This was my first time being a part of trek and as Stake YW
President I was able to have a small part in helping to plan it. What a
huge event it is to plan! Since our stake had recently split, Phoenix
Stake participated in trek with our stake. Our old Stake President, Ron
Waldron, was the Trek chairman. Months of planning paid off as it was an
awesome experience for everyone :) Both Robert and I were able to go with
Garrett.
JUNE 1ST...
We left the stake center at 5am and headed toward the trek area near Forest
Lakes, AZ. We arrived and ate breakfast. Then each trek family got
their handcarts packed and ready. We all gathered at the "Nauvoo
Temple" where we heard from a member of the Phx Stake Presidency.
When he was just about to finish, a mob came came and told us we had to
leave now. Robert was one of the mob members. The mob
"shot" a few people so as we left there were a few who were laying on
the ground "dead". Those people became angels who wore white and
help us along the path. Garrett was part of the Anderson family.
Robert rode a horse and I walked and talked with the different trek
families.
We stopped for lunch then not to long after lunch we pulled off to
prepare for the Women's Pull. Me and Sister Lyon from Phx Stk YW talked
to the girls... Sister Lyon told a story about the Hill sisters who joined the
church as teenagers and crossed the plains without their families and how with
the help and encouragement from each other they were able to make it. I
then talked about how we will be pulling the handcarts on our own for a portion
of the trail and how, like the Hill sisters, we need to rely on each other.
I talked about how we can do hard things and that as we look to the
Savior he will give us strength as we go through hard things in our own lives.
The women pull was pretty challenging but it was neat to see everyone
helping each other up the steep and rocky hill! My counselor Bedie and I went back and forth helping pull and push carts. We all slept good that
night!
DAY 2: This was a day full of lots of walking, games, and
activities. Some of the games played were... gunny sack races,
horseshoes, hoop toss, knife throw, buck saw contest, shooting, stick pull,
stilts, tug-o-war, wheel roll. Some activities were watching a blacksmith
who made rings for everyone, candle making, and a pioneer sensory activity.
Robert and I helped at the sensory activity all day which was a cool
experience. Kids were blindfolded while listening to difference pioneer
stories. During the stories they were handed different items that
correlated with the story being told... a newborn baby, warm sticks, ice cold
water, etc.
DAY 3: We woke for breakfast and trek families found that the
babies in their families had died. Each family found a place in the woods
to bury their babies and have a short discussion. After that myself and a
few others had to go and unbury the babies, clean them, and dress them in white
clothing. Families cleaned up and packed up, ate lunch and headed out.
After 2-3 miles we stopped where we had a short fireside with our stake
president. After he spoke the angels wheeled the "resurrected"
babies in a small handcart back to the families. After that everyone
headed out to walk a few more miles to be picked up by their parents.
Robert and I went ahead to see everyone arrive to the end... it was neat to
watch everyone arrive.
Yep, f you've never been to trek, it sounds a crazy... dressing up like pioneers and pushing carts through the forest! But it was
a great experience and I'm glad I got to be there with 2 of my favorite people
:). We were so exhausted and sore once we got home... our shower and bed never felt so good!