Temple Walk 2012

22 Mile Stroll

Yes, we did it, 22 miles through the barren dessert, through the sand, through the wind, through the dirt, through the town, and through the streets.  We walked in the dark lit by truck headlights, we walked led by flashlights and headlamps and Sister's voices.  We followed footprints in the dirt and watched for the porta pottie marking our passage.

We chatted, and discussed and commented ...and we thought.  We munched and crunched and trudged.  Some walked backward, some walked forward, some jogged and some jogged here and there.  Some sprinted to the finish line with smiles of joy on their faces.  And some, even rode for a bit.  But, all finished!

Who would have known what a fantastic experience this was to be?  The path was marked with signs telling us how much farther to the finish.  In between were thoughts, scriptures, and statistical facts.  All things to ponder on as we walked and watched  for the next marker.

It was interesting how we began to look forward to the porta pottie in the distance. This gave us a physical statement, we had accomplished another segment of the 22 mile stroll.  As we started in the dark, we had in our mind where we were heading, we had a vision of our end goal.  So we walked.  Just for fun we stopped and turned off our lights and looked at the night sky...we also looked directly around us and realized we were alone.  Beautiful night with Sister's voices murmuring in the distance.

Then a little more than half way we were rewarded with a vista, our goal was now in sight!

Some of us finished with blisters, some with killer knees, some with sore toes, and aching calves, and shins which would not quit.  Some were nonchalant in their aches and pains, and a few of us were without physical pain.  However, I feel all of us have an inward smile of "Yes, I did this".

As one sister commented, "You know, it's kind of like child birth....hard while you are doing it.  But, you kind of forget once you get there and can't wait to do it again."