Ryan recently had the opportunity to participate in our Youth Pioneer Trek with our church. For three days, youth ages 14-18 walked and lived life like pioneers. The trek included 23 miles this year. Walking in dusty, semi-warm weather all while pulling their belongings in a handcart. Ryan had a fabulous family. They quickly bonded together and I know he has life-long friends. His Ma and Pa are a great couple from our stake and when I found out that they were going to be his parents on the trek, I nearly started to cry myself, because I knew it would be a great experience for them. And I was right.... RYAN LOVED THE TREK!
Youth are put into families mostly with kids that they do not know. They are given a "Ma and Pa" to watch over them. They do activities as families, they were given a "10 pound baby" that had to be carried the first two days by someone in their family at all times. They were attacked by Indians, the young men were pulled away at a certain point to join the "mormon battalion" while the women were left to pull the cart up a huge hill, angels appeared from no where to help push the cart for these girls, they experienced the sweetwater experience walking through icy cold water. They had to bury their children. All to simulate what the Mormon Pioneers experienced years ago. It is a very spiritual experience, one that I know these youth will never forget. You may think this does not sound fun, but seriously it is a life-changing experience for these youth.
The highlight for me came when Friday night, I received a knock on the door and the "pony express" delivered a letter written from Ryan just a few hours prior. I am grateful for the young man that he has become. I am proud to be his mom.
1 comment:
Perfect and touching.
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