The Pioneer Trek

Amazing, can I say anything more? Here is our "family" on the Trek. We had 4 girls and 4 boys. That is Rob on the Left, than me, Preston,Hannah,Kaylani,Steven, Kylie,Hayden, Jen, and Aaron. 8 wonderful kids ages 14-18. It was a blast. So so so hard, but if it isn't hard it isn't worth it right?

Here is how we slept, The boys outside on the tarp and the girls in a tent.
This is the last day in Wellsville, getting ready to do the parade

This was our baby Skittles--"skit" for short. She got sick on the trail but had a "blessing" and was healed, we had to carry her everywhere!

This is the moon the first night, we had already set up for the night and had dinner and then Porter Rockwell came and told us that an army was coming and we had to move! We loaded up again -which took at least 1/2 hour to do, and then we hiked straight up rocky hills from 9 til 1 in the morning!


We weren't aloud to bring a lot of the nicer camping things, a table for instance, our boys were awesome they helped out so much and were so fun. There were 240 of us on the trail! It was the coolest sight to see. Many times I was walking and the sight caught me and just made me wonder how the pioneers did it! I was in awe and I want that image to stay ingrained in my head. I learned a lot about supporting others, pushing through it and overcoming. We all have trials today and there is a host of angels/pioneers cheering us on! We are all treking it through life and we need each other. We need our Savior Jesus Christ and the atonement. My dress drove me crazy! It was so hot and I kept pulling it up and tucking it in my skirt until a lovely kind sister told me that my bloomers were indeed underwear! hmm did I need to be modest or something? I am holding the baby in this pic. This is the funniest! Who is that terrorist with the pioneers??? I was allergic to the straw and all the dust!!! They called me bandit.
We would do anything to get out of the sun, it was 95 they said, but there was a nice breeze the whole time. It couldn't have been more perfect, no rain.

The second day after they hiked us all night 'til 1 and got us up at 6 to go, they told us we would be crossing 2 rivers. The first one we went through in our tennis shoes and then the next one they let us change. We went up a small canyon and there we had a devotional where our Stake Pres was Brigham Young and was talking to us when all of the sudden these men dressed as the mob with real shot guns and pistols came out shooting and yelling at us. The spirit was so strong as we watched them yelling at us and challenging our beliefs. They even shot at each other and had fake blood come out. They rummaged through our handcarts and stole our stuff, but they let us go if we went back down the way we came.

Then after we got down the hill and had lunch they had a devotional about Mary Fielding Smith. She is the one that had to cross the plains alone without her husband. She was the one who never gave up and her oxen got sick on the side of the trail she prayed that they would get up and they did. Cool story... Anyhow there is more to it but they told us that the Men were being called off to help build the Temple and go find granite. They took all the men and left us there, and challenged us to pull the handcarts to camp ourselves. Well this woman's pull was the hardest thing I have done in my life-besides childbirth- Me and Kaylani were practically the only ones who could pull. It was so hard! We went straight up a mountain with no trail! Sagebrush everywhere scratching our legs and huge boulders to push the handcart and all our stuff in it over! The men were taken to the top of the mountain and told about how to respect women and always be a gentlemen. Then they were told that their Ma's and sisters were pushing up that hill and they were to wait and watch. They didn't!! --they came running down to help, a lot of them were crying-- I was-- that taught me the biggest lesson. I thought I was tough. I needed their help so bad, It was neat.
These are the hilarious boys in our ward. James and Preston. This is at the American Heritage Ranch in Logan. We did 4 hours of Service here the first day. There are so many stories that I could share but I will just say overall it was one of the neatest, physically, mentally and spiritually demanding things I have ever done. I loved it. I loved seeing Rob interact with all the youth. Like 50 times a day I would hear What's up Bro. Sautter! They loved him. He was so upbeat the whole time, I even heard him singing Merry Poppins and Little Mermaid while we were treking. He led the discussions at night about the plan of salvation, the atonement, priesthood and trials, and being the best you can be. I have an awesome husband. I think everyone should try to be involved in one way or another with a Youth Trek. There is so much to learn and it's so amazing to witness.