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Oh my goodness, what a ride we have had. Yes, I did get really behind on blogging. I’m sorry for those following but we got so busy and were so tired all the time. But, WE DID SURVIVE. There were seriously times I worried we would.

Julie Jones

The Lord has truly blessed all of us missionaries here at 6th Crossing and at Martin’s Cove. He took what we gave Him (and we gave him are all: Heart, might, mind, and strength) and he made us strong physically and spiritually. We are now at the end of our mission. It really went fast especially when they decided to make it a 5 month mission. We are so happy to have had the opportunity to serve the Lord here in this sacred area and for all that we learned and experienced. We pray that we were able to make a difference to all the youth that come and their leaders and support groups. We are so thankful for the family that were able to come and visit. It was really special to have all of you come. I just wish we could have been able to have all of you come. Maybe we can still make a trip sometime and show you around and all that we did. We grew to love this place and those who we have grown so close to. There are things we will not miss and it was hard and trying at times, but we hope to only remember all the wonderful times. I didn’t think it would be too hard to leave but we only have two more days. We will be traveling home on Thursday, August 15th. Tears are beginning to come, and we are emotional but very excited to be home and see family and I’m especially excited to go to Education Week with my Mom and sisters, and daughter. What a great experience and learning and growing experience. I hope we can keep the mission spirit. I truly believe we are coming back changed. What better job could we have been involved with in Building and Help in Bringing Forth the Lord’s Kingdom. This place has an awesome spirit. The Lord is here and our ancestor’s are very involved. It is all about the Rescue. May we continue to rescue the Lord’s children, so that we can all be together and back with our Heavenly Parents and with our Forever Families. Thank you for all your prayers and support and love. We will see you soon.

I am going to go back and post some of the family pictures when they came. I hope to be able to continue my blog when I get home and catch up on so many of the memories. I have taken so many wonderful pictures. I hope to have these memories forever.

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We are in the thick of our mission. I’ll try to do some catching up. Second week in August the treks will end.

Julie Jones

Sorry for those waiting to hear more news. This has been a very busy time, but rewarding. We have loved having family come. I might have to continue our experiences even when we get back in September. It may seem as a short time to some but sometimes we have felt we have been here for a long time. They weren’t kidding when they said it was a working mission. We are doing our best and go to bed tired every night and can hardly get out of bed in the mornings.

This is a picture of Elder Jones working on his favorite job of putting in a new sink facet (not) especially when it is corroded old pipes. He did a great job and it is so nice to have it be new and not dripping constantly. I even feel better about the water even though at times it smells like sulfur. We have to change our filter at least once a week. It may be the old water heater too. One time I started the washer with hot water and it reeked so bad it made the whole house smell like bad potato salad or like Yellow Stones pots. I worried whether we were smelling like we had soaked in the hot springs and our clothes smelled. The other missionaries say they are suffering with it too. Maybe we all smell.
Poor guy. It’s difficult fitting under the sink. I’m the assistant handing tools to him and keep reminding him he is a missionary and to not lose his temper.
By the way he also had to change the wiring to the disposal. I went to turn it on and it shocked me and spit out fire. It didn’t even trip the breaker. The wiring was bad and fragile and Elder Jones said it looked like 1935 material. Blessed I wasn’t hurt worse or it caused a fire. We only have a 100 AMP main breaker. We lose power if we have too much on. We just pray all will be okay.
This was fun to have this couple show up. Both had taught at Rigby High. She was a teacher and he was a Driver’s Education teacher. He didn’t recognize Elder Jones but he knew the Miller Twins “Rex and Reed”. Their names were Karen and D——— Christiansen. Elcer Jones recorded their names in his journal.
When we were home for memorial day Elder Jones visited Mary Taylor Upton Simmons Robinson’s grave. She is Russ’s GG Grandmother who was with the Martin Company who pulled handcarts. She was the only survivor of her family. She lost her mom and dad and husband and still born baby. We have great ancestors in our heritage. We hope we can have as much faith, obedience, sacrifice, and charity as they did.
First group of trekkers came today. We are all here excited and on our radios listening to the confusion and excitement. This is down at River Camp. It was fun to see them all take off with their handcarts.
Elder Jones is in the front of our group and I am in the back. Sometimes we get a bit too close to the other groups. But it all works out.
This is a great idea to have the individual water bottles hooked on to the back with a carabiner.
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Had to ask for a couple days to go home and take care of a financial matter. We were able to accomplish so much in one day. It was a miracle to be able to do so much, visit family and get right back for our first trek on Thursday. Left Memorial day early morning, back on Wednesday. We believe the Lord helped us because we were so needed back here. Grateful to see family. Able to give some blessings and loves and kisses. Glad we could get back quickly to continue our mission.

