They took 8 buses for the stake and left at 6 am. Greg and I drove and pulled a big trailer with all of the sleeping bags, etc. Matt and Wendy Ollerton went with us. We arrived at the Visitors Center of Martin's Cove around 1pm. We had to trek 7 miles the first day to camp. About half way into the trek, the weather took a turn for the worse. The sky turned black, the temperature dropped and the wind picked up. A good part of the trail was about 3 inches of sand and we pushed the carts against the wind the whole way. I never heard anyone complain even though it was extremely difficult and miserable. We got to camp and put up the tents in the wind. The women made dinner (we did eat great) by warming up pulled pork and making salad. For dessert we had apple cobbler in the dutch oven. It was very hard trying to keep the burners lit and sand out of our food due to wind.
That night Greg gave an amazing fireside with the 4oz flour bags that he and I made beforehand. He talked about coming 8 years ago and praying to know if he really would've made the trek in those days. He had a very spiritual experience and came to know that even though times are different, he does have the strength and faith and would've made the trek back then.
It was a cold night making it difficult to get good sleep that night. The next morning we had to wake at 5am to make breakfast and start out for the 7 miles to Martin's Cove. We would hike with handcarts a total of 16 miles this day.
I prayed hard, wanting to feel the spirit in the Cove, or to have some kind of spiritual experience. It was breathtaking to watch 500 people single file walk up the 2 miles into the Cove, especially because there was silence the whole way. I continued praying even in the Cove to feel something. It was peaceful but I wanted to really feel something. I didn't. Coming out of the Cove I had a sweet conversation with Greg about the rescuers and the boys that crossed the Sweetwater river carrying the people across. I felt a warmth spread through my body as I thought about what the mothers of those boys must have felt when they sent them out to rescue the saints. They must have been proud, but also terrified that they would not see their sons again. I thought about sending my own sons out to rescue others and I was overcome with emotion. That is what I will be doing when I send them out on their missions. And I will not see them for 2 years and I will have the fear that I may never see them again.
We walked the 2 miles back to our handcarts and ate lunch. We then filed out again with handcarts to start back to camp. On the way, we came to a very steep hill where they stopped us as a whole stake to do the "Women's Pull". They took all the men to the top of the hill and left all the women with the handcarts at the bottom. The men were told to stand on each side of the road and watch as the women pulled the handcarts up. They were told to remove their hats as we came. I did not expect the emotion I would feel as I looked up the hill and saw these young and older men as they removed their hats and watched us pull. Tears streamed down their faces as I looked at many of them in the eyes. Then I searched the men for Greg and Payton as I was pulling and amidst all these other men, there they stood. It seemed as if they were lit up and they were the only two I could see. Again I was completely overcome with emotion and I sobbed as I realized that this was the answer I was praying for. MY FAMILY IS ETERNAL! Power that I had never felt before about my little family and how blessed we are to be sealed in the temple. I felt so grateful to the Lord for this confirmation. And what love I felt from Greg and Payton, especially as they came to me after and hugged me as if they would never let go.
The rest of the trek was amazing, the testimony meeting was incredible. Payton stood and told about his love for the story of the Stripling Warriors and the reason was because of their mothers. He paid me a great tribute and I am so blessed to have him for a son.
Payton also was asked to bear his testimony today (Sunday) about the trek and he did a great job again.
The stake is signing up to go again in 4 years. Jantsen will be able to go then and I will beg again to go. However difficult it seems to be, it is all worth it!
