Enroute to our next location near Pawhuska Oklahoma, we crossed many of the places I frequented in my childhood. It was 46 degrees and I opted for a sweater and long pants. Yep... lots of snow. A couple of nights at hotels along the way, and miles and miles of beautiful green fields in Colorado and Kansas.
Oklahoma
We arrived in Oklahoma yesterday! All the way through Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma lay fields of green. Some corn was over 5 foot high. The air was clean and fragrant with the sounds of birds (many beautiful melodies unfamiliar to me). The humidity climbed making my nose and lips especially happy!
As we traveled, soggy fields with standing water, surprised us. The news on Tuesday night spoke about one location getting seven inches of rain the previous day. Wes took the opportunity to remind me that this wasn't Utah and pulling on to the side of the road might get me good and stuck. About an hour later as we made our final approach to the ranch on a narrow dirt road, two semi's were heading in our direction. Wes carefully selected a wide area on the dirt road to pull over on and even at that--we flipped mud everywhere when we pulled back on.
The house we are staying in is also called the bunk house, but is all on one level. It is very spacious compared to the last place we stayed in Montana. It has central air and the exterminators had been here on a regular visit just hours earlier! (Yay!)
The missionaries (already serving here) decided that someone needed to be here to meet us, so one sister stayed behind to wait for us. She and another sister had purchased eggs, milk, a case of water, bread, peanut butter and jam (in case we didn't bring food). The sister washed our sheets and blankets to freshen them up and made sure things were tidy. They are the Johnson's from Ogden. The kindnesses were so appreciated. She made a spagetti dinner with homemade sauce. I provided a salad and another couple (from Alaska) came from the Kansas side of the ranch with dessert to welcome us. It was so fun.
While we ate, clouds continued to build and then it poured! Thunder shook the ground as rain pounded against the windows. I have to tell you, I had a hard time concentrating on dinner with all that going on!
Country roads like this forever.
Our GPS was like: Turn right, turn left, drive 3 miles turn right, then right again...
Views of the bunkhouse and sunset
For those who bring their RV's to this mission, the ranch supplies hookups and this little house (they call it the bath house). Inside is a full bathroom, laundry, fridge and freezer.
I am always amazed at the western decor. Remember this old light fixtures? Well, maybe not-- but remember the ones without the square dancers? Our bed was super comfortable!!
First Day
Today we started the day with a missionary devotional which was given by one of the couples serving here. They talked about patience and quotes scriptures from Romans and Alma. We went over and helped one of the ranch sisters prepare lunch for the cowboys (who are busy getting cows ready to ship). She had cooked up bison meat and together we rolled it into burritos with green Chile sauce. YUM
Afterwards we saw the quilts that several are working on for several organizations. They were beautiful works of art.
We headed to the library at a nearby town next. They had a pig, two goats, and chickens for the children to see. Then a member and his wife came in from Pawhuska with a lot of different animal mounts, bison hides, coyote hides, raccoon, and many Indian artifacts. He let the children talk about them and touch them and even try them on. They loved it. He said that the first Boy Scout Troop began in Pawhuska, Oklahoma .
Oh... did I mention that when it rains, it pours here? Here is what the truck looked like after I drove it! Wes didn't complain, just washed a layer off. These are pictures of me making lunch with the other missionaries, and the beautiful docile cows.
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