1. Ma's and Pa's
2. 10 - 12 kids p/family
3. One handcart
4. One 5 gallon bucket for each kid
They travel for a few days going over the exact same trails that early Utah pioneers did to instill a sense of historic appreciation of their legacy. They dress up like pioneers (except for the nikes) and have an incredible experience that challenges them physically, emotionally and spiritually.
There were about 30 handcart families this year and they went out to Muddy Creek Wyoming -- site of an authentic Mormon pioneer trail. They did 3 days of handcart pulling, sleeping in the pouring rain, watching occasional surprise re-enactments of pioneer stories involving actors pretending to be Indians, cowboys and other pioneer leaders with horses illustrating what it might have been like back in the day. They square danced, they played pioneer games, and pulled handcarts many miles each day.
One particular event is called the "Women's Pull". All the girls and Ma's all had to pull the handcarts up a hill while the boys and Pa's stood by and watched. This was to simulate what actually happened in some cases historically as many of the men had to leave their families temporarily to fight with US forces in skirmishes and battles that flared up on the frontier. Making the men and boys witness the girls struggling to get handcarts up the steep embankment caused quite a bit of emotion. The urge to jump in and "save" them was pretty strong. The experience was intended to cause that kind of emotion, empathy, and appreciation for their efforts. It also did the same for the women--how important it was to have the men helping pull handcarts all those miles.
They didn't starve but went without enough to appreciate what going hungry could mean. The first night brought a complete horrendous thunder and rain storm. We were driving up to help with pioneer games on the freeway the night before and could barely see the road. Totally scary. We could only imagine what all those families were going through while we were driving. We thought about our kids.....
We arrived the next morning at the appointed time to help with games hoping we would see our 3 kids. We were not quite sure what to expect. We braced ourselves thinking that they might be totally wet and miserable and might not be having as good of an experience. What we encountered was completely the opposite. Little Lexi came bounding up to me as soon as she recognized me and with the big smile on her face started telling me about the events of the night before. She was "all in" as they say. She weathered the storm extremely well. Then just a few minutes later McKenna came bounding up too! She was wearing an extraordinary attitude and was on a "natural high". She had all this zippy zesty energy. The girls hugged each other and then sat down and immediately started chattering like chipmunks. I had to take a picture....Their weathered faces framed immensely beautiful smiles! "Ah...." I said to myself inside. "They had the experience I was hoping they would have". They loved that they had to get all soaked and cold and that it was hard. I saw Braden and he turned. Oh my, this cowboy thing totally fit him to a "T". I didn't even need to ask, but of course did. "How is it going?" "Could be harder, but it is good." Braden was ready to chase down a live turkey, kill it and cook it up like they did in early days. Yep. The storm barely phased him. He was ready for alot more, but he made the most of what the program offered which was great.
Doing hard things..... How important is that for all of us? What about doing hard things well? It is a difficult thing in this day and age to manufacture experiences that teach youth how to do hard things period, much less to do them well. The proverbial farm that we used to be able to send our kids to during the summer doesn't really exist anymore. There are a few here and there, but things have changed.
Trek is one of those true blue experiences where they can learn the lessons of doing some very hard things.....if they are willing. It only comes around every 4 years so we are so grateful for those that put this program on and for kids that want to have that stretch..... the desire to grow and be extended beyond normal limits. To learn what those things mean and how they can apply them in their lives. These hopefully will provide the necessary preparation for what this crazy world intends to throw at them later.
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At Church 2 days later both Lexi and McKenna were invited to share their personal experiences with the entire congregation. It was heartwarming to hear what they each learned and to see how the experience touched them in a very spiritual way as well. Their faith was strengthened. My heart was lifted, my vessel filled.
We don't have to go on a pioneer trek to learn how to do hard things well. In fact, we don't have to look very far do we, to see that there are piles of hard things all around us. The trick is to figure out how we will move "through" them.
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1 comment:
I went through a night of doubts and tribulations and woke up to your post.
Sat down right away and pushed away the ghosts that were haunting me.
Thanks Aaron for saying just what I needed at the time I needed it!
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