Girls Camp Rookie

This year I went to Stake Girls Camp for the first time in my life!  For one fabulous week I was surrounded by the most amazing, talented, spiritual, fun, cheerful, loving, funny, smart, profound, sweet, creative, hard working, unique, deep, pure, faithful, beautiful, light-filled, covenant-keeping, energetic, knowledgeable, quietly powerful, crazy, sincere, holy, authentic, inspiring, remarkable, strong and Christ-like women of all different ages! How blessed am I!?!

For those that don't know what Girls Camp is, it is a big group of young women between 12-19 years old and slightly older leaders (such as myself) from a stake fluffing it roughing it in the great outdoors for a week. Where possible, young women in the LDS Church do Girls Camp once a year to give the young women a unique experience where they can strengthen testimonies, feel the Spirit, make friendships, serve, and develop leadership and other skills.  Just do a Google search for LDS Girls Camp and you will be overwhelmed by all the great experiences and ideas that go along with Girls Camp all over the world.

So much work goes into planning and pulling off a Girls Camp.  It is long and hard work too.  You can't just slop things together.  Things have to be pretty and cute even when you're camping.  Everything came together beautifully and it all felt effortless (though all the leaders know if certainly was not).  I just want to say a quick thank you to Angel Harvey, Cassandra Murdock, RaNae Ledingham and the other members of the stake presidencies, cooks, leaders and everyone else who made camp a success.

This year our camp theme was "Bloom Where You're Planted."  Our group was the Wild Flowers.  It was truly fitting.

I didn't join the LDS Church until after I was past the age of the Young Women's Program and I've never had a calling in Young Women's with an excuse to go to Girls Camp before so it was a terrifying experience great opportunity to finally get to go.  Going into this and throughout camp, I felt almost like I was making some kind of nature documentary... almost like I was an outsider being invited in to observe the the customs of the Girls Camp natives.  They were, after-all, Girls camp pros with years of camp experience and know-how and I was the total rookie that was called to be a "leader."  I have to chuckle at the irony of the whole situation.  I know I learned so much more from everyone around me than I ever could have taught them.  I observed the girl's camp natives have their devotionals, their crafts, their skits, their songs, their boating day, their service, their friendships, their testimony meetings and all else.  To an outsider such as myself, it was all a whirlwind.  I captured moments and memories through a camera (until the battery died on day two).  Despite what I am lacking, I hope the pictures still captured the overall essence of Girls Camp. 

I admit my first feelings and impressions of being invited to Girls Camp were that of fear, panic, inadequacy, and just a general sense of being overwhelmed.  Seriously, I wondered what in the world the RaNae Ledingham and the rest of Stake Young Women's Presidency and Camp Directors were thinking when they came to conclusion to ask me to go.  They had to know that certainly there are so many better-qualified and overall better women to participate in such a wonderful and important occasion.  And yet in the ambush of being asked to go, the words "sure I'll go" escaped my mouth and I had sealed my fate.

And then they told me I would be doing pack-in with the Youth Leaders (aka trekking into the Timpanogos wilderness with about 25 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 for an overnight camp out with all our needed supplies on our backs).  That certainly did not inspire confidence in my out-of-shape self.  Thankfully I was paired with two completely amazing other leaders for our group: Lisa Richards and the camping queen herself, Cassandra Murdock.  Thank you ladies for being such powerful examples of great leaders.

 

Waiting to hike.  That's a lot of stuff!

Is that a bird I hear?  Nope, just the girls and their special talents.

I must say I was extremely, abundantly and increasingly blessed in the whole experience... not only that I was even invited to go but also in very real and tangible ways as I saw and felt the Lord helping me (and others) the whole time.  When I say I was not prepared for Girls Camp, I mean there were a lot of aspects of camp that I didn't think I could do.  I don't camp.  I don't function on lack of sleep.  I am naturally shy and I don't easily assimilate into groups of people I don't know.  I didn't know the ins and outs of what happens at Girls Camp so I felt like I was walking in blind.  And I've never worked with the young women.  Not only that, but when I say I was completely unready to carry a stocked backpack into the wilderness, I am not kidding or exaggerating.  I know I should work out and exercise on a regular basis, but I don't.  I like chilling on the couch with my hubby much more than burning calories.  OK, no judging.  The idea of hiking switchbacks for 3 hours was not on the top of my to-do or abilities list.  In fact, I borrowed a backpack from my parents and when I put it on (empty) I felt like I was going to fall over.  I was scared!  I must thank Cassie for carrying the tent we shared so I didn't tip over backwards like a sad turtle tragedy before we even got started.

Our priesthood brethren: Gary Martin and Andy Johnson were also extremely well prepared to brave the great outdoors after their years of camping with scouts.

But the Monday morning I left for camp I asked Kole to give me a priesthood blessing.  I have a great testimony of the power and miracles brought to pass through such blessings because I have seen a felt their effects in my life multiple times over.  I give my witness that priesthood blessings are real and powerful.  They are a divine gift from God to aid His children in times of trial, difficulty and other needs because He loves us and wants us to feel His love and blessing in our lives.  I don't remember the exact words of the blessing that morning but I do know that he blessed me with peace, comfort, strength and the other abilities I would need to make it through camp.  Boy did I need that blessing!  And I have to say it worked miraculously.  As we started hiking through the wilderness and up and up and up the mountain... and up and up more, I could totally feel the Lord strengthening me and enabling me along the way... far beyond my natural abilities or anything I could do unaided by a divine hand.  It was almost like the longer I hiked, the better and better I felt.  I mean, it was work and I was hot and sweaty and it was not like sitting on the couch, but I felt great.  Much better than I should have felt in such a situation.  I must admit I kind of felt like I was cheating.  I bet Cassie is wishing she had made me carry the tent after all.  I saw all those girls in their youth and natural vigor and it was a hard hike for them.  And rightly so, this hike was designed to tear them down and then build them up and strengthen their confidence that they can do hard things.  The girls were amazing (and the leaders too).  They all made it.  They all succeeded.  It was a beautiful parallel of the way these girls can triumph over difficult and challenging obstacles in their lives.  It was a testimony building experience for me that the Lord will be there for me personally as I face mountains in my life- both figurative and literal. It was a faith building experience that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is designed for our every day lives.  God cares about the things that matter to us.  Pack-in mattered to me and therefore I had the faith that the Lord would intercede in my behalf.  The Atonement, the grace of God, is not just for occasional use or for when we make mistakes or sin outright.  It is supposed to be a power that lives in us and transforms us and defines us.  It is not just for when we need forgiveness and eternal salvation but for our weaknesses, struggles, heartaches, frailties, and all else that pains us and seeks to bind us down in this life. It is for our daily walk with God.  It enriches, empowers, cleanses, heals, strengthens, transforms and completes us.   The Atonement is for each and every person- and I myself have witnessed the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in every corner and crevice of my life.

 

 Cassie blazed the trail.  Up and up and up we went...  most of us with gigantic backpacks keeping us slow and steady... one of us without (you know who you are and we still love you).

Ahhhh.  nature.

Until we finally arrived in a beautiful meadow with a gorgeous view.

  That afternoon we played games that were too hard on our tired minds.  We avoided the ant infested log. We also braved the "bear infested woods" to go potty.  Cassie shared slightly untrue tales of "urine poisoning" with the girls that didn't want to pee in the great outdoors.  They all decided that holding it just wasn't worth it.  

 

Not the kind of ants on a log we're used to.

At night we gathered around the campfire for a devotional.

Thank you to Dave and Janet Wooley who donated beautiful arrow head necklaces to all the youth leaders.  They were all unique and the girls loved them.  Cassie used the necklaces as part of her devotional about the "fiery darts of the Adversary."  The necklaces served as a reminder of our lesson and set the youth leaders apart once we got to the rest of camp.  Even though Dave and Janet had some last minute life events that kept them from coming to camp, I am still thankful for their prayers, sacrifice and love that contributed to this year's camp.

That evening we also hallowed out oranges to make orange brownies in the campfire-  they never quite cooked enough but the batter was good anyhow.  We went to bed in tiny tents set up on bumpy grounds with thin and narrow pads.  Cassie and I shared a tent and talked far too late for our own good.  I suppose I slept but it didn't really feel like it.  Cassie claims I hog the bed.  In my own defense, when your sleeping pad is only as wide as your body and the tent is only 2 1/2 people wide, it feels like everyone is taking up too much space.  

But we awoke the next morning to a beautiful sunrise.

Makes me wish I was a morning person.

We took final pictures to prove we actually made it.  Don't these girls look gorgeous!  I don't think sweat or tears or hiking or camping or lack of sleep or lack of makeup or anything else could make these girls less than stunning. 

 

Cassie says I look like Backpacking Barbie??? ha ha.  I wish!

 We packed up our stuff and hiked down a road that was inconspicuously placed just on the other side of the meadow.  Pack-in was tough... pack-out, not so much.  

 

And away we go.

