Trek Day Three

On the morning of the third day, we were each given a single biscuit - meant to symbolize when the pioneers were out of food and were rationed a certain amount of flour and water. However, if the stake was meaning to torture us, they failed miserably ;) I think I speak for most of us in saying that that was the best biscuit I've ever had! Didn't hear many complaints. Maybe we were just full on the Spirit. I know I was. And in my opinion, day three was the best, so my fill of the Spirit would soon overflow.

Before we got our biscuits, we were told the story of a man named James, who made many sacrifices for his company and his wife. He had the responsibility of burying the dead, and one time, he swore he couldn't do it. He was given an extra ration and told to do the work, but he gave the ration to his pregnant wife. After he did so, he had enough strength to carry on. Pretty awesome guy. And especially awesome what God can do for us when we really need Him. The pioneers were such great people.

We headed out, our next stop not too far ahead. There, we had a 'real breakfast', and one of the missionaries of the farm was dressed as Ephraim Hanks. In character, he told his story - of how he joined the church and eventually led the rescue of the Willie/Martin Handcart Company. Another man we could all learn from. He started off running from what he thought to be danger, but he later learned the meaning of courage and saved many lives.

After that, as we enjoyed the green grass, we listened to journal entries from young pioneers. And then, we were given letters from our parents, except that mine were left home. Instead, I got one from my bishop, and he said so many things I needed to hear. I was very grateful :) The speakers there talked a lot about one word: rescue. They asked us to answer these questions for ourselves:

Who has rescued us?
Who can we rescue?
What do we need rescued from?

I have my own answers, but I'll let you all just think on those. We also discussed the phrase "Good, Better, Best." Some of the pioneers had life pretty good in other countries and wherever they came from, but they settled on less for moment in order to gain the best. We should all have those kinds of priorities, and remember how priceless the gospel and spirituality is in comparison to mortal things. Perspective is always vital. :)

Our handcarts waiting for us to read our letters :)

As I returned to our handcarts, something else came to me, and I bore my testimony about it later that night. We're not so different from them. We all have hopes, dreams, fears, and a personal Zion we're journeying towards. Just because they lived in a different time period doesn't make them so different or greater than us. We are not a weak people. We are of the latter-days, and therefore some of the strongest. We can have their spirits and courage with us to help us as we go, just as they had angels with them. Pretty cool.

Our next stop was Fort Laramie.

There, we had more speakers, and more awesome things to remember.

Plan A = Knowledge
Plan B = Faith

Sometimes the plot twists in our lives are there for a reason, and we're meant to take the roads less traveled by. God knows what He's doing. He's already planned out everything.

"Faith is always pointed towards the future." In order to truly have faith, we need to focus forward. Focusing backward is only full of regrets and gives us unnecessary stress.

"When you serve with convenience, you serve yourself. But when you serve with inconvenience, you serve the Lord." So true and so good to remember.

And a quote by our dear President Monson: "If we don't try, we don't do. And if we don't do, why are we here?"

After lunch, we continued to walk and pull our handcarts, crossing over a tiny creek. Then, my family found its way to the front, and we faced a huge hill. That hill, steep and challenging, was Rocky Ridge. And it's Rocky Ridge that change my life.

We battled our way up that hill, through the terribly deep dust and physical exhaustion. When we made it to the top, we all immediately fell on our water bottles, the other families struggling up behind us. It was my 'sister,' Stephanie, who suggested we help them. Steph was such an inspiration to me over all of Trek, but this especially was awesome. We both raced down to help the handcarts, and I think we helped pull six up the hill, aside from our own and another very special one - which I'll mention in a moment.

It was a mind-blowing experience. So many people, sore and exhausted, rushing down to help without even thinking. They didn't walk. They ran. And I was so honored to be among them. The picture above is now my desktop, because I never want to forget the Spirit in that moment. It still gives me chills just thinking about it. And especially about what happened next.

With the handcarts safely up the hill, we gathered for a water break and a story. And that's when we were told about Jens and Elsie Nielsen. The amazing thing is that we weren't only told about them. We were able to see a reenactment.

Jens and Elsie (along with two children, I think) were traveling towards Zion. And at Rocky Ridge, Jens' feet froze. He couldn't walk and collapsed by the trail. There, he told Elsie, "Leave me by the trail in the snow to die, and you go ahead and try to keep up with the company and save your life." Being a loving and courageous wife, Elsie shook her head and told him, "Ride, I can't leave you; I can pull the cart."

We watched as Elsie struggled, barely moving a few feet or so in that long unbearable silence. Steph and I drifted to the edge of the crowd, as close to her as we could be without breaking any unspoken rules. It killed all of us to watch her down there. Jens did what he could, pushing the wheel with a weak hand, while I know I fought back tears.

Finally, Elsie herself collapsed on the ground, bringing her hands together in prayer. And then, one young man (asked by the stake ahead of time), rushed forward. Steph and I took that as a sign that we, too, could come to Elsie's aid. And several others went with us.

We were the first to reach the cart, helping Elsie to her feet as the 'angels' surrounded her. It was so, so beautiful. We ran down there as quickly as our feet could carry us, and that reminded me of something. The angels around us are likely just as anxious, just as willing, to help us on our way. If we would just ask, just allow them, they would run to us as we ran that day - nothing stopping them from coming to our aid.

As we pulled her handcart, as we helped, everyone was laughing and smiling and happy. And when we reached the top of that hill ... the feeling was like nothing else.

We were coming home <3

Everyone was cheering and feeling the joy. Everyone was feeling the Spirit. And I'm sure they felt the same way Christ and God do, every time someone comes home -- every time someone finds the gospel, hears the truth, becomes a believer. We are family. We are one people. And the love among us is so amazing.

I wish I could live that moment over and over and over again.

But of course, Rocky Ridge wasn't the end of our journey. We took a break, but then we were moving again, and we stopped next at a place called Strawberry Creek. There, we heard stories of the freezing cold and the fear of the pioneers to cross over the ice. One man carried his family across the water, as well as others, and didn't make it far before he died because of it. Another touching sacrifice that won't be forgotten.

After that, we came to a final halt, and we set up camp before having dinner. Following that, we were blessed to watch 17 Miracles, and ended the night with a beautiful testimony meeting. I slept under the stars, and was so touched by everything that happened. When I went to Trek, I was looking for a life-changing moment -- something that would change everything. And I got it.

Stay tuned for day four :) <3 And thanks for living with my crazy long babblings!

Bonnie Gwyn