Week 41. Hegsted Mission

 30-April-2023-Sunday

A cloudy day, which often occurs in Vermont.  However, there was not as much rain as predicted a few days ago, when the weather app said we would get a full inch.  I would guess it was more like .2 inch.  I was so sleepy this morning.  About 5 am, I woke with a Charlie Horse in my shin.  Never had that before.  I did not know how to work it out.  As I was standing and trying to work it out, I could only think of the Savior on the Cross.  I wanted nothing more than to have my pain stop.  It hurt bad enough, that my bed was damp with sweat.  All I could think about was how the Savior hung on the cross for me.  I am sure His muscles cramped in ways that I cannot imagine.  Add to that the pains of all mankind and you have a situation that would be unbearable.  At least unbearable to the person who had all power to make it stop at any moment and chose to endure without fainting.  I cannot express my gratitude for a Savior Who chose to atone for me, regardless of the cost for Himself.

The Rutland Branch was inviting as always.  I managed to play the organ without distraction to the meeting.  Dede helped out in Primary.  For the fifth Sunday, President Shelton discussed councils trying to focus on family councils.  He must have concerns in this regard.  I know that they have lost several husbands who were once active in the branch.  I would guess like any other congregation there will always be concerns with relationships.  After 43 years of marriage, I realize that I could use much more counsel from Dede.  The problem is historically I did (do) not like to receive counsel.  I am working on becoming meek and humble enough to learn from her, but I have so much further to develop meekness, so that she will trust me to listen to her wise advice.

We took the long way home and stopped at three waterfalls.  Vermont has the Green Mountains and lots of rivers and creeks.  Many of their creeks would be considered rivers in Idaho.  They built most of their roads along the rivers and creeks so many of the waterfalls are very accessible.  Also they tended to built mills at the sites of waterfalls, which then led to villages and thus it makes sense to have roads nearby.  We had been to two of the waterfalls before, but in the fall, when there was not much water.  With spring run-off they were more spectacular than we had seen before.  Plus we had a bit of time to find different views of the second set of falls.

Rutland Center Falls or Meade Falls.  Both this and the next waterfall are on Otter Creek, which is larger than the Portneuf River, more like the Henry's Fork of the Snake River.  At these falls one can see the remains of many mills.  The railroad built a bridge over the falls, similar to American Falls and there is now a fairly large electrical plant run by Green Mountain Power.

Sutherland Falls.  This is a dual set of falls.  Along the top of the falls are the remains of the Vermont Marble factories.  This turned into a large operation before closing down in the late 1900's.  It is interesting how much marble is used around Rutland.  Early on this falls was turned into an electric-generation plant because that provided better power than water wheels for the large plant.  The Electrical Plant is now run by Green River Power.  Three other notes, there is a gorgeous marble bridge across Otter Creek above the falls; there are actually two sets of falls and there was nowhere  where one could view both at the same time; and finally there is a marble museum which has been closed but should open this fall.

The falls in Brandon VT.  This was harder to find as it was not in Google Maps. Our book took us to a dam with falls right in the center of Brandon.  However, we were first drawn to the cascade right across the road from the dam with its falls.  The cascade was much prettier, however we could only get pictures from the top of the cascade so they are not as good as I would like.  The number of former mill buildings from the falls down through the cascade was amazing.  Brandon must have been a very prosperous village.  In fact that is evident by the size and quality of the homes in the area.  The final picture was just fun.

1-May-2023-Monday

Workers day!.  Even for us unpaid workers.  We started our day with a group meeting.  Had a nice thought about the different reasons people come to the site.  Emphasizing that many people drive a long way to be here.  That is really true at our site as it is really out of the way.  Dede had checked the web page and found that today we changed to our summer hours and close at 6 pm.  Thus we discussed a schedule change for the Buswells and Hegsteds.  

I worked on my review for a 1.5 hours before we left for the site at 2 pm instead of 1:30 pm so we work until 6 pm.  The Buswells had not had any visitors so we were grateful when a couple came in about 2:45.  They were from Phoenix and ours was the last church historical site for them to visit.  He said he had family (a sister) in Pocatello and it turns she is our friend Jan Johanson.  What a small world.  A shout-out to the the Johanson's who are currently on vacation in Egypt.  (They should be back home before this is posted.). We love them so much and have been blessed by them.  The tour was fun.  The people so kind.  We even broke out the golf cart to take them below.

