Brian and I come from a long line of ancestors who immigrated from another country and came to the United States to be with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Most of these ancestors came across the plains by wagon train. A select few, however, came by handcart. My 3rd great grandparents William and Rachel Stiff (Neville) came with a handcart in 1868. They were 63 and 59 years of age respectively. Brian's great great grandmother Elizabeth Panting (29) and her two children Jane (1) and Christopher (5) were part of the tragic Willie Handcart Company.
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| Left to Right: Elizabeth Crook Panting, William Stiff (Neville) and Rachel Jennings Stiff (Neville) |
When Bishop Holmes got up and announced in church, "if you've ever wanted to go on trek this is the year. Anyone who wants to go this year can go", I knew it was time for me to do something I've always wanted to do. I knew that physically I wouldn't be able to walk to entire way but I thought perhaps I might be able to help with setting up tents or cooking or something like that. I hoped that I would at least be able to walk to Martin's Cove. Brian was supportive of me and agreed to go. Kade also agreed to go (this was the third trek for Kade.)
Trek was everything I had hoped it would be and more. The spirit you feel when you visit historic sites is incredible. I was able to be part of a quartet with Bishop and Cindy Holmes and Chris Hopking that sang in the Dan Jones Cove. We sang Remember the Journey by Jenny Phillips. Brian and I were able to walk up to Martin's Cove and pretty much had it to ourselves as we were in between two groups of trekkers. I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to go. It's an experience that I will remember forever.
