I am really behind and now out of order on my blogging but I can't not blog about what an amazing experience the trek was!
First of all I have to say how thankful I am to belong to a church that goes to GREAT efforts to provide enriching activities for it's youth and how THANKFUL I am to be so blessed to participate in these activities! I am thankful for all the money, time, effort, planning, prayer, and hard work that goes into making these activities successful. I am thankful to our pioneer ancestors and for the extraordinary sacrifices that they made on our behalf. I get so emotional thinking about all of the hardships that they endured and cannot fathom how truly difficult it was. But we have TRULY reaped the rewards of their efforts!!
We were so happy that Braydon turned 14 just days before the Trek and was able to go. More importantly we are so proud of him for willingly choosing to go and going with a positive, and excited attitude. There is no doubt he got everything out of it you could by doing so!!
Eric and I had such an AMAZING experience 4 years ago when we were able to go as a Ma & Pa. We were hoping to have the chance to do it again but understand that others also need the opportunity!! We were asked to be on the back up food committee with our good friends, Dave and Lisa Stubbs, Ryan and Kalyn Taylor, and Trent and Sherri Dutry. We were responsible for cooking for all the adults that were there as support, we figured about 100 people give or take 50!!! As daunting as it was we had a blast. We were up cooking at 5 am and went to bed somewhere around 11pm every night! But when your with friends it's more fun then work! The bonus was we got to sleep in our comfy warm trailers, take showers, mostly wear normal clothes, eat as much as we wanted and not have to walk 16 miles pulling a hand cart! Let me tell you, we fed them good. Steaks and baked potatoes, BBQ chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, REALLY good stuff!!
It is also so fun being up there with so many awesome people and getting to know everyone better outside of our usual Sunday environment. We have an outstanding Stake and new Stake Presidency and we are thankful for that too!!
The Trekkers after being dropped off by the buses at the starting point get assigned their Trek Ma & Pa and family, which is a mixture of boys and girls age 14-18 with a big brother and a big sister per each family (usually a young single adult). The Ma and Pa's introduce themselves in some corny, embarrassing way. Then the families play get to know you games. Braydon was in the Crump family which he was thrilled about because they are one of his friends parents! His older cousin Dallas was the big brother. I'm not really sure how the Crump's got so lucky as to have not one but two Perkins!!! The Ma and Pa's get to do a "shake down" looking for any contraband ie. phones, food, deodorant, makeup etc. Then the real fun begins!! Building the handcarts and loading all the "stuff". This is no small feat getting equipment and belongings for 16 people in one tiny handcart. Once everyone is loaded and lined up they are on their way. They walk for roughly 12-14 miles up and down hills and all over. They don't stop to eat till they get to the first camp which was around 1 or 2 in the morning. It's exhausting. At one point the first night they do what is called "a women pull". When the pioneers were making the trek out west, a lot of the men were pulled away from their families to go help with the war. So they simulate something similar. The boy and men get pulled away from there trek families. They are not allowed to talk or help the women pull or push in any way. Just WATCH. It is heart breaking and empowering at the same time to watch these girls struggle and find the strength to pull these heavy hancarts up this huge hill. I cannot keep from crying anytime I think about it. It is a truly humbling experience. Again I just cannot imagine what it was like for these women to continue on without their husbands and sons at their side For MONTHS! They are my heros. Braydon had a good experience and gained a new appreciation for these girls!
The next morning after they were so rudely woken up at 5am by an Indian invasion. They broke camp and finished the next couple miles to the final camp. Saturday was filled with "team building" games and activities, like hair washing and plowing. We snuck over and watched for a while. It was awesome watching these kids dressed up like pioneers, working together, playing together and STRENGTHENING their testimonies TOGETHER!! There was a hoe down and a fireside to end the day. GOOD times! Sunday was absolutely beautiful. There is nothing like having church in the peace and beauty of nature, the spirit is so strong! It was just an amazing day.
Monday morning when the kids had trekked back out to the top where they had started, we had a BIG bbq lunch waiting for them. They were stinky, dirty, tired, hungry, but had an experience they will hopefully never forget. We can all walk away a little more thankful and appreciative of our ancestors. Thankful for our families and the gospel in our lives! We are looking forward to the next one in four years. Hopefully Braydon, Kiley and Malerie will all be there!!
Trent and Eric-DOUBLE trouble!!
