This week has passed so rapidly. Our experience, in this regard, validates what many of our missionaries in Nevada often stated that “the days seem long but the weeks short”. It seems we hear the announcement at our morning preparation meeting to come back to the work center a few minutes early for “Tidy Friday” all too frequently. This is the chore of more deeply cleaning the shop, etc. at week’s end. Those missionaries who will soon be leaving have often lamented of how quickly their opportunity of service here has passed. We are feeling much now as they predicted we soon would.
Since being called a little over a week ago to serve as directors we have particularly wished the clock would slow down a bit, allowing more time for training from those we have so admired. They led well, seemingly (in our perception) knowing everything and discharging their duties with such exemplary devotion and skill. Much of the past week has (for us both) been spent with Elder or Sister Whipple. At least when time for training could be sandwiched between other daily duties. Some duties have already been assumed (especially by Marilyn) that appear best learned in the doing, with the departing Sister at her side. She has spent many hours over this weekend organizing her notebook, preparing next month’s calendar, and typing lists of new assignments for the smaller group that will remain for the winter season. I have learned a small amount of the budgeting and expenditure procedures, and have accompanied Elder Whipple to various suppliers we use, the different properties that comprise Adam-ondi-Ahman proper (and its buffer zone), and to the homes of the various farmers who lease row-crop and pasture lands. The revenues from these properties provide the needed resources to fund the upkeep of the parts of the property visited by so many members of the Church, the homes in which reside, equipment needed, etc. Other properties visited included farms owned by a separate entity, Farm Reserve, whose income does is not directly available for needs of this project.
Much of the week was obviously devoted to normal duties of indexing (for Marilyn) and mowing, trimming and tree work for me. Clearing many trees and brush from around a large pond took nearly all of two days. There are jobs that I had hoped to complete last week that still are on the list for this coming week. We set a large bonfire to huge stumps that had been bulldozed into a large pile from last winter’s project of removing a tree-line from a newly acquired acreage to allow more room for crop planting. We had, in recent weeks, added many truckloads of other limbs and branches that were too small to be used for firewood. Within a few hours the intense heat generated had reduced the huge pile to a much smaller heap of smoldering ash about the size of a pickup truck.
Each work day is delightful. We feel so greatly blessed to have this special assignment, to work with wonderful people, and to be exposed to the sweet spirit of this choice land. Another great blessing we appreciate is, on nearly a daily basis, reading from Marsha’s blog www.kindredtales.blogspot.com.
She has so thoroughly researched interesting aspects from many ancestors we were not previously acquainted with. We suggest that you access the site for delightful reading. So many endured tremendous challenges. The majority remained faithful, but from even those who left the faith we have learned important lessons. Even they were very talented and had, for much of their lives, enjoyed the rich blessings granted to the obedient. However, in at least two instances, they failed at some juncture to follow the Prophet and thereby strayed. Those who were influenced by them also were impacted. Certainly a lesson can be learned by us all to receive and abide by the teachings of our current Church leadership. We have been assured that the Lord will not allow his mouthpiece to lead us but in the ways of the Lord.
A recent entry told of the details of how Marilyn's family and mine became attached many years ago. Of the first encounter between Fredrick William Hurst (Grandma Speas' Grandfather) and Alvira Desert Dessie Lindsay (Marilyn's Great Grandfather's Sister) we read, from the journals
“As a teenager Dessie found work in a dairy to help support the family. One day when she was carrying buckets of butter into the dairy, a man was waiting at the door and asked her a question. Because of the noise of the machinery, she was unable to hear him. Not wanting to appear rude, she just gave him a nod. Later she learned that she had said "yes" to a proposal of marriage. Beautiful Dessie had had many chances for marriage, but had been waiting for her "one and only".
The young man who had proposed to her at the dairy was Frederick William Hurst, Jr., an artist and builder from Logan, Utah. He was in Paris at the time working on the LDS Tabernacle.
As he was passing the Lindsay home and noticed a pretty little eighteen-year-old girl standing by the well with two huge buckets, he came to her rescue and proposed on the spot.”
Wednesday evening we attended our first “Jameson Community Betterment Society” meeting. A portion of our director duties is to sit on this committee of the small hamlet just to the north of Adam-ondi-Ahman. Since the railroad tracks were removed that included it as a freight stop many years ago its population has dwindled. But the remaining families are working valiantly to keep it viable and active. We play a supportive role in fundraising activities and improvement projects. Another couple has been selected from our group to also be involved.
Many activities have become customs or traditions over the years that missionaries have served here.
One such is an annual branding party. Each couple design a brand which is then forged and shaped. A year brand and the AOA brand is also prepared. We had a great barbecue lunch (complete is tasty Rib-Eye steaks, baked beans, and salads and fruits
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| Elder Miles & Elder Whipple Grilling |
After the lunch branding irons were heated and we each (as couples) branded a slab of wood to be taken home as a wall hanging along with the brand used. Each added their brands to the common board that will be placed on the shop wall along with those of former groups of missionaries. My understanding is that next year we will each add the “2016” year mark prior to completing our mission assignment.
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| Branding our Board |
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| AOA 2015 K&M |
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| Loves Zeemans, Uries. McCrackens Days |
Following the picnic we traveled to Mirable, Missouri to an engraving shop owned by a member of the Far West Ward. On the way home we stopped at the J. C. Penney Museum in Hamilton. This small community was his birthplace. Much memorabilia had been accumulated. As you enter the room, which adjoins the community Library also bearing him name (as does the High School) you are greeted by a wax figurine of the retailing magnate himself.
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| Mr. J. C. Penny |
It was fun to look through old catalogues and at store and office fixtures from a former era. Many brought back memories of the old Penney store in Idaho Falls. Exhibits also showed his many other interests and accomplishments, including many pictures of prize purebred stock he raised and showed. He became a very influential many during his 95 years.
Marilyn spoke with her mother this morning. She is celebrated her 91st birthday today. We were glad that LaNona, Bruce, and Ann (with spouses) were spending the day with her. She likewise has had a wonderful influence upon each of us and so many others. We are very grateful for her, and that (following such a traumatic injury just a few months ago) she has regained much of her former mobility and strength. We miss seeing her as frequently as once was our privilege, as we likewise feel for each of you. But, please, feel of our continuing admiration, interest and love (even though necessarily expressed from a distance for a bit longer. Please keep it touch.
