June 25th- July 1st
The week started pretty normal at the Trail Center, busy and continual tours. By the end of June
Elder White had 35 trail center tours and over 250 people in tour at the Kanesville Tabernacle.
We had the opportunity to close 5 nights in a row this month at the Trail Center. It is really busy
with bus Tours and families on Church History Tours.
Friday Paul’s cousin, who is a Chaplain took us on tour of Offutt Air Force Base. We had
dinner with him and had a great visit. He is being transferred to Alabama Saturday. Here are
pictures and a right up about the Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to
Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S. Strategic
Command (USSTRATCOM), the Air Force Weather Agency, and the 55th Wing (55 WG)
of the Air Combat Command (ACC), the latter serving as the host unit.
55th Wing
United States Strategic Command
595th Command and Control Group
557th Weather Wing
Aviation use at Offutt began in September 1918 during World War I as an Army Air Service
balloon field.[3] It was renamed in honor of World War I pilot and Omaha native 1st Lt. Jarvis
Offutt in 1924.
Offutt AFB's legacy includes the construction of Enola Gay and Bockscar, the planes that dropped
Fat man and Little boy over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. Offutt served over 40 years as
the headquarters for the former Strategic Air Command (SAC) and home for its associated
ground and aerial command centers for the U.S. in case of nuclear war during the Cold War.
The population was 8,901 in 2000.
The First National Sculpture Parks stretch across six blocks of downtown Omaha near the
bank’s soaring headquarters, the state’s tallest building. Beginning at 14th Street and Capitol
Avenue, the gateway to the city’s central business district, more than 100 bronzed pieces reflect
the city’s history as a gateway to the West. Four pioneer families set off in covered wagons hitched
to oxen, horses and mules at Pioneer Courage Park. Five 8-foot-tall bison stampede down 15th
Street. A mighty flock of Canada geese cast in bronze and stainless steel are flushed from a
43,730-gallon fountain at Spirit of Nebraska’s Wilderness Park. The gateway into Omaha’s central
business district is transformed into the gateway to the West with a one-of-a-kind tribute to the
people who settled this great land. Pioneer Courage is a homage to the bravery, courage, and
entrepreneurial spirit that defined the generation and left an indelible impact on the American
character. Visitors are meant to interact with this sculpture. The audience is encouraged to walk
along with the larger-than-life pioneers and to envision what it must have been like to set off on a
journey unlike any other. This sculpture park is the largest installation of bronze and stainless steel
work of art in the United States and one of the two or three largest in the world.
Pioneer Story
I have been studying about my ancestors who passed through Florence Nebraska.
I would like to talk about the 7th Handcart Company. A little background on this company.
These saints were from Demark and none of them could speak English. The Elder in charge of t
he company could not communicate with them. By the time they arrived in Florence the appointed
Christen Christensen a returning missionary from Denmark to be in charge.
I have researched this group because my Great great grandfather Rasmus Rasmussen Lund
and his family were in this group. I hope to give you some details of this group. Rasmus did not
write a diary but will related stories from the group. His son Rasmus was a 3 years old and
walked all the way to Farmington.
The first story is from Christensen, Lars Christian, Autobiography [ca. 1892], 5-6.
By the blessings of God we landed safely at Philadelphia in America. Then we traveled by rail for
nine days until we reached Iowa City.After a few days we received our hand carts which we were
to pull about fifteen hundred miles, over hills and valleys, and dry deserts. It was a long troublesome
and tiresome journey. I endured a great many hardships. Our rations were very small. I went hungry
most of the time. Once in a while a Brother or a Sister dropped faint and exhausted by the road,
caused by heat and over worked by pulling our heavy loaded two wheeled carts. God knows I had
hard times. At first I often had to go back after a hard days travel to bring to camp those who had
given out and were lying by the road. We would unload one cart or more and go back and load
them on the best we knew how. Those who could not get room, we changed about carrying on
our backs. We would also carry the Sisters, and a cripple, and the old folks across the rivers in
the same way. There was one child born on the journey and a few deaths. We saw many graves
by the ways with the names of the dead written on a board, and many carcasses of dead cattle.
