In February, Ben and I were called to be Ma and Pa for our stake pioneer trek. When we got the text that the Bishop wanted to meet with us, we both had the thought that it would be about trek, and felt that we should accept the call. On the walk home, I began to wonder if I would even be able to do it. My spirit was willing, but my flesh was weak.
About 9 years ago I started to have a lot of hip pain. I did three rounds of physical therapy, tried needling (a form of acupuncture), and had several steroid injections to help with the pain, but nothing helped. I had an MRI and found out that I have labral tears in both hips. The next step for me is hip replacement, but without health insurance, we can't afford the procedure. I've been dealing with the pain the best I can, but I wondered how I could possibly walk 29 miles in 4 days.
To prepare for trek, Ben and I started walking about 2 miles a day. As the days and weeks passed, I started to get more worried. Just walking 2 miles was often very painful. I had to remind myself that if the Lord wanted me on Pioneer Trek, he would strengthen me to the task, a principal I had learned from scripture, and through previous experience.
The apostle Paul wrote about a "thorn in the flesh" that he was struggling with. He said he was buffetted (knocked off course) by Satan. He prayed 3 times to the Lord to make the "thorn" depart from him. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul wrote: And He (the Lord) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Later, in Philippians 4:13: Paul testifies, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." In Ether 12:27: We learn that we are given weakness to make us humble. If we humble ourselves and have faith in Christ, He will make our weak things become strong.
Ben was also dealing with some physical challenges. His surgically repaired knee had been bothering him and he had strained some tendons in his hand. Not only would walking be painful, but pushing or pulling the handcart would too. I wondered if maybe a different couple would be a better choice for ma and pa.
I didn't sleep much the night before trek. Just laying in bed, my hip was hurting, how was I going to sleep on a foam mattress on trek when I struggled to sleep on my own bed at home? But it was too late to step aside, we were doing this.
On the first day, we trekked about 15 miles up and down hills, pulling the handcart on uneven ground. It was hot and tiring and we were all pretty miserable, but my hip miraculously was okay. I had less pain than when I walked just 2 miles at home, and the pain didn't keep me awake during the night. Ben's knee held up really well too.
Day 2 we went 13 miles, which included activities and dancing at the ho-down. Remarkably, my hip pain was bearable and Ben's knee was doing pretty well. I slept well that night.
Day 3 was another miraculous 15 mile day including a women's pull up a fairly steep hill for nearly a mile. At one point I was in a lot of pain on the women's pull, but the pain subsided soon after and I was able to continue just fine.
Day 4 we did about 4 miles, a total of 50 miles in 4 days, and my hip hurt less than when I walked 2 miles at home. It was truly a miracle. Ben had brought knee braces with him, but didn't feel like he needed to use them at all on trek.
I testify that Christ's grace is sufficient. He didn't take the pain away completely, but He strengthened me to the task, He eased the burden, He prepared a way for me to accomplish the thing He wanted me to do. His enabling power got me through trek.
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