Joyous June

 First off, I want to do a big shout out to all of the men in our family for the joy they bring and have brought into our family. I feel very blessed to have them all in my life. 

                                                 My dad, Silvin LaMoyle Petersen, Dale's dad, Keith D. Hansen, Dale, Nate, Matt, Andrew, Garrett, Jason

Elder Hansen got trained to drive patrons in electric golf carts or buggies, that are unable to walk the Theme Walk and I have been able to serve on the Theme Walk when he drives. Earlier in the month we were able to serve on the Theme Walk together at the Welcome Center, the first stop on the walk, then we served again, and Dale served at the area where pictures of the patrons are able to view pictures of themselves on 4-5 large TV's while I served at the UV tunnel area where I hung papers patrons had written a challenge or concern, they were dealing with on paper with a UV light pen. As I was doing this, I could hear patrons sniffing and see patrons with tears in their eyes because of the challenges that others were dealing with. It was very touching. 

 At that station as I was walking back from putting papers up I saw Sis. Tamara W. Runia, who is the 1st counselor in the General YW Presidency for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, her husband and some of her family, They were all wearing headphones and so I just smiled at her. She was glowing. Pretty neat though.

Another time while Dale was driving, I served at the Healing station, where the patrons turned in leather stripes they had accumulated along the walk, and received a bracelet that was made out of thread that represented the stripes that Christ had taken for us when he was crucified and atoned for our sins. I also served at the area where pictures are taken of the patrons for use on the large TV screens two stations down. We get done serving on the walk around 11-11:30pm usually, but it's a great place to be to fill up our evenings, 

We also had our first experience at checking out the campers before they leave. We check the cabins, bathrooms, showers, kitchen area, and pavilion to make sure everything is clean and all is accounted for. We get to work with the youth while doing this and while I was talking to a group of YM I asked what they liked most about camp. two of the boys commented that the walk was what really hit them and impacted them. That was neat to hear. 

The Camp Hosts we help check out the campers- The Langs & Goughs from Camp Sariah and from Camp Reeder- The Youngs, Badgers & Donaldsons

 
Every Thursday we have a Safety Mtg. as a zone and discuss safety issues. We all ride in our "Buggy's" to a determined spot, have the meeting and then eat our lunch and visit some. This is a beautiful area we live in!! You can see across the valley and smell that good old fresh air. We got a bit dusty due to the dry conditions we've had, but it was a nice ride.

The day after one of our Safety meetings, Dale found a tick that had started burrowing in his calf. It was the biggest one we'd seen so far on him and that had attached, so we put some Vaseline on it, and it backed out enough that he could pull it off of his leg, and we put alcohol on it. The next morning it seemed to look good, but as the day went on, it started getting a red ring around it so we read up on tick bites and by that afternoon we decided we needed to go to Insta Care and have it looked at. He was told that it was the beginnings of Lyme Disease, and had we not gotten it when we did, it could have gotten a lot worse. He left with a prescription to help kill the infection it was causing. I'm glad we were prompted to go have it looked at. It healed up and all looks good for him now.

Tick bite pictures from beginning to end of cycle after it was removed

We were also able to visit a Traveling Tabernacle that came to the camp. We listened to Elder Perry talk about the background and meaning of the tabernacle from the times in the Bible where Moses built a similar tabernacle to offer animal sacrifices and did religious rituals.  It had replicas of what the Ark of the Covenant looked like and what was in it, as well as the courtyard and sacrificial symbols they used. We'd seen one before in our area, but this one was smaller and a little different, but both had the main elements and meaning in it. Where we're studying the Old Testament this year in Come Follow Me, it was very fitting for us to get to see this. It was brought up to the camp for two days for the campers to experience.

