Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things

Kim has just been called to be Young Women's president in her ward. She was saying that she really wanted to go on trek with the young men/young women in her ward next year. The activity involves learning about Mormon pioneers - their conversion, persecution, and their travel west. For this multi-day event, they dress in clothing of the day and push handcarts, which carry their trek supplies. Before going, individuals are encouraged to eat healthy food, prepare physically, and get sufficient rest. They divide up the participants in "families" led by a "mom" and "dad". For Kim, it would be a little tough as she has no spouse to be the Dad of the family. She decided she may have to volunteer to be the cook.

Lori told an interesting story about going on the trek.

A friend of Lori's has a special needs daughter. She is totally dependent - needing help walking, dressing, eating, surviving 24/7. When her stake asked the mother and her husband to be leaders for one of the groups, she thought that would be a good break from her daily activities. Grandma would come to take care of her daughter, and they made plans to be gone for several days. When the "family" assignments came out for the trek, this woman and her husband had a special needs child in their group. At first she was concerned, knowing that there is no way her daughter could make the trip. When she met the boy, she was relieved. He was a big fellow with Downs syndrome - but healthy enough to withstand the demands of the trip. She thought, "Who better than us to work with a special needs child? We know how to help and what is needed."

As they began the trek, this fellow refused to walk. He was capable of walking. He just wouldn't do it. They had few options, so they decided to put him in the handcart and push him along the trail along with their supplies. It was hard work and a challenge they hadn't planned on, but somehow they made it work. They rallied the members of their group to share the load. Instead of pulling a few supplies, they had a two hundred pound rider. All the family members took turns. The fellow was delightful. He sang the entire time and made up ditties about the youth assigned to his group. He had them all laughing.

Other groups observed their group, laughing and pulling together. They would come to the "parents" and say, "Can we borrow him? Our group needs such a focus." And they did end up "loaning him out" to other groups.

Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things... Henry Ward Beecher

Unless a man undertakes more than he possibly can do, he will never do all that he can. Henry Drummond

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are. Bernice Johnson Reagon