YW Camp 2008

Exhausted would definitely be the one-word summary of how I feel right now. However, I couldn't limit the adjectives about this year's YW Camp: Fabulous, Fantastic, Amazing, Perfect, Super, Great, Tasty (food), Spiritual, Seriously Awesome and Wonderful are just a few.

Despite the concern of Northern California Fires, we trekked up to Camp Lehi in the Santa Cruz Mountains this week. On Wednesday morning, Rog and Sarah drove me to camp and set up our tent. (I know, I really should learn how to set it up myself, but I did help! My tent mates came up later that day and they were happy to have some place to stay.) His attention to my inadequacies in the tent area were not unfounded. Here's a picture of us tent-mates (and Marisa) taking down our tent on Saturday morning. Let's just say - don't take out the stakes before getting out of the tent first! But I do want to say that Cyndi, Andrea, Marisa and I got the tent to fit in the bag after we took it down. Rog didn't have to repack the tent when I got home! (Yes, it was Cyndi's tent expertise that made it happen, but I was proud none-the-less!)





My position in camp this year was Kitchen Helper (ie "Cookie"). Can I just say it is the BEST job at camp. No stress, lots of food and great conversation. Definitely my dream job. (I've been wanting to do it since I was Camp Director 2005 & 2006). I loved hanging out in the kitchen where there's plenty of food for the pregnant lady! And can I just say that Candy had prepared a tasty menu and Tedra, Kami & Dave were perfect in executing it!


A few more words to describe camp: Unity, Love, Friendship and Uplifting. I loved getting to know the girls in my stake better. I have to admit I had to learn names for about a third of the 30 girls there. And I'm so glad I had the opportunity! They are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

My only regret is not having more pictures. I definitely hope I can get a copy of the leaders' human bowling skit on Wednesday night. I was the bowler, Annie was the ball, and 10 leaders acted as pins. Seeing Annie somersault into the head pin, knocking all but one down was such a sight. However, I had to have a talk with Andrea afterward about being the "stubborn pin" who ruined my chance for a strike. Not getting dirty on the stage floor was not a good enough excuse ... :)

Thursday was a big day at camp. We did a service project, Gospel Feud (a knock off of Family Feud), Certification (Cyndi, you are AMAZING!), Spa Time and a faith walk. I was pretty beat by the time pedicures rolled around, but I was excited to help in giving them to three girls. As I washed each girl's "camp" feet I thought of the time when Jesus Christ washed his Apostles' feet. Washing my girls' feet definitely was a labor of love for them. They are so special!



The faith walk was another highlight for me. Pua, who has just received her mission call to the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission, put together the program called "Sojourn of Destiny." As I walked with the younger campers along the trail we met 4 youth camp leaders who portrayed YW in different transitional periods of life: A new beehive (12-year-old just entering the YW program struggling with the changes of being the youngest in the group), a miamaid (a 14-year-old just entering high school) a laurel (a 16-year-old facing the responsibilities of driving, dating and balancing school & extra curricular schedules) and a recent graduate from YW and high school (finding out what it is like living away from home and making BIG choices). It ended with a walk up a hill, holding onto a rope with the direction to hold onto the rope (the word of God), while tempters tried to get the YW to get distracted from their goal. At the top of the hill was a "temple" (Thank you Justine & Jim!) where Pua addressed the girls about their challenges in life and the focus they should have to draw closer to Christ. Again, it was AMAZING. We as a Stake YW Presidency gave each girl a beaded pearl bracelet to remind them of the evening and that their testimony is a pearl to be cherished.


Friday was more laid back. We did a GPS treasure hunt in the morning and went swimming at a little camping "resort" off the mountain. The girls LOVED having some down time. Thanks President Carter for treating us all to ice cream at Fosters afterward! That evening the girls made an amazing Dutch Oven dinner - complete with cobbler! SUPER, SUPER TASTY! The fireside and testimony meeting that night was just beautiful and went late into the night, finishing just before midnight. (I did say EXHAUSTED, right?)

Saturday morning President & Kathy Carter gave a special morning-side devotional before we broke down camp. Their thoughts on how the YW are Daughters of a King who are to Walk in the Light were just perfect. I have a strong testimony of their call to lead our stake at this time. I realize this post is getting long, but I want to record a little of President Carter's talk taken from President Henry B. Eyring's address to the YW in March. President Carter gave each YW a walking stick with the following quote attached:

“It is by faith that you can lay hold upon every good thing. I pray with all my heart that your faith will be increased that you are a daughter of a loving God. I testify to you that you have been one of the valiant ones to reach the point where you now are in this journey of life. Just as you are marked as a target by the enemy of righteousness, you have been protected and watched over by your Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They know you. They know all of the forces and individuals around you. They know what is ahead of you. And so They know which of the choices you make, which of the desires you decide to satisfy, and which of the circumstances around you will make the most difference in keeping you walking in the light. I testify that by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come. Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith.”

“When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and the happiness that will finally be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring with you, who have walked in the light because you did.”

I hope always to walk in the light and I just want to say how great Young Women Camp is to help the girls (and leaders) to do so! It was such a great week!