Journey 2 Remember
I'm sure there are many other things I haven't blogged about and should... but this is what I really want to blog about.
This last week Talon & I had the opportunity to go on Trek with the youth from our stake. It was AWESOME... and sometimes challenging.
We started out Tuesday night dropping off our sleeping gear and <17lb. buckets. Don't worry, Talon and I had such light buckets they didn't even weigh them. Yeah... we're pretty much cool like that. :)
Then, the journey began at 6am on Wednesday morning. We met at the stake center in our pioneer garb, heard from our stake leaders, were separated into families, had a quick devotional and then loaded the buses (school buses, you know, those yellow kind that are extremely uncomfortable). We had a 2 1/2 hour trip to Kemmer, Wyoming and then stopped for a restroom/snack break. About 20 minutes out of Kemmer, one of the other buses broke down. As our driver was a mechanic, we were blessed to drive back to Kemmer while the other bus was fixed. Then, finally, back on the road again. We arrived at the Willie Center/6th Crossing campground. We set up camp, played pioneer games as families, square danced, ate AMAZING food, and then listened to a pioneer handcart story from the missionaries.
Day 2: Independence Rock and Martin's Cove. What an up and down day... we struggled with the youth in our family this day. I mean, they are nice kids... but a good chunk of our family did NOT want to be on Trek. We worked with them one-on-one and although we were just an aunt and uncle, it was sometimes a trial of our patience. The cove experience was a sacred one. Our Stake President (the entire stake presidency came on Trek) spoke to the youth about obedience, the ministering of angels and the motivation behind what these handcart pioneers did.... Christ. Then, they youth were lead up to Martin's cove in a single file line, silently... many of them had amazing manifestations of the Savior's love and the pioneers' sacrifice. Even as a leader the experience was quite a sweet one. I felt so many impressions and felt very blessed to be on such hallowed ground.
Then, we had a sweetwater crossing experience. The 2nd counselor from our stake presidency spoke about the young men who carried members of the Martin company across the River and the sacrifice they gave. Then, 4 of the priests from our stake asked a young woman if they could carry them and carried some of the youth across the river. They each carried about 4 people and then, we all crossed as well. It was a sweet experience. That night the "Pony Express" stopped by each family's camp ground with letters. These letters were from the youth's parents. What a great thing it was as many of them received answers and peace through their parents' wisdom.
Day 3: 10 miler w/ women's pull. This day our family finally started coming together and, for the most part, it was a wonderful day. The first half was just fun and exciting, but a little past the half way mark, the men/young men were separated from the women and sent up a .7 mile hill... a very steep, sandy, and long hill. This pull was to represent when men died, were sick and could not pull, were sent on missions, or were called to the Mormon Battalion. After the men were out of sight a sister missionary told a story of a young woman who crossed the plains with the handcart companies. Then, we sang "As sister's in Zion" and had a prayer. The spirit was strong and there was hardly a dry eye as the women went into the shafts and started pulling. The girls pulled hard and strong and much faster than the men and leaders had expected. As they pulled, many of the girls hummed or sang hymns. I don't think my eyes stopped watering the entire time. As we reached the top, the men/young men were standing alongside the path with their hats to their hearts. Many of the youth remembered this experience and the spirit they felt during their testimonies later that night. It was a sweet experience to be reunited with Talon at the top.
We then packed up camp and were bussed to Rock Creek Hollow were the Willie Company was met by the rescue wagons and where a communal grave for 13 of the party is. Here we had our testimony meeting and again were taught by our Stake President. Although my patience was waning with a few of our girls, the meeting was a very sacred and spiritual experience.
Day 4: we packed up and prepared to leave. However, Talon and I took the opportunity away from the hustle and bustle to visit the communal grave again and to feel the presence of the pioneers there. The spirit was strong. The bus ride home was gratefully uneventful and we were more than happy to take long showers and sleep again in our bed.
I am so grateful for this Journey 2 Remember. I am grateful for the sacrifice of our pioneer ancestors. As my brother Chase testified when he participated in the same type of experience as a youth... as their handcarts were heavy and they couldn't push any longer and it seemed their carts started pushing them, I believe that many times, those pushing, were us. We longed to see them succeed, to establish Zion. They did it because of their faith in Christ, and they did it for us.
