We Have Returned

Our last week was full of emotion, fun and work.  Sister Smart worked hard to pack and clean.  Elder Smart took the closing down of our office as his job.  The missionaries joined together and provided supper for us on Wednesday night.  We met in the gathering room for tostadas and cobbler.  We shared good byes and hugs as both the Smarts and the Bowden's left the next morning. 

Sister Smart Driving the Garbage to Bertha

Loading Bertha

We were busy an just passed through Elder Smart's birthday with very little celebration. We called his birthday celebration to be the trip to Mt. Rushmore.  It was fun, but Sister Smart enjoyed this "celebration" as much as the birthday boy did.

We drove away in a packed our tightly packed jeep at about 8:00 am.

Packed Car

We drove to Casper where we made our last mission financial deposit and had breakfast at The Eggington, our favorite breakfast restaurant in Casper.

The adventure continued as we drove toward Mt. Rushmore.  As we left the dry desert of Wyoming, we discovered scenery that we haven't seen the likes of for 18 months.  We also started to see history as we passed through Custer.

Beautiful Mountain Scene

Buffalo Ridge at Custer

We arrived at Keystone, So Dakota Thursday evening at about 2:00 pm.  beautiful winter scenic community.   Keystone is 3 miles from Mt. Rushmore.  We enjoyed the snow, but it made the view of Mt. Rushmore a little foggy.

Looking Out Our Window at Baymont Wyndham Hotel

Elder Smart Looking Toward Mt. Rushmore

We left Mt. Rushmore Friday morning and headed to the Devil's Tower.  We were amazed and enjoyed visiting this mountain.

Devil's Tower From a Distance

Devil's Tower

We drove back and stopped in Casper to spend the night.  We were very tired and the restful night prepared us for the drive home.

We stopped at Farson, Wyoming for lunch and  ice cream.  We had been told by many that this was the best ice cream store in Wyoming.  We wanted to compare it to Alcova's ice cream.  It was good, but the thing that really made it stand out was the size of the servings.  We both ordered a single.  It was so big that we had a hard time keeping from falling out of cones and bowls.  Actually it would not even begin to stay in the cone.  It was necessary to put it into a bowl.

Ice Cream at it's Biggest and Best

We arrived home at about 5:00 pm Saturday evening.  This got Elder Smart home in time to watch BYU football.

Sunday we had the blessing of kids and grand kids joining us for a great meal to celebrate Paul's (released by this time) birthday.  The meat was slow cooked by Aaron in his smoker.  Seeing everyone again was so wonderful.  Paul's favorite part of this evening was a big hug with Kaiden saying, Grandpa, I Love You!"  This hug will always be remembered because tragedy hit Tuesday morning and our dear Kaiden was killed in a car accident.

We want to share our testimony of God's love and plan for each of us.  We grew much and loved our mission.

Happy Birthday this week to C.J.

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Paul and Annie

#73 One More Short Week!

It has finally happened.  This is the last week of our mission.  Hard to believe and yet when we think of how long we've been gone it seems like forever.

Today we were scheduled to speak in Church.  How about that -- our last Sunday.  We also got to serve in the Visitor's Center.

Last Monday we enjoyed a nice Family Home Evening with the missionaries at Missionary Village.  We noted the beautiful evening sky and even got a picture of it.

Night Sky at Martin's Cove

One of Elder Smart's duties this summer was to produce a directory for the mission.  We thought we'd share a couple of pages from the directory.

Directory Cover

Directory Pages

During the year, we were organized into districts.  We were district two.  Elder and Sister Honey were our district leaders.  

One morning we were in the Visitor's Center and we heard the "beeper" going off. The ""beeper" is a movement censor that lets us know when someone is walking down the sidewalk to the visitors' center,   In fact, it went off several times.  We assumed that we had all kinds of visitors coming.  When we looked a little closer we found that it was about 10 or 12 deer.

With so many missionaries leaving, Thursday ended up being our P-day in Casper.  Elder Smart got his last Wyoming haircut.  We stayed all day and ate at two of our favorite places -- Johnny J's and Pizza Ranch.  We also watched a movie at a movie theater.  As you might guess we were doing it "big time."

Last Haircut

Johnny J's Old Fashioned Malt Shop

Pizza Ranch

Almost forgot the beautiful Casper Falls.  This is a very tranquil place and so pretty.  There isn't much water this fall, but it is still a great place to visit.

This is our final schedule for our mission.  We're the ones that are highlighted.  It shows that we work all week and depart on Thursday.

We'll finish off by including a picture of a weekly event in our home since the start of the football season.  We ended up having several of the missionary couples come to our home for the BYU football games.  It ended up being a really special time, especially for Elder Smart.  Go Cougars!

BYU Game Day at Smart Apartment

Well, so much for another mission.  We thank you for all your love and support.

Special birthday wishes to Audra and Elder Smart this week.

The gospel is true and we both have firm testimonies.

