I have honestly never wanted to go on trek before. I was kinda negative about it actually. My home ward was going to Martins Cove this summer, and my dad was the young mens president so he had to go. He couldn't convince either of my brothers to go with him and he didn't really want to go and experience it without any of his kids so he asked me if i would like to go. I didn't really want to go but i did want to spend time with my dad and three days off of work was sounding really nice. Looking back it honestly was one of the most amazing experiences i have ever had. I learned alot of lessons about myself and others and just life in general that helped me to grow as a person and i am so thankful for that.
My dad and i were the Ma and Pa of a group and we had the best group ever. Our flag color was red so we named ourselves the rockin rojos. Our group was always ready to go and so positive and we all got along. On the bus ride there i leaned over to my dad and i told him that if a certain girl was in my group then i would pull my hair out, i just didn't have enough patience to handle her. Ha thats what you get for speaking to soon because she was in our group. I learned real fast not to judge people. First impressions are usually false and we need to give everyone a fair chance. This girl and i became pretty close and i grew to love her.
We got the opportunity to do a women's pull where just the women in our group had to pull the wagon up the hill by ourselves without any men helping us. This was symbolizing all the women that had to do it alone if their husbands or fathers had passed away or were gone fighting in a war. That was so hard to walk away from my dad even though i knew he wasn't leaving. Just imagining the women really doing it was so hard for me. As you can imagine, i was an emotional wreck! That pull was one of the hardest things i have ever done. The men were standing along side of us just watching us not being able to help and to be quite honest, it was hard!! Going up hill with our whole group was difficult but just the women, that was hard. We did it and what an accomplishment. I learned that everything is easier with a good attitude. The groups that had good attitudes didn't complain or dislike it as much. Some of our ward had bad attitudes and the whole trek was not a good experience for them. Life is supposed to be enjoyed. No matter what you do have a good attitude and it will be so much better.
There are three statues next to Martins Cove made for the rescuers of the group that helped carry them across the water. My dad was asked to talk about them and he got very emotional talking. He talked about how Kyle didn't want to go on trek because he didn't think it had anything to do with his eternal progression. My dad talked about how he thought long and hard about it and no trek isn't going to ensure your going to heaven, but it does help to surround yourself with good people on holy ground doing what you know is right. He also talked about the rescuers in our own life. The Robins tried so hard to get Britton to go on trek by buying him a mess kit and making him a candy gram, and in a way they were like his own personal "rescuer". We all have rescuers in our own life, those people that we turn to and that are there for us no matter what. The biggest rescuer we all have is our Savior Jesus Christ. He has rescued us all and is just waiting for us to accept it. This hit me hard. To see my dad so emotional and to hear what he was saying was so touching to me. That experience strengthened my testimony so much and i was so thankful i chose to go on trek to have those opportunities with my father.
Being in Martins Cove was so amazing. The feelings i felt there were so amazing and i am so thankful to our pioneer ancestors for all they did for us. The next Sunday I went to church with my family because i didn't want to go to singles ward and they called me out of the audience to bear my testimony! Ya i should have listened to my mom who told me i should go to singles ward. That's what you get for not being obedient right? There were also three farewells in our ward so there were TONS of people there. I was totally terrified and i shook the whole time but it was good the bear my testimony. Trek was amazing. I would totally go again. Its all what you make it.
We got the afternoon off on Tuesday and went and played on Independence Rock which was sooo fun. The wind was blowing so bad that it would blow you from rock to rock. We ate good food the whole time and it was just a wonderful experience.
My dad was super pumped about his cool vest even though he looked like Pancho Villa instead of a pioneer! :]
At 4:00 A.M. right before we loaded up the charter buses. We looked good a pioneers!!
What a great experience. I sure loved it and the time i got to spend with my dad!