We were so happy that Braydon turned 14 just days before the Trek and was able to go. More importantly we are so proud of him for willingly choosing to go and going with a positive, and excited attitude. There is no doubt he got everything out of it you could by doing so!!
Eric and I had such an AMAZING experience 4 years ago when we were able to go as a Ma & Pa. We were hoping to have the chance to do it again but understand that others also need the opportunity!! We were asked to be on the back up food committee with our good friends, Dave and Lisa Stubbs, Ryan and Kalyn Taylor, and Trent and Sherri Dutry. We were responsible for cooking for all the adults that were there as support, we figured about 100 people give or take 50!!! As daunting as it was we had a blast. We were up cooking at 5 am and went to bed somewhere around 11pm every night! But when your with friends it's more fun then work! The bonus was we got to sleep in our comfy warm trailers, take showers, mostly wear normal clothes, eat as much as we wanted and not have to walk 16 miles pulling a hand cart! Let me tell you, we fed them good. Steaks and baked potatoes, BBQ chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, REALLY good stuff!!
It is also so fun being up there with so many awesome people and getting to know everyone better outside of our usual Sunday environment. We have an outstanding Stake and new Stake Presidency and we are thankful for that too!!
The Trekkers after being dropped off by the buses at the starting point get assigned their Trek Ma & Pa and family, which is a mixture of boys and girls age 14-18 with a big brother and a big sister per each family (usually a young single adult). The Ma and Pa's introduce themselves in some corny, embarrassing way. Then the families play get to know you games. Braydon was in the Crump family which he was thrilled about because they are one of his friends parents! His older cousin Dallas was the big brother. I'm not really sure how the Crump's got so lucky as to have not one but two Perkins!!! The Ma and Pa's get to do a "shake down" looking for any contraband ie. phones, food, deodorant, makeup etc. Then the real fun begins!! Building the handcarts and loading all the "stuff". This is no small feat getting equipment and belongings for 16 people in one tiny handcart. Once everyone is loaded and lined up they are on their way. They walk for roughly 12-14 miles up and down hills and all over. They don't stop to eat till they get to the first camp which was around 1 or 2 in the morning. It's exhausting. At one point the first night they do what is called "a women pull". When the pioneers were making the trek out west, a lot of the men were pulled away from their families to go help with the war. So they simulate something similar. The boy and men get pulled away from there trek families. They are not allowed to talk or help the women pull or push in any way. Just WATCH. It is heart breaking and empowering at the same time to watch these girls struggle and find the strength to pull these heavy hancarts up this huge hill. I cannot keep from crying anytime I think about it. It is a truly humbling experience. Again I just cannot imagine what it was like for these women to continue on without their husbands and sons at their side For MONTHS! They are my heros. Braydon had a good experience and gained a new appreciation for these girls!
The next morning after they were so rudely woken up at 5am by an Indian invasion. They broke camp and finished the next couple miles to the final camp. Saturday was filled with "team building" games and activities, like hair washing and plowing. We snuck over and watched for a while. It was awesome watching these kids dressed up like pioneers, working together, playing together and STRENGTHENING their testimonies TOGETHER!! There was a hoe down and a fireside to end the day. GOOD times! Sunday was absolutely beautiful. There is nothing like having church in the peace and beauty of nature, the spirit is so strong! It was just an amazing day.
Monday morning when the kids had trekked back out to the top where they had started, we had a BIG bbq lunch waiting for them. They were stinky, dirty, tired, hungry, but had an experience they will hopefully never forget. We can all walk away a little more thankful and appreciative of our ancestors. Thankful for our families and the gospel in our lives! We are looking forward to the next one in four years. Hopefully Braydon, Kiley and Malerie will all be there!!
Trent and Eric-DOUBLE trouble!!
Dave and Lisa did an outstanding job organizing this committee
2 of the best looking pioneers I have EVER seen!!
Braydon, Jade, Michelle, Kamrey, Lincoln, Jaci
Riley and Braydon
One good looking Pioneer family!!
The Crump Family
3 comments:
Hey. LOVE your dress ;) ;) ;) Looks like you had a blast. :) Terri
You are one hot pioneer broad!
I never got to do Pioneer Trek. When ours came around I was still suffering from back injuries from gymnastics. Hopefully one day I'll get called to be a Ma or something.
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