Bread making day

Progress, amazing progress on Visitor Center

Are ya sure that's how it goes?
let's have a look see at the plans, yep, that's the way it goes.
Okay, I'll get it set right up here and see if it fits tight.
Windows look like they will do!
Hey wait a minute............
Let's put this log right up there on the top. Got it guys???
Hey down there, we got a kodak moment here!!!
Great group of elders that Doug works with. One is an accountant, One is a Pilot, One is a Forest ranger, One is a contractor but not for log buildings, Doug's the paramedic and only one is a log builder. Amazing HUH???

Is this a government job??????

Doesn't this guy look like a government or county employee? Just kidding Elder E. Bagley. I saw you working on the bridge below.
Elder J. Bagley the direct, his brother Elder E. Bagley, is here with his wife too as missionaries. He was painting the railing on the bridge that was just installed, that spans the Sweet water. river. Our missionaries are jacks of all kinds of trades. If there is something they can't do, there is someone else here that can.

"WILLIE"

Willie the dog was given to Elder Bagley, the director of our center here. Willie has become a part of the Willie missionary family. He really likes it when the trekkers are here. Some are a little intimidated by him as he is still just a pup of about 8 months. He is reckless and very friendly. Elder Bagley likes to play tag with him. Willie trekked with the trekkers you can see in the back ground and came when he saw all the missionaries getting ready for a square dance in the meadow.

River Rising slowly

This is the path to the little school house that is just outside the visitor center. This one room school house was built in the early 1900 was brought here a few years ago, and was used in this valley for many years. A couple of years ago the missionaries re-did the inside. Kids can come play school in the school house.
I am standing on the road that drives right into our site. On both sides of the road it looked like a lake. Usually this is a beautiful meadow. Below is the entrance off the highway to 6th crossing.

New Willie Center at 6th crossing

Isn't this view incredible? From up on the hill you can see the whole valley. Look how high the water is. And we haven't seen all the snow melting from the mountains.
This area you are looking down on will be the Museum area of the Visitor Center
This is the main entrance from the east side. This is where the parking lot will be. You will be able to see in the front windows and look on thru to the west windows and over the Sweetwater Valley.
Here's my guy!!!

FHE Concet

We enjoy an amazing pianist that lives in Atlantic city. A little mining town about an hour away from here at 6th crossing. However Atlantic City is just 7 miles away from Rock Creek Hollow, where the memorial is for the 13 who died after they had traversed over "Rocky Ridge". John M., the pianist, was awesome, he took many request. One he played "Oh Danny Boy" and Elder Erwin stood and sang it with this amazing baritone voice. Brought many to tears.
John M. plays in the mercantile, (a bar) in the little mining town. He said that the next song he was going to do goes with a banjo. Lo and behold, we have a banjo player here with us. Bing Roberts is the only paid professional on the visitor center work site. He has built log homes for a career. He commutes back and forth to Idaho. He has a couple of CDs out and is an awesome banjoist. So he went and got his banjo and they played a few songs together. John M. the pianist specialty is 1800 music. He is amazing.
After he was finished Elder Bagley presented him with a quilt the sisters had made in the humanitarian center. The Bagleys, a couple years ago, were in the only eating establishment in Atlantic City while staying at RCH for their turn as missionaries, and John was playing the piano there. Elder Bagley went up to him and started talking and the next thing you know he comes and puts on a concert at the Willie Site Trek Center a couple times every year.

China Palace date night

After a long week of working (serving) we all went to town (Riverton) and enjoyed a fine Chinese meal and wonderful company. It is amazing how quickly your love increases to include many more especially when you serve a mission together.

Spring has sprung

For most of you and where you live, spring has already come and gone. I actually get to enjoy spring twice this year. Once in St. George and now here in Wyoming. We have had some warm days in the 80's finally. There is beauty here in this wild western place. A couple is over the ground maintenance here at the 6th crossing and they have 4 sisters that help them near the visitor center. Each have flower beds that they are responsible for.

Trekking Season is upon us.

Our first big group was the Cody Wyoming Stake. They had about 320 kids. The river crossing was an awesome experience. They had appointed about 15 young men to either carry or push the handcarts loaded with kids on them thru the water.
You can't tell from this picture but this isn't even the river. The water is so high that it has swelled out over the banks. They had to cross this bit of water to get to the bridge. And then after they crossed the bridge they had to go thru the water to get on dry land again.
Doug and I was assigned the "Men's Call-out" and the "Women's Pull." Here the boys are told to leave the hand carts and follow Doug up the hill. Once on the hill he talks to the boys and men about the sacred privilege it is to hold the Priesthood of God. He also share with them the important roll priesthood holders have to honor and respect womenhood. They then line the trail and watch and ponder what it is like to watch these sisters pull the handcarts on their own up the hill.
While the guys are walking up the hill, I then have the opportunity to share with the young women and sisters the important roll they play. Sometimes we are faced to pull our handcarts alone. Sometimes we need to consider what is in our handcarts and are they worth they weight we are carrying around. Are there things we need to let go of, prioritize our lives. What really matters. We can do hard things and we also need to reach out and help others when they are pulling alone. As the guys are walking away, I have them turn and watch as they do, and then ask them how it makes them feel to see the priesthood walk away. What would they do if they didn't have the priesthood in their lives and what are they doing to help the young men they know to honor and cherish the priesthood they hold. If the young men are honoring their priesthood, they will be able to bless the sisters lives. It is a wonderful experience.

Rocky Ridge

The missionaries from the cove all came to our site for a quick prayer and instruction and then we all drove the actual trail to Rocky Ridge. We pulled up the caboose, as were to close all the gates we traveled thru. From the Willie Meadow it is about 12 miles to the Lower Monument of Rocky Ridge. The trek groups trek this trail with handcarts. This is called the "National Historic Trail". Better known as "the Oregon Trail, the Mormon trail or the Pony Express trail." They all used this trail to head west. At the Lower Monument we have to park the cars and walk up over the 2 1/2 mile uphill climb of Rocky Ridge. No cars are allowed up over Rocky Ridge.

As we were driving to the Ridge, out in the middle of the barren landscape there was a lone Moose.
For the more adventurous we had the experience of pulling a cart up over Rocky Ridge. Here we are near the top of the Ridge. Notice how many are pulling the cart. Many times with the handcart people of the Willie company, there was 1,2, 3 people pulling or pushing the cart. They did it in a foot of snow with a bitter cold northwest wind blowing in their faces. Once reaching the top of the Ridge they had to continue on to camp for another 12 miles. It took many all day long and into the night before they reached camp, which was called "Rock Creek Hollow." 13 died that night and were buried in a common grave. Two of the brothers that helped dig the grave died the next day and are buried near by.
Here we are at Rock Creek Hollow enjoying a few of the stories about some of those amazing handcart people. Notice the snow in the back ground. This is a beautiful sacred place where the spirit is so strong.

Visitor Center progress

The wind here makes the progress very difficult. It doesn't keep them from working, just wears them down. Even tho we have 20 elders here at the Willie Site, 6 of them are the main course at the building site. Elders Freeman, Smith, Vinton, Peterson, Bagley and Doug



Doug often goes for wild rides in the fork lift basket. Kink a like a ride at disneyland but not quite as fun or safe.


The progress with the visitor center is amazing. Especially when you consider that the construction hands are missionaries and the majority of them over 55. Doug enjoys working there, but it wears on him because he is the youngest and expected to be able to do a lot of the lifting. He is usually in the fork lift basket scaffolding.