Testimony of Trek

August 6 2017

Hello Buddy!!!

Wow, these weeks are flying by so fast!!! I started writing my Trek book and it's about 6 pages now and I am only on the first trekking day. Ha Ha. Ya, probably too much details that I am putting into it but I will give you a quicker version. 

I had already told you how we were setting it all up for gear drop off and how we were getting everyone to the stake center that morning. Well, the night before I heard the rain and thunder...... oh man. I went into my closet to pray that I know Heavenly Father needs us to learn something on trek but I did ask if it be his will would he temper the weather. Ha Ha, here I am asking for the weather not to be too hot and also not to be rainy. 

So at drop off we had many youth that didn't show up and ended up not coming and some that said they will show up in the morning. We also had a Ma and Pa decide not to come and didn't tell us. We didn't know until the night before we left. WOW. It's crazy because Calvin was in that family a few days before and I had a feeling to move him to another family. (that is a miracle story too, he ended up in a family with a kid that spoke Chinese too, wow, talk about Heavenly Father knowing exactly what each youth needed. They bonded really fast.) 

Anyway, that night we had to go back to the Garfield's and reshuffle families so that they would all have a ma and pa. we finished about 11pm and went home. They finished printing everything and didn't get to bed until about 2am. We went to bed at 1am then woke back up at 4:20am. We were definitely strengthened by the Lord. 

Well the morning we all met at the Stake Center it went well. It was raining so we had to do everything inside but it all worked out. We had an AMAZING devotional. We had 2 visitors from 1856 Amy Loader and Levi Savage. They told us about their trials. I then spoke to all the youth about Kindness. I told them the story about Cam at Maverik. I don't remember if I told you about that? Kris and I go there almost everyday and when we go we try to buy someone their drink. We have become really good friends with many of the employees there and this kid Cam who is kinda a rough kid came up to us with tears in his eyes and said we had changed his life. We had brought happiness to his life just by being kind to others. He surprised us and bought our drinks one day. Anyway, I told the youth they get to choose the weather of their life by being kind to others and you never know how it will affect them. 

Then I introduced the theme again and Troy and Alyssa sang the song Troy wrote, WHY? I'll do it for Him. The spirit was so strong. All the youth were silent and you could tell they were ready for the trek. We dismissed the Ma's and Pa's to another room where I was privileged to pass out their letter. We wrote them a letter like a mission call and had the list of their family in it. It was like Christmas. They were so excited. 

The youth were still in the gym with President Hogge giving them a message. Then they all left to get on the buses. They found out who their family was on the buses and we headed off. A funny note was that Dad left the walkie talkies at home so I stalled a little as we checked kids off until he got back. He pulled in and we drove off with him. 

I was already feeling grateful that that part of it went as well as it did. We got to the staging area and everyone got packed up and ready to head out. As we started the sky was overcast. It was perfect. I thanked Heavenly Father so much along the trail for all the many blessings he sent us. 

The first day it was pretty funny because we were trekking along and we had a few rain drops fall that was so refreshing. We looked back at the end of the companys and saw that some had their ponchos on. We laughed that the would need their ponchos but then found out later they actually were in a major down pour and got soaked. How crazy to all be trekking along and in 5 companys the end got soaked. They dried fast though. 

I will send you my big long version of the whole trek when I finish it but I just wanted to tell you some highlights. 

Dad and I did a devotional the first night and the youth were silent again. I could feel the spirit so strong and I could see it was touching their hearts. I talked about the failing hearts of this last dispensation and that we need to do all we can to strengthen it. I shared Elaina's talk about girls camp and the iron rod and how it was so hard to watch they YW pushing through the trees and logs getting scratched when they could have just raised their hands to get help. That hit home to many of them. Dad totally made me cry. He was sooooo amazing. He totally changed his talk according to the spirit and it was exactly what the youth needed. He talked how he has gone through many hard trials and times as a youth and then he talked about going through his brother dying and taking his last breath in his arms and how it was a time of darkness and not wanting to go to church. He then said how I helped pull our family through that, I was bawling. He testified that everyone can do it, they have to make a choice. The spirit was so strong. 