For one of our P-Days this month we went to the Lindon temple and did sealings. One of the sisters that was doing sealings with us was the granddaughter of a couple we serve with on the mission. That was neat to meet her. After we got some dinner and did some grocery shopping at Smith's in Heber City. While we were shopping, a young girl around the age of 10 approached me and said, " You're a missionary aren't you. My brother is a missionary too." We talked to her a bit and as we were talking, I wondered if she was lost because her mom or dad wasn't around. I asked her about her brother and then asked if she was lost and if I could help her find her mom. She said, "No, I'm fine, I do this all the time when my mom shops". We talked a bit more and then she said she better go, so I told her if she couldn't find her mom, that she could find us and we'd help her find her mom. She gave me a hug and went on her way. We get a lot of people that just start talking to us because we are wearing our name tags that signify that we are missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Knowing I am being noticed more, makes me be more aware of the kind of example I am setting. 

Lindon, UT Temple sealing room

We spent another P-Day by going to the Lindon Temple to do an endowment session, but when we got there, some sisters that were walking out told us that the temple was closed due to an accident that took out a power pole. So, we drove to Orem and were able to get in a session at that temple.  I miss going to the temple weekly, but twice a month will do. 

Orem, UT Endowment room

Our Zone cleaned the Mission Office, and we also played the famous camp game Marbles a few times, to fill up some of our time as well as went on a couple of buggy rides. We went to the Crow's Nest outlook with the Trappetts, and to Bald Knoll with the Dooley's and Phillips. We ate a lunch up top and one the way back to camp we ran into a herd of sheep that were all over the trail road. It was quite dusty due to the sheep running down the road, we could hardly see. We had dinner with the Dooley's after and then went to the adult session of Stake Conference. 

Buggy ride with the Trappetts

 

Buggy ride with the Phillips and Dooley's

We started holding our Church outside, at the Abish Pavillion, where the front backdrop is a grove of trees, and behind us is a grove of trees and the lake. Some deer visited for Church as well. It creates a neat feeling for our Church meetings. 

We spent one of our P-Days at home for a night and was able to spend some time with Andrew, Lindsay & their kids. He had some meetings with his business Stonefire Pizza, and he and Lindsay had their High School Class Reunion. They were at the house for a week, so they also did some things with friends and took our boat out and went water skiing with the Mallory's during the time they stayed at the house. 

Dale and I were able to go to Kamas, UT (a 40 min, drive) to watch Garrett's boy, Luke, play in a baseball game. He hit both times and got on base both times and came home once. They won 10-6. We went out for pizza after to visit and then headed back to camp. It was good we could fit that in. 

Our work on the mountain has picked up a LOT!! We've been staying pretty busy. I've had a few incidents where some of the girls and guys that have come to the High Adventure Course 4 have been totally terrified when they get to the Blue, where you step off and drop down on a self-belay system which is around 35 - 40 ft. (I'm guessing), or when they're at the high (same height as Blue) or low zip-line (around 30 ft.). I've had to try to calm them down and help them realize that they are safe and it is a fun way to go down (unless they want to go back the way they came). I've only had one girl turn around and go back. After they go down the zip, most of the time I see them again. I enjoy working with the youth though at times it can get a bit tense.

 Elder Hansen and I serving on Course 4 High Adventure Course

On Father's Day the men were treated to Fat Boys and in the evening our Zone, along with Zone 4 oversaw a Potluck meal for the mission. We were over getting the main dish (which was Lasagna and the mission paid for), setting up, serving, and taking down. The other missionaries brought either a salad, side, rolls, or dessert. It turned out nice and was good to see those we don't get to see and visit with as much. 

Sister Hansen cutting up a cake and Elder Hansen in the kitchen

Elder Hansen and I went to a Family History class that is being offered each Sunday as well. Someday we may figure out how to do this!!

We had a service missionary, Elder Fry, that's worked with us that was in the musical, 1776, at the Timpanogos Valley Theater. Our District went to dinner together and then went to see Elder Fry preform in 1776. It was in a cool older building and was VERY well done. Funny thing, when Dale was in high school, he was in the musical 1776 and played the same role as Elder Fry!! 

We're still living in our trailer, getting along, and enjoying the scenery and those around us. Life is good on the mountain.

