VERNON STAKE YOUTH PIONEER TREK 2013

I was excited to be asked to make a pioneer slideshow for our Vernon Stake using my friend Blyn Loewen's pictures with some of my own. I'm grateful that I'd already made one months ago, my Pioneer Trek Video 2013 because it gave me good practice!

It was fun to see this one on the big screen in Vernon at our youth fireside. My thanks go out to all the leaders who did so much work to make this possible and of course to all our wonderful youth who showed up eager and enthusiastic and made this trek a positive enriching experience!!! We made some amazing memories, grew in faith and testimony and gained a new appreciation for our pioneer ancestors!

PIONEER TREK 2013 VIDEO

I've been working on putting a video together of all the pioneer trek pictures I took last week of the LDS VERNON YOUTH STAKE PIONEER TREK 2013 and I'm happy with how it turned out!! It brings back so many memories!   I really was grateful for the opportunity to work with some amazing leaders and youth who made all this possible and I can't thank all the "Mas" and "Pas" enough who were willing to work with 8-10 kids and shape them into a close knit family in 4 days!! They too did an amazing job!! If any of you would like a copy of one of these pictures, just let me know in my comments section! 

This is dedicated to my Rebecca and Mitchell because I couldn't ask for more enthusiastic, fun, loving kids...I'm lucky to be their MOM!!! 

TREK 2013

It was my privilege last week to be a part of our TREK 2013! Our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints puts on a pioneer trek for our youth every 4 years. It gives our youth an opportunity to experience just a little what the early pioneers went through to be here. It is an amazing 4 day journey that involves walking for miles, pulling handcarts, eating rationed food and making new friends. They end up hungry, thirsty, tired, sunburned and blistered but with a new appreciation for their pioneer ancestors. They learn that with the help of the Lord, they can do hard things and triumph over them.

I was involved with the back up crew this year, which was a new endeavour for me as well. I worked with my friend Deanne to provide the food for the trip and so did a lot of shopping, organizing and worrying. I was happy with how things turned out and have to admit, I was especially grateful for all the hard work that each member of our back up crew did. There was a spirit of love and camaraderie that you can't find anywhere else and what a stupendous blessing it was to be a part of it.

I had two of my children involved in this year's trek and they embraced it wholeheartedly...they were enthusiastic and helpful but they learned a lot as well. They were put in different families and were given a wonderful "Ma and Pa!" They had so many stories to tell when it was over...and I know that their testimonies of the experience were strengthened immensely. I love them dearly and was so grateful they had this opportunity. Here are just a few of the many pictures I attempted to capture: