Trek Newsletter #3

 


 
 
"There is something about reviewing the lessons of the past to prepare us to face the challenges of the future."
-L. Tom Perry

"Little Abe Jr. was wide eyed with excitement of the westward trek and was as curious as any five-year-old boy could be. The family left Council Bluffs in the summer of 1851. Little Abe was big enough to walk much of the time until the day he fell beneath a moving wagon. The wheel rolled over his leg and broke it, which forced him to ride in the wagon the rest of the journey to the Salt Lake Valley. However, as the journey progressed, his father noted that young Abe's leg was growing crook-ed. Consequently, several of the men in the company worked on the little boy. With their own strength, they re-broke the leg and pulled it straight until the bone snapped into place. Without any sedative or anesthetic, this was an excruciating experience for the young lad. His leg mended properly and his activity was not impaired. Years later, Abe related to his own children how his father rolled up the side of the wagon cover so he could watch the countryside as they lumbered along. Watching the buffalo and Indians, he found the long journey quite exciting even from his prone position."  
Spring 1851 - Abraham Chadwick, Jr. Great, Great Grandfather of Shane Wasden (and several other cousins in the HF Stake)

Happy Independence Day!

I hope all of you had a wonderful time celebrating the Fourth of July! I wonder how the pioneers might have celebrated and how they might have felt. If you recall, the Martin and Willie Handcart companies tragedy occurred in the year 1856. The United States was only 80 years old. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was only 26 years old. The Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum had been assassinated 12 years prior to the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. Brigham Young had arrived to the Salt Lake Valley 9 years prior on July 24, 1847. And,--from the quotation above, one of grandfathers came across the plains in a wagon 5 years before the Handcart Companies of James Willie and Edward Martin.

The following are a few reminders:

1. Q&A SESSIONS REMINDER: 
First, as mentioned the Henry’s Fork Trek 2023 Blog (also found by just googling it) has a wealth of information. Because every ward is at different stages and activities with trek preparation, we decided it best to just hold a few Trek Q&A Zoom meetings for anyone who wants to attend and ask questions. These Q&A Sessions are OPTIONAL to attend. We will not be speaking about anything specifically, simply just fielding any questions you might have. They will be 30 minutes in length.
  • July 6, Thu—7:00 PM
  • July 9, Sun—4:00 PM
  • July 11, Tue—6:30 PM
All meetings will be at the following Shane Wasden Zoom Meeting link.
Meeting ID: 208 496 3651
Passcode: byuidaho12

2. TREK NAME:
If you have noticed, I've been sharing a pioneer quote from you to begin each newsletter. Today, I decided to share with you a pioneer quotation I found in my family history because this is who I will be trekking in remembrance of during our Henry's Fork Stake Trek. We would like to remind you (and please remind the youth in your ward) to do some family history and find a name to trek in remembrance. This could be any pioneer name. The person could be from the actual Willie or Martin Handcart Company. The person could be a name from their family history. The important thing is that we are inviting our youth to connect with their past, to connect with the history and sacrifice of these early pioneers. Let us, in a small way, honor and remember them in this Trek re-enactment. "We stand today as beneficiaries of their priceless heritage to us, a heritage based on the truth that righteousness brings forth the blessings of God." -Ezra Taft Benson

3. INFORMATION REMINDER:
Reminders to read the previous Newsletter #1 and Newsletter #2 and to review the HF Trek Blog: 

4. A FEW STAKE TREK ITEMS PROVIDED:
Here are a few items we have already purchased for the youth and for those Ma & Pa's who would like one. 
  • Neck Coolers (soak the neck cooler in cold water for 10-20 minutes. Polymer cooling crystals will plump up to cool you down on the trail.)
  • Trail Snacks, Gatorade Powder
  • First Aid Kits
  • Trek Journals & Pen
  • Bracelet Making Craft "Stuff" :-))  :-))
  • Mesh bags for each trekker to hold their mesh kits. (They are great for washing dishes and hanging them to dry)
5. TRANSPORTATION REMINDER:
There is not enough parking for everyone to drive their own personal vehicles. All youth and all Ma & Pa's are expected to ride the buses up to Sellars Creek. This is the beginning of forming a natural bond or relationship with your youth. It is also a practical and safety matter as well to have adequate leadership with the youth at all times. We have been trusted by their parents to love their child, care for their child, watch over their child. Of course, we also invite any bishopric members, food specialists, or medical specialists to also ride with their youth on the buses. We also realize some of these specialists and leaders will need to drive a personal vehicle for equipment or their responsibilities. Additionally, we also realize that most wards will have one big (or two medium sized) trailers being towed up with camping gear and possibly another trailer for camping/cooking equipment. Because 9 wards will have possibly 18 trailers/pickups, Sellars Creek has asked us to carpool when possible.

I close with these thoughts: 
"We are all required to make journeys of faith. That is the gospel plan. Our path may not be crossing an ocean or walking alone from an empty train station. But whatever it is, it will demand faith in every footstep. Years from now your grandchildren will tell with amazement stories of your choices which changed their lives. You will be called their pioneers." 
-Bonnie D. Parkin

"With the complex issues facing our families and our friends, our citizens, our state, our neighbors, our nation, the world, may we remember pioneers of an earlier day who persevered against injustice, misunderstanding, some intolerance, occasional bigotry, occasional racism, against differences of custom and traditions and faith, who labored against all of that to carve out for us, their descendants, the wonderful day and the marvelous miraculous time in which we live. We owe the same pioneering, persevering legacy to our children and our children's children."
-Jeffrey R. Holland

With love and gratitude,
Shane (and the Trek Committee)

Sisters Gehmlich, Hancock, Klingler, Chambers
Brothers Butikofer, Moss, Stoddard, Anderson, Gentry and President Preator

“I Can Do All Things” - featuring Jarica Jamison
MP3 | Instrumental | Sheet Music | Choir Sheet Music version