Building a Home in Oregon

July 11, Friday

The sleeping bags were all very wet this morning from the dew, but the students and teachers did not complain. They had breakfast (biscuits and gravy) across the road from Philip Foster Farm. The Jittery Pig has a barbecue catering service there in front of the Eagle Creek Feed Store and I arranged for their breakfast.

Today the students built a cabin at Foster Farm. Led mainly by Mr. Merchant and Mrs. Wragge, and with the guidance of Tom Burnett of Foster Farm, they put up the logs. First we all signed them, putting our names on the dovetail notches. It was fun to help build this cabin, knowing it will stand here at the farm for many years. Of course when the pioneers arrived, they had to build their own homes. We were lucky in that Tom already had the logs. They were cut and ready to put into place.

We also planted the apple tree that we carried in the wagon all the way from Wyoming, and then the students built some split rail fence for the farm. We were all enriched by the experience of no only camping in a fine, grassy site, but also in leaving behind something that is a legacy to our Destiny of Dreamers and their two-week journey on the Oregon Trail. I know the students are having some difficult times because they realize that tomorrow they will return to their homes.

We gave them their cell phones and other electronic gadgets today. Most immediately called family members of friends. Quackgrass said she watched Darla when she was given her phone. This beautiful young girl just held the phone in her hands struggling with whether to open and turn it on or savor the final moments on the trail living a simple life of put up camp, prepare your food, find a place to sleep, ride in a wagon, or walk for hours on end. Eventually she did make a call, to her family we presume, and began crying.

Mikayla did not have a cell phone and was hanging back by the barn all by herself when we gave the other students their phones back. I handed Mikayla my phone and told her to call her family. She could not reach her Mom or Dad, but did call her Grandma. She has been the one student who truly surprised me. She was the last student we cast for this trip. During the first few days she seemed particularly quiet, almost shy. But as the physical hardship increased, so did her strength.

--Candy Moulton