Nearly 500 youth and 200 more leaders in the form of Ma's and Pa's and Stake Trek "personnel" made a 26 mile journey around the mountains of Forest Lakes, Arizona. It was an adventure of a lifetime.
There was a great mishap on day one before the 46 handcarts had even pulled out to begin the trek. A young man, 17 years old, was helping his "family" load their handcart. A bungee cord was stretched across the cart to help hold down the load. It sprang back and with tremendous force hit him directly in the eye. He was rushed into Payson, the nearest hospital, where he was given the fearful news that he was in great danger of losing his eyesight. Immediate surgery would be the only thing to save his eye if they could not control the blood and fluid that was filling his eye and causing incredible swelling.
Our handcart train set out as our Stake President was in constant contact with this young man's mother. She told President Barker that things did not look good and asked if we would pray for her son. At a water break along the trail, President Barker gathered everyone together. He asked us to kneel. There in the Lord's mountains, nearly 600 strong and on bended knee a simple but heartfelt prayer was offered by one of the youth in behalf of a friend. We arose and carried on.
We received word later that a miracle had taken place. As President Barker and this mother discussed the days events, it was determined that the timing of our prayer and the sudden "healing" of her son's eye was in direct correlation with one another. The doctors were in awe of how suddenly the blood began to reabsorb into his body and the swelling began to reduce. The young man was even able to join up with us the following day. He was under supervision and there would be follow up appointments upon his return to the valley but he was back on the trek with a miracle of his very own.
My own day to day journaling of my trek experience is still falling from my pen. I don't want to miss a single detail and when I get to writing, the emotion of it washes over me and I spend more time reminiscing in my mind's eye than making any progress on paper. But I'll get there : )
Our Stake Trek Directors posed a question to all of us Ma's and Pa's upon our return and asked us to submit it back to them so they can record everything in a Stake journal. The question was...
"Can you find 17 miracles of your own in your trek experience?"
(by the way, if you have not seen that movie yet, it is a must! and plus my grandpa willie plays a major role in the events)
Here was my reply and I thought for now, this will do to record my first impressions while I work to complete my own thoughts.
17 miracles? Absolutely we could make a list. Our family was blessed
with many but Brent and I walked away from this trek with a burning
testimony of the rescue. As we prepared for our trek experience we both
were filled with an added excitement to walk with the examples of our
own pioneer ancestors before us. Brent's 3rd great Grandpa is Thomas
Steed. He was one of the first rescuers that arrived to help the Willie
handcart company at their most destitute moment. My 3rd great Grandpa
is James G. Willie, captain of the Willie Handcart Company, who needed
the rescuers desperately. To read the journals and feel of this
connection between our families so long ago has been a source of strength
and inspiration to us. We have always felt so blessed and grateful for
these two wonderful men who showed such faith, courage and obedience.
If the trek could be made by sheer desire and faithful willingness
alone, we would have skipped through to the finish line. In that
regard, our family was overflowing! But with physical family struggles
that began early on and my own personal unforeseen limitations, we were
unaware that we would come to the know the power of the rescue in such
an intimate way. After walking alone and apart from most of the main
group and getting an accidental extra 4 miles added to our journey that
first day, it was determined that our ward handcarts would stay together
as much as possible the following day. A few of our ward families took
some of our belongings and lightened our handcart...a rescue. We stayed
together and my "kids" were able to enjoy the love, laughter and support
that came from their ward friends and leaders...a rescue. Although that
2nd day was certainly the greatest physical challenge, my family handled
it beautifully because of those that came to our aid...all rescuers. On
the final day and our family down in numbers I was disheartened. But
again, the angels came. In the form of a loving bishop, a powerful
Stake President and his wife, strong young men and leaders from our
other ward families...they came. We simply could not have made this
journey without our rescuers. And because of this selfless, Christlike
service I was able to walk, albeit far behind my family, hand in hand
with my sweetheart to Zion. The emotion of it is still so real for
Brent and I. We feel we were given just a small glimpse into the
reality of our grandfather's lives. 17 miracles? At least that many
and more. Indeed, the power of the rescue burns bright within our
hearts. And we recognize the greatest rescuer of all as our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ, who with all things are possible.
