Trek

Getty's 9th grade year had been rough on all of us. Half-kidding I told him, "You owe us, buddy. What are you going to do to make all this up to us?" 

"Um.... I'll go on Trek."

Hold on.

You'll hike across the plains of Wyoming for five-days dressed as a pioneer; pull a handcart; walk for miles in the summer heat, rain, and hail storms; swat at flies as big as a quarter; and participate in devotionals?... wow. Debt paid in full, my man.

Rob wrote Getty a letter for him to read while on Trek:

Getty,

So here’s the deal….. I love you more than you can currently understand and think you are incredibly smart, creative, and funny!  You came to earth with an innate sense of compassion and desire to make people feel loved and accepted. You are a natural leader and people are drawn to you because of your charisma and humor.  When you want to be, you are the best big brother—you make forts, make videos, camp out, draw, play sports, and make up games like “hall ball”.

You are very sensitive, which allows you to be aware of the needs of others, but also means you can be hard on yourself when you feel like you have disappointed or let others down. Remember that if you ever feel bad about something you have done that the scriptures teach us… “And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.” In other words, you make a decision to change and then move on—God does not want us to be troubled with the past once we have decided to change.

All I want for you is to find happiness and be fulfilled in life. As you know, I think the best way to do this is by following Jesus Christ. I believe Heavenly Father has sent Mom and I choice spirits who will have great missions to fulfill in the earth. I also believe that no other teaching will be more important than for my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to pass into the lives of my children. Remember that you are one of those choice spirits and I have a testimony that following Jesus Christ is the path to becoming all that God wants you to be.

I love you—Party Righteously!

Dad

Getty has an awesome dad.

Trek highlights: 

He was denied his fervent wish to walk the trek entirely barefooted, 

and he hosted Fight Night ("In this corner, weighing 146 lbs...") which, of course, was quickly shut down and morphed into an arm wrestling tournament....