This was definitely an experience of a lifetime. Amber Described it perfectly by Saying:
The Hiawatha Trial is a bike trial that follows an old railroad line.
Because it is on an old railroad line, there are many tunnels along the trial.
One of the tunnels is as long as 2 miles. In the middle of the longest tunnel,
it is pitch black and freezing cold, which initially created a little bit of fear
for me. My mom was in the front with a bright light on her bike, and my dad was
in the back with the brightest light. All of us kids were in the middle—we also
had lights, but our parent’s lights were brighter. When I started to get
scared, my dad instructed me to follow mom’s light, and to notice his light as
well. We grouped together in a tight formation, so that we might make all of
our lights shine together as one. We then prayed and encouraged one another
looking to the light at the end of the tunnel far in the distance. As we worked
together, I felt my fear disappear and I felt peace. The rest of the day was
filled with excitement and anticipation for the next tunnel, and it brought my
family closer together. This experience taught me that as we pray and come
together as a family, we are a greater force than when we stand alone.
Just like our lights directed our path in the tunnel, our Savior, Jesus Christ,
can also be a light to direct our families. Helaman 5:12 states, “And now my
sons remember remember that it is upon the Rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ,
the Son of God—that we must build our foundation. That when the devil shall
send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his
hail and his might storm shall beat upon you. It shall have no power over you
to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock
upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation. A foundation whereon if
men build we cannot fall."
We all need a “light” in our life. Just like the lights on our
bicycles guided our way and brought my family together on the Hiawatha Trail,
the Savior can be a light to guide our families. As we spend time together, as
we study the scriptures, participate in family home evening, pray together, and
simply follow as we have been directed by the family proclamation to the world,
we will have the Savior’s light as our guide. I know that my Heavenly Father
loves me, and He sent me to this family for a reason. Through His plan, I can
live with my family again.
MY THOUGHTS:
I loved this experience. I absolutely want to do it again. We pulled together as a family and we accomplished something extremely difficult. We were only planning on riding our bikes one direction; however, the transit system was down, so instead of only riding down the mountain--we had to also ride back up the mountain. The journey up the mountain was a difficult one for Jake. We had to stop every mile to encourage and lift his tired spirit and body. It became a team effort as we neared the end of our journey--all of us cheering each other on to victory. Sometimes hard things can be great things when the bind our hearts together as one, and that is exactly what happened for us!
