The past few weeks I have been very busy in the office. I got a new computer around Christmas time and have had to back up all my files then transfer them to the new computer. We had some problems with the new computer and had to send the hard drive back to SLC for them to re-write the programs we needed and then send it back. Elder Dye learned how to take out and put back in hard drives. I was on Prepration day when they called with the help in removing them. I was so glad, I wasn't looking forward to that part. Anyway, my computer is now up and running.
We then got a call from the Missionary Department saying that Tanner Kay and possibly Mark LesVardy (second in command to the Missionary Dept) would be down to check out Cove Fort. They would be cutting back on couples at Cove Fort because there is such a need for them throughout the World, and they are not getting the Senior couples applying for Missions. They are only getting about 1/3 of the Senior couples that they need. They wanted to understand Cove Fort, and our needs, so they knew how many couples would be best for our site. I helped Elder Dye put together the necessary information.
Tanner showed up on Wednesday. I was in the rotation for tours and so it was my turn to take the tour. I was a little nervous about taking him, knowing that what I did and said on that tour reflected what the Missionaries are all about here at Cove Fort. He is a very nice man, young, only 30 years old. It was like taking Steve through the Fort. We had a good time and I prayed that I would give a good tour so he would feel the Spirit of the Hinckley Family, the Missionary work that goes on here at Cove Fort and the Love that we have for Cove Fort. That day with only 8 tours, 4 of which were non-member tours, the Missionaries got 4 white cards. (or self referrals from non-members) The cards were from, Minnesota, California, England, and Colorado. I think Tanner saw that we really do get people from all over the World and that with the right amount of Missionaries,so we can spend time with the people, we are able to share the gospel and plant seeds so the Full time Missionaries can teach them. It was a little stressful but a great experience.
If any of you that read our blog are in a position to serve a Senior Couple mission or know anyone that is able to do so. Please encourage them to apply. We would love to have you come to Cove Fort, but know that the Lord can use Missionaries everywhere. My family has been blessed because of our Mission. I love my family and am so grateful for their love and support.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Fort Visitors (Mike)
A couple of days ago, two guys from California stopped for a tour. They had traveled to Fillmore with a utility trailer, helping a friend and his wife move there. The people moving to Fillmore were members, but the two guys who came here weren’t. I took them on a tour, and one of them wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon brought to his house by the missionaries. They told me that the couple moving to Fillmore bought the old nursing home on Main Street.....That’s the old house I was born in. I guess they have fixed it up and these people are making a home of it. Next time I go to Fillmore, I’ll have to stop by and let them know I met their friends.
Yesterday, it was super cold and a young guy from California, about thirty years old, came to the Fort at about 9:30. Temps were still below zero with a wind, but he still wanted a tour. I took him to the fort and found out that he is going to be the new camp leader for Aspin Youth Camp in Loa, Utah, Just over the mountain to the east. He had many questions about the fort and the Church. As he left, he gave me a self referral and requested a copy of the Book of Mormon and some videos. If he meets up with other members of the Church in Loa, I think he will be taught by the Missionaries. He impressed me as a great young man.
We had a visit by Tanner ....I forgot his last name, from the Church Missionary Department yesterday. Sis. Cummings took him on the tour he requested, of the fort. The Missionary Dept. It trying to decide how many missionaries they can send to Cove Fort, Since the Senior Couple numbers are down, we won’t get as many as we need. I took him through the outer buildings. He was impressed with what we are doing, and I think will do all he can to get us the help we need. If not, we will have to recruit from the towns around for part time missionary help.
Yesterday, it was super cold and a young guy from California, about thirty years old, came to the Fort at about 9:30. Temps were still below zero with a wind, but he still wanted a tour. I took him to the fort and found out that he is going to be the new camp leader for Aspin Youth Camp in Loa, Utah, Just over the mountain to the east. He had many questions about the fort and the Church. As he left, he gave me a self referral and requested a copy of the Book of Mormon and some videos. If he meets up with other members of the Church in Loa, I think he will be taught by the Missionaries. He impressed me as a great young man.