Julie Jones
First stopped by to see our grand kids in Freedom, WY. They were so happy to see us and show us their new kitty they named George Washington.
Better picture of them.
I love it that the kitty is looking straight at me. Look at those eyes. Funny. Does the furniture look familiar? Used to be Mom and Dad’s. They have it in their basement. Dafne and Riley love it now that the kids can have their own space and bedrooms in the basement.
Fen get along with the kitty really well and they even play together. Fen loves attention. He gets that little tail just a waggin. Such a cute dog. Loves his toys and if you can get it from him you can throw it and he’ll run and get it.
So happy to see this little one. Just love him to pieces. He was so happy to see us. Grandma was blowing the dandelions and he just loved this.
Got to have the kids over. This is a crazy thing they play with. I can’t do it because it makes me dizzy. The others are watching what he is seeing. We loved seeing the kids again.
Elder Jones trying it. I think this is Levi’s new toy.
Cute little shoes of Mavericks.
Want to just kiss that cute little body.
He is trying to tell me to put his shoes on. I was telling him he needed his pants and shirt on first. He says Yes now.
I took a couple pictures of Alicia and Dave’s house. Spring has definitely arrived in Rigby. They do such a cute job on their yard. Just love it and their little farm.
Alicia’s mother’s day gift.
Cute garden. They have duck’s, chickens, kitties, dogs, goats, and will get some piggies soon.
A picture of their baby goats. What a fun yard for kids. It keeps them busy doing chores too.

Loved going home but very thankful to get done what we had to in such a short time and thankful to get back to our mission.

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Pictures of our work crew days and adventures

Julie Jones
The sisters are learning now how to quilt and sew the squares together. I really like putting the colors together, not so much the sewing it all together to make it turn out nice or tying it. We have several sisters that do a great job in making it look nice (Sister Humann and Sister Price)
Sewing the Arm bands for the Trek groups. This helps us to know who the trek Leaders are (orange bands) the cook and support people (green) and the first aid people (red). Sister Linford and I showing our great serge work. The Linford’s are the Missionary couple that are related to the John Linford of the Willie Company and the Linford Monument that is just before Willie Meadows. It was really interesting to hear their families story of how they asked permission to put the stone monument that depicts the burial site of 7 of the company that died before reaching the meadows and how his grandfather, Golden Linford, worked to make it possible to make the site known as to where the pioneers of those companies came through.
Sister Linford is so talented. Plays the piano and the guitar and has a sing along to some really cute songs. Just love her. The Linford’s are from Rexburg and know a lot of the people we know in Rigby. Be fun to have them as friends after we get home.
She even plays some of the hymns. I am a child of God, and Come, Come Ye Saints.
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Things got really busy with Treks starting. Hope to catch up. So much has happened. Wish we had internet at home so I could keep up easier. Having a wonderful time.

