Memorial Day 2011 HVC

This morning we woke up early and went to the flag raising ceremony at 7:00am. All the missionaries were there in the snow and cold breeze singing praises to God and country. One of the sister missionaries played the trumpet as the flag was raised. It was a beautiful ceremony and a beautiful day. We love being missionaries. Our first group of families were here this week. We had 2 groups of about 20 come to our challenge course. I got to be in the nest at the top of the pole to connect them to the zip-line after they had climbed the cargo net and crossed the swinging bridge that is suspended high above the ground. Seeing the courage that some of them had, showed in their faces. It was a special experience. I tell them that it is their life-line and they are safe if they always stay connected to it. Think about the life-lines in your life that keep you safe and protected.
The sister who played the trumpet, Sister Jones, has served 4 missions. Two were in Nauvoo/Palmyra area. She knew Scottie Sherwood, and had such sweet memories of him participating in the pagaent. She loved him too. Sister Jones bakes 15 loaves of bread every Friday for the missionaries, and as you have a minute through the day everyone goes in for a slice of warm bread with jams or honey. That is called lengthening your stride. She is so sweet.

Elder Edwards on Course 4

Elder Edwards has climbed about 35-40 feet to the top of the pole. We need to do this so that we know and understand the challenges the YW face on this course.
This is a difficult course. Where else in the world are missionaries doing this? Quite a uniqe mission.
He is almost across the wire, being very careful.
Made it to the nest. Today was our last day of training doing what participants do. Starting tomorrow we will be on the job facilitating, helping families on the Challenge Coures. WE ARE READY!

Sister Edwards on Course 4

This was our first day on Course#4. It was so cold, and the wind was blowing making it feel even colder. Several people have fallen off of this one so I am a little leary of this one.
Course #4 is quite high. The challenge here is that you have to grab ahold of the dangling ropes as you walk across the 1/2" wire. Looks easy....NOT! The ropes get farther apart, and the wire you are walking on moves, jiggeling you. The closer you get to the middle the more you sway. I thought this one was freaky, but it was fun.

Finally I did get across.

I think I earned the fun zip-line ride to the bottom. YAHOOO!

Monday we got our Challenge Course that we will be working on this month all set up. This is Challenge Course #3. You climb up the cargo net then walk across the ladder bridge. Each step gets a little farther apart until you reach the other side. Then you fly down the zip-line. This is the longest zip-line and it crosses a little stream. Dale and I have both done this one, but only a few times. It is also higher than Course #2. The guy on the pole is setting up the net and checking it's safety. Participants don't ever go where he is.

Wednesday were were training on Course #5. This is a giant swing. The team pulls you up to the black square you see on the tree. Then you are released, and just drop and fly. This is so fun. We loved this one because you don't have to work so hard. Wow, this is a thrill and super fun!

The first of the week we had the courses pretty well dug out. Then the snow came and in 2 days dumped over 2 feet of snow. So we were out digging again. This time the snow was so wet, our gloves, coats, and socks were soaking wet. We were freezing.

On Friday we hiked up to Course #1, and were the first to discover that 3 Fir trees had fallen under the weight of the heavy snow. (yes Larry, they were Fir trees, flat, friendly etc.)

The benches above are where the girls wait in line to go on the course. Behind the tree in the center is a swinging log suspended parallel to the tree. It has little notches cut in it and the girls climb up then walk across a 1/2 " wire to the tree farther down the hill. That is where the zip-line starts, and down they go.

Can you see the huge boulder embraced in the root of the fallen tree? It really was a miracle that this course was not destroyed.

We love our mission

Dale is starting up the pole. He is attached to a belay line as he climbs to keep him safe. If he falls, he won't fall very far.

Notice the foot anchors (above picture) get really small and the rest of the way up the pole, there are staples (the little metal clips seen in the picture below)to climb with.

Not an easy task to get on top of the log. It is about 25+ feet to the ground.

He made it across. He looks like a true tree-hugger, doesn't he? He made it to the nest where he will be detatched from the belay line and hooked onto the zip-line by the nester.
The nester is the person on the little tiny platform who does all the work of keeping Dale safe. When the campers come, missionaries will take turns nesting. The nester could be up in this little nest for a 3 hour shift, hooking people up to the zip-line. Not much room for 2 people to be perched up there. You can see why mama birds throw their babies out of the nest after they get big enough to fly. THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH ROOM! GO!

Down, Down.....

down.....

....and finally at the bottom. Yeah, he did it!

Training inside the Smith pavilion

Today we were given a written test and also had to pass off knot tying, belaying, coiling ropes, and several other rope related activities. Brother Kartchner, our home ward Scout leader would have been so proud of us!(The sister missionaries in the front are our friends from the Boise area: Sister Whiteley and Sister Loveland. They are both so cute and fun.)
Missonaries learning belaying.

Sister Bastian from St. George is training on using her harness.

Our first Mother's Day as missionaries. This is my mom and sister Karen. We had lunch to celebrate Mother's Day. Mom and Karen have committed to go down the zip-lines at the camp. Mom is really excited to do it too. That's awesome isn't it?

The pavilion

This is what the bunkbeds are like in the cabins as well as in the pavilions. There are 3 rooms in the pavilion with beds like this that the stake leaders can stay in. The rooms are spacious.

The industrial kitchens are huge.

In the center of the picture is a large double warming oven.

May 4, 2011 Digging Out

This is a picture of me in the shade hat, digging the icy crust from the top layer of snow. The snow blower stripped a pin hitting a large rock. So we dug all of this path by hand. We dug all the way to the last cabin you see in the back.

This is Sister Keller, our Challenge Course leader standing next to the Sariah pavilion. There is still a lot of snow up here, don"t you think?

Dale is a workhorse when it comes to shoveling. We shoveled all morning, had lunch, then went back this afternoon and shoveled more. It is amazing that a crew of senior missionaries can do this, and accomplish so much so fast. The Lord is blessing us, and His work here will be ready when the girls come in just a few weeks.