31 July 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 463
Veidi on women’s pull on stake trek
Alex
We went to trek this week! I was kinda scared and a little nervous about how hard it was going to be, but it turned out to be very fun! My trek family was really cool, and I thought that I would have a hard time just getting to know them, but I really became friends with all of them.
My ma and pa were the best! They would ask if I was okay or if I needed something and were very caring! The food that was served was supper yummy. I am so impressed about how good they could cook in a place like trek! I loved everything about it!
Children before trek
Monte
Trek was the most amazing experience of my life so far. At first, I was hesitant. Don't get me wrong, I have wanted to go to trek for a very long time, but I didn't know anybody in my family, and I didn't think that I would fit in.
Well, who knew that four days of pulling a handcart in the heat and rough terrain would bring people together! I think that I have made amazing friendships with all of my trek family. I also had some of the most spiritual experiences on trek.
If I ever have another chance to do anything remotely like trek, then I will take it. I will be honest, as much as I liked my bed and AC, I didn't want to leave. I had so much fun, and I think that I will be a better person because of it. Love you all!
Veidi’s family on trek
Veidi
This week I had the opportunity to go trek. It was really hard at first because walking so many miles camp felt so far, but when we saw camp, we were all excited and very exhausted.
The next day we did the women's pull, and it was really hard. There was a lot of steep hills, but it was nice when we made it up to the end and it was nice to see the top. When we were done, we had a half an hour break, and then when we started to go again, the boys did it, so that the girls did not have to push.
Then the next day was a lot shorter and so we had a lot of free time. We did square dancing and played lots of games. I also really liked the devotionals that they did. On the last day, we were all excited to go home, and so when we saw the cars we were so excited.
Stake pioneer trek
Vanessa
All the people that were old enough went on trek! It was a lot of hard work, but it was super fun. I really liked it when we danced on the last night of trek. I got to meet a lot of new people and make a lot of new friends.
For our women's pull, we had to pull for over a mile! There were a lot of hills that we had to go on and they were really hard. Lots of the girls would go back and help the other carts get up the biggest hill we had. This was a really fun experience, and I really enjoyed it.
Alex’s family on trek
Isaac
It was trek this week and it was so fun. On Wednesday, we had to wake up at 6:30am. When we got to the church, I didn't really know anyone in my family. My ma and pa were the Adamson’s. We talked for a little bit and then we had a little devotional and started driving to trek.
When we got there, we loaded up our cart and started off. We were second to last, but we went really fast. It was really hard in some parts because there were a lot of hills, and the first day was like 9 to 10 miles of trekking, but when we finished, it was so rewarding because the food was so good, and we played a couple of games.
The second day wasn't too bad at all, but it was the women's pull. It was really hard not to just go and help the girls push their cart, but it was really cool to see that like five or six people could pull a fully loaded cart that weighed a lot.
Isaac’s family on trek
When we got to our camp the second day, we did star tipping. Endia and London showed us how to star tip recently. It’s where you look up at the stars, spin for 10 seconds, and then someone flashes a light in your eyes and you either fall over or get really dizzy.
We taught it to some people, and they taught it to a lot more people, so I think that people will star tip for a while!
On the second day, I went to ask a group of people if they wanted to star tip, but instead of wanting to try it out they asked me if they could throw me up into the air.
Vanessa’s family on trek
I was hesitant at first, but then Vanessa said I should do it, so I let them. They threw me really far up into the air and it was really scary but also really fun.
The next day was awesome because it was a short day. When we got to camp, we played a lot of volleyball. On the last night, we had a really fun dance party, but the missionaries called and said that we were too loud!
We also had a really good family testimony meeting the last night. On the last day, we got back to the cars and came back to the church where everyone was cheering for us. I was so glad that I was able to go on trek.
Monte’s family on trek
Gloria
Trek is finally here. I was a little scared but mostly excited to go. When we got to the church, I met my trek family. There are nine of us, only two girls plus six boys, and my ma and pa—the Rich's from the 7th Ward. They were really nice. I got to know them really well. My pa is related to Brother Rich from our ward.
I got along with Angla from the 5th Ward (Spanish ward). She is 17 years old. I really got to know her and her other friends from the 5th Ward.