Julie Jones
We had a surprise snow storm. This seems to be the longest winter ever. Hope we see spring. It is trying to come.
Poor little tulips in front of our house. They are so beautiful. I dug off the snow so they will survive.
It is quite pretty but I’m ready to see it go.
Elder Jones can’t ride his bike. I can’t trek up the hill. Hope we will be in shape for our Treks coming up. It is June. I hear we are having crazy weather everywhere with a lot of rain. The seasons are mixed up.
Stuck in doors at the trek center. A good day for the Sisters to make the necklaces that we give to the kids who come to the visitors center. We are crocheting a chain and then we have a wood burner that shows the handcart and the words sixth crossing. Love all these sweet sisters.
Showing off my necklace. I think they are so cute. Hope to give one to all my grand kids.
So thankful to have Dish TV. Elder Jones is addicted to the game shows. Family Feud, America says, Common Knowledge, Catch 21, Wheel of Fortune. I like sewing. We also eat our meals out here. We also like the Science Channel, or a cowboy movie, if we have time. It is great to kick back and put our feet up. We love the BYU channel too and can watch the spoken word on Sunday.
Love Sister McLane. She really is a cowgirl in real life and rides horses. She is awesome, and funny.
Elder and Sister Rogers had their cute grandchildren visit. They borrowed my pioneer clothes. So cute. They remind me of our grandchildren, even the little redhead that loves to pose. Can’t wait for our grandkids to come visit.
They are in the Visitors Center down in the bottom floor. Love the red boots and the heart on the pocket. That apron with the heart on the pocket was sewn many years ago and given to me by my Aunt Jolene Riser. I kept it all those years because it meant so much to me. Heidi my sister wore the orange dress with the yellow rick rack when she was young and went on trek.
They have some cute cut outs down in the visitors center that the kids can play with.
They got to go one a little hike with one of the handcarts. Still windy and a little chilly. But no snow.
Elder Jones at the visitors Center. He is catching up on his journal. He writes. I take pictures and blog. We hope to cover all the wonderful experiences we are able to have.
This is where I blog upstairs in the Visitors Center when I can. We have to take our computer down and put it in a box each time. This is the mission President and his wives office when they come to visit us and when they have business to do. So sometimes I can’t blog.
Elder Jones trying to keep up with bills etc. I really hope to get a lap top type computer. But we will still have to be where there is internet.
This is one of our first trek groups that were going past the Visitors Center. This route is our 10 mile Trek.
This is the trek road that goes right along side our other road. The road was still horribly bad but we wanted to go to town and not have to take the missionary truck so we thought it was okay to take our car slowly out. Saw a rabbit. Later found out that was a no no. We always could take the rovers or mules out on this road so I guess we just didn’t know better. Opps.
Cute Rabbit. We love seeing all the wild life. A lot of antelope, deer, moose, cows, skunks, ground squirrels, badgers (that leave huge holes that the missionaries go out on the trail and fill in.)
Trying to take a picture driving past the visitors center. They left the lights on for us. We have so many wonderful sunsets.
This is a picture of us missionaries out on a rover/mule ride checking out the trails. We love all going to a mule ride.
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I’m behind in blogging. So busy. I’ll try to catch up as much as I can. We are at the visitors center from 5 – 9 pm.

Julie Jones
This day we were on P-day and we decided to go exploring. We went to several Dam’s (Cortez, Alcova, and Pathfinder). It was fun to drive around and see the different areas around us.
These are some beautiful areas. Great for fishing and camping around some of these reservoirs. It was fun to drive around. We love doing this and finding out where different trails go. Elder Jones now wants to buy a topographical map of Wyoming.
This is Elder and Sister Halverson, They came and talked to us for a family home evening. We first watched the Cokeville Miracle Movie. They lived through this experience and had 4 children at that school when the incident happened. It was such a miracle that those children all lived. If you haven’t seen the movie you should watch it.
This is one of the work days that some of the Elders were out at one of the camp grounds. They were all covered in saw dust from head to toe from sanding down the benched. Usually they lightly sand them and then paint them a brownish color but the Historical Department that is now over our mission want things to look more plain and like back in the time period when the pioneers came through. Poor guys all hot and dusty.
Some of us Sisters came out to give them water and coaching. Our job was easier that day. We were out shoveling up cow pies at Willie Meadows where the youth trekkers will be stopping for potty break and eating lunch. The guys were jealous. I’ll have to post some of our pictures we took that day.

Looking good. Now they have to put some type of varnish on all of them. This is definitely a working mission. They keep us busy. Elder Jones decided to put on a mask. I hope he is using ear plugs too.
The wind kept changing all directions on them.
We have some amazing sunset out here. This is us traveling past the visitors center taking a picture out the car window.
For 2 days I was able to use my nursing education and teach the missionary couples about first aid. We went over preventative and also CPR and how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). We do not have to respond or do first aid on any of those who come to trek. We only went over this so that in case any of us as missionaries needed first aid or first response help that we would know what to do. One of the Elders last year did have a heart attack on one of their treks and had to call for life flight. It is just a good thing to know. I had a lot of fun doing this with the other nurse from Martin’s Cove (Sister Rohner and her husband. We had dummies and toy AED’s to practice with. It was a hoot watching the missionaries, but we took it very serious. They did a great job.
They were getting their exercise.
These are missionaries over at Martin’s Cove.
These toy AED’s even talked you through it like the real ones.
Sister Soward has her hands up for “Clear” before the AED gives a pretend shock. Elder Gorton is yawning watching all of this. Funny.
Everyone got a chance to practice. The beat goes to the song “Another one bites the dust”. They did such a great job I believe they all saved their dummies.
It was nice to have the movie going to help out.on first aid.
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Mothers Day

