Thank you for joining Kathy and Mike on our mission to Martin’s Cove, Wyoming!

Latter-day Saint emigrants began using handcarts to make their trek west to Salt Lake City in 1856.  By 1860 ten handcart companies made this challenging journey by foot.  Two groups, comprised of about 1,100 people, the Willie and Martin Companies, left Iowa too late in the season and were caught in an early winter.   Hundreds died from starvation and exposure before they were rescued.  Michael’s great-grandmother was a survivor in the Martin Handcart Company.

The site of the rescue has become an important historical area to the state of Wyoming and has sacred meaning to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Over 100,000 people visit the area each year.   We and other senior missionary couples will be preparing and maintaining the area, taking treks with youth groups, friends and families, working in the visitor’s center, and sharing faith promoting pioneer stories to help people understand the unique history of the Mormon Hadcart Historic Site.

 

April 2, 2019: Tonight our Stake President, Cliff March, set us apart as full time missionaries for the Mormon Handcart Historic Sites Mission. We are so grateful to serve our Heavenly Father in this capacity. We are packed and ready to go.

April 3, 2019:  A bittersweet day.  First the bitter:  Our brother-in-law, George, passed away from pancreatic cancer, only one year from when his wife Marsha, Kathy’s sister, passed from the same horrible disease. George was a loving and most generous person, who had an amazing sense of humor.   He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, but we are sure he is having a joyous reunion with Marsha.

The sweet:   We are headed out to Utah for the first phase of our mission where we will be spending a week at the Provo Missionary Training Center.  Then on to Wyoming.  We are taking a longer route to see Michael’s brother Jack and sister Judi in Saint George, Utah.  We also get a day with our good friends Dave and Kristy Skidmore.  Wow!  What is happening in St. George?  Many, many RV spots, but no openings, so we are staying in a swanky RV spot in Las Vegas tomorrow night instead.  

Our Elders who helped us to prepare our house for our mission came over to say goodbye and wish us the best on our mission.

April 5&6, 2019: Spent two wonderful days in St. George, Utah. First day with our good friends David and Kristi Skidmore. Then spent Saturday with Mike’s brother Jack and sister Judi. What fun, and what a nice place for them to live, and we can see why they love the city. Just too many Californians! (That’s a joke)

April 8, 2019: Today we reported to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. Long but great day. If we were to sum up all the discussions and classes, it would be that we need to learn to serve others and become more Christ-like.

April 10, 2019: Day three in the MTC. We have been so busy, we finally got a night off to do our laundry. The Missionary Training Center in Provo has the largest free laundry room in the nation…no problem doing our laundry here. Today the temperature dropped and it started snowing. I had to walk to the RV in just a shirt to pick up Kathy and my coats. Yikes, it was cold. I don’t know how the Handcart companies made it through a Wyoming winter with only the clothes on their back. I admit, I’m no pioneer! Did I tell you we put an electric blanket in our 5th wheel?

Provo’s nickname is “Happy Valley”, if that’s the case, then the MTC is “Happy Valley” on steroids.  When I was installing a luggage carrier outside of Harbor Freight, five people stopped and asked if they could help.   At the MTC the young missionaries are always saying “Hi”, holding open doors for us, and the senior missionaries are very kind.  One couple heard I liked bacon, egg and cheese biscuits from McDonalds, so they went down before class and brought one to me.

April 11, 2019: The Provo Tabernacle is a historic icon and has been home to many religious and cultural events. The building was built in 1898, but all but the outer walls of the building were destroyed by fire in 2010. The LDS Church preserved the remaining outer walls and restored it as the Provo City Center Temple.  We were blessed to attend a session and enjoy the beauty inside and out.

We don’t think there will be many bikes on the planes of Wyoming. Handcarts, here we come.

April 14, 2019: On our way but held up for a couple of days because of weather in Wyoming.  We are in Heber City till tomorrow morning.  What a great view and a 5-star RV park. 

We made it to our new home for the next 6 months, and what a welcoming. It was cold, cold, cold, but about 10 people came out of their nice warm RVs to help us park. They worked in the cold until the trailer was leveled, water, electricity and drainage was connected, and we could get out of the cold and into our 5th wheel. Then others came over bearing gifts, cookies, dinner, etc. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? I have to admit, there are some kind people that have been drawn to help others on missions. Gosh, I hope they aren’t too disappointed in me, but Kathy will fit right in.

We have lots of visitors. This antelope is hanging around behind the 5th wheel. He is here so often, they have named him.

April 18, 2019: We have been in training all week. Today we got to go out to view Martin’s Cove and learn how we will help the 120,000 visitors this summer, including 21,000 people on the trek experience. Kathy learned to drive the “Mule” and did a good job.

