"Put Your shoulder to the Wheel"

Rob and I were asked by our stake youth leaders to be a "Ma & Pa" on the Trek they had for this years Youth Conference. We were so honored, excited and very nervous. We have heard of these before but, have never participated in one as a youth. So, we got our Pioneer clothes together and got ready to rough it. We were assigned to be parents of 5 boys, 3 girls and a 10 pound sack of flour that was our baby girl. We were to treat this "sack of flour" just like a real baby. We needed to really take care of this baby, we weren't allowed to put the baby down. Someone always needed to be holding it. We took this task seriously, I brought baby clothes and a straw hat for the baby and got a face from a doll making kit. I had the kids dress her and the kids decided to call her Lila. The kids took turns feeding her a bottle and sleeping with her and keeping her warm. I must admit we had the best family. The kids were amazing, they worked so hard, never stopped and never complained! The trek took place at Riley's Farm about 2 hours away from where we live. This outfit took care of everything! They cooked, provided the carts, planned the re-enactments from Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and Porter Rockwell, who were true to character and looked and dressed just like them. The trek itself was hard! But, honestly I really did not mind. We had such a great time pushing and pulling and helping each other on the trail that you forgot how hot, sticky, dirty, smelly and tired you were. We traveled 10 miles the first day and made camp. One of my favorite parts of the trek was family time. This is when we all split up into our families and had devotionals. The kids were able to share the Pioneer they chose to represent. They shared their pioneer's story and their own testimony. My sister Michele and I chose our Mom as our pioneer. She became the first member of the church in our family. The next day we traveled about 5 miles and spent time at a rest stop that had round-robin stations where the kids could experience how the Pioneers lived. They chopped wood, Shot muskets and bows and arrows. They made shingles for houses out of wood, they even got to ride horses. That morning I informed the kids that their "Baby Sister" was not feeling well and refusing to eat and they they needed to take extra good care of her today. After all the activities we gathered our family and told them that baby Lila had died. We had a funeral for her and talked about the Plan of Happiness and the Resurrection. It was truly a touching moment to see these kids get emotional, they were grasping the concept of this trek. They we coming to understand and feel how their ancestors felt. I talked about how the pioneers might have felt when they lost a brother, sister, parent or loved one. They just had to leave them there without a proper casket or burial and most of the time in an unmarked grave, knowing they would probably never be able to go back to the spot where their loved one was laid to rest. Then the kids each took a turn digging the grave and we placed our sweet flour baby in it. Later that night after making camp we played games. We learned of all the fun things the pioneers did to make their trek more pleasant. We played the Stick Pull, Tug of War, Water games, Stick ball, and other activities. We even had a Hoe-Down with a live band and a Square dance Caller. We all had a blast. The next day was our last day on the trek. That morning all the men and boys were sworn into the Battalion and left to fight. That meant the girls were left on their own to take care of themselves. While the boys went off they were taught marching drills and fought in a mock battle with riffles. The girls participated in activities that the pioneer women did when they were crossing the plains. We made butter and corn- husk dolls, we learned to embroider, make candles and write calligraphy with a quill and ink! Then it was time for the girls and women to carry on in the trek all by themselves. We had to push and pull the carts and rely on each other. Two of my "daughters" were sick and not very strong and couldn't push the way they would have wanted. My third daughter was a little nervous about us two being the only ones really pushing. So, my sister Michele told us she would be right by my side pushing the whole way with us. I am so glad we got to experience this together. We hung in there. It was good to be with the boys at first to learn how to manage the cart and know when to pivot the cart to go down hill. But, we did miss them. Especially when we came to our last big hill. When the first cart was about to go around the bend to the hill, we decided they should get a running start and get momentum. Just as they started running, we could hear cheering and clapping...it was the boys!!! They were instructed that they could not help us but only, encourage us. They wanted the women to feel how their ancestors really felt being on their own. The cheering was just what we need to get up that hill. As I ran my hardest pushing the front of the cart I tried to find Rob's face in the crowd but, I couldn't find it. All I heard was his voice yelling my name and cheering me on. I had so much Adrenalin pumping and my heart was so full of pride. We did it. Even my sick daughters pushed beyond their limits, we never gave up. All the girls and women pushed 13 carts up that hill. And we all did it together. It didn't matter whose family you were in, everyone helped each other. I know that's how it was for the pioneer women as well! There were a lot of tears shed at the top of that hill. That was the hi-light of the trek. After we walked back to where we started and had a testimony meeting. I loved hearing all these great kids share their experiences and how the spirit had touched them. I too did not go away feeling changed in some way. I'm so grateful to have been given this opportunity for a very short time to "walk in the shoes" of our ancestors. I have such an appreciation for their testimony of the gospel. They went through so much for their beliefs. They never doubted it was true. And it was proven to me time and time again on this trek.