Trek Day Two

Super busy day yesterday, but I'm back for the second day of Trek! :)

I woke up extra early that morning, so I read my scriptures and then took some time to journal. I wrote, It's weird to see this place in daylight, but I can only see what's out the window. Tents, trees, another campsite. The birds sound awake and happy. Perhaps they feel the same great Spirit here that I do. I think they did, as well as everyone and everything else at that place. The beginning of something so special :)

Morning faces were very popular for pictures ;) That's me! Bishop came over with his camera and told me, "There is no privacy!" Haha That's what I get for brushing my hair.

We were given instructions and loaded our handcarts, and then we took a break for breakfast. After that, we were supposed to line up, but we had a problem. Our handcart had a little defect in the front. So, we had to switch handcarts. The guys worked on that while the rest of us went to gather with the stake, where two missionaries of the farm spoke to us about pioneers and the place we were at and how to treat it, the handcarts, etc.

We sang Come, Come, Ye Saints (sang this every morning, actually), and then President Coffey gave a prayer. In it, he prayed that we would all "Commit to the gospel, commit to the cause, and carry on." I took that to heart as we went on our way.

(My orange dress makes it look like I have a bustle ... Haha)

What a sight it was to see all of those saints and handcarts. I can only imagine the Spirit the true pioneers felt as they gathered together, a glorious and brave number in the sight of the Lord. Really awesome.

Our first stop was Winter Quarters. There, we listened to stories of the historical place and the amazing people who'd traveled through it.

We'd only gone a little over a mile, while they had set out for treks of hundreds, and some much more (One of the numbers was 1,700). It wasn't hard to feel the awe over those pioneers. We had homes to return to, but they didn't. The wilderness, the gospel, the trek - that was all they had. They left everything and lived by faith.

My awesome brothers pulling the handcart :)

After Winter Quarters, I switched to pulling, and I stayed like that the rest of Trek. Much preferred to put in a little more effort so I could see where I was going :) We had an awesome photographer, Michael Boren, come and film Trek. And once, when I was pushing behind, I heard someone yell to make a hole. We were trying to figure out why when we noticed Michael's head appearing at our feet. He'd gotten on the ground and was taking a video as the handcarts rolled over him. Thank goodness neither he nor his camera was hurt in the process. The video he made can be found here :) He's awesome!

Our camp for the night was Ash Hollow. But in order to get there, we had to make it through the hard top pull. Each family sent one person to start it off, going to the top of the hill and pulling handcarts up the steep climb. As families reached the top, more began to pull, and things got easier up there. Meanwhile, those who waited ate their lunch at the bottom. My brothers thought this would be a great time to try eating cactus ;)

On the way to the hard rope pull, we saw something flying in the sky, and my 'siblings' and I were joking that it was a UFO. Heather said, "They're probably saying, 'Dangit - we're in the wrong time period!'" Hahaha :) Seriously. Bonnets and handcarts don't really fit with the idea of 2013. Unless you're awesome like us :)

After the rope pull, we finished our hiking for the day and set up camp. After we did that, the stake gathered in an open area (Well, really, it was all open), and we had games. Intense jump roping, a stick pull, tug-a-war ... :) Lots of fun! Not bragging exactly, but my family did happen to become champions of tug-a-war. Hehe Really had to dig in our heels.

Once games were over, we had some chill time, and then we had dinner. Following that, the square dance began :) We started with the Virginia Reel, and that morphed into 'Oh Johnny' - both a ton of fun :) I'm no expert, but I love it!

The night eventually settled down, and our families gathered at our camps for some scripture reading and bonding time. As we gathered, we noticed a few guys - from the camp next to us - out in the field with a tarp, letting it fly in the wind. It was blowing big time, and the guys were having a blast as they held it and ran and let it fly behind them. It was great to see people having such simple fun :) And it makes sense, because we saints ... we love life, and therefore can find joy in the most simple things. Not that others can't, but we have truth and knowledge that they don't have - but something I hope the entire world can share with us one day.

The pioneers had it tough; but I know they, too, knew how to have fun. They knew that no matter their trials, Zion was at the end of their journey, and that was something to celebrate. We should all take the time to enjoy our journeys as well, because if we don't, it will - in my opinion - all be in vain.

In our family, we were all asked for one word to describe that day, and I said giddy - because that was me. Happy, at peace, so thankful to be where I was :) And still so grateful for the opportunity. When asked how that word related to the pioneers, I thought of how giddy and happy they must have been to see Zion for the first time - and how amazing it was to finally raise their children in the gospel in peace.

Before bed, we talked about a lot of things - one being consequences. We discussed how easy to it is to have a downfall and to make a pattern of getting lower, when we really need to be going upwards. It's not an easy climb once you fall, so it's better to keep upright and progressing in the first place. But if we do fall, we have the atonement and our Savior to help us up. For that, there are no words.

That about covers day two :) Off to three! Even on my second night, I never wanted it to end.

Bonnie Gwyn