Did We Say a Six Month Mission? WRONG!

We had prep day on Monday and once again traveled the road to Casper.  Sister Smart felt like it had been too long since she had bought any clothes and she spent a little time at the mall while Elder Smart had the car serviced.  We enjoyed lunch at a Johnny J's.  It is a restaurant similar to Johnny Rockets.  It was  a fun atmosphere with good old fashion hamburgers and shakes.

Johnny J's

Tuesday, we served in the Visitors' Center with a 10:30 to 5:00 shift.  This is one of the best shifts -- sleep in a little and get  home at a decent hour.  Before we left for home President Pace called us into his office and asked us to extend our mission for another year.  It was overwhelming.  We have to admit that the Lord had been preparing us for this call for the past month.  We had previously both talked about staying and both felt like this was the Lord's plan, but we agreed that we were not going to volunteer.  We thought, "Of the 45 couples on this mission why would we be one of the six winter couples asked to stay."  Sister Smart felt like the Lord had been telling her that He definitely wanted us to accept the call to stay and she cried frequently for two weeks, knowing that the call would be coming.  Then peace  touched her heart and she is actually getting excited about the things to come.  Even though Elder Smart had been warned he still had a hard time accepting it at first, but he knows this is the Lord's plan for us and is willing to do as he is asked.  We both feel we have been so blessed in so many ways, how can we say "no" to any thing  the Lord asks of us. We both will be working in the office most of the time.  He will still handle all of the finances and Sister Smart is going to be the mission secretary.  Our new release date is Oct. 26, 2018.

We will probably be coming home for a week in September to get things for the winter. We are looking at purchasing a 4 wheel drive vehicle to bring back.  Let us know if you know of a good one for sale.

We will be moving to an apartment that is on site here near the VT and office for the remainder of our mission.  It will be much easier during the winter for all 6 couples that are staying through the winter to be close and not have to travel in and out during the bad Wyoming winter.  

Our Apt. This is Our Entrance on the Side of the House.

Beautiful View From The Front of Our New Apartment

Wednesday we were back on outfitting.  We welcomed trek groups from Casper, Wyoming and Boulder, Colorado.  We sent home a trek group home from Rupert, Idaho and Casper.  Casper group was fun.  We followed them to the creek crossing and took this picture.  They also crossed the bigger Sweet Water River but we did not get a picture. 

Pulling The Handcarts Over the Creek

Casper did a small program of their own during the send home program that we do.  They had several kids tell about their ancestor that they were walking for. One young lady told about her ancestor Clarissa Alger Whitney.  That was exciting since this is Sister Smart's Great Grandmother.  It was fun meeting new cousins.  Sister Smart talked with the young lady and her mother after the program.

Two New Cousins

Thursday we had another day in outfitting.  We helped with a group of almost 800 youth from Pleasant Grove Manila and then 1/2 hour later a group of 200 from Idaho Falls North Stake.  It was rather challenging and exciting to handle 1000 youth in one short morning. PG was divided into 4 separate trek groups. We worked with one other missionary couple and organized everything nicely. It went amazingly smooth.  Elder Smart found he could park 50 cars and 13 buses very compactly. Shortly after these groups left on their way to Martin's Cove, a smaller group of 100 from Driggs, Idaho came to be helped on their way.  We also had 6 groups to send home that day.  Lots of Traffic in outfitting!

Friday we both worked in the office.  Elder Smart worked on the finances and Sister Smart prepared packets for the trek leader training we are doing  at the end of August and first of Sept.

Saturday was a work crew day for both of us.  Elder Smart worked with Elder Ward (no relation) to repair fences and gates out at Cherry Creek campground.  They also fixed a water pump on the trail at handcart parking.  Sister Smart went to the sewing center to help make more of the medallions that we give the young kids that come through.

We received a surprise visitor Saturday. One of  Sister Smart's principals, Mr. Topham came to trek with his family.  We then had another surprise when Sister Smart's nephew and his family came, also.

Russell Stagg Family

It was fun to see Russel and ShuLyn (spell?)

Sunday morning was full of meetings for Elder Smart and then we both enjoyed church.  This afternoon is a little bit relaxed at our home.  Love the let down time.

We want everyone to know that we have a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We feel his spirit direct our lives and touch our hearts as we serve here.  We truly are blessed.

Love you all so much.

Elder and Sister Smart, Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Paul and Annie

PS  The apartment that we will be staying in is attached to a large 3 bedroom home that is just for friends and family of those living on the homestead property to stay in when visiting.  We would love all of you to visit.

So Beautiful Here!

Week 13 -- Busy, Busy, Busy, But What a Great Week!

As we sit here thinking about this week’s blog, we feel like we write the same things each week.  The activities change each day, but it is the same things over and over.

 

Monday we worked in outfitting getting trek groups ready to hit the trail.  We also had home evening that night.  Tuesday was our P-day.  We spent all day in Casper running errands.  We got to teach one of the groups how to square dance that night.  Wednesday we both worked in the office – Elder Smart continuing to try to catch up on the mission finances and Sister Smart printing and organizing trek leader training information for this fall – did we really say fall?  Where has the time gone?

