Here we are... ready for the trek!!!
I have to admit that when they first asked us to go on the trek, while I knew it was coming, I was not really excited about it! For a few really vain, selfish reasons.... I hate not showering, I hate being dirty, and more than anything else, I HATE, hate, hate porta potties. I am sadly, a bathroom snob. I know where all of the good bathrooms are from here to wherever I travel to a lot. And the thought of having to use the porta potties was enough to make me want to tell them no! But I don't normally tell the bishop no when he asks me to do something, and I knew that besides the lack of showering, being filthy dirty, and using porta potties, it would be an absolutely wonderful experience! And to be completely honest... the 'bathroom' issue was quickly forgotten (except when I really needed to actually visit the bathroom!)
We were asked to be a 'ma and pa' months ago. Then we waited, and waited for things to get rolling. We got a list of our 'family' and knew that we would have 11 or 12 children in our group. Pretty much downsizing for us, right??? We got to meet several of the kids before the trek, but we met the whole group the day of the trek while we were preparing the handcart for the trip! 11 kids we would call ours for the next 3 days! They were awesome kids, and I looked forward to getting to know them better over the next few days!
The reason for the trek?
Well...I think there are many reasons for the trek. Most of it is about remembering the past and being grateful for all that the early pioneers sacrificed and to me, it meant truly appreciating what we have today.
Well...I think there are many reasons for the trek. Most of it is about remembering the past and being grateful for all that the early pioneers sacrificed and to me, it meant truly appreciating what we have today.
They wanted the kids to experience some of the physical hardships that the early Saints went through, and for a few days to leave behind all of the modern technology that seems to rule our lives sometimes,
but also to gain spiritual experience and bond them together... and it did!
In 1847 the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were driven out of their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Governor Lillburn W. Boggs signed an extermination order against the Saints. Basically giving permission to kill the members of the Church. Their homes were robbed, and sometimes destroyed. Members were harrassed, and attacked and killed. They started leaving in February, in horrible conditions, taking everything they could by wagon. Later, handcarts were used. Somewhat like the handcarts we pulled.
Governor Lillburn W. Boggs signed an extermination order against the Saints. Basically giving permission to kill the members of the Church. Their homes were robbed, and sometimes destroyed. Members were harrassed, and attacked and killed. They started leaving in February, in horrible conditions, taking everything they could by wagon. Later, handcarts were used. Somewhat like the handcarts we pulled.
This 'trek' was a great way to honor the pioneers, but also to understand and appreciate all that they went through to get to the Rocky Mountains where they hoped to be able to worship without persecution. They gave so much so. We have many, many family that made that trek. That gave all that they had in order to be able to serve the Lord the way they believed to be true. We have some of the most amazing stories of great, great, great grandparents who were willing to leave their homes, leave their possessions, leave everything behind in order to follow the Lord and live the Gospel. I have always been very grateful for them, but after this experience I appreciated, very much, all that they did!
I cannot imagine what it was like for a mother to watch her children walking until their feet were bleeding, going without food, without warm clothes, or blankets. But I know that they believed, and that their faith led them and that because of them, I am able to teach my children the same faith...
I knew that there would be some special moments as we went on the trek. It wasn't so much about actually pulling the handcart. It was more about the things we would learn about each other, the experiences we would share, and that we would learn to help each other in so many ways. I looked forward to that most of all. More often than not, we hear the negative things about the youth and it was nice to spend a few days seeing the best in our youth and know that we have great hope for the future because they ARE our future!
We started our trip at the Church Ranch... we got there early and got a handcart picked out and started packing. The kids were all excited to get going. Before long, we were off! And these kids had some energy! They actually had to hold them off and give them breaks to slow them down! Thayne and I were excited to see what the kids had to offer and how this trek was going to unfold....
We are off....