We had a visit by Tanner ....I forgot his last name, from the Church Missionary Department yesterday. Sis. Cummings took him on the tour he requested, of the fort. The Missionary Dept. It trying to decide how many missionaries they can send to Cove Fort, Since the Senior Couple numbers are down, we won’t get as many as we need. I took him through the outer buildings. He was impressed with what we are doing, and I think will do all he can to get us the help we need. If not, we will have to recruit from the towns around for part time missionary help.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Nice Letter (Mike)
I received this letter from the lady from Las Vegas who came to the fort on the advice of her Bishop. This was her second anniversary of her baptism and confirmation. She said she had been having struggles with her faith, and had never read the Book of Mormon. She said she had visited two Stake Presidents and two Bishops along with one of the members of the 70 in SLC. She was coming to Cove Fort for a spiritual experience on her special day. It was a slow day, so I spent two hours with her in the Fort, listening to her and giving my counsel. It was kind of like being a Bishop again. This is the letter she sent me and an excerpt from Elder Holland’s talk given in the 2009 October general conference, which I encouraged her to read, one of the best I’ve heard, and one everyone should re-read, testifying to the importance and truth of the Book of Mormon.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
More Great Experiences (Mike)
A couple of days ago, a guy from Hinckley, Utah came by. He had equipment that would allow him to take panorama pictures of the fort inside the rooms and outside the fort. I spent a couple of hours with him taking the photos in some of the rooms and the blacksmith shop. He has already posted some of them on a site called 360cities.net. They are pretty cool. They will eventually be posted on Google Earth.
Yesterday, I had a black van pull in that was quite interesting. When I first met the driver he was a cocky Hispanic guy, wearing a wife-beater shirt, and muscles on top of muscles. He asked what this place was and if we had a roller coaster in there. I explained what the fort was all about. The guy in the passenger’s seat looked like a gang banger. They went and parked the van, and the guy and his wife and cute little four year-old girl came over and asked for a tour. As we went through the fort, I watched the spirit work on this guy and humble him almost to tears. When we finished the tour, they wanted the Book of Mormon and the missionaries. He couldn’t express his gratitude enough for their experience in the Fort.
Today, an SUV pulled in and two couples from California got out and asked for a tour. They were probably in their mid fifties, and were on their way to SLC on business. I showed them the Cove Fort Video, and took them to the fort. In the second room, I overheard one of the ladies quietly say to the other, “this place has a good feeling.” I wonder how many times I have heard that. It’s great. They really enjoyed the tour and one of the couples wanted the Book of Mormon, and the Missionaries to come by.
As they were leaving the parking lot, I happened to be outside, and they stopped the car to take more pictures. I asked the driver,(The one who wanted the B of M) What business he had in SLC. He said that he had invented those cardboard, fold-up emergency toilets. I told him I had bought one and had given them to family members as well. He got all excited and had everyone get out of the car and have pictures taken with me. He also said he was going to send me the new and improved version of the toilet. What a day!
Yesterday, I had a black van pull in that was quite interesting. When I first met the driver he was a cocky Hispanic guy, wearing a wife-beater shirt, and muscles on top of muscles. He asked what this place was and if we had a roller coaster in there. I explained what the fort was all about. The guy in the passenger’s seat looked like a gang banger. They went and parked the van, and the guy and his wife and cute little four year-old girl came over and asked for a tour. As we went through the fort, I watched the spirit work on this guy and humble him almost to tears. When we finished the tour, they wanted the Book of Mormon and the missionaries. He couldn’t express his gratitude enough for their experience in the Fort.
Today, an SUV pulled in and two couples from California got out and asked for a tour. They were probably in their mid fifties, and were on their way to SLC on business. I showed them the Cove Fort Video, and took them to the fort. In the second room, I overheard one of the ladies quietly say to the other, “this place has a good feeling.” I wonder how many times I have heard that. It’s great. They really enjoyed the tour and one of the couples wanted the Book of Mormon, and the Missionaries to come by.
As they were leaving the parking lot, I happened to be outside, and they stopped the car to take more pictures. I asked the driver,(The one who wanted the B of M) What business he had in SLC. He said that he had invented those cardboard, fold-up emergency toilets. I told him I had bought one and had given them to family members as well. He got all excited and had everyone get out of the car and have pictures taken with me. He also said he was going to send me the new and improved version of the toilet. What a day!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Missionary Work (Mike)
We had a total of 1,316 referrals, (member and non-member referrals) which broke the record of 1,276 in the past years, and we had 50 more non-member referrals (people who referred themselves) than previous years.
