June part 3 - Trek

This is going to be a novel, absolutely no obligation to read....

but it must be documented for journal sake! 

I really wish I could stop talking so I could actually smile in a picture!

Trek 2012

Ma and Pa, really? 

 I find myself questioning when I crossed the threshold of being part of a “cool young couple” to a “mature established couple”?  It’s hilarious to me when I observe a group of people and realize that I have become that person, that youth leader from my childhood.  The one I had a sneaky suspicion that she might have been cool in the day but absolutely could not possibly relate to me now for the mere fact that her age made it impossible.

So how did I become a “ma” and how did Rand become a “pa” to a group of teenagers we didn’t even know. 

Let’s begin……………way back at the beginning of the year, President Hafen caught me at church and told me that he thought Rand and I would be good candidates to accompany the youth on trek in June.  I realize now that President Hafen just knew we were naïve to the whole “Mesquite” way of doing trek and probably wouldn’t say no!  He was right and we embarked on an adventure that gave me a newfound respect for so many things!

Trainings came first…..

 Ma’s and Pa’s met together multiple times to be “trained” for trek.  I would like to add that no amount of training could have prepared me for trek because I thought I had it in the bag.  I mean, really, how hard could it possibly be?  I grew up camping, I know how to work hard and Rand was and will always remain a farmer.  That about basically says it all, right?  Wrong!  The physical aspect of trek did not scare me as much as the fact that in our trainings as “ma and “pa” we were given a handbook to govern ourselves by.  Let me quote from the handbook…..

“  Dear Ma’s and Pa’s,

We are so pleased that you have committed to join us in our Stake Youth Conference Trek 2012!  W know that the ultimate success of this Trek in the lives of the youth of our stake sits squarely on your shoulders and we know that the very best shoulders have been called to be Ma’s and Pa’s”

No pressure right!  Did you read the part about the success of trek sitting squarely on my shoulders?  I will have you know that I have rounded shoulders and sometimes things roll off them.  I just prayed that I was not about to ruin the experience of a lifetime for a youth in our community! 

Think about this scenario for just a minute….9 teenagers stripped of their comfort zones, paired with peers that they have not spent time with and placed with a ‘ma and pa’ that they did not know previously.  Sounds like a perfect setting for sharing feelings and spiritual processing, right?  A perfect environment for teenagers to talk about what makes then tick, what trials they face and not forgetting their weaknesses and strengths.  Even better, this environment would allow them to talk openly and in front of their peers.   You can see where I am going with this?   But as trek came to a close and now reflecting back on the entire experience I did not know that this most uncomfortable situation would encompass my most spiritual memories?  These “uncomfortable” times I dreaded seem to find themselves happening very natural, very thought provoking and even gave me a glimpse of a “noble and stalwart” man that sometimes goes by the name of “pa”!

Back to the trainings……..

As I was able to meet with the other ma’s and pa’s I came to the realization that there are many great people in this community.  I started to feel pride in the fact that I get to live here and associate with these good people.  When I say great people, I don’t mean it was all testimony and feel good time…..there were lots of laughs and lots of “fun time” between us ma’s and pa’s and I will treasure the friendships we made being involved in this “crazy” thing called trek”.

Ma’s and pa’s had a practice run of trek a couple of weeks before the real event.  I found myself feeling like I was in high school!  I was completely insecure about my outfit, my hat, my bloomers, my apron that added an extra layer of “poofiness”  around the part I did not want to look poofy and the whole idea of not wearing any makeup was just a lot to take in.  Not so much thinking about myself but not wanting to scare those around me was a definite concern of mine.  With this insecurity making me a little anxious I decided to smuggle in a few goods of my own.  A few things like mascara, deodorant and toothpaste were all occupying space in my bucket.   Who knew that the “practice trek” would feel more “real” then practice and even the ma’s and pa’s would be exposed to a shakedown?  I quickly was enveloped in guilt and confessed my sins to the ramrods out loud in front of all the ma’s and pa’s!  Smuggling cosmetics and personal hygiene right from the get go…. I was already bad at this pioneer stuff!

In all my years of camping I really can’t recall sleeping under the stars on a tarp with out a pillow.  There have been many nights on a trampoline growing up but camping experiences were done in tents, trailers and cabins.  I didn’t sleep much that “practice trek” but Rand claimed it was the best 15 minutes he ever slept in his life.   Lucky him!

As June 13^th  approached I felt myself wondering if I was prepared for this upcoming event.  In a fit of nervousness I called my “daughter of the Utah Pioneers” mother-in- law and told her to scan her library for any books on pioneers that could magically turn me into a spiritual- pioneer- historian in about a week!  Ironically enough, two of the books she game me to read were of pioneers that trekked from Switzerland to Utah and ended up in a little place called, Bunkerville NV!  I read these books to my kids and scanned the ones I didn’t have time to read (thinking all the while that this would make me a better trekker, sometimes I really wish someone would shake me and tell me not to procrastinate the day of my repentance)!  I should have been preparing for something like this my whole life, but knowing me I will probably procrastinate and try to sweet talk my way into heaven

TREK 2012

Trek was here and my oh my, I was in for an experience!  After a completely humiliating skit and meeting our family for the first time, the nerves set in.  It was time for the shakedown and being a “recovering smuggler” myself I felt I was probably not the best fit for this particular task.  Our kids were excited, we were excited and we ended up pulling out first that day into the hot, hot sun!  The kids easily maneuvered the cart, which was not an easy task.  The cart weighed 200 pounds before being loaded with supplies and water.  Reality hit fast as our kids pulled this cart up a sandy wash for the next 11 miles and Rand and I helped pull and push the cart and tried to keep our kids cool with my amazing spray bottle skills.  The heat was hard on many of the kids and they were dropping along the trial including one of our own.   Medics did 17 IV’s that day including some of the ma’s and pa’s.  Rand was taken many times to help and did 8 of the IV’s himself.  Our kids were amazing and we kept them singing and answering questions the entire day. ( I must add that our kids were amazing for all 33 miles).

