Pioneer Trek 2008

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"

2 Timothy 4:7

WOW, what a physically draining, miraculous, amazing, spiritual nourishing experience Derek and I had the last few days. We had the WONDERFUL opportunity to serve as a Ma and Pa for our Stake Pioneer Trek youth conference. We had 9 children including our little baby, our son Alma (it was actually a 10 pound sand bag that we made into a baby and that we had to treat as a real baby) and we walked, walked, walked, walked, pulled and hauled a hand cart though the trails where our pioneer ancestors traveled by foot from clear across the country.

I wish I was better with words and could transfer our overwhelming fulfillment that we felt as we walked this journey. Each person represented a pioneer ancestor and we learned so much about each other and what each of these pioneers experienced. Derek and I were excited but pretty nervous for the responsibility we were going to have over these teenagers from age 14-18. I just think of them right now and I get teary eyed because of the love that we have for them and because we saw how they all grew close and learned to work hard together as a 'family'.

We repeated the above scripture during the trek. It was such an amazing and miraculous experience. One of the reasons I say it was miraculous is because before this pioneer trek I ran into more physical problems like with my ACL in my knee. It's been very sore and very unstable. I was nervous that the kids would have to pull me in the hand cart by the first day if my knee was to give out. There were many prayers said before we left. The result was I didn't have one issue with my knee or anything else during most of the trek. Yesterday I only ran into a problem pulling something in my heel tendon during one of the hardest parts of the trail. Only the girls/women could pull the cart up a deep sandy hill while all the men were called to serve in the Mormon battalion. I was so proud of my 'daughters', they were SO strong and didn't complain one bit.

This was on the second day, all the girls and their 'Ma' (myself) decided they wanted to pull and push the handcart. It just so happens we chose do it right before we hit some major watery and muddy areas that went clear up to our knees. We got stuck in a few of them. It was pretty intense but we felt such 'Girl 'Power'. I was so proud of them and I know they felt so proud of themselves and realized right then their true strength.

This was on the last day, we ran into a quarter mile of flooded trail that had turned into a mud bog. It was SO great seeing most of the kids and their 'Pa' pulling through the mud.

This was when all the men were asked by the military to form a battalion and march west to help with the Mexican American war. It was a pretty emotional experience because I got a glimpse of what it would be like to all of a sudden see my husband and sons taken to fight in war. But just after the men left, the women were told that Brigham Young promised that the Mormon Battalion would not have to fight. They served in many other ways during the war such as digging wells , white washing buildings in San Diego, etc...

Just after the men left on the Mormon Battalion , the women were asked to gather their hand carts and keep traveling. It turns out we were given the hardest part of the whole trek. It was a deep sandy hill that we had to push through for about an hour. Then soon enough we saw the men come running toward us to help us. Derek said he got pretty emotional as he saw us pushing and working so hard.

This was probably one of the most amazing experiences from the whole trek. When Derek and two other men re-enacted the three rescuers from the Martin hand cart relief party. Derek and these two other men gave the history and experience of these pioneers and rescuers. Just after they spoke we walked another 400 yards or so to the river crossing and the three men carried their wives across the river. Then went back and helped the others. It was SO wonderful seeing these young teenage boys lending a helping hand by carrying their 'sisters' across and going back and forth to help pull carts across as well as helping other people. It was pretty emotional. This was one of our 'sons' Nathan carrying our 'daughter' Kiffin across the river. That was SO Nathan to be the first one to help out with out any hesitation.

I'm so grateful that Derek and I had this experience.