They say a picture is worth a thousand words.... this picture is that for me. This week our Stake headed out on a 4 day Pioneer Trek just outside Evanston, Wyoming. Over the course of 4 days, we trekked almost 30 miles in families of 8-10 youth, pulling handcarts loaded with our personal belongings, some snacks, and water jugs. Learn more about trek reenactments here:
As Stake leaders we have been working on this Trek for years. We came out to Wyoming over 2 years ago to tour the land and pick a specific trail to trek on. (Trail #6 is the best!)
18 months ago we started praying for inspiration and seeking heavens guidance in determining a theme that met the needs of our current youth - Royal Daughters and Priesthood Men as we call them.
8 months ago - Ma's & Pa's were called and began monthly training sessions about getting to know their youth individually, becoming a part of their lives and loving them as the Savior does.
6 months ago - Monthly stake activities around Trek began; promo video & song released
In February the youth were contacted individually and received a personal home visit from their Trek Ma & Pa - and that's where it all began.
And here are June 24th...hitting the trails of Wyoming ready to "LOOK"
Look Inward, Outward, Upward & Forward
Each day we focused on a different aspect of LOOK and how it brings us closer to the Savior.
We started each day with devotionals full of music, thoughts from the youth, and 'visits' from past church leaders and members who established the theme for the day and how they and we can incorporate those into our lives.
These daily themes literally came to life through actions, decisions, and experiences that took places on the trails.
The Esplin Family ready to head out after a short break. Having the family's together for 5 months prior to Trek made a huge difference. They had been together at monthly stake activities and most had also been together for individual trek family activities at their Ma & Pa's houses, and attended events & performance of their trek siblings.
As a mother & YW leader, I attend a lot of school functions, sporting events, plays, recitals, etc. around our town. I don't think I attended any of these in the past 5 months without seeing a Trek sibling or Trek parent here to support a youth. Lacrosse games, track meets, dance recitals, school plays, if youth in our stake were involved, there was always some sort of Trek Family support.
One of my own daughters, had her Trek Ma & Pa come to an 8:00 soccer game on a Saturday morning in the pouring rain - coats, umbrellas, and all. I had considered not coming to the game due to the weather, and there were her Trek Ma & Pa.
(You can read about that at the link below)
These established relationships allowed the youth and family's to bond and serve one another in ways that would not have been possible had they just met. The experiences they had and lessons they learned were deeper because of the relationships they had build.
Each day family's were given trials based on journal entries recorded by pioneers as they came across the plains seeking refuge from religious persecution. Here a Pa had to pull the handcart alone for part of the trail that day. As he got tired and worn down, it was hard for his family members to see him struggle and want to help, but for various reasons, not be able to.
Just like the pioneers, after walking 10+ plus miles and finally pulling to camp, there was not time to sit and relax, time to set up camp. Each family had 3-4 tents that need to be set up and then unlike the pioneers, delicious meals were ready made and delivered via modern day coolers to each family to eat together.
Another modern day convenience? Those special turquoise outhouses in the background traveled on service roads not far from our trails, so though not indoor plumbing, our Port-a-Potty Bosses kept those things pretty clean and not smelling too bad, under the circumstances.
A few Happy Trekkers I found along the way. It so fun for us to see our youth UNITED as family's and especially as Royal Daughters and Priesthood Men in our Stake. Unity is a major part of our Stake and we strive to provide opportunities and expediences that help our youth to be UNITED.
If you look closely at these 'happy campers' - you'll see black wrist bands on their right arms. They are black and say UNITED in Bold, White lettering. Our Stake President gave these to all the youth at our TREK Kick-Off back in January, with a charge to be UNITED as Royal Daughter and Priesthood Men and to keep the bracelets on until after Trek. One young women in this picture even fought with a nurse in the ER after being bucked off a horse. She fought to keep that bracelet on, and the nurse and doctors eventually obliged.
LOOK - I found one of my own out on the trail. It was fun to have Lindz and Kayla out on Trek with us, and my heart would quiver a little when a got to cross paths with them. I need to give a shout out to Robert, these girls, and my other 3 girls at home. When I was called to lead the Young Women in our Stake a few years ago, we didn't fully understand what that would mean or how it would effect our family. We didn't know I'd be in wards every Sunday and every Wednesday night. We didn't know all the meetings that were involved, the time commitment it involved, and the love, care, concern, and watch care I would feel over each and every one of the young women in our stake. It doesn't matter if there are 200 or 2 million, the Savior taught that it is all about the ONE. I'm so glad that we're all there when the Stake President laid his hands on my head to set me apart in this calling and give me a priesthood blessing. At that moment, we learned together what the Lord needed from me at this time, and they have been such an amazing support to me
This awesome group became 'our family' after their Pa was taken to a local hospital with some health issues. We had spent so much time training and preparing Ma's & Pa's, and it was so awesome to be able to participate in that role as well.
Our Trek Clan
This picture is from our final devotional. There were 3 seagulls circling our little group as we sang and discussed how we would use the thoughts, feelings and experiences we had had to
LOOK Forward
As you can see, it was a beautiful morning, and those 3 seagulls circling around us felt like a the love of the Lord encircling us in His arms. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing Trek - to LOOK Inward, Outward, Upward, and Forward as we build and strengthen testimony's and grow closer to a our Savior Jesus Christ. For this, I will forever be grateful.
