#1 CREATED & DIRECTED A PIONEER TREK

 Our 17 Miracles!!

#1  Proposal Point - That Sandi said yes to me 21 yrs ago! I couldn't have done it without her.  Our marriage has been strengthened through this process.
#2  The Trek - When Sandi & I were asked to do this we said we would do whatever the Lord asked.  The Bishop came back on March 2nd and issued us a formal calling.   The Spirit was powerful as we listened to the Bishop and his Vision for Trek.  As we were set apart we felt the comfort and calming from the Spirit that this Trek was the Lord's will and that He would take care of the details if we, and all those called, were willing to put our heart, might, mind and strength into Trek.  Each person there helped fulfill that promise.

#3 - The Chuck Wagon - Blair & Martha Hayes had as much going on as anyone when they wre asked to be in charge of the food.  They never hesitated!  When Blair showed up on the 4-wheeler with snacks, or when Martha & Blair showed up in the truck with lunch on Friday, we all got a sense of what it might have been for the pioneers when they were rescued.  Their selfless sacrifice & tireless service was a true example of what it means to literally rescue someone.  We will all remember Martha running back down the hill to help others on the Women's Pull.

#4  Handcarts - Steve Jensen worked tirelessly to track down handcarts that would fit our budget and could handle the hills.  Steve & Terry drove almost to Evanston, Wyoming to pick up the handcarts.  They worked great! Stave also tracked down latrines, arranged two 50 gallon drums of water and took care of all things transportation.  They drove our flag trucks throughout the journey.
#5  Medic - Jacob Buckway was called and did a tremendous job helping provide needed aid to those that ran into health issues on Trek.  He has the skilled training and he ensured everyone was dringking enough water, taking needed breaks and riding in handcarts (or the truck) when needed.  He helped to ensure we had no major health issues.

 take care of the details if we along with all others called were willing to put our heart, might, mind and strength into the Trek.  Each of you helped fulfill this promise. 
#6       The Motor home – There was a lot more gear then any of us imagined.  Fortunately, the Bodkins motor home stored it all and more.  The Bodkins helped us in selecting who we would walk for.  The real focus of why we were walking for them and capturing pictures of our Trek.  They also stepped in with many additional details that helped make the Trek a successful experience for all of us involved.

 #7  The Three Nephites –Matt Steed, Brett Wilding, Brady Powell.  Brady had helped put together the marshmallow guns in a few days and dropped them on my porch.  During Trek Matt and Brett were everywhere.  In seeing their works, I imagine the 3 Nephites quietly going from place to place, person to person helping.  I saw them many times helping pull or push handcarts, help with food, with trucks, latrines, with tents.  Matt did an incredible job instructing us on the sanctity of womanhood at the Women’s pull.  I had told the ladies to start walking when we gave the Hurrah for Israel shout.  I had never mentioned this to Matt.  However, he was in tune and included that in his talk.

#8    Pioneers Danced – We are so looking forward to watching the square dance on video.  Kelly’s work with the youth at the dance really helped break the ice.  After the dance I saw the YM and YW interact more together.  It will be fun to watch the youth on video as they danced and laughed.  Kelly also came through in helping assist in multiple areas and was our guest speaker for the Women at the Women’s pull.  Miracle #8.

#9   Selecting Aunts and Uncles – As Uncles and Aunts were called by Brother Isom we knew that these individuals would need to model in a few days how a family should treat each other, respond to crisis and work together as a team. Our first two couples were the Weirs and Nickles.  They were at the core of every decision that was made.  Their friendship, prayers and love for the youth inspired us over the last few months.  The Dastrups were originally called to be over Health and Safety but as things changed were willing to jump in as Uncles and Aunt’s.  Miraculously the Evans and Thomas couples came in at the last minute and made an immediate impact to their families and all of us involved.  I have had many youth tell me that they knew they were in the right family because of the Uncle and Aunt they were assigned to (my two boys included).  As some of you know Scott was struggling to walk a few weeks ago.  His leg was made whole for our Trek.  Hopefully it stays that way now that we are done. 

#10  The Sorting Hat – The Bishops Youth Committee was assigned to select which families the youth should be assigned to.  They came fasting and praying.  The Weirs had set up pictures of each of the youth and we had a break the fast meal at their home.  The youth were asked to put together the families independent of the adult leaders.  When they were completed we noticed that they had solved some issues in putting the families together that they were not even aware of.  When some additional issues came up we suggested that changes to the families be made.  However, the families did not want to change from the inspiration these youth had used in making these assignments.  Although some of the youth did not know anyone in their families going into trek.  We heard many times in our testimony meeting that they were in the right family.

#11   Bluebell Ranch– Once the Bishop called us to do a Youth Conference we knew we needed a place to go.  When I called my folks and asked them if we could do a Trek at our family ranch they responded immediately with a yes.  Their love and engagement was vital to the success of our Trek.  It was awesome for me to have one of my greatest heroes play the part of Moroni.  Having my Mom share her feelings about the Temple was one of my favorite memories of the Trek.  My boys both loved seeing their uncles and cousins race across the fields on horses.  As I mentioned at Trek my parents and siblings are some of my greatest friends and heroes.  

#12  Music and the Spoken Word – Travis jumped in and was willing to work with Logan Stats to insure that music was part of the journey.  From the fireside to the trailside they inspired us.  He even led the youth in prayer prior to the impromptu musical number at testimony meeting.  We all laughed when he turned to the cow and told her she needed to go a little higher. 

#13  Trek Goals – As we counseled with the BYC there were two challenges they mentioned that they were facing.  The first, was they didn’t feel they knew each other in the ward.  The 2^nd, is they felt over programed and over scheduled and that they needed to find rest from their busy lives.  To accomplish this, the BYC selected spiritual, physical, and social goals.  At the Testimony meeting the most common thing mentioned was that the youth felt peace and that they felt connected.  We were incredibly grateful to see the goals the BYC set out accomplished. Even though the Trek itself is done, we see these goals ongoing.  Brother Weir, Sister Nickle, Brother Steed and Sister Olsen were critical in helping make this happen.

#14  Fireside – We knew we needed to have a guest speaker at the fireside to help set the right tone.  As we thought about this with the Bishopric, President Saunders was selected.  At the time he was asked we did not know he had been on 4 other treks.  In his opening remarks he said, “I Love Trek.”  His words and stories were inspiring to us individually as well as to our Trek Family collectively.  In his closing remarks he mentioned he felt prompted to share with us that we would have ministering angels who would attend with us.  This gave us added comfort as we knew that Trek would be hard.  I think each of us can attest to the fact that we did have ministering angels attend with us. 

#15  Families Back Home – For each of us going on Trek we knew that there would be challenges with families back home.  Extended families and ward members stepped in to provide assistance and help out. Many ward members navigated their way to Promontory to drop off or pick up youth that got sick or had other conflicting commitments.  We were so grateful that these families went out of their way to help support the Trek.

#16  Walk to the Temple – It rained much of the way on our walk to the Temple.  That helped reduce the heat and helped prepare us for what we would experience.  When we saw the Bountiful Temple we were all grateful.  Having the cut out of the Nauvoo Temple created a great Ensign for us to all look to as the pinnacle of our membership. 

#17   Parents Letters –  I think the real hero of the Trek were the parents of our youth.  When we listened to them share their testimonies many of them mentioned their parents.  As a parent myself this was a powerful witness to me that in the Barnes Park Ward along with the Savior the Family is at the core.  The fact that the youths parents were the heroes of the Trek is an inspiring indication that our Young Men and Young Women organizations are fulfilling their charge to bless each of our families.