Julie Jones
It was such a beautiful Day. The Elders during Elders Quorum wrote letters to their wives and when the sisters all came out from Relief Society they were lining the sidewalk all holding roses and chocolate for their wives. It was just beautiful. Sister Hyde went first and found Elder Hyde (Mission President) we then all followed and found our sweet husband. It was so neat to see them all give each other a hug and kiss. Marriage is a beautiful thing ordained from our Heavenly Father and is wonderful. Families and marriage can be eternal.I cannot imagine Heaven without.
There’s my sweetheart. So very handsome in his suit and shades.
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Trekking 6th Crossing with the Martins Cove Missionaries

Julie Jones

The Elders and Sisters who are serving at Martin’s Cove were able to come here and trek with us so that they could see this area where the Saints of the Willie Handcart traveled and were rescued. It turned out to be a nice day. I was the Nurse (Medical Team). I sewed the first aid flag that was put into the cart that had the first aid backpack. So thankful that we had no incidences of injury or need to evacuate any of the missionaries. When the youth come to trek they will have their own medical people, so we won’t have to take care of that only with those of us who are serving will I be called on for assessment.

This is our Leader Elder Johns. He and his wife were here last summer and all through the winter. They have been working so hard at training all of us to get ready for when the youth and trekkers come. We just pray that we can remember everything and do a good job.
One of our cute sisters. Now that’s a hat. She has to cover her ears. Cannot get any wind in her ears or she gets sick. Just love her, she is the sweetest person I have ever met and so fun. Both her husband and her were here last summer.
Elder Jones is putting on chap stick. I’m with the First Aid Cart in the blue coat. Cool and windy.
Gloves in hand and walking stick on my arm. Radio in my fanny pack, possibilities bag on my shoulder. Sun hat and sunglasses. Permethrin sprayed around bottom of pants for ticks. Good walking shoes and sunscreen. Name badge, and neckerchief. All ready to do 6 miles with a smile. So glad we can put our backpacks in the cart and lawn chairs. Oh, must not forget water bottle (must drink often) and cell phone to take pictures.
This cute sister off to the side here is a true horse lady (Sister Mclane) If she had her way she would be riding a horse. They used to let the missionaries do this several years back. She misses her horse. She is awesome.
This couple missionaries (the Watkins) are reenacting the Jens and Else story where the husband became so weak and sick and begged to have his wife go on without him and she would not have this and so helps him into the wagon and pulls him up the hill. As wives and mothers sometimes we are called to help pull and help our husbands and family. We must be strong and ask for help along the way so that we can help our family all make it to Zion. When the youth do this reenactment many family members and loved ones come back to help pull and make it to the top.
We stop at times and tell pioneer stories along the way.
This is a picture of all of the sisters. The men have left and we must pull together as Sisters in Zion. Emily Hill one of the pioneers from the Willie Handcart company wrote this poem that later became a song that we sing. Many of the men in pioneer history and stories had to leave their wives and families some in the Mormon Battalion, some as missionaries, some became sick and died or too weak. We are strong especially when we all work together.
This is at Willie’s Meadows. Bathroom and Lunch break. Just in front of us you can see some dense willows. This is a sacred place where the saints of the Willie Company had to find refuge from the snow and wind and were totally out of food and desperately waiting to be rescued. When the wagons came over the eminence they could hear the wagon wheels creaking in the snow and an joyful shout arose from the pioneers for they had hope and were rescued from all perishing.
It was nice to sit and rest and eat. We are half way at this point.
As we were leaving the Meadows, there was this dead fish. We must have scared away some critter and he dropped his lunch. The river was still a ways off.
Elder Jones is telling the Harvey Cluff story in the willows. When you are in here the willows blocks all the wind and it is much warmer. We can see why the pioneers were able to stay here and keep warm until the rescue wagons arrived. Harvey Cluff was one of the rescuers who felt inspired to leave a sign board on the main road in case anyone from the Willie Company came in search for them. They were also stopped from the storm and had found willows to stay in and out of the harsh snow and wind. If he hadn;t followed the spirits prompting Captain Willie and Joseph Elder would have continued on past and probably would have died and the rescue wagons would not have known where to find the pioneers and many would have perished.
Our mission president and his wife also went on this trek with us. They are so upbeat and positive all the time. Just love them.
Almost to the end. What awesome missionaries we are. Elder Anderson is at the head of this group at this time. We all did a great job with our stories. I was able to give the story of George Cunningham at sixth crossing. At 15 years old he was given a dream that he saw the rescuers and gave hope to the company that they were on their way. He
could see their countenance and that they were happy to volunteer to come to the rescue, he could also describe their Spanish saddles, and blue army coats. I can’t help but think of the youth who are sacrificing their time to go and do temple baptisms for the dead. Many of those youth have the biggest smiles on their faces.
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Every morning we gather for Correlation

