Thank You for Accepting the Call

Dear Beloved Ma's and Pa's,

Thank you for accepting the call to serve as Ma’s and Pa’s!  Your participation in the 2024 Salt Lake Utah South Tongan Stake trek will bring unique opportunities to interact with our young men and young women in a very different setting. Your commitment to love and support our youth is truly inspiring, and we express our deepest gratitude for your dedication to nurturing their testimonies of the gospel. Together, as stalwart Ma's and Pa's, you are integral to guiding our youth on a profound spiritual journey during this trek. Thank you for embarking on this sacred adventure with our youth, instilling in them the enduring values of our shared gospel. Several trek families will be assigned Big Brothers and Big Sisters (YSA leaders) who will also be present to help support their trek families with their goals and purpose. 

Ma and Pa, your journey is to enhance the spiritual experience for both yourselves and the youth. Immerse yourselves in spiritual preparation, seeking the divine in every action and word. Your pivotal role involves nurturing the spiritual growth of the youth during the trek. Create an atmosphere charged with the Spirit through the infusion of music, stories, testimonials, expressions of love, and family discussions.

Your mission extends to fostering unity within your trek family, encouraging the development of strong, supportive bonds among members. Encourage your trek family to remain together rather than merging with those they are already familiar with. Be living examples of the interpersonal skills you aim to instill in the youth. Operate in harmony, offer mutual support, and share enjoyable experiences to set the stage for a cohesive journey.

Dedicate yourselves to kindling the active involvement of youth in the trek. Instead of shouldering most responsibilities, facilitate collaborative efforts within the group. Encourage the youth to step outside their comfort zones willingly, avoiding the imposition of activities against their will. Foster a sense of voluntary engagement. 

Emphasis the importance of collective effort to ensure a mutually beneficial trek experience. Emphasize the necessity of courtesy and respect among participants, laying the foundation for a positive and respectful journey.

Serve as positive role models, embodying love, humility, and firmness while injecting an element of fun. Address any disruptions caused by individual youth, offering counsel to rectify challenges. In the face of inevitable trek difficulties, guide the group with positivity and prayerfulness.

Respond to the call from the missionaries at Martin's Cove by recognizing and harnessing the capabilities of the youth. Actively involve them in planning, incorporating their ideas, and assisting them in executing assignments. By allowing youth leadership, the trek experience becomes more profound for both the young participants and yourselves. Recognize the diversity within families and tailor your approach to the unique personalities within your group, seeking guidance from the Spirit. 

Encourage open sharing of thoughts and emotions. Prompt group discussions during formal and informal settings, from mealtimes to campfires and devotionals. Share personal experiences, express feelings, and testify of truth. You will be asked to conduct a daily Trek Family Devotional. This will be a great opportunity to reflect on the trek experience and the promptings of the Spirit.

Remain vigilant, keeping track of the youth in your group at all times. Your presence is crucial for understanding their thoughts, feelings, and personalities. Talk with and listen to the youth individually and as a group.We will utilize the buddy system; the youth need to ask your permission before they leave the family for any reason. They must always go with their buddy. Ma’s and Pa’s are to assign youth in their family as buddies – YW as buddies, YM as buddies, but not a YM and YW as buddies! You may need to have a trio!

Ensure the well-being of all group members, emphasizing hydration and safety. Monitor the health of each participant and promptly address concerns by communicating with the medical team if necessary.