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We had so many great experiences during our youth Pioneer Trek! We joined with the Fort Lauderdale Stake for it. Over 200 youth participated. Our Stake, Pompano Beach, had ten families, each family had between 9 and 10 "children" plus the ma/pa. Ft. Lauderdale Stake had nine families. We - the leaders - had some planned obstacles for the youth. The first was a big tree in the middle of the path, we thought that would force the families to un load the carts, carry the cart over the tree and then load everything again. This was a task to be performed only by the young men, no help from adults. Our wonderful young men tried once, twice, three times... could not move the tree. They decided to do exactly what we had planned. Suddenly, one of the young men reminded the others about prayer. They said a prayer asking for strength to move the tree, got up and tried again...They moved the tree!!! It was such a sweet experience! We (the leaders) realized we underestimated our youth! We did not plan on them thinking about praying! I was most impressed when they decided they also needed to have a second prayer - to thank the Lord!
The boys trying to move the tree.We had a girl walking at the back of her "family" always holding the hand of a young man. I did not think anything of it, but was so touched when I realized this was a 21 year old young woman, walking with her brother who is autistic! Then I started paying more attention to them: Every time we stopped, she would take his shoes off, check his feet to make sure he had no blisters, clean them and put his shoes back on. Since we only had broth for dinner the first night, she got up early the following morning, went to the canal/river and caught fish, cleaned them up, cook them and fed her brother! I was taught many great lessons just by observing her!
I was most impressed with our mas and pas. We had all kinds of couples, but I realized we are all in this together, it sounds cliche, but it is so true, particularly when we are talking about gospel living. Each family was so different, but no better or worse than the other. We had two families with only mas - Sister Cristina Cardenas and Sister Krissia Monsees. They were so wonderful! Originally Cristina was going with her husband, but his health did not allow him to go, so last minute she asked Krissia to go with her. But the night before the trek, as I was working the last details, I received a phone call. We had about eight more youth who wanted to go! I did not have the heart to leave them behind, so I called Cristina and Krissia and asked if they would be willing to each lead one family. They were worried, but accepted. They were so wonderful, and the young men assigned to their families rose to the ocassion in such a great way!
One of the young men from this late group was a non member. During our testimony meeting he shared with us how he didn't know if he should be baptized, but when he was in "solo time" he prayed and ask Heavenly Father to give him an answer. After his prayer he opened his scriptures and they opened where the story of Jesus' Baptism is recorded! He recognized the answer and will be baptized this weekend! Was I glad I decided to let this group joined, even when it was so late!! The Spirit must have been whispering to my ear, no doubt about it!
Here I am talking with the other Stake YW President, Sister Peck.We all had such a spiritual experience. The feelings stayed with me for over a week. And now I even feel physically renew, and my poor husband, well, like he puts it, he got his wife back!
