We came straight back from the mountains (back HERE and HERE), to unpack and repack for another trip to the mountains with this group:
Oh, and these women?
Ok, but let's back up for just a sec, because I need to explain a little of what camp is for those who don't know.
Girls' Camp usually happens once a year in the summer. Here in the desert we have mostly done it on a stake level, which means all the congregations that make up a "stake" join together to make this happen. We didn't do camp last year since it was our "Trek" year and so much was going into that (read all about that experience I loved back HERE). You have to be 14 to go on Trek, so the under 14s did their own little camp back HERE, which Claire adored.
But this year we were back on stake camp in this gorgeous spot up in the mountains that the church has set aside and actually blessed to be a gathering spot for young women.
I have sure grown attached to this spot over the years. Last time I went I was in charge of our congregation of girls (since I served as the YW President), and I adored that time as well. Lots more about that one back HERE...I can't believe it's been so many years!
Last time I went just with Elle.
So much has changed!
The best thing that changed is that this year I went in the capacity of an advisor for the Mia Maids (14-15 year olds) and the ward photographer. Much more in my comfort zone!...and also the reason for so many pictures...
Is it just me or can you see her light just shining away in the middle below?
Here she is with some of her 1st-year-girls she worked with...in their little cabin:
Our theme was B.O.O.T CAMP which stood for "Build Our Own Testimonies," and it was beautifully woven into all the activities.
We got there and unpacked.
Those were the girls I got to share a cabin with up there^^
At lunch my friend told me that someone in the last stake there (who had taken over our buses when we got there to go home), had lice. A girl had texted her daughter and shared that great news.
"But don't worry, it was just in cabin 8."
WHOA! Who do you suppose happened to be in cabin 8? Yep, you got it. ME.
We disinfected everything as much as we could and hoped for the best. So far so good...hoping that lasts! Kind of freaked me out a little, gotta admit.
Here we are in our "lucky" cabin #8!
Ok, so on to camp. I will let the pictures tell most of the story because I'm out of time!
We practiced for our little "dance-skit" that night.
One of the things we carried around in our fanny packs were these BEADS to hand out to the girls when they did something great.
But here are Grace and Piper enjoying one thing they "bought" there.
"capers" (jobs):
Love that these sisters got to be together.
Here's a little clip of our ward's skit:
The stake leaders did a dance I wish I had recorded, because seriously, it was awesome. At the end they turned on their gloves which lit up as the lights went out and turned it into a huge dance party.
We had our own ward dance party that night in our little gathering spot.
One of my favorite parts was the next day when this guy from our stake who had been a marine spoke:
He told us his story of how he built his own testimony (the theme), and it was so beautiful. It involved his mother passing away, and his anger at God, and his journey to figure out what brought peace and happiness.
My favorite part was when he talked about how we all have "good seeds" given to us in life. From our parents, leaders, teachers, friends, church, scriptures, etc. Sometimes, like up at camp, those good seeds are so plentiful it's almost like they're raining down on us.
But no matter how many seeds are thrown, or how good they are WE are the ones who have to decide for ourselves to plant them in our hearts. They will just be scattered to the wayside unless we make room for them.
There are so many SEEDS I want to plant in my heart that I learned from those three days up at camp.
In downtime the girls painted, among other things.
A little of the art turned to hair...
By the end of the second day these girls sure were accumulating a lot of beads!
Our ward congregation bishopric came up the second night.
They brought us ice cream :)
Brought some great games and activities...
All the bishops got introduced in our gathering that second night.
Grace was the one who introduced ours.
...and she did a great job.
The TESTIMONY MEETING where each girl got a chance to share their feelings about the Savior and the gospel.
The spirit was so thick and beautiful surrounding us as these girls shared their thoughts, their worries, their triumphs, their vulnerability, and as we could all feel the love of God encircling us and loving us all, no matter how many mistakes we've made or sorrows we've endured.
He is there.
And that night, we all felt it in strong force.
LAST DAY:
The best part of the last day was this little gathering:
I'm going to call it the FAITH WALK.
He has already paid for them.
They met in this little grove where there are all these cool things about families. I think this is new because I haven't seen it before.
These quotes along the sides made me completely tear up with the thoughts of what a powerful force women can be.
Back to the Faith Walk, each girl took a large rock along with a sample "burden" and carried it off along the trail.
Here are some examples of the burdens they carried:
Through the trails marked with scriptures, and beautiful music playing.
At the end of their trails they each read their "burdens" to each other. I wasn't there, but I think that's such a beautiful way to gain empathy for the tough times others go through.
Then they gathered here again and were reminded that the Savior is always there to help them carry those burdens. We all have them. And we need not carry them alone. He is there.
Then they had the opportunity to leave those burdens they had been carrying here.
Oh I hope they will remember that.
As they let those seeds of Faith I talked about earlier take root in their hearts along the road.