We love you all,

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

Starting to Pack #72

Sister Smart has started to pack and to clean.  The challenge is trying to figure out how to put everything into the back of the Jeep, or what to leave.  We also must still stay focused on our mission and serving here.  

Elder Smart has stayed busy continuing to train Elder Gorton on all of the office finance and history responsibilities.  It has taken a few weeks, yet, we remember how much time Elder Smart received for training....1/2 hour.  He really had to search, figure out and revamp the financial records when he was put in.  Elder Smart worked very hard to get all the finance records in line and in line with the Church requirements.  Very few people could have done what he did for the mission finance records.  His job now is to see that the next person understands what needs to be done to keep things in order.

Elder Smart Training Elder Gorton

Sister Smart is still spending some time in the office, but she has been able to do some "work crew" assignments like cleaning the gathering room, cleaning the barn, mowing lawns with the riding lawn mower, etc.

We were in charge of FHE this week and we played a a game for the missionaries to match up the first names of the missionaries to their last names.  This was challenging because we never use the first names.  Since we are all preparing to leave, we thought it was time to find out first names.

Elder Smart talking BYU while Waiting for FHE Meal

FHE

Happy Unbirthday Cake at FHE

This mission has been a rewarding experience.  We have lots of memories.

Sunsets Never End

Our Apartment

Front Yard with Devil's Gate

One of Sister Smart's trek groups sent her a few pictures that their camera lady took.  The treks will always be found memories.

We sure love everyone and we will be home in less than two weeks.

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

#71 Slowing Down a Little

Can hardly believe that we have only two more Sundays, after today.

Much of this week is like most weeks, only we seem to be trying to finish up projects and handing over our former duties.  This week we've been in the office, on work crew, and in the visitors' center. 

We've also hosted another session of Trek Leader Training.  It's particularly fun to have the groups come from areas that the two of us have connections.  We had trek leaders from Vernal, Draper and Tooele.  We also had a previous Tooele person who now lives in Smithfield -- Steve Wassom.  He is the son of the Smart family dentist, Dr. Wassom.  He said he remembered Bobby Smart.

Elder Smart Training Elder Gorton

Sister Gorton Replacing Sister Smart

Trek Leaders from all over, including Houston, Texas

At the end of the day, we look forward to relaxing evenings at home.  We love to get emails from home or news of what is happening with family and friends.  Although our release is eminent, sometimes it still seems a long ways away.

Sister Smart Checking for Emails

Please know that we love you all and sincerely hope and pray for your well being!

Love to each of you,

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

🎉🎉🎉Happy Anniversary to Spencer and Cyntha on the 12th🎉🎉🎉

#69 & #70 Lots Going on These Weeks

Elder and Sister Smart have been busy training our office replacements. Elder Smart was released from his Clerk duties and his Executive Secretary.  He has  also  been very busy finishing the missionary yearbook and his last monthly newsletter.  He has also been working on his last entry into the history for 2018.  Sister Smart has had some time for work crew assignments.  She has been weeding the area around the Visitors' Center, replacing mouse bait in all the homestead buildings and spreading new rocks on the trail to Martin's Cove.

Raking the Gravel on the Trail

Sister Smart had a very interesting thing happen while she was working on the Trail.  A hawk was on the trail and was not moving very easily.  Sister Smart felt like his eyes kept begging for help.   Elder Roberts picked up the hawk that we named, Willie.  We took it in the rover and drove down to the homestead.  He then handed Willie to Sister Smart. We contacted the Wyoming fish and game and they had us drive the hawk to Muddy Gap where they met us.

Willie

Elder Roberts picked up the Hawk

Sister Smart Held Willie While Being Driven to  Muddy Gap

Saturday the 25th some of Sister Smart's siblings joined us at Martin's Cove.  They stayed in the ranch house behind our apartment.

Dinner at Smart Apt.

After settling in and saying our hello's we divided forces.  Elder Smart took most of them on the rover to see things around the homestead.  Sister Smart and Ranae and Cozette joined the missionaries for a moonlight walk to the Cove.  It was very dark before we arrived at the top of the Cove.  We watched the full moon rise over the mountain and illuminate the night.

Sisters about to Go to the Cove

Missionaries Waiting to Walk to the Cove

Moon Rising Before We Left on the Walk

Moon Rising as it Came Over the Mountains in the Cove

Sunday Jolene Allphin joined us at Martin's Cove. She arrived in time to join us at the Sunday Potluck.  She is seated at the table with President and Sister Pace.

I guess we should share with you who Jolene Allphin is.  She has studied the people and trails of the Willie and Martin Companies for more than 20 years.  She has written many books about what she has researched. Two of her most well read books are "Tell My Story Too" and Follow Me to Zion".  

Potluck Dinner

After the dinner we all went to hear Jolene speak to us at a fireside.

Jolene Sharing With us at the Fireside

Sunday evening we droved to the to the top of Martin's Cove. 

