Trekkers have returned!!

We have returned from Martins Cove, what a neat experience. This is our family, the kids were all divided up and had different Ma's and Pa's for three days. We all had at least 4 boys and 6 girls in our groups. What a learning experience.



We had about 650 youth and and Ma's and Pa's and other leaders from our stake that went, the missionaries there said that we were the biggest group they have had this year, and they were surprised at how well behaved the kids were and that they could feel the spirit with such a big group, they say that you usually better to have smaller groups, our stake presidency felt the need to take the youth on this trek, all the youth 12 and up. When we were spread out on the trail our stake had a two mile train, it was incredible.




This was our camp, the back 1/4 of the campground was a different group from Utah, the rest was our stake, it was very dry and desolate out there, we will be coughing sand and dust out of our lungs and cleaning out the sinuses for at least a good week.There is dust and sand in everything, amazing.



Each family had a baby that they were supposed to take care of on the trek, this is Jessica and her baby brother Peter Kirkham, he lived until they were just outside the valley. This was one of the hardest parts to me. When the family was told that their baby had died they would have a little memorial on the trail, wrap the baby up and leave it on the side of the trail, and the stake leaders at the end would pick up the babies. It was hard to see those little bundles on the side of the trail (even though they were just dolls) Everybody on the trek had an actual pioneer name, even the dolls.



This is going into Martins Cove, it was a lot bigger than I imagined, it was very peaceful there, I wished that we could have had more time to spend there and ponder and pray, but with 650 people, that was one of the downfalls of so many people, we felt like we had to rush out of there.




Resting on the trail, getting off of our feet was always a pleasure, this day we trekked about 14 miles, definately a tough day for all involved.



Crossing the Sweetwater, Ben is being carried across by one of his 'brothers'. The cold water sure did feel good on our warn out feet, too bad we couldn't just linger in the water a little longer.
Unfortunately I just don't have all night to write about our trip, it was hard, but rewarding, I just couldn't imagine the full extent of what the pioneers had to go through, we had great weather, a little too hot at times, but we still had a breeze or gusts at times to help cool you off.




This last picture is Andrews missionary picture that we are sending in for his mission, he wanted us to include it with this blog. Hopefully the medical papers will all be turned in by the doctors, he will be able to submit on July 2. We will let everyone know.