Trek at Martins Cove - What a feeling!

On July 9-12, the Union Park Stake attended Youth Conference - Trek at Martins Cove! What a feeling! Kenyon and I were called to be a Ma and Pa way back in January. Initially, we were concerned about taking the time off from work - Kenyon and I had both started new jobs and felt that with limited vacation, it would be a challenge to fit it all in - but we accepted the calling. During the same time period, my best friends were called to be Ma's and Pa's too! Ian and Wendy Forrest, and Scott and RaNae Dalgleish, were also called and I was so excited to be able to go with them.

The first surprise on our journey was showing up on Monday, and seeing 3 school buses in the parking lot at the stake center. I knew that we were going on buses, but I didn't "get" that it was a school bus.. What fun! Reminds me of a 5th grade fieldtrip..

As of our arrival at Martins Cove - we still didn't know who our families were. We were somewhat worried - because our Stake attendance was low - espeically with Young Men, so we were concerned about having YM to help with our handcart load. Once arriving at the Cove, we were divided into families and loaded our handcarts for the trail. Our kids were as follows... Kenya Jimenez. Kristen Gourley, Bo Fisher, Kyle Maughn, Marie Gonzalez, Megan Stock and Michelle Hawkins and Justin Huber. Great kids.. 3 boys and 5 girls. We had a lot of funny experiences that first day - Kenyon and I had several laughs together, especially as it relates to the "race for the campground"! Cherry Creek Campground was just 3 miles away - so a nice short walk on our first day/ Once at the campground, we unpacked, and were ready for a square dance. Great fun, and a lot of laughs for the youth! That night - the Wyoming wind howled all night, and everyone had a difficult time getting any shut eye. (I felt like a true "fake" pioneer)!

Several spiritual highs on Day 2 - This was the day that we walked into Martins Cove. What a great spirit was present. This day was a day that touched many very deeply - I'll describe a couple of our experiences.

Our stake really helped us feel the spirit by re-enacting the Sweetwater Rescue at 6th Crossing. As we were preparing to cross the Sweetwater at 6th crossing – the spirit was strong as the Missionaries spoke of the challenge of that cold day in late October when four boys assigned as part of the rescue party gave many dying pioneer men and women new hope that they might survive until reaching the valley. Shortly after the missionaries spoke – Brother Dallimore asked the following 4 boys to please stand (George W. Grant, C. Allen Huntington, Steven Taylor and David P. Kimball).. at which time 4 YM from our stake stood as each of those names were read. My son stood as the name –C. Allen Huntington was read. At this point – my pride as a mother overcame me, and I wept. I wept thinking about the mother of that boy and the pride and fear she must have felt as she sent her son east as part of the rescue party. He was only 18 years old. I was overcome with the spirit and as I sat and watched these 4 boys carry YW across the river – I know in my heart that the boys in the rescue party over 150 years ago would not have changed 1 thing about that day. I know with certainty – that they would not have come out of that icy, frigid water until every person was safely across and I don’t think they ever once would have thought of their own suffering. They were on a mission from the Lord and were prepared to sacrifice their own lives to ensure that they brought as many saints to the valley as they could carry.

The next experience was the Womens Pull - The men were called away and separated from the Women. President Jackson and Sister Susan Fisher spoke with the men, and President and Sister Allred spoke with the Sisters.. After these spiritual messages, it was time for the women to pull the handcarts what a very steep climb. It was daunting to say the least- many of the girls were worried that they might not make it. I pulled my girls aside and said a prayer to Heavenly Father that we would be strong and that we would be able to do hard things. At the top of the hill, all the men had gathered.. My dear friend Wendy pulled the women together, she had made a sign that said "angels among us" and two of our YW with some physical challenges carried this sign up the hill in front of the 1st handcart. Before we started, the sweet violin music of one of my dearest friends rang through the air - she was playing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". The spirit was so strong that I was crying before we even started pushing.. you might as well have thrown me in the hardcart, for all the good I did on that push.. But - we did it. As each handcart crested the hill, although the women were shaking with fatigue - the sisters would quickly drop their cart and race back down the hill to help the next group. It was such a sweet feeling, and so representative of the women in the church - always rushing to help another. The men were very touched by this experience and most shed a tear or two.

Another great testimony builder that I'd like to share was very specific to my own family in my role as a Ma – For the 1st two days of trek – Orange Company – as we liked to call ourselves, was one of the stronger families.. But the 3rd day – up and over Rocky Ridge was taking a toll on some of our kids. We were probably about 2 miles into the 14 mile day, when one of our daughters felt she couldn’t walk any further. We stopped for a drink and tried to figure out what to do about her shoes so that she could keep walking.. Bo – one of our son’s said “put her in the wagon” so we did. Shortly after – another son, got a cramp in his foot and could not keep up – we again, stopped for a drink and tried to work out the cramp when - Bo said “put him in the wagon”! Later on in the afternoon – during the hottest part of the day – 2 more daughters - one with shin splints and one with blisters couldn’t go any further and again Bo said “put them in the wagon”. During this 14 mile day, at any given time, we had 2-3 people in our handcart. To me, on this difficult, long and hot day – it was a miracle that we could keep up and keep pace with the other families- but the most touching part of this story for Kenyon and I came at the end of this long day. When we arrived at camp, got unloaded, set up tents and had a chance to relax – Bo took off his boots and his feet were badly blistered. He had never made even the slightest comment or complaint about having blisters – and yet had pulled up to 3 people at a time in our handcart the entire day.

On our final night - we had a testimony meeting that lasted about 2.5 hours... except for 2 leaders - the rest of the time was used by youth. I think many youth were touched by what they saw, heard and felt at trek! I'm so grateful to have been there.

I've included some photographs of our experience... what a feeling!

Bo looks like a poster for

"A River Runs Through It"