Build Our Own Testimony Girls Camp
As some of you know, I was called to be part of the Young Women's
organization in our church last year. Alas, at the beginning of the
year, everything was reorganized, and I was no longer in YW. It was a
very sad time for me, as I was looking forward to getting to know the
girls more, and to go to GIRLS CAMP, which, if you know me, was one of
my most favorite things growing up! So I begged my friend Cressida, who
just so happened to be Stake camp director, and President of the primary
that just called me to be primary music leader, to let me come, in
whatever capacity I could. She totally came through! I was asked to be
the activities leader at camp! I was so excited, and started trying to
think of great things to do. The way that they do camp here is much
different than what I was used to, so the things I thought of quickly
turned out to be something I either couldn't do, or was already being
taken care of by the craft leader, or the priesthood leaders.
Here is where I decided to just do what I could do, try
out some fun games and things, and see what the girls liked. Well, we
had some fun things such as MAD GAB Book of Mormon scripture
mastery-style, WHO SAID IT? Dieter or Dumbledore, CATCH PHRASE LDS
edition, WHO SAID IT? Prophet or Princess, and Personal Progress Taboo. I
also had Jaran help me make a huge JENGA game out of 2x4's, which
looked like a fun time! I got a volleyball so they could play in the
sand pit, and also found a game of ladder ball for them to throw around.
I also had a game of Shaving cream balloon tag planned, as well as
swimming one night. Here is how things turned out:
Monday- we arrived at camp early with what I called Junior Leaders, but
were dubbed YCL's or Youth Camp Leaders. Cressida had things planned out
very well, and things were organized as wards arrived with girls. Here,
they had cabins for everyone, and so each ward had their own place.
Each year had a special colored headband thing, so we could tell how
long they'd been at camp, so they got those as they arrived, as well as a
pretty nifty camo-lei. It was a lot of introductions and settling in,
then we had our first flag ceremony, with role call, devotional, etc. We
had dinner, we played some of my games, and we had a nice fun time.
There were tons of other things too, but I didn't write things down like
I should have, so this is what you get. Also, let me mention, it rained
a good part of the day.
Tuesday- this is the day we were supposed to go swimming. It was at an
outdoor pool in Red Lodge, and it was, yet again, a rainy day. So we
decided to cancel the swimming. Not a big deal, right? Well, that was
what our activity was for the day! So luckily someone had the grand idea
to do a movie in one hall, and a dance party in the other, both of
which were great. But earlier in the day, we had certification, crafts,
all sorts of fun things to do. You might ask what I was doing when we
didn't have activities? Following people around. That's what I did.
Mostly Cressida, but also my other buddies: Tia, Tessa, and Kisha, a
new-found friend. Earlier in the day, we realized we didn't have enough
camp song books for everyone, and so I volunteered to run into Red Lodge
and print some up. I had to re-type all the songs we wanted to use, and
try and fit them all on one page, to keep costs low. It took some time,
and it was hot in the library, but I got it done! I also picked up a
movie for the show later on. The only G or PG rated movie I could find
was: MARS NEEDS MOMS! What? UGH! But at least it was only $5 and I
wouldn't go back empty handed. When I got back, people were playing
JENGA! Yay! A success. The night before it really took some coaxing to
get people to play the games I made, so I was happy to see that. The 4th
year campers were supposed to go on an over-night camping trip, but
with the weather, they decided to stay in camp. We had a fun time around
the campfire singing songs and dancing the night away.
Wednesday- this was hike day. All of they years had hikes they had to go
on, and so the few of us leaders that stayed back played some cards,
and then I recruited them to help me fill water balloons with shaving
cream. Alas, things didn't go according to plan. As we filled the
balloons, we quickly found that the kind of balloons I had made some
unfortunate shapes, that were inappropriate for the girls to be using.
Not only that, but the ones we managed to get to look like pears,
started popping after a while. You see, the shaving cream kept
expanding, even after tying the balloons. So we decided that we needed
to stop, and just went out and threw them at each other instead. I was
having a bit of a sad time, because I felt that I was failing as the
activities director. Luckily, everyone was very understanding, and most
of the girls wanted to do crafts anyway- which was scheduled at the same
time.
After girls got back from hikes, we prepared for the best thing ever!
The YCL's and the stake leaders were to help everyone else go on a
little journey. They were to hold to the iron rod, and find their way to
the tree of light. The YCL's were the tempters, and the leaders were
the encouragers. At the top, two YCL's met the girls to take their blind
fold off, and their bishops were there to congratulate them on a job
well done. We had a tree decorated in Christmas lights, with a beautiful
song to greet them, and Kisha then bore her testimony. It was a very
spiritual experience, for some more than others, but I very much enjoyed
it. After this, we had testimony meeting as wards, which was pretty
great, even though ours is so small. I was, of course, a blubbering
idiot, and could barely get words out, but it was a great night!
Thursday- this was our last day. A short day, as we needed to be gone by one. Cressida had asked me to do the morning devotional, so I had put some stuff together. When I got up, my face was swollen from the crying the night before, and who knows what else, so I'm sure I looked a mess. I of course cried through half of what I said, but I think I got the point across. We had some more certification, and then a SLIDESHOW!!! I pretended to help as I watched Tia go through pictures and put things together. As I was sitting there, I realized my socks were really tight and annoying, so I pulled up my pants, and was horrified by the amount of swelling I saw. So I put my feet up on a chair and tried to not worry about it. My feet and hands had been swollen off and on the whole time there, but nothing like this. It had never happened with previous pregnancies, so it was a bit worrisome, but I pushed it to the back of my mind, for the most part. The slideshow was great, and the girls all had a great time watching it. Then it was time to say goodbye! It was sad for me, even though I didn't feel like I'd done a whole lot up there, I kind of felt like the mascot, as my belly seemed to be a standout. I'm not sure that anyone really knew my name, I was just the pregnant lady! I felt as though I'd gotten close to a few of the girls, and that it was really a better experience I got from them, than that they got from me.
Cressida, Tia, Kisha, Tessa and I, banded together much of the time. Every night before bed, we'd meet in the mess hall, and have a warm beverage. Luckily, I had taken my homemade hot chocolate, and what we in my family refer to as Mormon Tea, which is basically a spiced orange drink. We never went to bed before midnight, and I loved having some time with these awesome ladies! They are all amazing women, and I miss them all, even though it's been only a few days since being with them all. I made some fun new friends in some of the other leaders, and I was reminded of the joys of youth. I doubt I was ever as crazy and obnoxious and hilarious as some of these girls were... right? There are so many experiences I'll have to remember and write down, and try and come back and add them. I am so grateful to be surrounded by such great ladies who teach me all the time, and remind me of my blessings!
