Pioneer Trek

 Well, I can't say that Merinda had the greatest time at Trek, but I can say she made a cute pioneer!

 Brad and I have been a Ma and Pa in two previous Treks so it was okay that we didn't go this year, especially after hearing how much it rained!

 But, everyone was excited for the adventure while waiting to go, at the church parking lot.

 
 The girls looked so cute in their braids and pioneer dresses.

  And the guys didn't look too bad themselves (at least the ones that wore their clothes properly).

 The Georgetown and Elkhorn Creek Ward's youth.

 Our friends and fearless leaders, Mark and Bridgette, helping out with Trek again this year.

 Getting all loaded up!

 Merinda's pioneer family. Lucky her Ma and Pa were our good friends Veronica and Rex Holt.

 The weather was ok starting out...

 but things turned bad really fast! Adam, Camryn, and Spencer from our Ward.

 
 These mud holes were pretty much everywhere.

 Merinda's family with Rex keeping the wagon steady on a mud slide.

 Merinda in the green poncho bringing up the rear. Merinda hurt her foot, but was a trooper and finished the ten miles the first day.

 Merinda's friends Nikara and Julianna leading the way for the woman's pull.

 Merinda's friend Lindsey (yep, that pretty much sums it up!)

 Bridgette trying to cook in the rain.

 Merinda's good friend Liz was one of the few kids that actually enjoyed all the rain, as she channels Julia Andrews from The Sound of Music 

 The kids enjoying a few moments without pouring rain. There were severe thunderstorms and torrential rain the first two days of Trek. 

 The third and final day of Treck it actually stopped raining long enough to play some pioneer games (Rex and his son Austin).

 The Stake President, Pres. Jenkins, trying to boost morale. By this time most of the kids had shed their pioneer clothes due to them being completely ruined by mud and sand. We threw away half of Merinda's camping gear and clothes because they were un-salvageable. 

As you can see by the look on her face, Merinda was completely done by this point (purple t-shirt and grey sweat shirt). But at least she can say, she truly knows how it feels to 'walk and walk and walk' in the pouring rain!