The area has a special reverence not only due to the number of people who died in these hills, but because of the bravery of many. One location we visited today was the Sweetwater River crossing, where in 1856 young men sacrificed themselves by helping starving and freezing saints cross this ice filled river. Below is one of the monuments erected to these brave young heroes. Note the rags around the feet and hands. Michael’s great-great grandmother was one of the people who was rescued.

April 19, 2019: We thought we would share a little history of the location and explain why this area is so important in the history of westward migration. Below is a photo of Rattlesnake Pass. Through this pass and onward toward the west are where four main migration routes come together; the Mormon Trail, the Pony Express, the California Trail, and the Oregon Trail. Estimates are that about 500,000 people traveled through this area. The dust from the travelers lifted into the air and soil was actually removed from the path leaving a “swell” or long depression in the earth.

April 19, 2019: We made it through our first week! On Friday we had a beautiful day and were able to get a couple of pictures. Below is Martin’s Cove entrance sign, so when you come to visit us you will know where to turn.

We had to through in a picture of the Wyoming sky. It changes every day, and sometimes it looks as though it stretches on forever.

April 20, 2019:

April 20, 2019: We spent the morning hiding Easter eggs for the children visiting Martin’s Cove. Below is our Facilities Manager who is getting into the Easter egg fun.

April 21, 2019: HAPPY EASTER to our friends and family. Today we slept in and then went to church at 10 a.m. What a special meeting. We talked about Easter and the importance of the Atonement and Resurrection. We are reminded in Mosiah 16:6-8 that through the resurrection of Christ, the grave “hath no victory” and that the “sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.” After church we had a wonderful potluck dinner. We are learning that being with a group of seniors has it benefits; consider eating dinner prepared by 30 grandmothers. Ham, potato casseroles, homemade rolls, deserts! We don’t expect to loose any weight with this group.

This mission is different that other LDS senior missions. First, they say it is one of the most physical missions in the Church, and we are no spring chickens. We also get to serve with about 30 other couples. When we first walked into the chapel at Martin’s Cove we noted that there were Kleenex boxes on each row. Over this past week we have figured out why. Senior couples tend to me be very sincere. They share their feelings and they wear them on their sleeves. They speak from their hearts and are not afraid to shed a tear or two.

April 23, 2019: Although there is a ton of work (Kathy picked up cow pies off the trail and Mike worked on trucks) we are also expected to learn the history, tour the area, and get in shape by hiking. Today we hiked up a westward movement landmark, Devil’s Gate shown below. What a wonderful view from the top.

April 16, 2019: What a beautiful and peaceful Wyoming sunset; NOT! You can’t believe the weather today. We had such high winds that it took our neighbor’s 5th wheel off the blocks and blew it 4 feet while the owners were in the RV! There were tornado warnings near us, and we have never been in such winds. It is amazing what happens where there are no mountains around to temper the weather.

May 1, 2019: Today we are scheduled for our first 7 mile trek into Martin’s Cover. Looks like we need to dress warm. The group is getting to know our strengths and abilities as they assign work for us. Elder O’Brien is working on solar speaker systems and vehicles. Sister O’Brien is cleaning exhibits and buildings. We are both spending a few ours in the Visitor’s Center. Earlier this week it was in the 70’s, today it is snowing. Love the Wyoming high desert. First snake was seen as it was carried away by a hawk. Did we tell you we have snake catchers on all the trail vehicles?

May 6, 2019: Each season many children from schools around the area come in for a tour of Martin’s Cove. The missionaries get in pioneer dress and take them through the various exhibits. Kathy was just assigned to coordinate the school activities. By the end of school hundreds of children will have toured the facilities.

May 11, 2109: We went on a trek to 6 Crossings which is west of Martin’s Cove. This area is where the Willie Handcart Company held up in a storm, and were rescued at the point of death. It is known as one of the greatest rescues in pioneer history. We hiked about 7 miles pulling handcarts along the way.

May 12, 2019: Pioneers crossing Wyoming looked to Independence Rock as an important landmark. If they made it by July 4, then the weather would probably not be a problem for the westward travelers. The Martin Handcart Company didn’t make it here until late October, way later than they should. We climbed the rock today; this is a picture heading west toward the next landmark, Devil’s Gate. Almost 500,000 pioneers traveled through this area on the Mormon, California and Oregon trails.

May 14, 2019: Our company of 6 went on a hike up Martin’s Cove. The day was warm, and the snakes came out to visit. I almost stepped on a rattler.

