Happy Hibberts: Trek

This is probably going to be a pretty long post. I've been putting it off for that main reason. So much happened on trek I hope that I can convey just a tad of what was experienced. In September of 2011 Neil and I got a call from the stake president's secretary asking if we could come in to meet with them. I knew the stake was doing a trek in the summer and I just hoped that that's what the interview would be about and I was right. When they asked us to go I literally jumped out of my seat with excitement and exclaimed yes. Growing up in Georgia I had never heard about trek until a couple years ago when we were first married. I remember the youth of our ward in Orem coming back from one and feeling the Spirit so strong as they shared their experiences on trek. Since that time it has been my hope to be able to go and have the incredible experience that awaits you on trek. Neil and I were a little apprehensive about being able to go because we had started to try to add another child to our family and knew that most likely I would be pregnant and not be able to go. Well that's not what the Lord wanted. Three miscarriages later I knew we were supposed to go on trek and that was more important at this time. Every month we had to go to trainings where we learned all the equipment we needed to gather/buy and all of our responsibilites. It's a good thing they didn't tell us all this when we were first called because we may have said no. It was a huge responsibility and we felt the weight of it. Trek was expected to be a life changing experience for these youth and as ma and pa that was a burden we carried to make sure it happened. We had to be ready not only physically but spiritually to be able to teach these youth. It was an experience that definitely brought Neil and I closer together. Neil was amazing on trek and I grew to love him even more. He was so wonderful with the youth.

As part of the trek experience we needed to come up with a family name. Preferrably one that we could share stories about and our family could connect to. Both Neil and I have ancestors who crossed the plains and so we researched them. This was exciting to learn about ancestors and their stories of faith. We ended up using the name of Eliza Cusworth. She is from Neil's side of the family. Eliza and her husband joined the church in England and were the only members of their families to join. They felt prompted to join the Saints in the Missouri and head to Zion. They made their preparations and just a couple of weeks before their departure her husband died and his dying wish was that she would take their 4 and 6 year old to Zion and so she promised. Even though both families pleaded with her to stay in England where they would take care of her she knew she had to go to Zion so she left at 32 by herself with her two kids. One reason I am so drawn to Eliza is because that is about my age and I also have a 6 and 4 year old and so I can envision the hardships she went through. She was assigned to the Willie and Martin handcard company, the one which had the highest deaths. She pulled her handcart while her 6 year old walked the whole way and the 4 year old got to ride a little. When they got to the Sweetwater River is was partially frozen and they had to go across. She first took the 4 year old across and was on her way back when she looked back and the 4 year old was scared and calling after her coming into the water. Knowing the child would drown she went back and tied him to a tree with her apron as she went back to fetch the 6 year old. She went back a third time for the hand cart. All three of them made it to Zion, which is miraculous in itself being as so many childrem died and the only ailments they suffered was frost bite and a child did lose a couple toes. I am just amazed at the strength of Eliza. There were many stories we shared along the way that were so faith promoting. I can't wait to meet Eliza Cusworth.

Our family was comprised of nine youth from different wards and one additional leader. Most of the youth didn't know each other and yet we all bonded and connected right of the bat. Like all the mas and pas we felt like we had the best family of them all. We were a singing family. A couple of the kids were in choirs and what not and loved to sing. We took the song "We are the Champions" and changed it to "We are the Cusworths" my friends. And we'll keep on walking til the end. It was our theme song. Neil and I were not supposed to push the handcart except at the very hard parts. We were supposed to go around and talk to the kids and get to know them. We really looked forward to the times where we got to push.

It was hard especially during the women's pull. That was my first time having to push. We went from having 10 people pushing to five and of course they left the hardest part of the day for us. It was hill after hill. I think we went about 3 miles. There were times where I just had to put my head down and focused on putting one foot in front of the other. That's all I could muster. We'd make it over one hill just to see another one. We weren't supposed to talk but at one moment my daughter beside me turned to me and said I just don't think I can go on much longer. And I had to encourage her. Kat was in the very front and she just couldn't keep quiet and she would keep yelling come on ladies we can do this. She was so positive and happy and it made all the difference. When we finally pulled into camp and I let go of the cart, my arms were just shaking from the exertion. My goodness you can't help but think of the pioneers and how hard it was for them coming over the mountains.

We weren't allowed to have fires so we cooked all our meals on a camp stove. The food was really good or maybe it was just because we were so starving. We were fed well and no one went hungry. We slept under a make shift tent made out of a 20'X20' tarp.

In our trainings the stake leaders kept saying how trek will be a life changing experience and Neil and I were a little skeptical. We just couldn't see how it could happen when your with a complete group of strangers for 3 days of mostly walking. Oh ye of little faith. I can't go into detail on this blog but it was life changing for me. I experienced things I have never experienced before. It was one of those sacred experiences you read about in the scriptures that can't be written down. That has only happened one other time in my life. We were supposed to go on trek and what's hard now is trying to live up to what you know you need to do and not forgetting. I love the Lord and am in awe of His complete awareness and love of me. I will be eternally grateful for this trek experience and what it taught me and how I feel more connected to my past as well as my future. I am so thankful I was able to experience trek with Neil and how it brought us closer together. Three months later we still talk about trek and wish we could go back. It really is life changing.

Here a bunch of pictures from trek. We only got pictures from the first day because as Neil was using a porta potty our camera which was hooked to his belt fell into the blue abyss and died. Neil had to retrieve it with his bare hands to save the memory card. That story has grossed everybody out but at least some of the pictures were preserved. Other pictures came from the stake.

The women resting after the women's pull.

Our fearless stake president, President Love. He walked the whole way with us.

Our whole family slept under this tarp the first night since it was kind of stormy but the second night we all slept under the stars.

The Cusworth Family

Ma and Pa Martinsen

Lincoln Ward Men: Dave Martinson, K Robinson and Neil

Lincoln Ward Women: Debbie Nobles, Me, Amy Lloyd, Danna Martinson

It was so dusy, had to keep our faces covered or eat dirt.

Women's Pull

Hoe Down

Layton Hills Stake

Cusworth Family

Back: Taylor, Chris, Jensen, Eric, Tyson, Sean (Man Child)

Center: Ma and Pa Hibbert

Front: Emma, Marissa, Mary, Kat

We were on constant lookout for these badger holes. Definitely didn't want to twist an ankle or mess up your hand cart.

Reflections: Throughout each day we would gather round as a family and sit on our buckets and reflect on the days events sharing feelings and testimony.