Trek - a spiritual experience

S. and I were asked to be a Pa and a Ma for the youth conference trek for the Kalamazoo Michigan stake. June 24th finally arrived. After MUCH preparation we left at 4:30 am so as to arrive in a timely fashion at a Forest in Michigan. As we knew that we would not be eating much during the trek, we had to fill up, so we began our morning as every pioneer does....the McDonald's drive-thru! It really was not that great of a breakfast.


Ma and Pa Peck (the given name of our family for the trek).

It took me 4 tries to make 2 bonnets, and they were still way too big on me, but they did an excellent job of shading my face.


The youth from our ward, none of whom were in our family, but all very firm in the gospel. Go Kalamazion!!!

The peck family taking our first break. We ended up having 6 boys and 4 girls, one of which was baby. We were very lucky to have had excellent weather. Not too hot or humid, and not one mosquito. Bremen was as strong as an ox. Poor Patrick, he pushed through the trek with health problems. He wore that fleece poncho the entire time, as he was always cold and suffered from chronic migraines. He was an example of pressing on even when he felt he could not. We pushed/pulled the cart about 7 miles, and did a woman's pull. So by the time we reached our camp it was past 8 pm, and everyone was sooo exhausted. thank goodness we did not have to prepare our own dinner, or we would have gone to bed Hungary.


Friday morning's breakfast....oatmeal with raisins, a minimal amount of brown sugar, and no milk. Most of our kids ate it.


Our Stake President, President Anderson, and our stake assistant secretary, Brother Green. President A. was one of the 3 captains of the 3 company's of handcart-wagons, with 4 wagons per company.

Lowering the cart down a very steep heel, backwards.

At the bottom of the steep hill was a creek that had washed out a bit, and had to be patched up with logs in order to get the carts over, which was done at a running pace!


After 4 hours of pulling the cart, we arrived at our destination where the youth then got to have some good pioneer fun: making self-serve-in-a-bag ice cream and butter (jar), learning the steps to a couple dances for the dance that was held that evening. Such fun! Dancing to fiddle under the star-lit sky; and everyone as jovial and happy as pioneers could be.




Liz and Laura completed our families quilt blocks.


Saturday the last day!!!!
My girls: Laura (holding baby Annaleis), Lauren, and Liz.

Family Picture:Timothy, Patrick, Brandon, Bremen, Cameron, Pa Peck, Tyler; Liz, Laura, Lauren, Ma Peck, and Annaleis (who died and we had to burry her, literally)

Yeah!!! I survived with no shower, mascara, mattress, or pillow!

Dismanteling the cart - and was it ever hot this afternoon!


Trek was an incredible experience, and it only gave me the minutest taste of what my ancestors endured to establish Zion in the west. The hymn "Come Come Ye Saints" holds a tenderer place in my heart. My preparation and experience in Trek strengthened my testimony of my Savior to know that no matter how hard life can be, that if I persist in holding to the iron-rod, and staying on the straight and narrow path, that he will help me reach my destination(s). In preparing for Trek I studied Lehi's Dream and the straight and narrow path. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the Book of Mormon that teaches and testifies of Christ. I am thankful that S. and I had the opportunity to see how very spiritually strong and secure the young men and women are in their testimonies of Jesus and his church. This I bear testimony of, in Jesus' name. Amen.