They left around 4 pm and I started walking, "knowing" that no one would come in after 4 pm on the first day that we changed the the closing time to an hour later.  Just as we were getting ready to close, a car pulled through, but did not stop in the parking lot, so we closed up shop and as I was getting in the car, I noticed two men at the monument taking pictures.  I went out and we opened up and gave them a tour.  Turns out they are from Boise now, but one had been President Campbell's bishopric counselor when President Campbell was the first ward bishop.  Who would guess that we would have two people in the site back to back, who have relatives that we love.  The church world is so small.  We are just so blessed.  And who knew that bureaucrats in Salt Lake City could be inspired to have us be open an hour later so we could visit with these two men.  One would almost have to believe that God is actually in charge.  

Before our shift we tried to get pictures of the White River.  It is higher than we have ever seen and the white water impressive, but it does not show well in pictures, although I will show two that Dede took as well as three deer that we saw at the site today.

2-May-2023-Tuesday

Woke up to another rainy day, but by the time we reached the site, it was reduced to a drizzle and was mostly nice the rest of the day.  Today was our first day to work an 8 hour shift.  We have been working 7 hour shifts before the time change.  We were extremely blessed.  The morning was somewhat slow, but from 2 to 6 pm, the normal 2nd shift, we were busy most of the time.  Now admittedly we spent quality as well as quantity time with people, but we were busy.  

Our first couple, the Fife's are returning home from their mission in Palmyra.  They were kind people and would have been fun to serve with.  They were not in a hurry, so we enjoyed sharing much with them.  The next couple was different.  They were headed for the monument.  I met them and talked for a moment and then they went to the monument and ended up hiking up Patriarch Hill.  Admittedly they took a path up I would not have advised.  It is actually a great way up, but the bottom half is not well marked.  Apparently they made it.  The woman came in after the hike.  She had lived in Boise and said she was a white-water  person.  Turns out she knows Sarina and the Labrum gang who rafted and kayaked the rivers near Boise.   It is truly a small world.  And it is filled with the bestest of people.

We had a group of four come in and Dede took them through.  All non-members, they were interested in Joseph Smith History and the history of site.  For the most part Dede gave them a full tour.  Meanwhile I had a member couple following right behind.  They were from Wisconsin and were a great visit.  He was related to the Snow family and had gone to Italy on his mission which Snow opened.  He knew a lot of church history.

Finally for the last hour (i.e. 5-6 which is our new hours) we had a wonderful family of 3.  The son had been a missionary in Boston 2 years past, and so they were out seeing his mission.  They too were a fun group to have and ended our day on a high note.

I must admit that having a 4 hour day is easier than an 8 hour day, but that we were blessed to be able to be busy all day.

3-May-2023-Wednesday PDAY

We will have some of our children coming in during May:  Sara's and Danielle's family as well as Anna.  Thus we have been to the temple 4 weeks in a row as we will probably not be there in May.  Although we will probably be in Boston a number of times.  We did our normal Endowment and Sealing Sessions.  We still enjoy our normal Wednesday sealer.  What a great couple he and his wife are.

Afterwards we decided to visit Bunker Hill and learn about the battle of Bunker Hill which apparently occurred on Beacon Hill and not Bunker Hill.  This was a big deal in the revolutionary war, but I knew little about it.  Bunker Hill is at the far end of the Freedom Trail and we have never made it that far.  This time we parked close by so it was not such a long hike.  The patriots decided to try to control Bunker Hill.  (The British had failed earlier).  In the night they built fortifications on Beacon Hill and when the British found out in the morning, they began bombing it from their ships and sent 2500 soldiers to dislodge the New Englanders.  In the end, the British would win.  But they would be repulsed twice before the patriots ran short on ammunition and the British forces were able to breach the walls and then drive out the patriots with their bayonets which the patriots did not have and thus were greatly disadvantaged.  Thus the British won the battle, but lost half of their troops to death or injury (1200 casualties).  The patriots lost about 450 men.  The cost was extremely high and the British would soon leave Boston because they could see it would be too difficult to hold.  A famous quote from the battle:  "I wish we could lose another hill at this cost to the British."  The patriots were fighting from behind walls and the British were trying to use their normal plodding shoot and move forward approach.  This they did on the first two failed attempts fully loaded with packs and equipment.  When they dropped their packs so they could quickly charge the patriot lines they were finally successful.  Bottom line, the colonies (at last New England) were fully committed with this kind of action and losses on both sides.  The numbers sound good for the patriots, but one needs remember that the patriots families were right there and felt the pain and loss immediately, while the British soldiers were far from home and their loss would have been far less personal.  How I admire the courage of the patriots.