Rover Chauffeur, 

Siblings at Statues

Men Near Statues

Females at Statues

 Monday morning  the family went to follow the trail of the pioneers from Casper to Martin's Cove.  Jolene joined us and shared wonderful stories and locations on the trail that we were not aware of.  We stopped at Willow Creek where the Martin Company found welcome relief with good clean water.

Elder and Sister Smart at Willow Springs

After traveling all the way around Bessemer Bend, we followed our tradition of ice cream at Sloan's in Alcova.  We then traveled through Fremont Canyon.  

Fremont Canyon

Family on top of 
Fremont Canyon ridge

Tuesday we traveled to learn more about the Willie Company and the James Family.  We got up and were ready to leave by 8:00 a.m.  We then got the word that Highway 220 was closed due to a semi truck turning over and an accident.  This is the only  road out of here. We decided to take the back dirt and rut road to avoid the 220 Highway.  We had to take all cars because after our tour of Rock Creek Hollow the Utah people were returning home.  It wasn't bad for the Jeep but Larry's little car had its challenges.  This slowed us down a couple of hours.  We then stopped at Sixth Crossing while Jolene got help from the missionaries with much needed gas.  While she was getting help with gas we went through the visitors' center there.

  

On we went to the base of Rocky Ridge.  We left the two cars just off the highway and we traveled to the lower monument with our Jeep and Jolene's 4 wheel drive SUV.  What a wonderful experience we had there.  The spirit touched our hearts as we looked at the hill that our ancestors pushed and pulled up to get over Rocky Ridge.  We read the story of the James family from Jolene's book, "Follow Me to Zion."  Tears were spilled.

Family at the Lower Monument at Base of Rocky Ridge

We then drove back to the cars to drive on to Rock Creek Hollow. We  had another set back as we drove the rock road down to the Hollow.  Larry had a rock jam into his tire and the tire went flat.  We were almost to the Hollow and the missionaries were there to help rescue him.  They got the tire off and found the big rock lodged in it.  It was such a large hole that they knew he needed a new tire.  Larry and Gerhard took off to Lander. Sadly no one in Lander had his size tire.  He had to go home on his donut.  He was blessed and and made it safely.

Fixing Larry's Flat

While they were gone the rest of us piled into the 2 four wheel drive vehicles and drove on the back roads toward the back side of Rocky Ridge.  Jolene pointed out many fascinating things along this trail.  She showed us where she believed  Ephraim Hanks shot the buffalo, (watch the video "Ephraim's Rescue").  Jolene and Sister Smart and Cozette walked down to the site to get a closer look.  We found amazing details of the meadow and hill that is described in Ephraim's journal.  We knew without a doubt that this was the place.   A special  feeling confirmed the find.  Jolene was so excited and wanted to take something back from the site.  She found a dried cow pie and took it back.

Jolene with Her Cow Pie

The next  stop on the trail was at Strawberry Creek.  Jolene knew from research the spot the sick wagon had to stop while Levi Savage left the wagon to go and get some help to get it over Strawberry Creek. William James and Reuben James were among the sick. We saw the wagon ruts near the dried up creek.  Cozette and Sister Smart stood in the ruts.

Dried Up Strawberry Creek

Standing in the Wagon Ruts

The next stop was the spot that the James children waited at the river (Radium Springs or Gillespie Place) until their mother found them on the 23rd of October. 

The road was getting so rough that Jolene's vehicle was having trouble navigating on it so we choose to turn around there.  Cozette kept having to get out of the car to direct her around the huge ruts and rocks.  Elder Smart was having no problems navigating the Jeep over the terrain.

Cozette Directing Jolene

With all the delays the Utah crew left late but made it home safely.

To make a long story short, with the help of Elder Smart, Jolene was able to reach a ranch owner near Bessemer Bend by phone and got permission to follow the trail on their property.  Sister Smart got permission from President Pace to accompany Jolene back to Casper and Bessemer Bend on Wednesday morning.   

They found workers on the ranch that helped us find the trail back to the North Platte River.  They looked for a possible place of refuge that the Martin Company may have stayed in for the 9 days of storm.  They found some possibilities, but  nothing that clearly met the journal description.  It was a rough road and they were once again glad for the Jeep.  Jolene will research it further when she returns next Spring.

Jolene Walking into a Possible Spot of Refuge

Walking Through the Trees Near the River
Did the trees become the refuge?

Needless to say this has been a very very wonderfully busy time.  We were blessed to experience and share with family and Jolene Allphin.

We have had such spiritual growth on this mission and we believe our families have been blessed while we have served.  We will be released from our mission on Sept. 27th.  We have been given permission from our Stake President to drive to Mount Rushmore before we return home.  This will get us home, probably on the evening of September 29th.

We love the Lord and have a strong testimony of service in His Kingdom.  We also love all of you and hope our grandchildren will look at our example and also choose to serve a mission.

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