An old man by the name of Christopher Folkman, was lost on the plains. He was gone three or
four days. He had lived on a kind of berry that he plucked, and when he was found and brought
back to camp he was very weak. One time when we camped quite late, I was sent to the river for
water. It was quite a long way to the river, and I was overtaken by darkness and lost my way back,
I had to stay in the thick wood until daylight and it was raining all night. But I found camp early the
next morning. The next day it was very hot. We traveled through a very sandy desert and our water
gave out, so some of the Brethren went out in search of water among the hills, digging in the ground
but without success. Our hand carts advanced slowly until dark when we found some poor riley
water. Children were sent on ahead for some water for their fainted mothers. I saw some hoggish
man that loved himself more than others, grab the water from a child and drink a swallow or two,
so when the child got to its mother it had no water. That was an impossibility for me to do. When I
got to the water I drank freely but could not quench my thirst. The captain told us there was water
on the road so we didn’t take very much with us. Another night we also had to camp without water.
I dreamed I was drinking water all night but when I awoke I was still thirsty. Thus one hardship
followed another. We had but very little to eat, and had but little rest for we had to stand guard at
night by turns until I was about give out I was so tired. But by the help of God, I did make the trip.
And I always have and always will give him the honor, praise, and thanks for it. For weeks
and months we pitched our tents on the wild prairies. There were thousands of wishes and
prayers as well as dreams that we might endure the hardships and reach Zion where we hoped
better days were in store for us, until we at length pitched our tents on Salt Lake City Square
September 13, 1857. Our hand cart journey took eighty-five days.
My property consisted of seven pounds of clothes and books when I left Iowa City. What money
I had I gave freely away before I left Denmark. I borrowed money for my journey to Zion which
I paid back within ten years, to satisfaction.
More next week
Sunday what a wonderful day fasting for family and missionaries, attending church, and working
at the Trail Center. In our fast meeting this week all 90% of the Testimonies were given by the
Karen people. The meeting was full of members it almost had to bring in chairs and the Spirit was
so strong. We have seen great improvement in the Group in both Leadership and spirit. Love
serving these people and teaching them.
Elder White had 35 trail center tours and over 250 people in tour at the Kanesville Tabernacle.
We had the opportunity to close 5 nights in a row this month at the Trail Center. It is really busy
with bus Tours and families on Church History Tours.
Friday Paul’s cousin, who is a Chaplain took us on tour of Offutt Air Force Base. We had
dinner with him and had a great visit. He is being transferred to Alabama Saturday. Here are
pictures and a right up about the Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to
Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S. Strategic
Command (USSTRATCOM), the Air Force Weather Agency, and the 55th Wing (55 WG)
of the Air Combat Command (ACC), the latter serving as the host unit.
55th Wing
United States Strategic Command
595th Command and Control Group
557th Weather Wing
Aviation use at Offutt began in September 1918 during World War I as an Army Air Service
balloon field.[3] It was renamed in honor of World War I pilot and Omaha native 1st Lt. Jarvis
Offutt in 1924.
Offutt AFB's legacy includes the construction of Enola Gay and Bockscar, the planes that dropped
Fat man and Little boy over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. Offutt served over 40 years as
the headquarters for the former Strategic Air Command (SAC) and home for its associated
ground and aerial command centers for the U.S. in case of nuclear war during the Cold War.
The population was 8,901 in 2000.
The First National Sculpture Parks stretch across six blocks of downtown Omaha near the
bank’s soaring headquarters, the state’s tallest building. Beginning at 14th Street and Capitol
Avenue, the gateway to the city’s central business district, more than 100 bronzed pieces reflect
the city’s history as a gateway to the West. Four pioneer families set off in covered wagons hitched
to oxen, horses and mules at Pioneer Courage Park. Five 8-foot-tall bison stampede down 15th
Street. A mighty flock of Canada geese cast in bronze and stainless steel are flushed from a
43,730-gallon fountain at Spirit of Nebraska’s Wilderness Park. The gateway into Omaha’s central
business district is transformed into the gateway to the West with a one-of-a-kind tribute to the
people who settled this great land. Pioneer Courage is a homage to the bravery, courage, and
entrepreneurial spirit that defined the generation and left an indelible impact on the American
character. Visitors are meant to interact with this sculpture. The audience is encouraged to walk
along with the larger-than-life pioneers and to envision what it must have been like to set off on a
journey unlike any other. This sculpture park is the largest installation of bronze and stainless steel
work of art in the United States and one of the two or three largest in the world.