The total visitors at the fort for this year was 75,376; surpassing the recent history record of 73,273.
Yesterday, we had only two visitors stop at the fort because it was so cold. I took the first tour which was a lady from Las Vegas. As I began the tour, I asked if she was LDS. She said yes and this was the day of her baptism two years ago. She said her bishop had recommended she stop at Cove Fort on her way home, Because, she wanted to have a spiritual experience on this special day. That put the pressure on me. She had many concerns and questions. It felt like being a Bishop again. She wanted to talk and explained that she had never had a spiritual confirmation that the gospel was true. As I listened to her, I was able to point out when she had indeed had a spiritual confirmation.
We discussed the 46th section of the D&C where it speaks of spiritual gifts. The first gift has to do with being able to know truth by spirit to spirit confirmation directly by the Holy Ghost. The second gift is being able to know truth by listening and believing through the spirit, the teachings of others. Some get a confirmation by the first gift of the spirit and others get it by the second gift of the spirit. She was getting ready to go to the temple for the first time, and had never read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. I had some advice for her about reading the Book of Mormon and other things.
What I told her seemed to meet her needs, and she was happy with the new insight. When we finished the tour, I realized that I had been on the tour for two hours.
Her husband was a non-member, so we are sending him a Book of Mormon and some videos by way of the missionaries. I hope it all works out.
The total visitors at the fort for this year was 75,376; surpassing the recent history record of 73,273.
Yesterday, we had only two visitors stop at the fort because it was so cold. I took the first tour which was a lady from Las Vegas. As I began the tour, I asked if she was LDS. She said yes and this was the day of her baptism two years ago. She said her bishop had recommended she stop at Cove Fort on her way home, Because, she wanted to have a spiritual experience on this special day. That put the pressure on me. She had many concerns and questions. It felt like being a Bishop again. She wanted to talk and explained that she had never had a spiritual confirmation that the gospel was true. As I listened to her, I was able to point out when she had indeed had a spiritual confirmation.
We discussed the 46th section of the D&C where it speaks of spiritual gifts. The first gift has to do with being able to know truth by spirit to spirit confirmation directly by the Holy Ghost. The second gift is being able to know truth by listening and believing through the spirit, the teachings of others. Some get a confirmation by the first gift of the spirit and others get it by the second gift of the spirit. She was getting ready to go to the temple for the first time, and had never read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. I had some advice for her about reading the Book of Mormon and other things.
What I told her seemed to meet her needs, and she was happy with the new insight. When we finished the tour, I realized that I had been on the tour for two hours.
Her husband was a non-member, so we are sending him a Book of Mormon and some videos by way of the missionaries. I hope it all works out.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Bearing Testimony- Lynda
On Christmas Eve a young lady stopped on her way to Cedar City. She wanted to talk to the Missionaries. So she came into the MOR (Missionary Observation Room) and said that she was taking the challenge that Elder Anderson had given in General Conference. That challenge was to bear testimony of Jesus Christ more often. So she wanted to share her testimony of the Savior, to the Missionaries at Cove Fort. It was such a sweet testimony. She cried and we cried as we felt her spirit and the Spirit of our Heavenly Father. What a great way to remember the birth and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.
I had another couple stop that day from Delta. They were meeting their son on the bus from Las Vegas. I took them through the Fort and told them they seemed to be really nice people. They said that many people would probably not agree with me. I wonder how many times we judge people by their outside appearance and not look deeper into their hearts. They told me, that they really were nice people ,and thanked me. They accepted an offer for the Missionaries to come and bring them a Book of Mormon. I know that I am going to change and look at people differently because we are all Heavenly Father's children.
Another man, a non-member, who was an executive in a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise, came to the Fort recently. We talked a great deal about the Chruch. He had a accountant that was a member. He mentioned that he was very impressed by his friend and had watched the members in his neighborhood in California. He also said that sometimes the members seem to forget their neighbors and leave them out. They seemed to be so caught up on their own activies that they often forgot to include his children or family. Another lesson for me to remember. I need to befriend all my neighbors and not be so caught up in my own little circle of member friends. Well enough of the preaching. These are things I need to work on in 2011.
I hope that all of you blog readers had as wonderful a Christmas and holiday season as I did. May the Lord bless you in 2011. I love my Savior and am looking forward to 2011 as "Another Great Year to serve at Cove Fort"!
