Stake girls camp 2016

I have to say that for all the trepidation I had going into this camp, it really turned out wonderful.  

Stacy found this place online that none of us had ever heard of called Mia Shalom.  It is by Fairview and is a church owned property.  They said they had cabins, a lake and challenge course and flush toilets!  That sounded great so we reserved it.  Then when we were about a month away from camp, Stacy, and some of the other leaders went to check it out.  It had all those things they had said, but on a much smaller scale than what we pictured.  Poor Stacy had to deal with all the questions and problems (people  didn't know what to expect since no one had ever been there, but they really made it harder than it needed to be!) everyone in the stake had for her.  She handled it really well though.  Wow There is a lot of stuff that goes into planning and preparing a stake girls camp!  Stacy really did a great job with it though.  The things they planned with her assistants and the youth leaders really turned out neat.  I was so impressed with the youth leaders this year.  They really took charge of the activities and devotionals and did a great job with them.  You can sure see them being prepared for missions and to be the next leaders. 

This couple were the missionaries that were in charge at the camp.  They were really a hoot and just as nice as they could be. They told us about the camp and what we should and shouldn't do, then they sang this funny song.  They took a couple of girls that were struggling under their wing and were always close by if anyone needed anything. 

We got to do the lake, Challenge course and volleyball  the first day and it was a lot of fun.  It was a lot of work but fun getting the girls in and out of the boats. They had cut up noodles and painted them the value colors.  We tossed them out into the  lake and they had to gather one of each color and string it on a rope and bring it to us.  It was pretty challenging communicating this to the deaf ward girls. Ha ha They had their own idea of how they wanted to do it, so we just let it happen.  Having this deaf ward in our stake has been really cool.  I love to watch them when they are singing, signing the songs.  They put so much feeling into it, it seems a lot more meaningful.

Our cute 6th ward leaders

This was  part of the challenge course.  I think the girls enjoyed it.  That first night we had this gal come up and talk to the girls that was really outstanding.  She does EFY and really knew how to relate to the girls. She had a great message for the girls.  After she was finished, the girls swarmed around her and wanted to talk to her more!

This was the second day.  We did the service project which was watering little trees they had just planted.  We got an empty jug and took it to the lake and filled it up, then hiked up the hill to water the trees.

After the trees were all watered, we had some free time.  We had headbands for the girls to make at our cabin.  Most of the wards had some crafts to do and enjoyed some fun time with their wards. Us leaders went around to all the camps to see what they were doing.

Thursday night was the skits.  Wow some of these wards went all out and brought up pretty elaborate costumes and props.  They were all really cute! 

Later that night we all went down to the lake for our singing tree.  It was really cool.  There were two other stakes there in other camp grounds around the lake. They started singing some songs they had prepared and  turned all their flashlights onto their faces.  In the meantime, our cute missionaries started a bonfire on the back of a raft that was hooked to a row boat and they rowed it around the lake to be in front of who ever was singing. When they finished, the next group would start with their songs. It was pretty moving.

And that night sky looked like something out of the movies.  Its so amazing to be able to see all the stars, some planets and even the milky way. After hearing those songs that are so tender, and staring into the brilliant night sky, I think everyone was feeling the closeness of heaven.

!

The next day was our hike.  Reed Arnold was so kind to come spend the day with us and lead us on the hike.  He has done a lot of hunting in the area and knows it well so he knew right where to take them. He was great with the girls and taught about tracks and  what wild life was out there and about different plants and trees growing there.

This was so cool!  When we made it to the top of the ridge, there was one lone pine tree growing there.  The missionaries had told us about a legend of the lone pine and had given the story to us to tell the girls  The story compared the lone tree to Jesus and was really moving.  It was so special to see all the girls stand around the tree with their arms around each other and repeat the young women theme.  There was such a sweet peaceful spirit there..

Gina and Diane came up Friday to spend the last day with the girls. There were both advisers  It's kind of funny cause a few weeks later, Gina was called as the new president and Diane as her first counselor in YW.  They will be great!

 Reed pointed out a few different tracks, deer, bobcat, bear?  The missionaries told us they had seen a bear on the east side of the little valley up behind the cabins.  They didn't seem too concerned though and said they were going to set a trap to try to catch it.

There were deer all over the place.  This was looking out the window of our cabin.

This last night was so special.  We all wanted to help the girls have a spiritual experience and Stacy was searching for ideas.  She heard there was a  gal in the stake that was good at writing so she asked her if she could write a script for these woman from the book of mormon to present.  It was something that I had never seen done before  and was pretty incredible.  She wrote  as if these different women were speaking...first Eve, then Sarah, Then Sariah Abish, Mary and a mother of the stripling warrior. .These women dressed like their women would have and had their parts  perfected. They portrayed  their woman so well, everyone was seriously on the edge of their seat, holding onto each word they said.  Joann and Sharlene were Sarah and the mother of the stripling warrior.  They did such a good job!

Rick built this cool stand that held all the different themes for the devotionals...it was our theme for this year....Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope...etc.  The girls really outdid their selves in the devotionals where they presented their part of the theme.

Friday night after our special program, all the wards went back to have their own testimony meeting.  It was pretty special to get to spend that evening with our own ward.

This was Saturday morning after our last devotional.  Gosh I've loved spending this time with these ladies.  I didn't know Tammy or Kristy before, but going through a girls camp experience brings you real close. Brenda, Ann and Jennie are all amazing ladies and I'm so glad I've had this chance to serve with them. I know they will be forever friends.

Our presidency  had to shut the place down so we were waiting (a little impatiently) as all the wards loaded everything up and cleaned their cabins.  Then we had to inspect and tell them if they were good to go.  One ward was sure dragging their feet and were not in any hurry to get out of there.  They started a fire to burn more garbage they found (this was after everyone else had left!  really???)  We were all giving them the eyeball and checking our watches but they just sat around and talked like they had all day. After about an hour, they finally finished up and we  checked their cabin and said "lets go!"  People! 

The sweet missionary couple escorted us out of this beautiful little place that I had fallen in love with  and another girls camp was history.