photos courtesy of Sandi Nielson
The husband and I have recently returned from our Stake Youth Handcart Trek. It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience- one that I felt was tailored just for me. My testimony of Jesus Christ grew exponentially and my desire to follow him has strengthened. I would love to share all of it with you, but I know that would make for some monster-long posts. Instead I will highlight by numbers.
200 youth participated in the trek
15 families
16 handcarts
8 kids in our family (ours was the smallest family on the trek)
1 big brother in our family
4 girls in our family
5 boys in our family
350 pounds our kids pulled for four days
25 feet of rope to secure our belongings
1 buffalo gutted and skinned
400 feet in elevation up the mountain the women pulled the handcart on our own
500 infamous beef sticks consumed the first day
11 hours of pulling the handcart on day one
18 miles traveled the first day
2.5 hours of pulling in the pitch dark
3 tents our family set up at 9:30 pm
25 degree weather while setting up camp
2 members of our family who "died" during the night
1 member of our family with a terribly sore hamstring
3 miles pulling the handcart before we reached the valley
8 enjoyable pioneer games/ skills/ dances learned
3 stitches in the finger of our pioneer daughter
400 pioneer boots kicking up dust at the hoedown
10 foil blankets employed by our family during the night
1 Pony Express rider
8 activities that taught gospel principles
2 hours of solo time, spent reading scriptures, recording feelings, reflecting on the events of the trek and the changes taking place inside each individual
1,000's of tears shed when sharing tender feelings
1 mile pulled the last day
0 complaints from the husband who had a broken rib for the entire trek
100 families waiting to welcome their youth at the finish line
0 phones/ ipods/ cameras confiscated from our family
1,600 photos taken by the official trek photographer
11 strangers that came together as a family and were forever changed by this experience
3 hour drive home to discuss and bear testimony with the husband of the magnitude of the experience we shared
3 happy children, running with hugs for their pioneer parents
4 large blisters on the feet, lanced and bandaged
25 minutes spent in the shower in an attempt to wash off all the dirt
14 comments:
What a great way of experiencing what the pioneers went through. Glad you had a fun time.
tears are in my eyes.
so happy all went well.
for some reason, my computer isn't letting me see your first picture. i hope it's the one of you and your husband from the nielson's blog-- so cute. jonathan and i were ma's and pa's a few years back and it was quite an experience...to say the least. glad to hear yours was too. thanks for the comment on my blog.
I would love to know more about your adventure! Feel free to post a lengthy story...I would love to read it!
Glad you had a great time and have strengthened your relationship with Christ. I need just such an adventure!
Hi! Welcome Home! Are the pictures from Sandy Nelsen (Mom of Breezy) or someone else? We've known Sandy along time and she has been writing about this on her blog and the impact it has had on her family. I wondered if you were in the same stake. What a great experience. Our stake is doing one next summer and I can't wait to go.
ONE perfect blog to remind me that we are all stronger than we know we are.
Thank you.
*2* big watery eyes over here.
Broken ribs? 25 degrees? Wow. I remember hearing the youth last year talk about the women pulling. The girls that had to do, and the boys who could only watch....If that doesn't increase your compassion and empathy and faith, I don't know what will.
I'm so glad (and slightly jealous) you were able to go.
you skinned and gutted a wild buffalo??! I'm assuming that there's more to that story and it's not as back country as it sounds...? :)
Awesome. After lugging a stroller packed with 120 pounds of kids around Disneyland, I appreciate your ordeal - although infinitely more spiritual than mine. Sounds like a great experience. :)
Sounds like a great experience, viewing the buffalo would have done me in. Great Idea with the numbers!
I have never been able to go on a Pioneer Trek, but I hope to do it someday! What an awesome experience! Thanks for sharing it with us!
I'm sad I'm not in the same office as the husband. I'd have to bring him a donut to help soothe his broken rib. Donuts always work for me with that kind of thing.
And millions of blessings and memories. Awesome.
Pssst. I want to hear about this buffalo.
Wow- such a great experience. I hope one day I will get to experience it!
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