August 30,2015

We left early this morning driving through a very dense fog to church.  Luckily there was another missionary couple in front of us to part the fog well enough that we could see our way.  Life is much like that…Grateful we are for those that have gone before that we may follow their path. 

We have one more week to attend meetings in the Far West Ward.  We have enjoyed our association with them.  Kevin gave the Gospel Doctrine lesson again today.  He has been substituting for the last five weeks. After his lesson the R.S. and Priesthood met in the chapel for the 5^th Sunday lesson where both of us spoke on the Sabbath Day.  A couple of months ago we gave talks on the Sabbath Day in Sacrament meeting.  I guess we didn’t quite get it right the first time.

Kevin went to the Dr. last Monday with a terrible cough, fever, etc. etc.  They gave him five prescriptions to take.  He  is feeling much better. (Should be after that much medication!)

We finally had the ground breaking for the Greenhouse to be built behind the work center. 

Kevin ordered the greenhouse when we first arrived but the missionaries have been so busy with other projects this was not a top priority.  Hopefully during the next week they can get electricity where it needs to be and then they can continue with the project later in the fall.

Kevin has spent much time with Elder Whipple learning his new assignments.  Tomorrow passwords on the computer will be changed to his name so he will be on his own [with a little supervision] this week. One of the jobs Elder Whipple does each morning at 4:00 a.m. is to fill the water truck from two different ponds and sprays the roads to keep the dust down during the day. 

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He fills it six times each morning and it takes him about two hours to complete the spraying. There are lots of buttons and levers to push as it is the fire truck we use here on the property.

I spent part of the week inventorying the Doxey Trailer (where the General Authorities stay) defrosting the freezer, cleaning the fridge, 

buying more supplies for the trailer, and dishes for a couple of the homes missionaries will be moving into.  Sister Whipple has been so good to train me; wish I could keep her in my pocket.

This evening Elder and Sister Whipple have invited us to go on a walk with them along the bottom road, one last time before they leave.  It is so beautiful, with such a special spirit there.

We were saddened Friday to hear that our dear friend Marva Oakey had passed away.  She had suffered so much with kidney failure and other health problems.  She was a wonderful person and so fun to be around.  She truly will be missed.  Kevin has enjoyed Jerald’s friendship for many years.  He hopes to continue with close contact during the next few difficult and lonely weeks.

Two weeks from tomorrow we move to the “Yellow House”.

It was built in 1900. All joked that they did not like the color yellow and no one wanted the yellow house.  It is right next to the work center so the Director can be close.  It will be nice just to walk across the parking lot to work.  Our new address for the next year will be: 22379 Koala Rd.  Jameson, MO  64647.

Andrew was sustained in his ward as the first counselor in the bishopric today. 

He will do a great job!  We are so proud of him.  It will be a great blessing to Andrew, his family and others.

Last night Grant face timed us and with a make-believe microphone  rehearsed with us a talk he was giving in Primary today.  He talked about Jesus calming the sea and how his Daddy was going to give him a blessing before school started to calm him.  We are so grateful for all of our grandchildren and that they can be blessed in this way by their fathers.  We wish them well in this new school year!

Have a great week!  We love you!

August 23, 2015

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

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. 

Branding our Board

AOA  2015  K&M

                                                                            

             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. 

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 91^st 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.   

August 16, 2015

Hope you all had a good week and that you are well and happy!  We miss you and look forward to your calls or texts.

This past week was busy with Elder Child and his wife being here.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday they came to our morning prayer meeting and shared messages.  Tuesday was our interview day where they interview each couple, and then our formal dinner with them was on Tuesday evening.   During our interview, Elder Child visited for a few minutes and then said:  “Elder McCracken, the Lord would like you to be the Director here at Adam-ondi-Ahman for the next year.”  

Evening Dinner with Elder & Sister Whipple & Elder & Sister Child

 This assignment will include making all the work assignments for the men each day, supervising the farmers, land management, purchases, etc. etc.  I will be in charge of conducting all the prayer meetings with the sisters each day, work assignments, committees, meal schedules, stocking the trailer for the General Authority stay,  calendaring , etc. etc. We are both going to be stretched.  Being stretched is difficult!  But, that is how we grow, I guess.

