Flashback in time

This week has been so incredible. The experiences and feeling have one of a kind. I had the opportunity to go back in time and become a pioneer, trekking to Utah from across the country. The only supplies we were allowed to take were the ones we would be pulling by handcart with our "family" (we cheated a bit, a car took our tents and sleeping bags). Like the pioneers of old the only reason i went was because God told me (and them) too. So there i was, up in who knows where, separated from most of my friends. Thinking why the heck did i agree to go on trek. But then you start pulling up a hill, once you get up to the top, you see a gorgeous landscape in front of you, with rolling hills that never end. Suddenly I saw utah the way the pioneers saw it. I know why heavenly father chose this place for them. It's so amazing so see a little lake on your left, then when you look to your right you see something entirely different a mountain adventure waiting to happen. At that moment I knew trek was going to be a wonderful learning experience for me.
Being able to pull a handcart 30 miles along the diverse terrain was suprisingly harder than i thought it would be. But the hardest part of the entire trip was when all the boys in my family had to leave, symbolizing the mormon battalion leaving their families behind. Then, with just 5 girls we had to pull/push a handcart up a half mile steep hill. It was quite the daunting task in front of us. Before we started though all the girls got together and said a prayer, asking God to give us strength to get up the hill. The most amazing thing happened. There was so many moments when the handcart felt like it was going to fall down the hill, but it suddenly felt like someone was there next to us and gave it a push. Even just recreating what the pioneers went through, also gave us a chance to witness miracles that they had too. People who were sick magically got better, and one leader broke her toe but somehow the next day it was fine. I'm so glad that i could go spend time with my bestest friend and share her birthday with her. Ha. It was so much fun and I was able to get to know the members in my ward so well. They are all so incredible and we partied all time! i bet that's how the pioneers felt when they were bonding crossing the planes with their company.