I was so blessed to walk this trek with Brent beside me. I had no idea how intensely I would feel my love for him increase. Just looking at each other over the top of the handcart, washing up dishes, at the top of the Woman's Pull or even over a drink of water and a rest stop would just fill me right up! Often all we had to do was share a glance, no words necessary, and our hearts would just swell. He was an incredible source of strength to our family. He was a magnificent leader and set an example of physical effort and working hard in behalf of your family. He served and loved and led out in spiritual strength and taught us all through his testimony and love for the Lord. I'm so grateful this was such a powerful bonding opportunity for the both of us. Walking hand in hand with him was and is a constant blessing in my life.
Maddison with her Ma and sisters
Maddie had her own trek journey. She is playing on the high school summer league basketball team and the night before we left for trek she rolled her ankle pretty hard in a game and ended up with a tender and swollen ankle. As she walked that first long day, she also rubbed two fifty cent size blisters on the backs of her heels. She came to Brent and I on the morning of the second day and one had broken open and was bloody and oozing. Brent piggy-backed her up to the medic and he fixed her up as best he could. She didn't skip a beat. She walked, pushed and pulled with all her might for her family, which was a blessing for them considering there were two boys in her family that brought along a couple of crummy attitudes and let their family suffer at their choices. So sad for those boys but I was so proud and happy with how Maddison and her family handled the situation.
Goodness! How I love this girl : )
She is so strong in so many ways.
Two great pictures of "Testimony Hill" that each handcart conquered near the end of the first day. Keeping in mind that the handcarts weighed easily between 500 - 600 pounds, we first backed our carts down the mountain side then turned them around and headed straight back up the other side.
There was a moment when we were backing down the mountain that I was filled with terror. I was so afraid the weight of the cart would take over and crush Brent and a couple of our boys who were on the back, pushing with everything they had to keep the cart from getting away from us. The rest of us were at the front, pulling and tugging so that it wouldn't run over our family below. I was holding onto the front yoke, digging my heels into the dirt, leaning all my weight back so that I was sliding on my behind down the mountain. Beside me was one of my boys, Parker. Not mighty in stature but at this moment he became a giant. He turned to me and said, "Ma! Ma! Sister Brown! Please! You don't have to do this. I've got it! Really, I've got it!" Tears were streaming down my cheeks and Elder Holland's words came to my mind..."Awake! And be men." I knew that Parker felt and meant each word and he did rise and fulfill the call. I was not afraid anymore with Parker beside me. He blessed my life tremendously in that moment on the mountain.
Another miracle caught on film...
Here another family is taking their cart through a ravine. It was a quick down and up and the kids were running to make it back up the other side. You can see Clate standing on the left in the back yoke.
Clate loses his footing and begins to fall.
Notice the wheel and Clate's foot. It's frightening just to look at. How he got his foot out of the way from being crushed by the handcart was a miracle of his very own.
My family and a couple of our rescuers arriving in Zion!
As we were nearing the end you could hear the hymns of Zion on the breeze. At first I wasn't sure and then Brent said, "listen".
Sure enough...
"Come to Zion. Come to Zion. And within her walls rejoice."
Of course I was crying. The emotion of this trek totally overcame me.
The Stake had built a replica of the front of the under construction Gilbert Temple. The front doors were made to open and inside every individual name was listed.
It was a wonderful feeling to stand at the doors of the temple with Brent and Maddison...our trek experience burning in our hearts.
Two of our rescuers...Bishop Oliver and President Merrill.
These men both have their own health issues and still they came to help.
Always putting others first. I have a great love and humble gratitude for these men and what they offered to me and my family.
So there is a glimpse into trek.
So much left unsaid.
But to Grandpa Willie and Grandpa Steed, we love you and are humbled by all you gave for the cause of Zion. Your examples will forever be before us and we will work and strive to live worthy of your great names. We take hope from your courage and deep desire to serve the Lord. Getting even just a very, very small taste of your own experiences has blessed our lives greatly. We await with happiness the heavenly reunion where we can hear your stories and testimonies face to face.
For Davis and Cooper...
I love you boys so very much. I thought of you often as I walked and worked. I thought about families a lot and how grateful I am for mine. I thought of how you will each be such a blessing to your own trek families when you are able to have this experience for yourselves. Because of the things you are each doing now, I know what you'll have to offer. You will be physically strong and not afraid to work hard for sure. Bonus!! But you will each bring an attitude of love and service that will strengthen your Ma and Pa and every member of your family. I'm so grateful for mine and Dad's temple marriage that hold promises of a beautiful eternity.
Let's work to ensure those promises!
So much love, Mom
