Final Episode
Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 3:19 PM
Dear family and friends,
We knew our mission would come to an end, but we never thought the time would pass this quickly. After our apartment and pioneer cabins were cleaned, Lisa had passed on her flower and sewing insights, and the computers were running smoothly we headed back home yesterday morning.
Before we left we wanted to take back a bottle of red Bluff dirt. We drove up Calf Canyon road and filled our bottle with the beautiful earth we have come to love .
As we turned around to head towards Mesa, I inadvertently backed into a culvert and high-centered our Odyssey. We were firmly stuck in the red dirt we had grown to love. The vortex of Bluff just didn't want to let us go!
I've learned at Bluff Fort we have the resources to accomplish just about any task so I ran back to the Fort and asked Montey, who is an avid outdoorsman and has pulled many vehicles out of ditches, to come to the rescue. One of our Bluff neighbors, who is an archeologist, saw our dilemma and also offered to help. Within five minutes we were on the road and headed back home. It was great to have our mission end with a wonderful act of kindness.
When we arrived home, I looked at the tail hitch of our Odyssey and saw that it was still filled with red dirt. Bluff will always be in our hearts….and our trailer hitch!
Highlights of the Week:
Although we don't proselyte as Bluff Fort Missionaries, we do visit families (primarily native American) that the young missionaries are teaching. Three of these individuals joined the Church and were baptized this month. It was exciting to see the changes that Norman, Aloryssa, and Honor made in their lives and how these changes have brought them increased happiness.
On our last day in the Co-op Lisa and I had a wonderful visit with a couple from Minnesota. They were Evangelical Christians and had many questions about the Hole in the Rock pioneers and also our faith. Within a few minutes we were great friends and our lives were enriched through our conversation about our common belief in Jesus Christ. They were the very last visitors we interacted with on our mission and it was a perfect ending to a memorable mission!
We also had a fun Valentine's Day dinner party with our fellow missionaries. We laughed, performed songs and had a delicious meal together. When you bring 23 talented missionaries together you have an entertaining and "filling" time!
We also took one final picture with our missionary friends. They are more family now than friends. We've laughed with them, cried with them, explored with them, learned with them and worked & played with them. We've developed life-long friendships we will always cherish.
We also said goodbye to my cousins Donna, Betty, and George. I've learned more about my Jones family history than I ever thought possible. Although I didn’t grow up in Southeastern Utah, I feel as if I've always been a part of this red-rock country!
And of course we explored. Our final hikes were to the 17-room ruins, the Procession Panel and the Cottonwood Wash Petroglyphs. We will never grow tired of hiking through the canyons of San Juan County. They are some of the most beautiful places we've ever seen. From the first to the last hike they were better than we could have ever imagined.
Insights from the Week:
One of my final work projects was installing a new informative sign which tells about the life of Kumen Jones, my great grandfather. I was grateful for one more opportunity to work in the unusual red dirt which is found throughout this area.
If it were not for Kumen's leadership and his good relationships with the native Americans, Bluff would have had a difficult time getting established during the early years.
This year we've told the story of Kumen and his wife Lydia to people from throughout the world. We hope through our efforts their story and the stories of all the Hole in the Rock Pioneers have inspired people to do hard things and have greater faith. Kumen and Lydia's story has changed our lives for the better.
So long from Bluff…..
Love you all…..
Elder & Sister Hill