The next day we had been inspired to make it a short trekking day and the families had so much time to play and get to know eachother. We had a big softball game with a ball made out of bandanas and duct tape. Everyone had sooooo much fun. Then we had the Hoedown that night. WOW, the youth all joined in and it was way fun. We really needed that day of fun and bonding for the families because the next day was a harder day.

The next morning we had everyone pack up and then president Hogge stopped everyone and gathered them in. He said there was a change in plans and as was on the trail that men had given up their food and were exhausted, some died and some had to be pulled in the handcart. So he said that all of the men had to pack up and say goodbye to their family. As we all watched them walk away I felt the Priesthood leave. It was a tangible thing. I never want to be without the Priesthood. 

Sister Patterson (Stake Young Women President) shared her testimony and talked to the Young Women. I then shared a few thoughts and had everyone get ready. It was so sweet to see some of the families kneeling in a circle and praying. I went and found Lexie's family and I joined them. The night before I felt the spirit tell me that I needed to pull with Lexie. It was such an amazing experience being able to push with Lexie. It was not an easy push. It was straight up a hill for 2 miles. There were a few level spots that we were able to rest on and then kept going. When we got to the top the young men were waiting and lined the sides of the trail. The spirit was so strong as we pushed through. We got to the top and then waited for all the handcarts to come. As we waited some of the Young Women started singing hymns. It was so beautiful. I made my way back to the front waiting for the last few carts to come. Amy Patterson came up by me and we were just watching. Then we heard the cry that they needed 2 people to come help the last cart, the YM were forbidden to help. Amy and I grabbed eachothers hand and we ran down the mountain holding hands to go and rescue the handcart. We got to the cart already out of breath but could see they weren't doing good. Lynette was on the back of the cart. Amy and I got in the helm and pulled so hard and were able to get them up the hill. These women started crashing when they got to the top. I had to pull one of them back up and not allow her to just sit down. I could see she was in trouble. I took her to medical and she got help. 

Hearing the testimonies of they YM about having to watch the YW struggle and they couldn't do anything about it was gut wrenching. Dad shared his testimony of that moment and said that he knows I have had pulled our family handcart by myself for so long and that he doesn't want that to happen again. He is going to do all he can to never make us pull without him. It touched me so much. 

We could see all the families bonds and the YM didn't want the YW pulling the rest of the day. We pulled into camp about 4pm and set up. This night was the night for a devotional and then they broke out into families for solo time, reading a letter from their parents and then the families had a testimony meeting. Us as a stake had a testimony meeting for all of the committee leaders. It was super powerful to hear everyones testimony of this trek. We even had a man from Argentina that was visiting his missionary from long ago come. He stood and had a translator but testified that he knew he was destined to come on this trek. He was supposed to come a year before but knew that the Lord had delayed him so he could be on our trek. He testified of Christ and how this Trek was so important and that he was going to take it back to Argentina. WOW!!!! How amazing. 

As the sun was setting it was so BEAUTIFUL seeing all the youth spread over the hillsides in the colorful sky. I will show you one of the pics from it. Heavenly Father blessed us with such beauty. 

The next morning we had Ephraim's rescue. His story was depicted and then we told everyone that we were having a rescue and that they didn't have to pull all their gear to the buses. They got to pull light handcarts. It was fun because so many of they YM pulled their sisters in the carts. 

Oh, so many amazing miracles happened by the POWER of the Lord that I couldn't even write them all down. 

I testify that The Lord Loves each of us and is very aware of each of us. I had sister Jolley come up to me and tell me that she and other women were talking and felt that The Lord made this trek amazing because he wanted to bless ME for being an obedient Daughter of God and attending the temple. I felt My Saviors love so strong at that moment. Wow, would he bless a whole Stake just because of One person. He definitely would but I do know that there were so many amazing leaders that put in so much time to building the kingdom of God. I testify of the importance Trek is in all of our lives. I am so blessed to have been able to serve in this capacity and see so many lives touched and blessed. 

I pray you had a great week. I was soooooo touched by your many miracles and so many people told me they loved it. 

Sorry this letter went so long. I'm going to share it with Elaina too because I told her I would give her more details too. I love you so much! I am so blessed to have you serving our Savior. I will have another Joint Commission survey this week and I know because of our obedience he will bless us. 

Love you so much!!!

Love Mommy