I have had something church related to do every year since I was 14! Girls Camp, Camp Legacy and now 2 Treks! I was bummed when I realized this summer was going to be different. I was SO excited when I was asked to go to Trek as a Big Sister! I had the BEST big sister when I went as a youth and wanted to be the best for whatever family I was placed into.
Trek 2014 was the bomb. The absolute BOMB. I had the coolest and most spiritual Ma and Pa I could have asked for. The food was yummy, and there was LOTS of it. My brothers and sisters were hilarious and amazing in every way. We bonded instantly. I’m still going through Trek withdrawals.
4 days of pushing a ridiculously heavy handcart really shows a persons true character. I don’t know if we thought we were going to die, but the second night we were all sharing secrets. Haha! We didn’t die, but it felt like death. I could barely move my pinky finger. I can do hard things! Seriously!
Really though. Trek. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be “THEBESTTHINGYOUWILLEVERDOINYOURLIFE” Did ya get that? It really is the best thing you will ever do as a youth or an adult. I know for all of us, it was hard to part from our family. We loved each other and had so much fun. The second night we stood around the hot oil and laughed and told stories forever while enjoying yummy Indian Fry Bread Ma had made.
When I went when I was 14 I was in no way in the right mind-set. I didn’t even wanna go. This year was different. When I was asked to go, I did the happy dance all the way to my car and screamed with excitement once I got in. I had no idea it would impact me as spiritually or strongly as it did.
I was tested physically. I was tested emotionally. And I was tested spiritually. I don’t mean the adversary was there telling me to go against my testimony (cause really there was nothing else he could have tempted me with) but I guess what I mean is I developed a greater love of the mormon pioneers, the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.
The first night, after walking 12 miles into the dark, where the moon was the brightest light we reached a spot we thought was the end. HAHA. It was not the end. We were turned away by an angry mob. A mob who wanted to kill us just for being Mormon. For believing in this book of Mormon, and in Joseph Smith. We knew that if we tried to go through, we would be killed. So, 200 angry tired men and women picked up our heavy carts and headed back. We didn’t know when we were gonna stop again or when we could sleep. If you closed your eyes, you really did fall asleep. Eight tenths of a mile later, we could stop for the night. They were serving food but I went straight to bed! WHICH was miserable. It reached 24 degrees that night. Say what? I did not have clothes for that weather. I froze.
I was in a lot of pain the next day. My hip had to be picked up to move, my left knee pit was going bizerk, and I had a giant burn on my foot from 3 days before Trek. I cried the whole 6 miles to Zion. I wanted to ride in the medical truck SO bad. But I stayed in the back and sobbed quietly to myself. I kept telling myself that if the Pioneers could walk with disease, frostbite, in the freezing weather…I can handle today. And I did. It was miserable, but I did it. I can do hard things.
The next 2 days were great. We square danced and kicked so much dirt up we could barely recognize each other. We made fun of the Stake staff and other families on the trail. We saved the baby from the Indians, we shot slingshots and blow-darts. It was SO fun. I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard before in my life. The boys in my family, the Stake Presidents son more specifically, were HILARIOUS. I’m tellin’ ya. I had the BEST family.
Trek was hard. 22 ish miles? Pushing a handcart holding ALL of our stuff and then some? So hard. But I did it. And that’s what they wanted us to get out of it. We can do hard things. Pa kept saying that to us. “You can do hard things.” Life is hard! Let me be the first to testify of that. It is not easy. It is not supposed to be easy. And for most trials I am grateful, others I’m not. But I can do hard things. YOU can do hard things. We had a prayer in our hearts every day that we would be able to make it through the day. That we would eventually make it to Zion. And we did. It was hard, but worth every step and tear.
I can find ways to relate Trek to every aspect of my life. Everything we did I found a way to relate it to my life. Death happens. It sucks. Physical problems happen and can be a burden. Satan is real and will try to stop the work of the Lord any way that he can. We saw that the first night when we were turned away. Life is hard, but it is so great. We have a Savior who atoned for our sins. Who made it so we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again. We have someone who knows us personally. That is amazing. The pain I felt on trek was crap. I hurt every day. But I wasn’t alone. Not only was my family helping me, but I knew that my Savior knew what I was experiencing. I was not alone.
Trek. I’ve gone twice and hope to go a third! Do it. I love the pioneers. I am grateful for their sacrifice. I love the Book of Mormon. It is true. You can’t deny that. The pioneers gave up EVERYTHING because of that book. What a testament to me. Trek 2014 helped me spiritually grow. It is where I found my answer to serving a mission. And for that I am forever grateful!
The world according to me 