This last week Talon & I had the opportunity to go on Trek with the youth from our stake. It was AWESOME... and sometimes challenging.
We started out Tuesday night dropping off our sleeping gear and <17lb. buckets. Don't worry, Talon and I had such light buckets they didn't even weigh them. Yeah... we're pretty much cool like that. :)
Then, the journey began at 6am on Wednesday morning. We met at the stake center in our pioneer garb, heard from our stake leaders, were separated into families, had a quick devotional and then loaded the buses (school buses, you know, those yellow kind that are extremely uncomfortable). We had a 2 1/2 hour trip to Kemmer, Wyoming and then stopped for a restroom/snack break. About 20 minutes out of Kemmer, one of the other buses broke down. As our driver was a mechanic, we were blessed to drive back to Kemmer while the other bus was fixed. Then, finally, back on the road again. We arrived at the Willie Center/6th Crossing campground. We set up camp, played pioneer games as families, square danced, ate AMAZING food, and then listened to a pioneer handcart story from the missionaries.
Day 2: Independence Rock and Martin's Cove. What an up and down day... we struggled with the youth in our family this day. I mean, they are nice kids... but a good chunk of our family did NOT want to be on Trek. We worked with them one-on-one and although we were just an aunt and uncle, it was sometimes a trial of our patience. The cove experience was a sacred one. Our Stake President (the entire stake presidency came on Trek) spoke to the youth about obedience, the ministering of angels and the motivation behind what these handcart pioneers did.... Christ. Then, they youth were lead up to Martin's cove in a single file line, silently... many of them had amazing manifestations of the Savior's love and the pioneers' sacrifice. Even as a leader the experience was quite a sweet one. I felt so many impressions and felt very blessed to be on such hallowed ground.
Then, we had a sweetwater crossing experience. The 2nd counselor from our stake presidency spoke about the young men who carried members of the Martin company across the River and the sacrifice they gave. Then, 4 of the priests from our stake asked a young woman if they could carry them and carried some of the youth across the river. They each carried about 4 people and then, we all crossed as well. It was a sweet experience. That night the "Pony Express" stopped by each family's camp ground with letters. These letters were from the youth's parents. What a great thing it was as many of them received answers and peace through their parents' wisdom.
Day 3: 10 miler w/ women's pull. This day our family finally started coming together and, for the most part, it was a wonderful day. The first half was just fun and exciting, but a little past the half way mark, the men/young men were separated from the women and sent up a .7 mile hill... a very steep, sandy, and long hill. This pull was to represent when men died, were sick and could not pull, were sent on missions, or were called to the Mormon Battalion. After the men were out of sight a sister missionary told a story of a young woman who crossed the plains with the handcart companies. Then, we sang "As sister's in Zion" and had a prayer. The spirit was strong and there was hardly a dry eye as the women went into the shafts and started pulling. The girls pulled hard and strong and much faster than the men and leaders had expected. As they pulled, many of the girls hummed or sang hymns. I don't think my eyes stopped watering the entire time. As we reached the top, the men/young men were standing alongside the path with their hats to their hearts. Many of the youth remembered this experience and the spirit they felt during their testimonies later that night. It was a sweet experience to be reunited with Talon at the top.
We then packed up camp and were bussed to Rock Creek Hollow were the Willie Company was met by the rescue wagons and where a communal grave for 13 of the party is. Here we had our testimony meeting and again were taught by our Stake President. Although my patience was waning with a few of our girls, the meeting was a very sacred and spiritual experience.
Day 4: we packed up and prepared to leave. However, Talon and I took the opportunity away from the hustle and bustle to visit the communal grave again and to feel the presence of the pioneers there. The spirit was strong. The bus ride home was gratefully uneventful and we were more than happy to take long showers and sleep again in our bed.
I am so grateful for this Journey 2 Remember. I am grateful for the sacrifice of our pioneer ancestors. As my brother Chase testified when he participated in the same type of experience as a youth... as their handcarts were heavy and they couldn't push any longer and it seemed their carts started pushing them, I believe that many times, those pushing, were us. We longed to see them succeed, to establish Zion. They did it because of their faith in Christ, and they did it for us.
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