On Thursday we were in outfitting again, greeting new trekkers and sending off those that had been here a day or two.  

Elder Smart Sends Off Trekkers

Sister Smart Tells Story at Veil Crossing Bridge

Friday was a late day for us to work in the Visitors’ Center.  Little did we know that our relatives would stop by – Owen, Ginny, and Tiffany Johnson.  It was good to see them!  We paid a short visit to them at our trailer park after we finished at the VC.

Johnson Family at Visitors' Center

Saturday we were at the Welcome Post where we greet all the visitors to Martin’s Cove.  One of our visitors was the Johnson family.  This time they were coming to hike to the Cove.  We were so busy we hardly knew that the Johnson’s were driving out right behind us.  We got a quick wave off to them but that was about all.  When our shift was over we drove thirty miles to Alcova for a hamburger and then drove the scenic route back home.

Elder Smart Welcomes Bus

Sister Smart Welcomes Visitors

Fremont Canyon near Alcova

Today is Sunday and Sister Smart isn’t feeling too well.  She even missed Church.  Elder Smart went off to his regular meetings and then served in the Visitors’ Center until 6.  We were both scheduled so Elder Smart said he’d work doubly hard for us both.  When Elder Smart got back from our assignment, he reported that two large snakes were at the VC today.

Snake & Elder Swingholme

Before closing we wanted to mention that we came in to the outfitting area to welcome two family members that were here on Trek.  They were two of Sister Smart’s great nieces.

Valerie Kendell

Nicole Kendell

We will again sign off telling you all how much we love our mission and how grateful we are to be serving.

Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Annie and Paul, Elder and Sister Smart

Happy Birthday this week to Connor Stagg, Harlie Cherrington, Jessilyn Stagg and Donna Smart Armstrong (Elder Smart’s sister)!!!  Special get well wishes to Alan Smart who had a serious knee operation today.

Trek Center Decorations

Will It Ever Slow Down -- Week 11

We hit the road running this week -- well, sort of.  Monday was somewhat peaceful.  We spent the day at Welcome Post where we greet vehicles (actually people) coming to visit the Cove. It's not a difficult assignment, but it usually lasts from about 8 to 4 with lunch being taken when you can work it in.  That evening we celebrated our 4th of July at Family Home Evening by singing patriotic songs and the district in charge giving the historical background of each of the songs.

Tuesday was the 4th -- big day for a lot of people; big day for us as well.  Actual it was a regular day for us.  Sister Smart acted as Trek Host for a group from Malta, Idaho and ended up hiking for 8 miles due to an oversight on the part of those who staff our "Base".  Base is a station high on a ridge where they can keep track of the location of all the treks.  They try to keep them from having contact with other treks on the trails.  Another special moment for Sister Smart, this day, was telling the Ellen Neibaur story and witnessing the effect it had even on some of the "macho" young men.  

Trek on Its Way to the Cove

A brief version of that story is that Brigham Young called for help in the way of personal items to send to destitute Saints in the handcart companies.   The Neibaur family was very poor and when they were contacted they said they were sorry but they had nothing to give.  However, Ellen had recently been given a new pair of shoes that her husband had saved all summer to purchase for her and she had knitted a new pair of stockings.  She  gave both the shoes and the stockings for the benefit of those stranded on the plains.  When the Martin Company finally arrived in SLC.  Everyone went to greet the Saint as they arrived.. Ellen was excited when she saw an old friend from England then she noticed that her good friend was wearing her shoes and stockings and Ellen's heart was deeply touched.  

Elder Smart spent the day in the office continuing to try to learn the system and get caught up. His mentor, Elder Maxfield will be leaving the mission this week due to health issues.  

We were in "Outfitting" all day on Wednesday.  We greeted three groups coming from Morgan, East Mill Creek, and Kaysville -- nearly 500 in those groups.  We also welcomed two of those groups back and sent them on their way to their next destination.

Thursday we spent the entire day at "Handcart Parking".  This is a place located just below the actual Cove.  Here the trekkers must park their handcarts before hiking to the Cove. Sometimes they have lunch at the pavilion before they start their hike.  This place also has a well where they can fill up water bottles and jugs. Oh, nearly forgot to say there are toilets here.  Our assignment is to direct the handcart parking, check to see that the toilets are okay, make sure they clean up after themselves, pump the well so they can have water (unless we can figure out how to get them to pump it), and help spray them with misters to help cool them down.  We also greet individuals that might be hiking on their own.  Great assignment, but we are there from early morning until the last of the groups are off the trail -- in this case nearly     8 pm.

Trekkers Parking Their Carts

Check Out Those Straight Rows of Carts

Elder Smart Challenging a Well Pumping Contestant

Girl Accepts Challenge - She Beats the Guys

Ready to Mist the Trekkers

Waiting For Trekkers

We were in outfitting again on Friday.  We had one group come in that day and two groups that left. This meant that we were busy in the morning and busy again in the late afternoon.  That left a little time for office work.  Elder Smart was jumping right on that.  One of the major sources of income for the mission is from using the campground where we all stay.  The charge is $10.00 for tenting and $20.00 for full hook ups and it means "job security" and more work for Elder Smart as he must prepare a bank deposit.  It also means that Sister Smart has to accompany Elder Smart to the office, especially when there is only one other female in the office.