I had another couple stop that day from Delta. They were meeting their son on the bus from Las Vegas. I took them through the Fort and told them they seemed to be really nice people. They said that many people would probably not agree with me. I wonder how many times we judge people by their outside appearance and not look deeper into their hearts. They told me, that they really were nice people ,and thanked me. They accepted an offer for the Missionaries to come and bring them a Book of Mormon. I know that I am going to change and look at people differently because we are all Heavenly Father's children.
Another man, a non-member, who was an executive in a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise, came to the Fort recently. We talked a great deal about the Chruch. He had a accountant that was a member. He mentioned that he was very impressed by his friend and had watched the members in his neighborhood in California. He also said that sometimes the members seem to forget their neighbors and leave them out. They seemed to be so caught up on their own activies that they often forgot to include his children or family. Another lesson for me to remember. I need to befriend all my neighbors and not be so caught up in my own little circle of member friends. Well enough of the preaching. These are things I need to work on in 2011.
I hope that all of you blog readers had as wonderful a Christmas and holiday season as I did. May the Lord bless you in 2011. I love my Savior and am looking forward to 2011 as "Another Great Year to serve at Cove Fort"!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Festive Cove Fort (Mike)
The days have been going by fast, the weather this winter has been mild for Cove Fort, with temps In the 40’s and even 50’s some days. We have reached our goal of 1,300 referrals and are surpassing it daily. While things are a little slow, the men have been busy making the spinning toys we give away to each family. We work in our shop, and have have made around 20,000 of them from river birch which we cut in the mountains near here. Lynda and I also made toys for the grand kids… Airplanes and Jacobs Ladders.
I have had at least one family each day asking to have the missionaries come by their home to deliver either a Book of Mormon or a video. Some are requesting to be taught by the missionaries; others who request the Book of Mormons probably will be taught also when the missionaries stop by. We are lucky to get one tour a day each with the lower numbers of visitors. The power went out for a couple of days after a heavy snow storm, and the power went out at the gas station on I-15, so they sent their customers here to use restrooms. We have a large diesel generator that keeps us operating. We ended up getting 195 visitors on one day and 150 on the next day. We weren’t even planning to open because of the weather, but it turned out to be some of our best missionary days.
This Christmas season has been fun, with festive decorations all around and much good will. We had bell ringers from Milford come and entertain us. They were great. We also attended the Forgotten Carols in Richfield. We all got together on Christmas Eve for dinner, then again for breakfast Christmas morning. Christmas night, we got together for dinner, and played games. It’s been fun with this great group of missionaries we have here for the winter. They will be forever friends.
Kitty Landon stopped in for a visit today. She had been in St. George area visiting Rod and his family for Christmas. It was good to see her.
We were hoping to reach our goal of 75,000 visitors this year. It looks like we will make it, we only need around 150 more.
I know that Church member daily pray for the missionaries, that they will be led to the honest in heart. That is exactly the people who are prompted to stop here daily. They come and feel of the spirit and want to know more. The gospel net if functioning well at Cove Fort.
I have had at least one family each day asking to have the missionaries come by their home to deliver either a Book of Mormon or a video. Some are requesting to be taught by the missionaries; others who request the Book of Mormons probably will be taught also when the missionaries stop by. We are lucky to get one tour a day each with the lower numbers of visitors. The power went out for a couple of days after a heavy snow storm, and the power went out at the gas station on I-15, so they sent their customers here to use restrooms. We have a large diesel generator that keeps us operating. We ended up getting 195 visitors on one day and 150 on the next day. We weren’t even planning to open because of the weather, but it turned out to be some of our best missionary days.
This Christmas season has been fun, with festive decorations all around and much good will. We had bell ringers from Milford come and entertain us. They were great. We also attended the Forgotten Carols in Richfield. We all got together on Christmas Eve for dinner, then again for breakfast Christmas morning. Christmas night, we got together for dinner, and played games. It’s been fun with this great group of missionaries we have here for the winter. They will be forever friends.
We were hoping to reach our goal of 75,000 visitors this year. It looks like we will make it, we only need around 150 more.
I know that Church member daily pray for the missionaries, that they will be led to the honest in heart. That is exactly the people who are prompted to stop here daily. They come and feel of the spirit and want to know more. The gospel net if functioning well at Cove Fort.
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