Pioneer Trek

As I sit and write this post my two kids are packing and bustling about for an adventure of a lifetime.


You see these two kids...{Em is 14 and Jacks is 16}...are headed to a whole new world. For the next 3 days they are stepping back in time...a place where ipods and cell phones and texting don't exist.

They are going to a place where they will learn more about themselves, their faith and the importance of working together as a team. They are going on a Pioneer Trek. And for the next three days they will be pulling something that looks like this....

4 years ago my husband Dave and I were able to go on the Trek as a Ma & Pa. It was such an unbelievable Testimony builder!! I am so excited for my kids to go...so much thought and preparation is put into the Trek by our Church leaders.

Don't know much about the Pioneers??

The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church) to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used handcarts to transport their belongings.^[1]

The Mormon handcart movement began in 1856 and continued until 1860.
Motivated to join their fellow Church members in Utah but lacking funds for full ox or horse teams, nearly 3,000 Mormon pioneers from England, Wales, Scotland and Scandinavia made the journey from Iowa or Nebraska to Utah in ten handcart companies.

The trek was disastrous for two of the companies, which started their journey dangerously late and were caught by heavy snow and severe temperatures in central Wyoming. Despite a dramatic rescue effort, more than 210 of the 980 pioneers in these two companies died along the way. John Chislett, a survivor, wrote, "Many a father pulled his cart, with his little children on it, until the day preceding his death."<sup>[2]



I am so proud of my kids for going!! It's hot and humid in Missouri, yet the youth are required to wear long skirts, pants and long sleeve shirts plus hats. However, despite the sultry conditions it is a worthwhile adventure...one they'll never forget!</sup> 

People made fun of us

as we walked, pulling our handcarts,

but the weather was fine and

the roads were excellent and although 

I was sick and we were very tired at night,

still we thought it was a

glorious way to go to Zion.

^-Pioneer