Perhaps the best part of Friday might have been our cleaning of the Pavilion or maybe it wasn't the cleaning but what happened in front of the Pavilion after the cleaning -- another snake!

Pavilion That We Cleaned

Rattle Snake Outside Pavilion

Don't Tickle the Snake

Saturday could have been a sleep-in day.  We had a 2:30 to 9 pm shift in the Visitors' Center. However since the deposit has to be made within 24 hours of its preparation, we headed off for Casper.  It was a good day for us. we got a lot done in Casper and made it back in time for our Visitors' Center shift.  The VC is always a great place to serve but Saturday evening was particularly slow.  

Here we are again on Sunday.  Elder Smart started early with a Branch Presidency Meeting. Following that meeting came a District Leaders Meeting.  Following that was our regular block of meetings where Sister Smart joined him.  Following that was our pot luck dinner with all the missionaries.

This ends another week.  We surely love our opportunities to serve.  We really miss our family. Our mission means so much to us and we were promised that our families would be blessed because of our service.  We hope you are all experiencing those blessings.

Our love to you all. 

Good luck to Velynn and her family as she starts a new job tomorrow.

Elder and Sister Smart, Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie  

Peo Family - Our New Draper Bishop @ Martin's Cove

Saturday Lunch -- Guadalajara Mexican

Week 10 -- It Will Never Quit!

We keep thinking tomorrow will slow down and we can find some time to relax.  We have decided it will never happen.  We had 3 days, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, in outfitting and we had to start early and stay late.  We had Trek groups from Herriman, Sandy, 2 from Perry, West Jordan, Providence, Cottonwood, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, and Mountainville Utah.  We also had Laguna

Niguel California and Kearney Nebraska.  This resulted approximately 2,500 youth coming to trek this week.  Tuesday evening we got home and finally found time to eat the lunch we took to eat earlier in the day.  After eating we had just enough time to change our clothes and head to the campsites for square dancing.

Wednesday we were assigned to Visitors' Center from 8-2:30.  This should have been a good day and we would be home by 3:00.  No such luck.  Sister Smart was assigned with Sister Tobler to act out the Mellor pie story for treks on the trail.  Two trek groups did not arrive on the trail until 3:30 and 4:00.  We are informed by the outfitting missionaries what time the groups arrive and an estimated time for them to be passing the spot on the trail where we enact the pioneer pie story.  We leave and walk to the spot so that we are there and in place when they pass us. We start acting out the story as soon as they are in visible range. 

We met a direct descendant of Louisa Mellor,
The girl Sister Smart played in the Pie Story

Acting Out The Pie Story

It is fun but Wednesday they were later than usual.  When we got back to the homestead, Elder Smart was busy with doing the mission finances and so Sister Smart sat and patiently waited for another hour before we left for home.   At least she was able to sit for a while.

On Friday we were again assigned to the Visitors Center 2:30 –9:00.  We were able to sleep in a little while.  Sister Smart got up to do chores around the house (something we normally do not find energy to do).  We left at 11:30 and Elder Smart used a couple of hours to do more finance work.  Sister Smart cleaned and organized cupboards in the office.  At 2:30 we then started our shift at the Visitors' Center.  Still a long day we did not get home until 9:30.  

Saturday it was off to Casper.  We got a late start due to Elder Smart having to run down President Pace to unlock his desk that had the deposit that was to be made in Casper.  It was one happy event when we found that the family history center in Casper open and just "calling" Elder Smart’s name.  We spent a couple of hours there and then ate and went into Union Wireless to get them to do something about our phone and internet.  It gets less usable every week.  Next we went shopping, which is the dreaded part of “p” day for Elder Smart.  Before we were through with all the little stops we still had to make and drive home it was 8:00 p.m.  Elder Smart commented, “Once again there is no “p” day nap”.

Sunday was a day to remember. First we had the pleasure of being blessed by a visit of our new home (Draper) bishop, Bishop Peo and his family.  It was so great to see them visiting here at Martin's Cove.  Second if you recall Elder Smart had been called to work as the Mission and the Branch finance clerk.  His calling was enlarged today.  He is now the Mission and Branch Clerk and Executive Secretary. His sleeping in on Sunday’s is now over.  He has to be down to the office by 8:00 a.m. Sunday mornings, to meet with the Branch and Mission Presidency.

We continue to write about how much time we spend and how tired we get in our service, but we want you all to know that it is worth it.  The Lord enables us to do this work and we feel joy and love in the service we give.  The Spirit here is so wonderful.  We know that this is God’s work and we feel blessed to be a part of it.

Love ya all!!!,

Elder and Sister Smart, Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie

Elder Smart met his brother, Alan's, former stake president.

 

Jumping Spencer's Vehicle
(He left his key on after turning it to roll down a window)