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May 18, 2019: We toured from Deer Creek to Renshaw’s Bridge. At Deer Creek the weather was good for the Martin Handcart Company, and they made on of their more serious bad decisions of burning and burying their clothes to lighten the load to travel faster. Two days later the first storms of winter hit, and they recognized their mistake.

Near Casper, John Richards (a Frenchman who pronounced his name Reshaw) built a toll bridge across the Platt River. When the Martin HCC came to cross, the toll was too high for them, so they had to travel about 5 miles west to cross. The weather was freezing and they were so hungry, cold and tired, that they camped in wet clothes that froze to their skin. Fifty-six died from exposure, the most tragic single event in pioneer history. One wonders how many cold have been saved if they had been allowed to cross the bridge.

A big apology for not updating the blog for a bit. Here is the story. Trekking season has started and we are absolutely booked! 21,000 youth coming through, plus about a million 4th graders from local Wyoming schools. We have to welcome the people, help part dozens of vehicles, give safety briefings, tell the history of the area, take groups on 3 to 7 mile treks, help at the campgrounds, trek them back to the busses, and wave goodbye. But that is now not the half of it. Kathy and I have been asked to stay the winter with a couple of other missionaries and prepare for the 2020 trek year. Yep, we are staying until September, 2020. But, now we will also provide all the coordination for trekking at Martin’s Cove. I can’t tell you what a steep learning curve it has been. We have one couple responsible for all the facilities, While the coordination and organization of the treks are left up to Kathy, me and one other couple.

Did I mention we are also trekking? So, I did. Below is a fun picture of the woman’s pull. The men in the handcart companies tended to give their food to their children when the food was in short supply. The results were that the men usually died first. The women’s pull is to honor the efforts of the women pioneers, and while the men (trekking boys) are reminded to honor womanhood. Maybe something our society should do a little more of.

Another part of the Martin Cove trek is a crossing of Pete’s Creek. That’s pronounced “crick” in Wyoming. The Martin Company crossed the Platt River just west of Casper Wyoming in 1856 as winter closed in. It was so cold that some said the petticoats froze to the woman’s legs. Over 50 pioneers died within a week due to the cold and starvation. By the time the pioneers moved 45 miles to the west, some would not even cross this small creek. I believe they were suffering from a form of PTSD. The crossing is part of the trek. Of course it is not -6 degrees below zero and 18″ of snow.

I thought I would share an interesting experience we had on trek.  About 1,000 trekkers came in.  Kathy and I were assigned to take the group of about 200 on an 8-mile trek.  The trekkers asked if Kathy or I could speak at one of the stops.  This is unusual, because the trekkers are to provide the stories at each stop along the trek, not the missionaries.  I had just given them a welcome speech before their trek, so I asked Kathy to do it. 

When we trekked to the third stop, the Rescue Statues, they asked Kathy to speak.  Of course, she did a wonderful job, talking about the history of the statues, the events where young 18-year-old boys from Salt Lake Valley carried almost all the women, children and sick men across the freezing waters of the Sweet Water River to reach Martin’s Cove.  The night before she was inspired to conclude by telling the group we were on our mission because Jane Griffiths, “Elder O’Brien’s great-great grandmother”, who was an 8 year old child carried in the arms of a rescuer from Salt Lake Valley. (I might be a little prejudice, but it was the best talk ever!)

After the talk a father (Craig Poulter) and his son came up and introduced themselves as our cousins.  Craig said he was the great-great-great grandchild of John Griffiths, Jane’s father.  Craig had brought his son to Martin’s Cove to learn more about their heritage. His son was carrying the name of Margarette Griffiths as the ancestor he wanted to remember on the trip.

Now think of the odds of this happening:

• Of the thousands of trekkers coming through Martin’s Cove this week, we led only one small group.
• In our time here, we had never spoken to a group on trek.
• At 4 AM that morning Kathy woke with an impression include Jane Griffiths in her talk.
• A father and son had come 325 miles to Martin’s Cove to learn about the Griffith’s history.
• Craig and his son changed to our group at the last minute.

Since this meeting Craig has provided a ton of information regarding my great-great grandmother’s family history, including a book on the Griffiths handcart experience.

Call it a coincidence if you want…

One more that I couldn’t pass up. We were invited to march in the Lander 4th of July parade. I couldn’t help but wonder if some uniformed people still believe that LDS people still practice polygamy. I guess this picture doesn’t help, does it… Honest and true, one is plenty!

Ah, such glamorous jobs. Two weeks ago it was cleaning cow manure from the camping sites, and today it is washing the bird droppings off Handcart Parking so the trekkers can eat lunch on clean tables before they head up to Martin’s Cove.