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So on the 29th October till the 3rd November, I was on the Youth Pioneer Trek as part of the support crew.
The Youth Pioneer Trek is a treking experience for the youth in our church to live and experience what the earlier pioneers went through in America when they were forced out of their homes from betrayal.
Although they youth don't go through the exact experiences, we give it to them as close as we can with hills, mud, handcarts, pushes, rescue teams, attacks, and it goes on; just whatever we can fit in during the 3 days. We can't starve them like the pioneers went through, but we did limit their foods.
My role was to help with setting up, preparing the limited foods, camping sites for the youth to rest, and activities which we would do.
So Tuesday morning we left for Ballarat chapel to begin the briefing, shake down to take off anything the youth might sneak in, including electronics and food, and the take off to begin their trek. Cameras were prohibited as the youth would have a designated camera man, so I couldn't take much action of what happened, only behind the scenes.
For each of the nights, we wanted to give the youth a nice big fire so we went out to collect some wood.
One event that happened experience that happened was while the pioneers were struggling, a man named Ethriam Hanks (forgot his name actually and will double check) came to the rescue with beef jerky.
Ethriam planned on travelling to Salt Lake Valley for conference and had received a prompting to prepare a handcart. Upon conference, Brigham Young announced that there was a handcart company struggling and in need of help. While brethen announced when they would be ready with a handcart organised in a matter of days, Ethriam realised what the prompting was for.
He went out first and on his way, there was a buffalo, which was very odd given the season of Winter. He had the prompting again to kill it and prepare food out of it. He continued to have these promptings with buffalos showing up and when he finally reached the handcart company, he found out how hungry they were, being without food for days.
Just after it, we had a trek band to give the youth some entertainment to slowly ease the youth into the trek.
We also did a silent pull where the men had to back off and let the women pull the carts. They weren't allowed to talk or help, only watch, as during the trek, the men were gone at one stage and the women and children were left to pull.
There was also an angel push organised, to which I don't know the full story of, nor for the silent pull.
The large fire during the first night was used as a beacon for completion of their journey.
Back at our camp, at night, we'd muck around and have fun before heading off to our tents; we had tents while the trek only had tarpons to make their tents.
While we all had our designated tasks each day, some would have slight downtime and got to relax.
Other than the downtime, the second, and third day were only half day treks.
During the second night, an Indian attack was organised.
After the youth had finished their little evening activities together, that's when we started. Drums banged, and the chief, myself, and Legrand did our part in chanting and approaching the camp site.
At the same time, the support crew were located up in the hills around the camp site made their Indian war cries and light up the fire torches we had. The youth paniced, especially the girls.
Unfortunately, upon reaching the site, the youth recognised us and became it became just another little event to them.
We took 10 tarpons; we should have taken more...
On the third day, the young men went on their battalion march, which was when the men had prepared for war to defend their rights and people from the mobs. I believe this was during a different time, but I think the leaders wanted to give this experience.
Due to the lack of young men in the normal handcarts, some of the support crew members were able to join in. I was fortunate enough to do so later during the day.
Reaching the final camp site, we made preparings for their dinner, a testimony meeting was held, had our last bonfire, and did a square dance for everyone.
During the day, with all the downtime we had also, some of us decided to have a bit of fun. The trek coordinator, Anthony, had a cot in his tent, and brought his mountain bike also.
We tied them both to trees.
Welcome.
Morning came and it was time to pack up and head for home.
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