The past few days have been full with training, training, and training.  The couples that are leaving only have fifteen more work days so that doesn’t give us much time to learn our duties.

Yesterday Whipple’s invited us to go to The Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri about an hour from here. 

The express started here with the first rider, Johnny Fry, on April 3, 1860. There were relay stations set up 10-15 miles apart.   They traveled from St. Joe to Sacramento, California. Riders had 2 minutes to get a drink, go to the bathroom and change the mochila over to a fresh horse.  The riders traded off every 75 to 100 miles.   One rider rode for 36 hours straight and rode for 380 miles, using several horses.

 A Mochila is a leather pouch that had 4 pockets for the mail.  Three of these were locked.  The only 2 keys for the locks were at the opposite ends of the trail.  The 4^th pocket was left open to pick up military dispatches along the way.  The mail, written on onion  skin paper, was wrapped in oil cloth to protect it from the weather.  The rider would only carry 20 lbs of mail per ride.

         A story is told that some young women would watch for Johnny Fry to make his Pony Express run past their home so they would hand him a cakes and cookies.  Since he had to snatch them on the run, they decided to put holes in the center of the cakes and cookies.  This would make them easier for him to hold.  This is one version of how doughnuts were created.

         We had a great Sacrament Meeting today.  Jenny Doan (owner of Missouri Star Quilt Co. largest supplier of quilting supplies in the country with many U Tube videos) was the speaker and along with her quilting talents has the most beautiful, powerful voice you have ever heard.  When she leads the music in church we feel like the back up choir to her.  She talked about how music has been such an important part of her life.  She wakes up everyday singing a song and thought everyone else did too until she asked her husband a few months ago what song he was singing when he woke up and he had no clue what she was even talking about. When her children were little and argued  she said they could argue as much as they wanted as long as they sang their arguments.  She said the arguments would soon turn to smiles and giggles.  (Wish I could start over and be a mom again some days!) Jenny  also started an “Instant Choir” years ago.  One Sunday a month they sing a hymn and who ever wants to sing goes up to the front.  Some weeks more are in the choir than the audience.

         Kevin gave his lesson in Gospel Doctrine today and has two more to go.  In three weeks we will leave the Far West Ward and attend the Gallatin ward  which is much closer.  We have enjoyed the people we have met in Far West.  Most are related to each other and have amazing stories.

         We are so grateful for the opportunity we have to serve here.  We are grateful for those things that have happened here and those things that will happen. We love driving onto the property and feeling of that special spirit.

         Have a great week!  We love you all and appreciate your kindnesses to us!

August 9, 2015

August 9, 2015

This past week has been packed full of interesting and special experiences.  As new computer equipment was being installed the sister missionaries were unable to work at the customary location, rather each working from their homes.  This arrangement was nice for Marilyn because she was feeling a bit under the weather and was not wanting to expose the others to the bug, but well enough to do indexing.  At the end of the week she was told that she had indexed more records than any of the other sisters.  She often indexes from obituaries.  While doing this she was able to enter Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) information onto the database.  His obituary was quite interesting, listing many difficult challenges he had faced during his life.

Kevin continued mowing lawns, spraying weeds and helping with the fence painting project.  Progress is steadily being made, with well over half of the posts now cleaned and repainted.  One of the wells was malfunctioning so the pump was pulled to examine it.  Fortunately the pump was okay.  Necessary cleaning and adjustments were made.  In time we will know if the fixes were adequate.  Many other projects are also on the docket to complete what the more experienced missionaries hoped to complete prior to their departure in mid-September.

Kurt, Janae, and family

Two families visited this week.  LaNona’s daughter Janae and family stopped for a quick visit Wednesday on their way from New Jersey to Utah. 

 Saturday afternoon Bishop Lander and his family stopped as a part of their “church history” vacation.  We were able to take each of the families on a brief tour of the property.  It is always nice to visit with family and friends.

