Being a Big Sister at the Taylor Handcart Trek 2011

Our Stake did a Handcart reenactment this year. Michael was old enough to go on the Trek. I helped him get some pioneer cloths and we began walking to get in shape. He didn't want to walk alone so I walked with him. Because they told us that the Trek would walk 16 miles a day. Ouch!

Ok, it all started with sewing. Ya, sewing. I was really having a good time sewing bonnets for the Young Women, I just wanted them to have cute bonnets. Some of the girls did not have someone they knew that could sew. So I volunteered. That is where it started. Robert say me sewing and that I was really enjoying creating bonnets. Well, in one of his meetings they were asking for Big Sisters and Big Brothers to go on the Trek from our ward. So he thought I should go. He volunteered me! I don't think Robert has ever volunteered me for something with out talking to me first.

I got the call in the first week of May. I was shocked. I wasn't sure I could walk 16 miles a day. Plus they said that I would be doing all of the things that the kids were going to be doing. I wasn't sure I was up to all that. But, I accepted because I was really curious about the Trek. See they didn't do Treks when I was a kid. I had heard a lot about them. But, I really wondered what it would be like. So I began walking. At first all I could do was one mile and I was exhausted. Then I worked it up to two miles, then four miles a day. I thought I was doing pretty good. I began sewing a pioneer outfit for myself. I needed two dresses, two bonnets, two aprons etc. Plus I was still sewing young women bonnets.

It was the week before the Trek and the Stake called Robert to be a big Brother on the Trek. We would be both going but in different families. So Michael, Robert and I were all going on the Trek. Robert was going to be my babysitter for Ann and Rebecca. So it was a change up. We went to the Valley and picked up Grandma Johnson to come and stay with Ben, Rebecca, and Ann. So that Robert could go on the Trek.

Finally the day came when we left on the Trek. The morning before we left we read the story of Robert's ancestor that was in the Willy Handcart company that had so many trials. It was a humbling story. We then left for 3 1/2 days.

The first day we did walk over 14 miles it was long and dusty. I lost my voice on the first day from the dust and wasn't able to talk. So I had to be quite. I was doing good until the sun went down and we were walking in the Dark! It was so hard to walk in the Dark! My legs were tired, my feet hurt, my hands hurt, and I was falling asleep walking. They told us the carts weighted at least 1 ton or maybe 2 tons. I think that they were very, very heavy. We had 18 people in our family. All of us pulled the handcart except the Ma and Pa, because they were not allowed to touch the handcart. It was hard for them to not help.

We came to a point on the trail where the Calvary came and took all the men. It was so hard to watch the boys and men leave. We knew that we would have to pull the cart. I thought of how the women must have felt being homeless on the prairie with little children and watching their men leave. It was a heart breaking thought. I was walking with the women and girls with tears streaming down my face. I know they thought that I was crying because we were the only ones pulling the cart, but, I was crying at the thought of my Husband and Son leaving with the Calvary and the thought of being in the wilderness alone with just women and old folks.

We made it through the woman's pull it was really hard but, we all pulled together. Late in the night we came into what we thought was camp but, it was a Mob reenactment. They took our leader and told us to get out of there. I again thought of all the places the Mormons were ran out of and how tired they were. How hungry they were. People just sent them on their way with out help. Sometimes causing them harm. I thought about how hungry I was and how tired I was knowing it was nothing to what they went through.

When we finally made it into base camp we were given a biscuit and broth. It was after 2:00 a.m in the morning and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. So that is what I did get in my sleeping bag and go to sleep.

The next morning we went a few miles down the road and that was where we stayed for a couple of days. It was fun to learn how the pioneers cooked and all of the other things we did like killing a chicken and eating chicken for dinner. The games were great, the hoedown was fun, the black powder guns reminded me of my father. I really enjoyed the next few days.

I was so amazed at all of the service from all of the people in the Stake. I saw many people that I knew and was also amazed at all of the Youth. How they acted and participated in all of the things. It was an amazing event. I really enjoyed the solo time on the side of the mountain. It was wonderful to be in the wilderness all alone for a few hours. It really helped my testimony to grow.

The most fun was seeing Robert a little here and a little there each day. It was like dating again. I so enjoyed the moments that we held hands and walked together. I realized what a special man he is and what his love means to me. I also enjoyed seeing Michael here and there. It was amazing to see you young man growing up and being on his own. I am so proud of him. He is an amazing young man. I am just so thankful for this wonderful experience.

I thought about my pioneer ancestors and how they knew that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints was true because they were willing to risk their lives getting to ZION. The wanted the blessings of the Temple in Utah and the risk their lives to obtain those blessings. I have Zion here in my own community at the Snowflake Temple. I don't have to risk my life to attend the Temple, I don't even have to travel very far. It has helped me to understand how important the Temple is and how much my ancestors loved the Lord. I am so thankful for their testimonies. Their Testimonies have helped mine to grow so much. I am thankful for the ability to go on the Trek and even all the walking.

As we were coming back into town we could see the plum of smoke towards Round Valley, AZ. I had no idea that a fire was raging in the forest while we were on the Trek. It later became the largest fire in Arizona history. I am so sad to see the forest burned but, we haven't taken care of our forest for a long time. There is to much undergrowth and to many dead trees in the forest. Our forest have been on the down hill decline since the 1980's. Most of my life.