Mormon Pioneer Handcart Trek 2008

Just me & my Hubby!

My husband and I just returned last Saturday from probably the best experience of my life! We got to go on the LDS Handcart TREK with the youth of our ward – we were the Pa & Ma of a family of 8 kids (3 boys and 5 girls) We started the journey on our 20^th wedding anniversary – it was perfect. We walked/pushed a handcart up and downhill for 12 miles, had the coarse red sand blowing in our faces and used port a potties that day. Although it wasn’t quite what I had imagined our anniversary to be 20 years ago, I wouldn’t change a thing. Right before we started pushing the handcart, our Bishop of our ward called everyone together. He asked Jon and I to go upfront with him as our fellow Ma’s and Pa’s and youth of the ward chanted our last name. He said, “We are celebrating the 20^th anniversary of a special couple here today” they gave me a beautiful bouquet of fake Sunflowers. Gave us a packet of candy and even tied a bunch of soda cans to our Handcart so that they would drag as we went. All day they called us the Newlyweds – and for the remainder of the TREK we were known as the Honeymooners. It was AWESOME!

We are the Ma's!

They are the Pa's

I’ve got to tell you the three other couples from our ward that were Ma’s and Pa’s were the best – we all got along and had so much fun. The youth in our ward ROCK.. We live in such an amazing ward – everybody truly loves each other. Our kids in our Trek family are exceptional. The boys were always on the Handcart pushing, no matter what. The girls loved pushing the handcart as well – but the boys tried to make it super easy for the girls. Our boys would make sure that the 5 gallon water jug stayed full and the minute we rolled into camp, they had the tents put up and the sleeping bags to their appropriate tents. In the morning they were quick to get their tent down and then moved onto the girls’ tent.

Our family is almost ready to move 'em on out!

Father & Daughter

We pushed a total of 30 miles in 4 days (day one we pushed twelve miles and six miles each of the other three days). There were a lot of songs that we sung, stories told and memories to last a lifetime. I truly believe that the kids in our family built a bond that is indestructible. Some of the feelings I brought with me from this Journey are; this generation of youth is so strong (physically and mentally), they are so in tune with the spirit and I have been truly underestimating them. We are certainly blessed to have been a part of such a wonderful experience. I know with out a doubt in my mind that even though we experience tough times in life, we have a Father in Heaven that loves us so much, is always here for us (no matter what) and wants us to return to him.

Our Trek Family Photo

Mom & Daughter - exhausted after 1/2 mile uphill womans pull

It was a really great experience for me to catch a glimpse into how strenuous, challenging and a lot of times – horrible it was for the Mormon Pioneers to come across the plains to Utah. I am not from America, and I don’t personally have Pioneer ancestors that crossed the plains, my husband does. However, I never really gave it much thought past that. This opportunity gave me a lot of time to reflect on the Pioneers. They sacrificed so much to come to Zion. There were times on this Journey that my heart truly ached for the Pioneers – it would be awful to leave the comforts that we have, take a few items and go by faith to a place that was new to everyone. I am so impressed by their faith!! A lot of lives were lost, many sacrificed everything – happily. I truly will never be the same person again. I am so sincerely thankful to those diligent, amazing people that made that Journey across the rugged terrain to bring life to this great state of Utah.