Much of the latter part of the week was devoted to helping with activities of the 128^th Annual Jameson Picnic. 

 This small town lies on the northern edge of the church property.  It has dwindled in size for years, many homes evidently now abandoned and deteriorating.  A portion of the remaining residents are very community oriented and are giving yeoman effort to preserve the town-site.  The only remaining and functioning school houses all grades K through 12, graduating only two seniors this past spring.  There are no stores but a small post office is still open.  Numerous activities are sponsored by the Betterment Committee (on which two of our missionary couples sit) to raise community awareness and funds for ongoing refurbishing projects. 

The major event of the year is the annual picnic which draws thousands of people (many coming great distances) who at some point resided nearby.  A carnival like atmosphere prevails.  We participated by baking and donating pies which were sold by the piece.  We helped mow, trim, and clean the town park and graded some rough areas (especially the track used for hours of lawn tractor pulls which get really competitive).  Saturday morning we entered the parade, riding on the only float which the AOA missionaries built,

AOA Missionaries

and which was accompanied by vintage tractors, horse drawn carriages, etc., etc. Another interesting entry was a horse-drawn school bus which had been built for the school district as they commemorated their hundred year anniversary by earlier AOA missionaries.

Jameson School Bus

We travelled a few blocks and threw candy from the float to anxious children.  The entire parade lasted only 11 minutes, but was so enjoyable.  Actually, it was really touching to sense the feeling of community, which invoked tender emotions.  We visited the park the evening before and enjoyed a sandwich and drink prior to listening to a really good band play tunes from the 50s, 60s and 70s.  Some couples danced to their music (we even ventured to the floor once).  One interesting couple who, we were told have been regular participants for years, were so very fun to watch.  They were in their 90s and he was dressed in yellow and black overalls, with suede shoes and a baseball cap worn in reverse.  They danced rather slowly and deliberately (as you could imagine), but were surely together in each smooth step.  It would have been nice to have become acquainted with them and their life’s story.  The night was very warm and humid but the park was bustling with activity and enthusiasm, and enjoyment in one another’s company.  We were assigned to the food cooking booth Saturday from 1:00-3:00, deep-fat frying pork loin sandwiches and cooking other items and filling orders.  Marilyn felt she was back at the Tam's Drive-In, re-living  her teenage years.  All was well organized, the result of so many years of repeated efforts.  In all it was so enjoyable and memorable.  We will look forward to the three day picnic next year.

Sunday we attended our normal church meetings at the Far West Ward, giving the Gospel Doctrine lesson again.  

David Whitmer

Monument to the Three Witnesses

Following the meetings we drove to Richmond to visit the Memorial to the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon and the gravesites of David and Peter Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery.  We enjoyed the ride and the sites.

This coming week will again be full to the brim with work and other activities.  Elder and Sister Child are to be here Monday evening through Thursday morning.  We have been told that part of their assignment while here will be to announce the calling of a new director.  The man called (and his wife) will then be able to shadow the current leaders for a month prior to their fall departure.

We sincerely appreciate your contacts and your support; and we extend our love and best wishes.  Have a great week.

August 2, 2015

     Can’t believe it is August already!  The kids here are getting ready to start school in a couple of weeks despite the warm temperatures.  Most days this past week have been around 100+ with the heat index.  They say  through the middle of September it is pretty hot and humid and then it starts cooling down.

       Kevin has been busy this week with his lawn mowing.  They mow over 200 hundred acres of grass usually twice a week because it has been growing so fast.  He sprayed 150 gallons of Round Up one day until his spraying rig broke down.  One day was spent weed whacking around the fence 

"Muddy Buddy"

posts and another day painting fence posts (over 3500 they have to paint this summer).  There is always plenty to do.  He is hoping they are able to put the greenhouse together before the other six missionary couples leave in Sept. but so far that has not been a top priority.

       Monday after work we took Kevin’s suit to be Dry Cleaned in Chillicothe, which is a good 45 minutes away (the closest one).  It is a beautiful ride with roller coaster  roads. 