I will include a few pictures of the monument, the Freedom Trail endpoint and another view of the USS Constitution I showed before.  Did I mention the we climbed to the top of the Bunker Hill monument?  A mere 294 stairs up a circular cement stairway.  I loved the park ranger who said, yeah if you want to climb that many stairs knock yourselves out.  I was the only person in a shirt and tie.  We met a family from SLC, who recognized our badges.  Imagine that.

Also they had a museum.  It is small, but it did a great job of explaining the battle and the strategies of both sides as well as the results.  I did not take pictures of the dioramas.  They were well done, but would not have shown up that well in the blog.  We have seen and done so much in Boston.  Our mission is in Vermont, but with the temple in Boston, it has become a second home on our mission.  We know so many people in the temple.  I am about ready to quit wearing my Pocatello Temple tie tack.  I would probably get lost in the Pocatello Temple. 😏

Finally, did you notice the cute woman who was hanging out with me.  She braved the 294 stairs also and is such a wonderful sport.  I surely love her.

4-May-2023-Thursday

We got home late last night and I was in a fog this morning.  My first duty this morning was to iron.  Dede bought a new iron.  May I testify that this new iron is so much better and improved my efficiency in ironing shirts?  However ironing helped clear my head and I remembered that Dede wanted to see an art show in Pomfret.  We took off and really enjoyed the art, but not the prices.  Next to the gallery was the public library, a 1913 building, which was stunning both inside and outside.  We visited there and then walked over to the general store.  This store is also the post office for Pomfret.  All in all a great day.  First two pictures:  1) wooden tractor and trailer in the playground at the artist tree.  2). May the Fourth be with with you.  Second row of pictures is of the library inside and outside.

They say you cannot teach an old dog a new trick, but I think I  have proved this wrong.  I now know if I offer to take my wife over near Woodstock (Pomfret is on the way), she will allow me to take her to a diner to eat.  See I have learned.  And may I say, what a pleasant learning experience.  Not only do I get to eat, but I get to take the best looking date in the world with me.  Who could do better.

We had a great afternoon at the site.  The rain pretty much stopped.  The Buswells had been steady with visitors all morning and we were the same in the afternoon.  We had a family of 5 with the best 3 daughters.  So polite and kind.  Took them down to the foundations.  When I got up, Dede was taking a member couple and a nonmember through the site.  She had started with the nonmember who wanted to know about Joseph Smith.  She did a great job of teaching him.  The couple joined midway and as the nonmember left, the husband from the couple, walked over to his car and got out a BoM he and his family had personalized and presented it to the nonmember.  That was sweet.  He had been praying about giving away the BoM and felt so good about the opportunity.  I took the couple down to the foundations and then finished that tour.  Meanwhile, Dede had a mom who was a member with a 16 year daughter who is not.  Dede was so impressed with the daughter who is from northern NH and is going to a prom with a young man from New York, on the way to the prom, mom stopped at the JSB site to allow her daughter to learn about Joseph Smith.  The daughter might not have been a member, but Dede says she had definitely been raised to be a very responsible young woman.  God is so kind to Dede and I to allow us to have visitors.  (She later sent Dede pictures of her Prom Dress and date.)

So excited about tomorrow.  It is Elder Buswell's 70th birthday and his entire family will show up about 2:00 to surprise him.  We will be there early to help with a tour bus and will thus be part of the surprise.  Also we get to work Saturday and Sunday to cover for them.  But who could ask for a better deal than to support the Buswells in their wonder weekend?

5-May-2023-Friday

Started the day by taking in the car to be serviced and picking up a loaner.  When I returned, Dede cut my hair.  It was not that long but the next month will be busy with our children coming to visit, so Dede convinced me it was a good time.  I then worked on my review, while Dede worked around the house.

We went into the site at 11:30 to prepare for the tour bus.  The tour came in about 12:30 and had brought lunches for each of us from the Tunbridge General Store.  This tour was all BYU students.  Each year they do a spring class (6-credits) US history and church history tour.  I think my grandchildren should consider doing this and The Jerusalem Center.  But I am just a grandpa.  They were so attentive.  They also did a reenactment of the monument dedication which was fun to listen to.  The tour guides, BYU professors were so kind to us.  My parts were to tell the youth about the monument.  I had them all standing at the base of monument as I told this story.  It was great because Elder Buswell did not notice that his children drove up as they parked where he could not see them.  Sister Buswell then told him he needed to come down to the VC with Dede and her and he walked in and there they were to surprise him.  I took a picture of them at the monument and then they were on their way.  I think their children have great plans for them this weekend.  Dede said Elder Buswell was so surprised that his shoulders drooped and she could tell he was moved to tears.  What a great day and what a great weekend for this fine family.