Pioneer Story
I have been studying about my ancestors who passed through Florence Nebraska.
I would like to talk about the 7th Handcart Company. A little background on this company.
These saints were from Demark and none of them could speak English. The Elder in charge of t
he company could not communicate with them. By the time they arrived in Florence the appointed
Christen Christensen a returning missionary from Denmark to be in charge.
I have researched this group because my Great great grandfather Rasmus Rasmussen Lund
and his family were in this group. I hope to give you some details of this group. Rasmus did not
write a diary but will related stories from the group. His son Rasmus was a 3 years old and
walked all the way to Farmington.
The first story is from Christensen, Lars Christian, Autobiography [ca. 1892], 5-6.
By the blessings of God we landed safely at Philadelphia in America. Then we traveled by rail for
nine days until we reached Iowa City.After a few days we received our hand carts which we were
to pull about fifteen hundred miles, over hills and valleys, and dry deserts. It was a long troublesome
and tiresome journey. I endured a great many hardships. Our rations were very small. I went hungry
most of the time. Once in a while a Brother or a Sister dropped faint and exhausted by the road,
caused by heat and over worked by pulling our heavy loaded two wheeled carts. God knows I had
hard times. At first I often had to go back after a hard days travel to bring to camp those who had
given out and were lying by the road. We would unload one cart or more and go back and load
them on the best we knew how. Those who could not get room, we changed about carrying on
our backs. We would also carry the Sisters, and a cripple, and the old folks across the rivers in
the same way. There was one child born on the journey and a few deaths. We saw many graves
by the ways with the names of the dead written on a board, and many carcasses of dead cattle.
An old man by the name of Christopher Folkman, was lost on the plains. He was gone three or
four days. He had lived on a kind of berry that he plucked, and when he was found and brought
back to camp he was very weak. One time when we camped quite late, I was sent to the river for
water. It was quite a long way to the river, and I was overtaken by darkness and lost my way back,
I had to stay in the thick wood until daylight and it was raining all night. But I found camp early the
next morning. The next day it was very hot. We traveled through a very sandy desert and our water
gave out, so some of the Brethren went out in search of water among the hills, digging in the ground
but without success. Our hand carts advanced slowly until dark when we found some poor riley
water. Children were sent on ahead for some water for their fainted mothers. I saw some hoggish
man that loved himself more than others, grab the water from a child and drink a swallow or two,
so when the child got to its mother it had no water. That was an impossibility for me to do. When I
got to the water I drank freely but could not quench my thirst. The captain told us there was water
on the road so we didn’t take very much with us. Another night we also had to camp without water.
I dreamed I was drinking water all night but when I awoke I was still thirsty. Thus one hardship
followed another. We had but very little to eat, and had but little rest for we had to stand guard at
night by turns until I was about give out I was so tired. But by the help of God, I did make the trip.
And I always have and always will give him the honor, praise, and thanks for it. For weeks
and months we pitched our tents on the wild prairies. There were thousands of wishes and
prayers as well as dreams that we might endure the hardships and reach Zion where we hoped
better days were in store for us, until we at length pitched our tents on Salt Lake City Square
September 13, 1857. Our hand cart journey took eighty-five days.
My property consisted of seven pounds of clothes and books when I left Iowa City. What money
I had I gave freely away before I left Denmark. I borrowed money for my journey to Zion which
I paid back within ten years, to satisfaction.
More next week
Sunday what a wonderful day fasting for family and missionaries, attending church, and working
at the Trail Center. In our fast meeting this week all 90% of the Testimonies were given by the
Karen people. The meeting was full of members it almost had to bring in chairs and the Spirit was
so strong. We have seen great improvement in the Group in both Leadership and spirit. Love
serving these people and teaching them.
This is a great mission and looking forward to meeting the new Mission President and his
wife. We have another Zone Conference this week.
wife. We have another Zone Conference this week.
Love you all.
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