The city is known for its “sliced bread”.  One  of the buildings has a mural on the wall that looks like an old fashioned street you could turn down.  The history is rather interesting…

Bread Before Slicing
Before the invention of pre-sliced bread, people either baked their bread at home or bought full loaves of bread. For both home-baked and store-bought loaves of bread, the consumer had to personally cut off a slice of bread every time he wanted one, which meant rugged, irregular cuts.
This all changed when Otto Frederick Rohwedder, from Davenport, Iowa, invented the Rohwedder Bread Slicer. Rohwedder began working on inventing a bread slicer in 1912. Unfortunately, bakers scoffed at Rohwedder's early slicers; the bakers were sure that the bread would quickly go stale if pre-sliced. Determined in his belief that pre-sliced bread would be a major convenience for consumers, Rohwedder continued to work on his invention.
In one attempt to solve the staleness worry, Rohwedder used hat pins to keep the pieces of bread together in the hopes of keeping the loaf fresh. However, since the hat pins continually fell out, this did not work.


Rohwedder's Solution

In 1928, Rohwedder came up with a way to not only slice bread but to keep it fresh. Once the approximately five-foot long and three-foot high Rohwedder Bread Slicer sliced the bread, it would also wrap it in a wax paper to keep it from going stale. Even with the sliced bread wrapped, many bakers remained dubious. In 1928, Rohwedder traveled to Chillicothe, Missouri where baker Frank Bench took a chance and used Rohwedder's invention. The very first loaf of pre-sliced bread went on shelves on July 7, 1928 as "Sliced Kleen Maid Bread." Bench's sales quickly skyrocketed and they knew the invention was a success. In 1930, Wonder Bread began to commercially produce pre-sliced loaves of bread, popularizing sliced bread and making it a household staple.

       We had three groups of visitors this week.  We were just leaving to get gas and saw an 8B license so Kevin stopped (thinking it was a Dr. Tall from our home stake.  It looked just like him, but his wife didn’t match.  They were  the Wheeler’s from Blackfoot seeing the sites and knew

many people we did including Melanie’s dad that he gone to school with.

       Friday afternoon Sara (nephew, Jake’s wife) and their two darling daughters, Rose and Ruby stopped to see us with Marsha,  a friend from Rexburg. 

Rose, Sara, and Ruby

It was so fun to see and visit them. We took them on the tour and the girls enjoyed standing on “Preacher’s Rock” and talking to their mom way out in the Pecan grove.  The acoustics are wonderful and you can hear from a long ways away.  They thought that was fun.

Pecan Orchard, Sara on left side

Marsha, Rose, & Ruby

   Friday evening we went to dinner with the Steiner’s from Rexburg, they had served here about 8 years ago and were visiting their son that was moving to Branson. They also took the three farmers and their wives that farm Corn and Soy Beans here on the property.  We had a great evening.  The farmers are not members of the church but are the nicest people you would ever meet.  They abide by their contract not to drink, smoke or work on Sunday.  They work long hours but when it gets about 11:50 p.m. on a Saturday night they turn off their equipment.

Yesterday Kevin harvested our corn stalks.  Although we had a high fence we donated the crop this years to the Squirrels and the Raccoons and didn't get a single ear. 

The farmers let us give the stocks to the cows (and said they wouldn’t even charge us).  The cows were soooo happy and couldn’t eat them fast enough!

Today Kevin had to teach the Gospel Doctrine lesson as our teacher’s daughter is expecting her first baby and didn’t know for sure when it would be born.  She was there today but wants him to take it for the next few weeks.   He wouldn’t admit it, but he enjoys teaching and did a great job!

This next week we are getting new computers in the work center so I will be doing indexing from our apartment for the first part of the week.  The church is having a campaign trying to get over 100,000 indexers to index this coming week.

Hope you are all doing well.  We love to hear from you and of the various activities you are involved in!  Have a great week!  We love you and appreciate all that you do!  Sending hugs your way!