My Own Trekie

My sweet little 14 year old daughter went on her first Pioneer Trek.  This is when the stake (a group of wards which are kind of like individual church congregations) get all the youth together to become pioneers for four days.  These kids pull handcarts, hike, eat pioneer food, hike, play pioneer games, hike, and generally manage to have a wholesome, fun-loving and spiritual experience.  It is not an easy thing that they do.  But one of the most amazing things they get to take away is that they can do hard things.  The entire group left on Wednesday morning for their trek through the mountains.  They came home this afternoon.  Her dad was at base camp watching for the pioneers to come along with their handcarts, Miracles group came zipping up the dirt track and this amazing young woman was skipping and smiling on her way.  She says it was amazing.  She says, it was hard.  She says, she wants to go again in four years and be one of the big sisters to everyone else.   She says, it is one of the most amazing things she has ever done.  

This is Miracle before the Trek.  She is clean and happy.  

This is Miracle and her friends as they are getting ready to load the buses.  

These are the handcarts that they used for each "family" that went.  The kids were placed in families with all the other kids and the adult leaders (Ma's and Pa's) in the Stake.  Miracle only knew one person in her entire "family".  It was a real learning experience for her.  She made friendships with some of the other kids in her family and is looking forward to talking with them and seeing them again.  

This is Miracle when she talked one of the boys into carrying her duffel bag for her.  

She might be little, but she can sure smile big!