in the Logan Temple baptismal font.

It was very interesting as he researched her and her family and found that the new headstone on this grave has the wrong death year.  There is an original one still there.  The family made a new one, but they obviously did not read it well nor did they research it well.  They read her death as 1862 and it actually said 1865.  He verified this by finding her and her daughter's name on the Overland Trails records as coming in 1865.  He also found this to be the case when he found her daughter's life story indicating she buried her mother in Wyoming Territory.




Happy Birthday to Emmalyn and Adelyn and Mickel

Love,
Elder and Sister Smart, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie