Today we received a disk of pictures and movie clips taken on our Pioneer Trek last August. It brought back so many memories and so many deep feelings. Cameron and I were very moved as we reminisced those four incredible days. We were blessed with 8 fabulous kids: Taylor, Chelsea (big sister), Brittany, Okaylee, Clark, Parker (big brother), Eric, and Steve. We were worried how we would all mesh together, but after the first grueling day of a 16 mile journey, we were family. The women's pull was that first evening. I have never been so filled with respect for 4 incredible daughters of God as I was during that pull. And our young men...how difficult that must have been for them to walk beside us and not be able to help until the cue was given. We are a family. These 8 young men and young women will always be our sons and daughters.
Each of them was given a bear claw. Pa shared with them how a mother bear is docile except for under two conditions. 1st something coming between them and their food 2nd something coming between a mother and her child. This was compared to our testimony in the gospel. We are to be aggressive if something comes between us and our God. These kids learned to growl like bears when Pa made them go up a steep hill, but also learned to purr like bears when Pa allowed them to go down hill later.
Our testimonies grew by leaps and bounds as we served these fabulous young people. We were privalaged to serve with spiritual giants-other ma's and pa's from the stake, an amazing stake presidency who has been so endeared to our hearts, and many others. We shared in finding out on a very windy morning that our dear Pres. Faust passed away a few hours before. We were honored to sing "We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet", and "Come, Come Ye Saints." It was a powerfully spiritual moment. With 3rd degree sprained ankle and a heart virus, we would do it all again in a second if asked to serve. It was amazing. We truly see the blessings we received on this journey when we run into our children. "Blessed, Honored, Pioneers!"
2 comments:
You've got more energy than I do... I totally love the fact that you're dressed as pioneers WITH SUNGLASSES! That's awesome!
What a great experience! Thanks for sharing. I agree with Carrie, sunglasses?! Funny.
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