I was called to be Young Women's Camp Director I believe in February.
It felt so good to serve with the Young Women again. I really have missed it.
I am so glad that it was at a stake level. It taught me a lot and prepared me a little more if I ever had to plan camp on my own. It's overwhelming how much actually goes into planning girls camp and how many months in advance you need to start.
Justin always asked why I had so many meetings and what there possibly was to talk about. :)
Even though Summer started in June, I was so busy that month wrapping up last minute camp things that we didn't have too much free time yet.
everyday life and all of your senses always brings you back to Christ.
Each day we focused on a sense and had devotionals and little less
This year was amazing! Seriously one of the best camp years I have ever been.
Our theme was "Come To Your Senses". I absolutely loved this theme. it was about that sense for the day and how it relates to the Gospel.
One of the Days we went to lake. It's a good mile or so hike from our campsite.
The weather was gorgeous but, the wind was picking up from a storm moving in.
We were most likely not going to be able to go out on the lake.
We all got together and prayed that we would be able to have this opportunity for the girls and for the wind to die down long enough for us to go out.
After that we sang, Our Saviors Love and went to get the life jackets on and went out on the Lake.
Sure enough the wind calmed, we spent the rest of our allowed time on the water and as soon as the last people came up the dock afterwards a huge gust of wind came through and stayed.
It was so windy we could hardly hear each other talk. Such a great example of how Heavenly Father does hear our prayers and no matter what it is, if it is important to us, it is to Him also.
It was a small miracle.
The sense for this Day was Hearing. It was amazing the things that happened that had to do with that. There were so many times this day that we all as a ward had to step back and just listen to each other. Emotions from the girls were running a little high.
We had a major Thunderstorm going on from after the time we left the lake through the night.
It was hard to sleep because of the Thunder and downpours. I love those storms though.
I was on the hiking committee with a few other leaders. I took charge of the 5 mile hike.
It was a great hike. It was nothing like what I have done in the past like...walking down a dirt road for a bit and going back.
It was up steep trails, climbing over and through fallen trees on the edge of a steep mountain.
I was so proud of all of the girls.
It was kind of hard at first if you weren't in shape.
It was so good to get to the top and see the awesome view of everything and see the look of accomplishment from everyone and then to hike downhill the rest of the way back.
We told the girls beforehand that they "Can Do Hard Things!" Everyone had a much better attitude after that. This day the Sense was Touch. As we hiked up the mountain we thought about our touch in a physical aspect and mental aspect, like how those around us have touched our lives and by all of the encouragement going on from everyone.
Earlier that day we did service projects for the camp.
Our group chopped, piled and moved wood.
Others filled wheel barrows and laid bark on the trails. It was all pretty physical but left a good feeling knowing we were helping to make this camp a better place.
Monday the Sense was Sight.
For FHE that night we had two surprise guests.
First, Hilary Weeks showed up with her family.
She was so wonderful to come be with us on a family night and share her time with us.
She told some wonderful stories and sang a few songs.
The real treat. as she put it, was Kris Belcher. She was amazing and funny.
She lost her sight completely from radiation when she was a child. It went perfect with the Sense for that day. She is an amazing person. It was wonderful to hear how she lives her everyday life and is so happy despite not having the gift of sight.
Here is a link for her story... It's not letting my highlight and link her name for some reason...
This day was just the kickoff for the rest of the week. It was one spiritual moment after another.
Thursday morning we woke up to it still raining. At one point there was hail. There were huge puddles everywhere. It got so cold we actually had to where our hats gloves and other layers.
My feet were numb.
We spent all morning in the pavilion.
During the devotional I look over towards our cabin and saw two moose, a larger one and it's youngen.
After the devotional our Stake Young Women's President asked us to go back to our cabins to work on our bookmarks and other things for a service pack that we were making for some kids in India. But, as we all get back to pray together and individually that the rain will stop so we can have the Faith walk that was planned for that night.
Thursday was also Bishops night and testimony meetings.
It was a big day and with the rain, not all of it could happen. Within a little bit of going back to the cabins the rain let up. Within about an hour, It completely stopped.
The puddles dried up and the rest of the day was wonderful. We could see the storm surrounding us the whole time, but it never came over us. I kept joking that we were the only dry spot in the area and the storm is circling around us. A few weeks later I heard from a few other stakes that left camp early that day because the rain never stopped and everything was getting too muddy and puddles everywhere. That confirmed another miracle to me. Heavenly Father does hear our prayers and he will make miracles happen if we have enough faith.
This day was Taste. Which was good. I thought that everything tasted so good after the cold and the rain. It was a beautiful day.
I am so thankful I had the opportunity to be a part of Girls camp.
Even our numbers were few this year. I saw their lives touched in a positive way that I hope they will always remember.
What an amazing group we had.
Love you girls!!!
(Our Safety Neon Green Sweatshirts is not what we thought we ordered. But, We grew to love them and they were kind of fun.)
