Soon after moving into our new ward we learned that the ward was preparing to attend a pioneer trek. Nate and I thought it would be a really neat experience to be able to go, but didn't think it would happen with four young children at home and no kids going on trek from our family. However, we were asked to be a Ma & Pa for trek and although nervous we were also quite excited!
Trek turned out to be an incredible experience, and it wasn't just the four days we were gone, but it was everything that we did to prepare for trek. We were encouraged to search for family names to take to the temple. We even visited the family history center and received help in our search. We not only found one individual but several that were waiting to have their temple work done. Nate and I were able to go to the temple and do the baptisms and confirmation. It was such a neat experience to do this together. We also were encouraged to read pioneer books to help us know the pioneer's stories. Nate and I read several books. Every night we were studying these books and on long road trips I would read out loud one of the books together. I felt as though I knew these individuals better. That I had heard their stories and could picture in my mind who they were.
We also had monthly activities with our trek family to get to know them. We had an awesome family! Such great youth in our ward and in our family. Our family's name was "Nate's Eight!" Quite fitting and sometimes we would even say "Nate the Great and his family of Eight!"
All dressed and ready for trek! This is my third pioneer trek! Call me crazy but I love pioneer treks! What's not to love? Drawing close to our pioneer ancestors, feeling their mighty and valiant spirits as we walk in their footsteps, and having our own testimony's strengthened as we participate! It's always an amazing experience! I look forward to going again in four years, especially because Ty and Mara will be able to attend!
Here's our family's flag: I did the sewing, Nate did the gluing! (In the dark when the power went out, night before trek!!) The orange ribbons hanging down are our family's favorite scriptures. Each person in our family wrote their favorite scripture on the ribbon. Each morning for our family scripture devotional we had our family share what their favorite scripture is and we discussed those verses.
My favorite part of trek was visiting Martin's Cove. I have always wanted to go here. It was such a spiritual place to visit. One of the events was the river crossing. This was a very spiritual and tender experience. The pioneers had to cross the rivers many times, but it was here at the Sweetwater River that they approached it and just began to cry! It had turned cold and there were ice chunks floating down the river. They did not want to have to cross this river again. As they stood on the banks of the river crying the Valley Boys arrived. These valiant young men were sent by Brigham Young to help the pioneers make it to Zion. They helped carry the saints across the water.
I really strongly did not want to cross the river! It would have been so much easier to just cross the bridge, stay nice and dry and continue on our trek! I wasn't afraid of the water, I wasn't scared of drowning, I really didn't want to get my clothes wet, but it was more than that, I just didn't want to! And at that moment as I stood there looking at the Sweetwater River I realized that in life we may come to waters we have to cross. They may be things that we just don't want to do, maybe even things that are hard for us to do, or challenges and trials we face but we have to do it. The pioneers did not want to cross their rivers, but they had to! And so must we! We must plunge ahead with a prayer in our heart and know that the Lord will help us in our trials and difficulties. No we don't want to do things sometimes but we must!
My sweet husband offered to carry me across the river! I knew he would too! But I had to do this for me. I had to do this for my pioneer ancestors who had done is so many times for me, to preserve the legacy and carry on the religion that was so important to them. I was grateful Nate would go behind me and help me if I needed him. He is always there for me. He always has my back. It wasn't easy crossing the river. As you can see we had to hold on to the rope, and the current was swift and at times I thought it might drag me and my skirt down the river! But I held on tight and courageously crossed to the other side.
This was one of the most tender and spiritual experiences on trek. One of the girls in our ward played "Come Come ye Saints" on her violin as we crossed and the young men in our ward were the 'valley-boys' and carried some of the girls across the river. They kept going back and forth across the river until all the girls had made it across. It was sweet to see their valiant rescue.
Nate the great! I love this great guy! He is awesome! He is my rock! He is such a wonderful dad and he made a pretty darn good Pa also! I'm grateful for his support and love especially when I have my 'rivers' to cross! He's always there for me!
I did it! I crossed the river! I can't even begin to say the feelings I felt after crossing the river. I felt the spirit so strong, but I also felt a sense of accomplishment. It wasn't that it was physically or emotionally challenging, but what it represented was so much more. After any trial or hardship that we go through when we finish we feel a sense of accomplishment and a sense of satisfaction. That's how I felt. I am grateful for this opportunity I had to experience this. I knew my pioneer ancestors would have been proud of me for such a small yet significant experience.
After the river crossing we sat in a little cove and listened to two speakers talk about pioneers. They told stories from their recent missions and about modern pioneers they have met. Nate sang with a group of men "Abide with me tis Eventide." It was really nice. Then we made our way up to the actual cove. I have heard the pioneer stories since I was little and have always
wondered what Martin's Cove looked like! It was not what I pictured in
my mind! I had always thought it was more of a cave, it wasn't! Here I thought they had protection from the storms, but they didn't! They were still out in the cold and wind!
One thing that made our pioneer experience so special was the opportunity to have a pioneer name and walk the trek for that person. Each person carried with them around their neck a name tag with their pioneer name on it and a little sack of flour with 2 oz of flour in it. This represented the rations given to the pioneers on their journey. We were given opportunities along our trek to share our pioneer's story with our group. The pioneer name I chose to walk for was my great-great-great- grandmother Amie Kirby Orme. Amie was part of the Martin Handcart company. Amie joined the church after her husband died. She came from England and crossed the plains with her son Samuel Washington Orme, and her two daughters, Sarah and Rebecca. I felt impressed to share her story there in Martin's cove. It was a very powerful and spiritual experience for me to share Amie's story. I told of her sacrifice to come to Utah and the hardships she faced. At one point they were nearly out of food and what little rations they did have Amie asked her daughters to give their portions to Samuel Washington so that he could have the strength to pull the handcart and survive and carry on the Orme name. It really made me think what am I willing to sacrifice? I look forward to the day I can meet my ancestors, Amie Kirby Orme, Samuel Washington Orme, Sarah Cross, my Lowry ancestors, and others and thank them for their sacrifices to carry on this legacy. The covenant burned bright inside them and they did what they did because of the gospel and their testimonies. I hope to always have that same determination that they did!
Here we are leaving Martin's Cove. We hiked about 5 miles today which wasn't too tiring. The weather was perfect for us, not too hot or cool. We headed back to camp, we stayed at the Sweetwater Campground close to the Willey sights.
Here's our entire group! I think we had 110+ people in our trek. I love these people! They are awesome and I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to get to know they better.
The second day we went to the Willie sights. We went further with our handcarts, probably 8 miles, it didn't seem too long, it wasn't strenuous. We also had our women's pull this day and that was also a tender experience. The men all left and went on ahead of us leaving behind all the women and girls. We had a devotional by our young women's president. We talked about the importance of having the priesthood in our homes. The women's pull wasn't hard or strenuous (I was hoping it would have been more challenging!) but it was a good experience. The men stood at the top of the hill with their hats over their hearts watching us pull our handcarts to the top of the hill. This experienced represented the times when the pioneer men had to leave their families whether by death or to serve missions, or to join the battalion. It was hard for them to watch us do the work, and not be able to help out. But it was also hard for us to see them standing there and not have them help us. I am indeed grateful for the support and help my husband gives to me, but especially for the priesthood he holds and blesses our home.
We all took turns pulling our handcart. I loved getting to know our trek family during this time. They all helped out and did their part. Trek was such an amazing experience. Would I do it again?! Definitely yes...in a heartbeat! Was I glad I went?! Yes! I am grateful for the spiritual experience and mixed with the fun times. I would do it all again and look forward to my next trek experience!