Julie Jones

Correlation meeting is at 8:30 am. We meet at the Trek Center. We have a song, thought and prayer. Go over business and training. We have also been reading from the daily journal of the Willie Company. In May they were traveling on the ship the “Thornton” coming from Liverpool, England. They had English, and Danish saints on the boat. We also have a missionary tell one of the Willie pioneer’s stories so that we can all learn them and tell them if they want us to tell them a story. Our FM leader, Elder Smoot, then gives out all the work assignments, and we close with prayer. It is fun and great for us all to gather and to start off with the spirit. We are all eager and willing to go to work and DO IT. (with a positive attitude and a smile).

This is looking out our bathroom window. Guess what all the birds also meet and gather together. Do you think they have a correlation meeting. Ha Ha.
After they gather they all fly over to our backyard lawn and go to work eating bugs and worms. Fun to watch.
That’s a Moose. Has been hanging out around here in the willows. Fun to watch close by our house.
Sisters work day. Repairing all the flags that they use on the handcarts for the treks.
Getting them done. I asked Elder Jones and Elder Anderson if they wanted to come a join us.
I love this job. I love to sew, this is more like it.
Poor Elders. They have had to drill concrete and shovel out dirt and work on plumbing. Elder Jones’ favorite job. Elder Gammel said he loves it.

This is how it was plumbed before. Kept clogging. Sad that they didn’t do it right the first time.
Now they are smiling and the job is done right. Hope it works.
Don’t flush the toilets yet.
Yes, it works and it isn’t leaking. Great job. Now the clean up.
After weeks of refilling and pounding the dirt all back in and finishing the concrete the job it done. Now the carpet layers can come and lay carpet down. Or … do the missionaries do this job too? Maybe.
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Our first trek as missionaries 6th Crossing 6 miles

Julie Jones

We had many times driven the mules (rovers) around the trail. This time we trekked it. Six miles is a long ways at least to some of us (I included). We were praying the weather would hold out for us and it did. When we got back just in time it started to blow hard, hail and rain and lightening. It was scary to think if we were still back out on the trail what it would have been like. I believe this was a tender mercy from the Lord. He watches over his missionaries, and he loves us.

These first pictures are a rendition of the Jens and Elsie story. They were a wealthy family that had enough money to secure a wagon and team and cattle to easily come to Zion. When they heard of the many Saints trying to come and the Perpetual Fund to help them come they decided to share their wealth and travel by handcart with the other pioneers. (What charity and love they had for others to come) At one point along the way because of lack of food and the cold Jens became so weary and told his wife to go along ahead and that he would try to later catch up. She would not leave him and to alone. He probably would for sure have died. So she helped him in the cart and pulled him up the hill.
This is Elder and Sister Gammel reenacting the Jens and Elsie story.
It is harder than it looks in this picture. I think of today the times that we as wives need to help out our husbands in caring the load or giving encouragement to go on in our trying times.
They made it to View Ridge. Other missionaries went back to help Jens and Else. I think of today how we need each other to help along the way.
Here at View Ridge you can see in one direction all the way back to split rock and then forward all the way to Rocky Ridge. The pioneers could see how far they had come and also how far they had to go.
We brought our camp chairs to sit and rest for a while. I said “Smile”. Elder Jones said “Who me?” He said “We need to get going not take pictures.” OK.
These are the race horses of the group.
We got to visit with each other and talk a lot about our families.
I ran ahead to take this picture.
This was the calm before the storm. It was warmer and not too bad but you could see the others looking ahead at the storm on the way.
This is us. Don’t we look so cute?
That is our place. So we are just finishing up. Look at those clouds.
There are dark clouds of trouble hanging over us, and threatening our peace to destroy.
We all made it to our house and cars in safety. Then the Heavens let loose. We were blessed to have a wonderful trek experience and we hope and pray for all the youth who are scheduled to come and trek this year that they will have a wonderful memorable time. I always think of the pioneers and the hardship that they must have endured in order to follow the prophets call to gather to Zion as Saints and to build a temple so that they could be with their families forever and to have the freedom to worship their Savior Jesus Christ.