After the reenactment, I walked down with the group to the Old Sharon Road, the Solomon Mack foundations as well as the stone bridge.  I love it down there and I love talking about Solomon Mack.  My attitude about him has completely changed and I am glad to talk about him and his life.  The young people then had 30 minutes to ponder, write in journals etc. before boarding the bus and leaving.  My how they brought the spirit to our site.  There is no doubt there are many fine young people coming up in the church.

I had to laugh.  Elder Buswell and I were waiting for the bus at the bus turn-around and it started to rain.  He said I was in charge of the weather, so I (way to flippantly) told him it would begin to slow down, but not stop until the bus showed up.  As the bus pulled in the sun started shining.  I was so shocked, I figured it would start pouring rain as soon as I started talking at the monument.  But instead the sun came back out and made the famous shining spot on the monument which many of the students saw and will take home as memories in their photos.  God is so kind if we just learn to look for His kindness.

6-May-2023-Saturday

How could one be so blessed as Dede and I are, as we worked today at the site.  First we had housekeeping chores.  I ran to pick up our car which had maintenance yesterday while Dede did the real work.  Then we went to the site.  The first few hours were slow, but we had Brother Zundel there from the church.  He as been working through our IT issues this week.  He demonstrated the sound system in the theatre.  It has surround sound and he could make it sound amazing.  He also had fun stories to share with us.  He and another technician are assigned to church historic sites.  He has not been out here since 2016, partially due to covid.  Hopefully with all he did, everything will work better for the next 15 months we are here and beyond.  It was fun just to talk to him.  

We had gotten out and walked a bit, when Jordan showed up.  He is our newly baptized friend from Lowell MA,  and currently works TSA at the Boston Airport, although he will be leaving for Utah in June hoping to work TSA in the SLC airport.  Jordan has been here three times.  He loves everything about the church and our site.  Today I gave him my first "behind the scenes tour".  We had time and so we went up Patriarch Hill and saw the monument from there.  We explored the Solomon Mack foundations including the barns and corals.  Also parts of the Old Sharon Road and the boundaries of the original Solomon Mack farm.  May I say hiking in a tie leaves something to be desired, but being below is such fun,  I am grateful Dede and I know Jordan.

A former site missionary sister came through with her mom.  She stayed most of the afternoon.  Dede spent the most time with her, but I was around enough to witness the great love she has for the JSB and for Joseph Smith and his life.  Some people on bikes showed up at the monument and she explained the monument to them.  That was fun!

I had a couple come in from Barnard VT.  This is a beautiful village near Silver Lake and not far from the site.  Dede and I have been there several times.  I think the man would have stayed for hours visiting, but his wife grew weary of our discussions after a full tour.  It turns out they are Jewish.  It was fun to see the site through their eyes.  We had just started a conversation on the relationship of our church to the Jewish faith and had completed a discussion about covenants, when the wife decided if she did not put a stop to our discussions she would never get home.  He wished me a happy Sabbath.  That was the first moment I realized it was Saturday and his Sabbath.  He walked out with a BoM.  He is not an Old Testament reader, but I hope he gives it a try.

We had several people come through that had little time.  A member couple heading to Canada.  A couple with one member and one nonmember with the former worried about imposing on the later.  And another nonmember couple who wanted just a short visit.  Add to this our three bikers and we had a big day without spending much time with a number of people.

The last two young woman were special.  They told me they had graduated with a degree in religion and were currently doing intern-type, quasi-mission type work for the Episcopalian Church and had gotten to know each other as they live in what they called a Christian preferred housing situation.  They were so attentive and interested in learning.  They had quality questions at the restoration board and about the church in general.  They answered some of my questions about themselves and also told us about the work they are doing.  They each left with a BoM and hopefully with the knowledge that we appreciate the work they are doing with children and young adults in their church.  

Actually the longer I serve here, the more I hope that members and nonmembers will leave the JSB with the knowledge that we love them as children of God.  That we appreciate that they would follow the Spirit in coming to our site and visiting with us about the prophet of the restoration whom we have come to love so much and the Savior who appeared to him numerous times.  It is so easy to learn to love these people whom God puts in our paths to love.  This is because He loves them so much more than we can currently comprehend and He shares His love for them with us.

After our double shift, which was so delightful today, we washed the car in Quechee and went down to the falls.  Pictures follow.  I love the sunset in the background.  We close another week basking in the beauty of the earth which God graciously created to bless His children that they would know and feel of His love.