I also got to know the boys from my family too. One boy named Jacob in my family really hurt his knee. They don't really know if he broke it or if it was bruised, so he was not with us most of the time while we were trekking.
On the last night I had a blast because we had a hoedown, and that was really fun. I was able to do most of the dances by myself, or with someone else. At trek I learned to have faith in every footstep until the very end.
Stake pioneer trek
Caleb
I wanted to share a little story. This week we had lunch with a sister in the branch, we always have lunch with her and her family on Tuesdays. She's super nice.
When you're immersed in the teachings of God and Christ, you see what's most important in life a lot easier than opposed to other points in life. I was studying and memorizing scriptures in the morning about faith, and the question came to me, why do we need faith? Why couldn't it be part of God's plan where we all see and know that He exists?
Surely, it would be easier to follow His commandments, and surly we would be able to return to Him a lot easier, and a lot more would. And if God loves us, wouldn't he want more of his children to return to Him?
Gloria’s trek family
If you haven't thought about the answer to this question—why is faith such an important and vital part of God's plan—it's kind of hard to put a name on it. You can easily see that if we knew God existed, some things would still work with this plan, but it's hard to give an exact reason for the need for faith.
I thought a bit, and a few answers and thoughts came to me. One reason I believe we need faith is to show love to God. If we knew and could see God, all of our "obeying" wouldn't or couldn't come from pure love. We as people would naturally obey God's commandments because we would know he would always bless us—we would always benefit.
In a way we would be obliged to follow His commandments, just like we know drinking water stops our thirst, and putting our hand in fire burns us. We wouldn't follow God because we love Him, even if we wanted to.
Christian’s family on trek
Also, we wouldn't become anything, and the whole reason for this plan is so that we can become like God and have His happiness. Without faith, we wouldn't grow and become something. I hope I am making sense.
At that lunch, we got to the point where we shared a spiritual thought. We shared about the importance of faith in God's plan. We shared Alma 32:21 and 1 Nephi 2:17. It was super great because this sister doesn't know how to read, and wants to be able to. Everyone else in her family can. She lives in a small town in Chile, and her children are getting educations, but you can tell that she might give herself a hard time.
However, out of all the members here, she helps the most with sharing the happiness of the gospel with the people in her life.
In the end, our faith and actions according to that faith is what matters. I know that while the world might look at someone with her profile and say she has nothing, she has more than all the world offers. I love this gospel so much. The church is true!
Gloria, Vanessa, and Isaac on trek
Ashton
This week I've been able to get back in a groove and things are even better than they have been before the river trip. I find myself on my phone so much less, and I am working on a lot of my goals that I've set earlier in the year.
Another thing that I've been reminded of this week is the value of planning. Seriously, weeks where I sit down and plan out my days seem to fly by, and I get so much done and feel like I become a better person.
Stake handcart trek
This week I actually bought two new books, and checked out one Jennifer recommended from the library. The book she recommended is, "Who Moved My Cheese?" and I also would recommend it! It took only about an hour or so to read, but it tells an important message in a creative and fun way.
It was a great reminder about what I can be doing to prepare for change and be able to enjoy change when it comes rather than avoid and fear it. One of the main messages of the book is about acting and taking control rather than just letting things happen to you.
Isaac, Vanessa, Veidi, Gloria
Christian
This week we went to trek. My parents were the Backus's. They were really fun and cool. I really liked my family because they were all really funny and easy to talk to.
On the first day we walked nine miles, which was kind of hard. On the second day, when we made it to camp, they set up nine square and volleyball, which was fun. My favorite part of trek was the women's pull. It was hard to not help them, but was cool to see all of the women pull for a mile. Trek was overall a good and fun time.
Monte’s trek family
Dad / Arkin
It was a quiet week having seven children gone on trek! I am so grateful that they all had this chance, and I hope they will always remember what they learned.
I got a lot done this week. I finished Yarima’s wedding invitations, caught up a couple newsletters, and spent another Saturday working on raft shelves in the garage. I almost got finished, but I’ll need another weekend to finish up. It’s looking good.
Yarima’s completed invitations