Utah Saint George Mission - Cove Fort Historic Site

Can't believe it is June 11, 2013....The mission has and is going soooo fast. Too much time has past...So many wonderful experiences here. There have been snow storms, few visitors, new missionary couples arriving starting end of Mar., more in April and May and a full summer crew now of 23 couples from 9 couples this winter. Summer weather has arrived...temps in the high 80's accompanied with our summer winds. Lots more visitors....Easter and Conference brought a big surge of visitors ( between 350 and 500 a day over Easter weekend and 400 + a day conference weekend. We have been averaging over 200 to 300 on Fri, Sat. Mon. We have many scheduled tours (youth groups, reunions, tour buses) but also experience several unscheduled groups which keeps us hopping. Love it all....especially the spirit and peace that is here at the Fort. We have also visited some more beautiful Utah country....Capitol Reef and took a hike to a beautiful falls outside of Marysville. There is lots to see. We are hoping to go to the Arches maybe this "P' day. We have had some friends and family stop by. It is so good to see them. We miss our family and friends so much but we also know it is going to be very hard to leave our new found friends here and this beautiful Cove Fort and the spirit it brings. I feel we have grown so much in the gospel and grateful to have this unique opportunity to share and invite many to come unto Christ. We see and feel the blessing of serving a mission. We will be going home in Oct. but hoping to serve another mission soon....where ever the Lord leads us.
The following pictures are a smattering of many days gone by since my last blog.

Winter activity: Puzzles - this was a puzzle that Aaron & Cami gave us. Elder Rodocker and sister Despain were the puzzle champs!

Our winter crew: Rawlingsons, Stees, Despain, Hawkins, Rodockers, Ence, Hale, Directors until Jan. 18, the Dyes

Winter was beautiful and a bit cold with temps sometimes below zero.

The Dyes - Our first directors until Jan.18, 2013 LaDell and Mary Dye

Winter crew: from left to right: Despain, Hansen, Rawlingson, Hawkins, Hale, New Directors, Christensen; Ence, Stees, and Rodockers.

Winter snow would fall 12 to 18" at a time....but would melt before the next storm.

Our sweet cottage...Home Sweet Home! It is cozy and comfortable.

My sweetheart did a lot of this!

As spring came so did the over 200o sheep being herded up to the mountains for the summer.

We had a wonderful visit with long time friends Jerry and Gayle Pence whom we had not seen for probably 20 + years. They live up by Ogden, Ut.

And a wonderful visit from daughter, Dana which was a birthday gift to her from her wonderful father-in-law, Larry. It was short but oh, how sweet.

Dana took the tour...this is in the "Best Room". The room where Brigham Young would stay on his many trip from S.L. to St. George.

We also stopped at the St. George Temple and Visitor's Center in St. George. It is so beautiful.

We have had a few of these visitors this summer already....Yikes! Dan, my hero kept this bull snake or blow snake from crawling up into the bathroom building.

Same day and same snake resting along the flower bed in front MPR (Missionary prep room) where we wait for our visitors to arrive.

Our friend, Travis Kesler plaid shirt and ball cap)- who owns the surrounding land and is a rancher. Branding time. This takes place just across the street from the Fort.