That first night into camp did not come soon enough and our tired kids drank their chicken broth and slept!  I hate to admit it but something about stopping and laying down made me sick and there was a few times I had to hide out around the corner to not let my kids see me turn green.   That night as I lay there thinking about the day, I must say  the thoughts that entered my mind were not all positive!  “I thought this is too extreme for these kids, too hard for the leaders, what in the world have I gotten myself into and how in the world can I get myself out of it”? 

Our handbook had an answer to my question!

“Throughout the history of God’s dealings with man, we see evidence of the trials and afflictions given to members of the church so that their hearts would be softened.  When hearts are softened sufficiently, they become teachable.  This is when real change can occur.  The long pull is an opportunity to face and overcome a very difficult task.  The kids are given the chance to discover their own strengths and weaknesses, to recognize the strengths of others and to see where they need to change their own lives.”

Lessons meant for kids were only lessons meant for me I later realized.   The next morning brought new perspective and a little color to my face.  (It is really hard to act tough when I am usually the one that tends to act a little dainty).  With a new day brought new challenges and the first one came early.  With the morning comes the sun and with it heat.  Waiting to get started on the trail my kids and I headed to the shade of a little cut out in the cliff, the shade was nice but the rattlesnake wasn’t.  RATTLESNAKE, yes I said that, the one that slept five feet from me and my little family, the one with 9 rattles, the one that was not scared of me!   I am happy that angels watched over me and I did not die along the trial!  Death by rattlesnake venom does not sound like a very romantic death to me!

Trek rolled on day by day and my kids were troopers.  We had fun as a family and bonded in all of our stinky glory.   If I were asked what were my absolute favorite memories of trek I would not stutter to say the following: 

Favorite Memory 1 (not in any particular order)

-Talking with the kids about “chappy butt” ( a very funny thing) building a relationship of trust deep enough that my boys could ask me for some diaper cream.  Heat and long pants sometimes give you that really sweaty, not so comfortable feeling. 

-The Seeps – Watching my family work together to accomplish something hard.   Embracing teamwork, embracing one another and looking out for each person’s safety.  Not to mention the Seeps were just really cool, I want to hike there with my “real kids”.  This was a day my kids really felt like they were a family,  boundaries and walls were torn down as kids spoke up and talked about things they were passionate about.  We had lunch and laughed and talked of things not trivial!  We realized as a little family that we could do hard things in life, with the help of the Lord.

-Blisters –Why would this be a favorite memory?  By day 2 ½ my choice of shoes seemed really, really stupid!  My feet were swollen and my hiking shoes were just too small!  My 12 blisters proved that walking would be a little horrific that day. Each morning I watched Rand pop and bandage my blisters and do it again at lunch.  He did not complain about my disgusting stinky feet and he always encouraged me.  Blisters showed me that I can do hard things and I don’t have to complain out loud.   Blisters also showed me that miracles do happen.  Let me explain, along the trail at lunch the 2^nd day I overheard one of the staff say that they were headed into town to pick up another kid.  I asked her to go in my house and bring me my other tennis shoes, her being the amazing miracle worker found me on the trail about 3 hrs later .  She brought with her a bag of shoes from my closet.  I didn’t even know I had that many tennis shoes.  My friend (one of the other Ma’s) in the same dumb shoes as me was having her own problems with blisters and walking was not her favorite thing at the moment either.  As I approached her with some extra tennis shoes much too big for her, but perfect for her swollen feet she shared with me the same appreciation for this “little miracle” a new pair of shoes could be.

-The Pioneer games and Dance - Such a fun time for the ma’s and pa’s to talk and laugh and laugh!  It was an excuse and great opportunity to get my boys to brush their teeth.  They were very neglectful of hygiene along the trail and by day 3 a good “washin” was in store.  My boys did attend the dance that night with clean hands, clean faces and fresh breath. 

-Pickels – Who knew a big ole Costco pickle could taste so good?  If you would like to prove my theory, here is your test….. hike for 2 days in the 100 + heat, push a handcart and then have someone hand you a freezing cold pickle (out of a cooler where 100’s of dirty hands have reached in through the pickle juice) and see if it does not lift your spirits?  Just try it, yummy!

-Bunkerville Welcome home parade -  I cried and cried!  I felt so proud of our little family and what they accomplished!  Not to forget the popsicle someone handed me was the best thing I have ever tasted!

- All time favorite memory of trek! 

-Watching exceptional youth do exceptional things.  Watching exhausted kids so tired they can barely push a handcart have their spirits lifted as the kids who had already pushed came to help.  Watching kids give their best effort to pull handcarts up a cliff with a pully system.  Watching leaders emerge from youth that will soon become the leaders and examples of faith for everyone!  Finding great people in a community that is my home!

Whew!   Enough already!