Rough Re-entry

Coming home from a mission is always challenging. There is much to do to put things in order such as  unpacking and putting everything away, housecleaning, home and yard maintenance and repair, getting hooked up to TV, Internet and phone, etc. etc. etc.  However, this mission re-entry involved a few more challenges!

Pole Creek  and Bald Mountain Fires

 As we communicated with our kids through late August and into early September, they told us of the dry conditions and fires and smoke in the area.  As it neared our time to complete this mission and return home, we began hearing reports of the wildfire being very near to our home in Elk Ridge.  This Pole Creek Fire began early in September from lightning and quickly grew to destroy thousands of acres of forrest. By the time firefighters began to actually fight the fire, it was out of control. As September progressed, the fire continued to burn at an alarming rate with only a small percent containment. September 12th the fire was enough of a threat that Elk Ridge City was put on Pre-evacuation notice. Tricia was in contact with the mayor, and he told her that if the Mandatory Evacuation order was given; residents would have 5 hours to pack and leave. By the next day, the fire had grown to the point that Mandatory Evacuation was announced and due to the high winds and dry conditions, the community was given only1 hour to comply.

With fires burning in 3 of 4 directions around our home; our kids, grand kids, neighbors and even members of the Salem Hills High School football team began to frantically pack, box and haul our most treasured possessions out of the house and into a trailer to be taken to a safe location. While still in Hawaii, we were on Facetime with Tricia as she went room to room in our home, asking us what we would like saved.  She said the chances of our home burning that night were great and we braced ourselves for that to happen.  Somehow, Hal and I both felt at peace about whatever would happen.  We knew that we would be okay.  No matter the consequence, we would still have our family and all which was of most importance. We truly appreciated all those who had worked furiously to pack some of our belongings and evacuate them for us.

As night fell on Elk Ridge, Tricia sent us the photo above with our home circled.  She told us that fire trucks and firemen were posted at each home on Haley's Lookout, where we live, and on High Sierra Drive, where Evan and Kelly live to do their best to protect the homes.

Lots of hauntingly beautiful photos were taken of the Payson Temple with the backdrop of the fires that were burning just over the mountain. Payson was put on Pre-Evacuation notice but fortunately they did not have to evacuate.

 Community Meetings were held in the Salem Hills High School gym to keep evacuated residents up to date on the fires and containment.
There were many acts of kindness shown those evacuated - homes were opened in Salem and other communities for those evacuees that had no family nearby.  The Red Cross came to help but left after 3 days because the people in the area were taking care of those in need.  A special fast was called for by the Stake Presidents of Elk Ridge, Salem, Woodland Hills, Payson and other stakes in the area. Over a thousand Hot Shot firemen came to fight the fires and relieve the 600 firefighters from the area.  They commented that they had never seen such a raging fire with high winds NOT move toward homes as they observed with these fires. One of the firemen remarked, "I don't know what you people are doing to control these blazes, but keep doing it!"  There were many miracles and NO homes were lost!
Tricia was in charge of the Elk Ridge volunteers that monitored the entrance to the community and patrolled at night to be sure no homes were looted or vandalized. She was busy organizing this and getting meals donated for the firemen and delivering the food to them.

We arrived home September 19th during the evacuation and we stayed with Allison and Jon for two nights. Allison was watching Conrad and and Hailey's kids while they were in Ecuador with Evan and Kelly at a flower show and visiting the flower farms.
During the evacuation Allison & Jon hosted 14 of our grand kids and Tricia and James for one night after Evan & Kelly and Conrad & Hailey left.  Allison said the kids didn't get a lot of sleep - it was COUSIN FEST!  We appreciated Allison and Jon's hospitality.

We came home on Thursday and finally on Saturday the evacuation order was lifted and we were able to go home!  However, the gas line to our street had been damaged when it was shut down so we had no hot water or gas for our cook top but we were still happy to be in our home and even happier that it had not burned!!  Sunday our Stake met for 1 hour followed by a lunch that was prepared for us by a Payson Stake.
Finally on Tuesday, the gas company was able to fix the problems and we were able to take a warm shower and cook again!! You don't appreciate some of the conveniences of life until you don't have them. 

Small fires still burned even after we were allowed back into our community.

There were even more deer than usual - they had fled the fire and were everywhere.  There were even sightings of mountain lions that had come down to safety.

A few days after we moved in, the weather cooled and it began to rain which helped to put the fires out.  We even had snow in the mountains!

 It took us several days to unpack and put everything away that had been evacuated and to get our home cleaned and back in order.  

Our Homecoming

At 7:00 AM on Sunday morning (October 14th) Hal and I reported to the High Council.  Our Sacrament Meeting was at 9:00 AM and we then reported our mission there.  After our block of meetings, we went home with our family and guests and enjoyed lunch together. We had Hawaiian Haystacks, fresh fruit, Hawaiian sweet rolls and cookies and macadamia nut candies for dessert.

 Hal and I had set up and decorated the tables the day before.

 Hal's friend Jim Cook and his wife Louise, Paul and Hal in one of his Hawaiian shirts.

 Allison and Jon (wearing one of his Hawaiian ties)

 Lillian, Sareya and Tricia 

 Hailey, Conrad and London

 Mike, Karma, Scott and Cynthia

 We enjoyed  the opportunity to spend some time with Hal's family

 Wayne, Ann and Cody

 Dixie and Roy

James, Hailey and Conrad

We spent the afternoon with our family and later that evening Pam and Roger stopped by on their way home from Alpine where they had been watching Mindy and Jeff's kids.  We had a nice visit with them, but I forgot to take a picture.

It was a great day and a nice end to our mission!

ALOHA!