We stayed one night in Waterloo, Iowa so that we could go to the John Deere factory to watch how they manufacture large tractors. We went to the tractor cab assembly plant because we couldn't see the large harvesters as their plant was closed that week. It was a great tour. We rode on a tram pulled by a little John Deere tractor as we traveled around the assembly floor of this 48-acre plant to watch the tractors being assembled. It was amazing to watch how well coordinated the whole process was, even though there were many different things going on at the same time. Many parts of the process are completely automated to be done by "robots" with little human supervision. For instance, in the section where the green or yellow paint is applied it is done by an automatic sprayer tube that was able to twist and turn to reach all surfaces of the part being painted. And when it gets done, it knows to go back down and suck up all the excess paint so it won't be wasted. There were tracks embedded in the floor that would allow the assemblies to move from station to station as it was being built without a person needed to take it there. Once the worker was finished with his part he just pushed a button on the computer and off went the assembly to the next station as another one requiring his work rolled into his area. It was pretty impressive. They didn't allow pictures inside the plant but here we are with the tractors that were on display outside.
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| I don't know why they would not let Marge take it out for a test drive |
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| I wanted to bring this one home but it doesn't quite fit in the garden |
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The entrance to this 48 acre assembly plant
In Iowa where the I-90 crosses the Missouri river we stopped at a rest stop that contained a great deal of historic significance. This is the location where the Lewis and Clark party stopped in August 1804 going up the river and again in August 1806 on their return down the river. They had a nice display concerning Lewis and Clark and a beautiful statute of Sacajawea.
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| The Missouri River |
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| This location marks where Lewis and Clark stopped in August 1804 going up the river and in August 1806 going down the river. |
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| A large sculpture of Sacajawea |
We stayed one night in Rapid City, South Dakota so that we could see Mount Rushmore which is an amazing engineering feat. They have a very large amphitheater at the base of the mountain. At night the park service holds a lighting display. They start with a film and then turn the lights on the sculptures. Next they asked all active duty and veterans of the military to come on stage and be recognized while they also honored the four past presidents carved in the mountain. There were a lot of people there even though the peak tourist season was over. We can now cross off one more thing from our things to see list. Sunday morning we attended church in Rapid City before continuing on to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, our last stop before home.
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| Mount Rushmore at night |
We wanted to see the location of the Battle of the Little Bighorn but it was closed. It is in Gerryowen, Montana and as we were passing that way we thought we would stop and see it. They have made this area a national monument and cemetery with a museum that houses many Indian artifacts and tells the story of the last battle of General Custer against the Indians.
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| The location of Custer's last stand in Eastern Montana |
Home Sweet Home after a trip of 3,400 miles. It's good to be back in the Seattle area and back in our own beds again. We had a wonderful mission experience and will never forget the things we learned and the feelings we had in wonderful Nauvoo. It was hard work and a great sacrifice but when we answer the call of the prophet to serve the Lord in whichever kind of a mission He chooses to call us, the blessings are immense and we are once again in God's debt.
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| A welcome sign from Rosie S. and the Topham's greeted us |
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| The unloading process begins |
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Full to the brim
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Our last official act as missionaries was to meet with our stake president. After a brief report it was time to remove our name tags and be released as full-time missionaries. They name badges were hard to get used to and remember to put on in the beginning. But after we took them off, there was an empty feeling and it almost seemed like we were not fully dressed. What an honor it was to be a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
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| Being released by President Pedersen at the end of our mission. |
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