Wednesday, July 6, 2011

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."[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! 

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

9 comments:

  1. Wow, what a wonderful opportunity. When I was the 2nd counselor in the primary we did a small one around one of the parks for the whole primary. But to actually walk in their footsteps would be a wonderful experience.

    Thanks for making my cry so early in the morning ;-)

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  2. Wow, what an adventure! I hope they have a wonderful time and experience. Please let us know what happened ;) xo

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  3. Sounds interesting! (And more than a little grueling!) I look forward to hearing more about how it goes for them. I think it's great that you and your husband are giving them this opportunity.

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  4. Wow! How completely proud you must (and should) be of those kids. I can honestly tell you that I don't know many kids their age around here who would do that. And I can't wait to tell Katie and Ella about what yours are doing! Share more with us when they return, will you? I'd love to hear of their experience.

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  5. Wow..it will be a wonderful experience...may just see the world in a whole new light...you enjoy this time too and use it to renew, whether its arging, sleeping, cleaning, reading..enjoy...xxx

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  6. Oops..that's meant to read arting...these darn new phones...lol...

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  7. What a wonderful idea for an adventure. I'm sure they will take away some lessons and fun that will stay with them forever.

    Found you via a follow friday blog hop and very happy I did!!

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  8. I actually have never been on the trek but our ward just had youth conference and had a trek 20 miles away from home to a place called Cove Fort, which is a fort that travelers could stop and stay on there travels for rest and for safety from the indians.... Now they have full time missionaries and have about 300 people stop there everyday to see it.... Great place to go, if your ever in central Utah make sure you stop and have a look.

    www.bondedwithlove.blogspot.com
    Bonded With Love by marianne

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  9. Hi Can I use your picture of the handcart pioneer statue on my blog please? I'm doing a post about dutch ovens!

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I appreciate your thoughts and ideas...they inspire me!! I will be visiting you soon. Have a CREATIVE day!!