With the weather warming up, Nate & Diana got their sailboat out and did some work on it to make it look in tip top shape. They're looking forward to spending more time out on the water soon. 

Nate and Diana were able to fit in some time to climb Mt. Olympus and Nate's continuing to get some work done around their house, doing some cement work. The joys of being a homeowner. 

                

The Mallory's have kept busy with soccer. Langston made the U14 NUU ECNL-RL Team which is a traveling team, that competes against teams in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. 

Mazin played in the Ogden Peak Classic with the U11B Royalty NUU team, playing in the Gold Division.

For Elder Mallory the weeks are flying by. He's been dealing with temps as high as 125 degrees and has been staying cool by doing baptisms. He had 5 baptisms, was able to watch USA and Mexico in the World Cup and has worked with some families that have seen the blessings that come from living the gospel. He also got to got to a mission "farewell" type activity with all those leaving the mission. 

Amie and Matt flew to Mexico to spend some time with Elder Mallory before he heads home. They were approved to come home with him next month, so they will be spending 9 days visiting in his area. They even had a member pick them up from the airport and took them around the area. More of this will be in next month's blog. 

Our St. George crew (aka Andrew & Lindsays family) got to stay at our house for about a week. Andrew & Lindsay had their class reunion, and Andrew had some things he needed to get done at Sonefire Pizza. 

Back in St. George, they got to explore the outdoors a bit more because Titan got his OHV license and can now legally drive their ATV. He drove Andrew out to some dinosaur tracks in Warner Valley and checked out the area.

The HOA pool that was being built by Andrew & Lindsays house got done and to stay cool, they've spent most days in it at some time during the day to have some fun. 

Andrew & Lindsay also celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary, and were able to get away and spend some time together in the beautiful area they live in.

Andrew and Titan met up with a friend, Dylan Harmon, and went rock climbing. Titan hadn't done much of this but he showed them that he had what it takes and they all had a good time climbing.

Garrett & Zandra and the kids went to Washington, for a good friend of Zandra's wedding. Lauren had Jorie be a flower girl and Luke was the ring bearer and Zandra made the wedding cake. All had a good time.

They got home had some visitors from India come and spend some time with them. Renu and Angelia Singh. They're sisters and we got to meet them when we went to India with Garrett, Zandra and their kids for Renu's wedding. Fun times for them!

The Hassell's June was full of joy because they were able to break away over Father's Day weekend and again with family & friends to get in some beach time, golf time, ATV riding time, biking time, and boating time at Bear Lake. They know how to wear the kids out, and definitely know how to make time for family and friends. 

Some other things that have brought me joy are the working in our District, seeing the wildlife, seeing the stars at night and the clouds roll in and out, the sunsets, and the fact that I'm alive to experience it all, 

The moose and deer are still visiting us

I had a bit of a scare when I was the last one to come off the lower zip line. I thought I had hooked the trolly with the carabiner onto my harness before putting the lobster claws which were on my harness on the trolly to go down the lower zip. I jumped off and had a jolt, realizing that I was just hooked to the trolley with my lobster claws. That gave me a scare, but the claws did their job on the trolley to get me safely to the ground. I learned a good lesson that day, to check twice if the carabiner is locked onto the trolley!! 

On a sadder note, there have been some human caused fires or fires started by lightning around Utah. Some are still burning. The air here at camp got pretty thick and any rain or the bit of snow we got was VERY appreciated. It's sad to even think that this early in the season a lot of land has been burned as well as some homes or structures. 

And on another sad note, my Uncle Max Hadfield, who was 102 passed away. He was the last living sibling of my mom. His eyesight and hearing were starting to fail him, and he had fallen a couple of times, so this was a blessing for all. What a great example of living life to the fullest and of enduring to the end. Knowing he is with his dear wife, Marie, his son, Kelly, and all of his brothers, sisters, and his parents gives me joy. The knowledge we have of life after death indeed brings me comfort. Angels are among us.