And the Johnsons come!

We are so happy the Johnsons arrived!  They are so easy to like and work with!   They are from Southern California.  AND Julie is a good cook. 

Tim and Paul get along really well

We had our first FULL camp this weekend.  There were 866 people at the fathers and sons camp out.  

The Brinkerhoffs leave. Sniff.

Well, our new friends Eric & Colene Brinkerhoff left us today.   They have been on their mission for 18 months and it was time for them to go home.  It was a really sad time for me.   We had one family camping here but after 2 whole days of rain they decided they were done and went home early. 

                We get our new couple tomorrow but I don’t know what time.  They are the Johnsons and are from California and that is about all I know right now.

                After the Brinkerhoffs left, I went through the house to see what was there and discovered they had left 3 suits in the closet by accident.  Colene called tonight and I asked her about them and she was going to put them in the car at the last minute and she had forgotten.  I will mail them to her

                SLC FM group came through the camp tonight with Bishop Katz – our fearless leader – to look at things.   Everyone was quite worried about the impression they would get but the camp was just beautiful.   Bishop Katz wants to build 9 more cabins here – donated labor and materials – and they have a problem with that.  We have tent pads but the tents are worn out with holes in the tops.   Each tent costs $1,500 to 2,000 to replace.   Donated time and materials for the cabins would be $0.  (shrug)    When the FM group asked who would keep up the cabins I raised my hand meaning the volunteer missionaries who keep up the place. 

                I found out that there is 40 acres of grass here.  I think Tim has mowed 30 acres so far.  I am learning and relearning the office as I need to teach someone next week how to work the office with me.

                Tomorrow I get to learn how to set up reservations on the church web site!  I sure hope I can do this as it would make our life so much easier here!  

We are here!!

This is a few days journals so read away!

May 1, 2014 – Thursday -  We have been at our camp for 2 days… and MAN I am tired!

Minding the gate- checking people in to the camp for the night. We have two fathers and sons groups and one priesthood group. There are 10 areas to camp here so it's a light camp night.

May 3, 2014 –Friday

We had our first campers last night, two fathers & sons groups and a prospective Elders group.  We started checking people in at 4 pm and didn’t finish until after 10.  The other couple here, Eric & Colleen Brinkerhoff from Glendale Utah, who have been here 15 months, and we sat outside the guard house and signed people in.   Around 5 I suggested they go get their dinner while we watched the gate and then come relieve us and we would get some dinner.   They are very good company and know about everthing there is to know about this camp.  Sadly, they leave Thursday and the new couple, Paul & Julie Johnson from the Redlands, CA (about 50 miles east of Los Angeles)  Arrive the same day.  I sure hope we will become good friends!   

We live in the trailer behind the house  and we can’t see quite as much as the people living in the house can see (people coming and going), but we can see the lower camp grounds much easier than they.  

               Up to this point, I have been using only my phone to take pictures, but after, sadly, accidently erasing most of the “party” and family reunion type pictures from my phone, I will start using my camera too.  I am so sad about the pictures.   My family (Ron, Kathy, Carole, & I) will never be together like that again, I am sure.   So mad at myself.  After taking a dozen pictures or so, I DID post a picture (not necessary the best picture) on Facebook so I do have one picture of each of the important ones. 

               WHERE did I read on all the info I read about service missions that you work 5-6 hours a day?  Not so!   We start about 8, break for lunch, work until 5, break for dinner, and work until dark!!!about 12 hours a day!   What is with that!!! 

               After going home for what we thought was the night, a very happy father and son arrived with the son’s completed eagle project – 5 beautiful picnic tables.  We tried taking pictures, but it was after 9 so I am afraid they aren’t very good.  They were so excited.  J 

May 3, 2014 – Saturday

               The first of the famous Washington rains started today.  It looks like it’ll rain for a week.  It is mostly a soft rain with bouts of downpours.  A family came to picnic during the rain… not something that we’d do in the south, but they are so used to the rain that it didn’t bother them at all!

               Tim started his working with the tractor moving tables and Port-a-potties

May 4 – Sunday

               Our first Sunday here – fast Sunday.   It is in a newish building and the chapel is a little smaller than ours.   The seats in the front – on the stand – were benches and not fold down seats… I haven’t seen that before, but it makes sense.   Colleen Brinkerhoff (the sister part of the other couple here with us who leave on Thursday) introduced us to as many people as she could.  She is very nice.   They are from Southern UT.  We were invited, with the Brinkerhoffs to dinner at Sister Cowards house.  She is the “mama” of the missionaries, young or old, and feeds then/us regularly.  This ward has only one set of Elders, one of which has been here since OCTOBER!!!     They have been notified they will both be transferred this week.   The Brinkerhoffs have quite taken then under their wing and invite them 2 -3 times a week for dinner.  I don’t think we will follow suit as we are in our little camper and won’t be able to do that.