Next we drove through beautiful canyons and the cute country town of Wallsburg to our campground where we met up with the younger girls and other leaders for the rest of camp week.  It was a step up from the vast wilderness of pack-in but we still slept in tents and lived out of duffel bags so for me, that is still roughing it.  Yes, for the majority of camp we were blessed enough to have bathrooms with running water (because I just don't know if all the girls could pee behind bushes all week long) and we had showers (cold showers, but showers nonetheless).  We also had a full cooking crew.  I ate like each meal could be my last meal.  The food was amazing!  So much more than burnt smores and hot dogs dropped in the camp fire.  I am sure I gained 5 pounds that week.  OK, so it wasn't "women vs wild", but nature was all around us and it was great to temporarily step out of the digital age and lay aside all the distractions of modern life for a week.

A minute here and there for a few posed pictures.

 We all had fun on the ropes course.  I loved the girls' creativity and willingness to put themselves in some pretty awkward positions to pull things off.  I wonder if the different obstacles were designed not only to teach us great gospel principles but also to help us feel ridiculous working through them.  

It certainly brought us closer together in many ways. 

For me, the most mentally strenuous and yet the best was the zip lining.  I am pretty afraid of heights and anyone who knows me knows I don't choose to take higher ground unless I'm being chased by flying spiders.  Yes, I know it is totally irrational, especially when you are totally harnessed in and there is absolutely no way anyone is going to let you fall (thanks Kenny Murdock), but it is still out of my comfort zone to walk/wobble (not-so-effortlessly) across a tight rope with only ridiculously far spaced hanging ropes to cling to and then finally stand a top a tiny platform before speeding down towards the ground.  But I made it.  I survived.  And thus is life.  The object lesson is a beautiful similitude of the Atonement.  How thankful I am that no matter what happens in life- no matter how high and long and hard the climb, or wobbly the way, or difficult the obstacles, we can be harnessed to the Atonement of Jesus Christ through our covenants and the Savior will always sustain and support us so we don't ever have to fear that we are beyond His power to save us. 

 And a big shout out to Annette Davis who selflessly and bravely stood on that tiny platform for several hours to ensure all the girls who wanted to participate could.  Little did we know that she was terrified of heights too and yet she sacrificed for all of us so patiently and lovingly all day long.  Thank you Annette.

On Wednesday morning we "hiked" a small hill by the camp.  All the youth leaders laughed that they called it a hike.  It was a leisurely stroll at best- an no clunky backpacks.  The youth leaders lead out and then stood as guides for the younger girls along the trail with rocks stacked as markers along the way- each representing important gospel principles such as faith, repentance, tithing, sacrament, scriptures, temples, etc.  

 At the top we ate lunch as had a devotional by the Stake Young Women's presidency.

Back at camp, all the groups prepared skits for the visitors night.  We prepared our group skit based on the book "Where the Wild Things Are"- only we called it "Where the Wild Flowers Are."  Our skit had everything from a girl in a tiger hat to giant talking flowers, to a music-mash-up rumpus, to random dogs and a leaping deer... and lots of inside jokes that I'm sure flew right over the heads of the audience.  But we all knew why they were so funny.  If only everyone could have experienced it in person.

Now, of all the great camp experiences, I can't forget to share our camp miracle.  We were blessed every day with perfect weather except for during a few hours one evening mid-week.  Wednesday evening all the stake leaders and bishops were invited up to camp to participate in a special devotional with all the campers.  As all the visitors started arriving, the storm clouds rolled in and the rain started to fall.  Our plans for a devotional and skits in the outdoor amphitheater where sidelined and we were forced to all gather under a pavilion with a tin roof.  I felt really bad too because I had made Kole come all the way up there to visit me (and bring me some mid-week provisions) and there he was stuck in the rain.  As the storm progressed the rain got harder and heavier and harder and heaver and even harder and heavier.  At first the intensity of it was fun and exciting but it quickly became apparent that this was a bad situation.  The sound was so intense (even without the pounding on the metal roof) that we couldn't hear each other talk without yelling.  There was no way to do a devotional when no one could communicate.  The downpour was long and hard and our camp quickly became overrun by water.  Our pavilion became an island surrounded by rivers of muddy water running all through camp and unfortunately directly towards our tents down hill.  We began to get the feeling that if this didn't stop very soon, we would all be sleeping in little lakes.  Our little pavilion island was also at risk of being overtaken by the growing rivers as I watched while the lip of water started to encroach into the dry pavilion.  The leaders tried to push the water back and out with brooms and such but it was becoming a losing battle.  We were all cold and wet and we knew we were in for a very rough night if the rain didn't stop.  But what could we do?  Of course we knew we needed heavenly help from The One that commands and controls all the elements of the earth.  

At first we sought the power of the priesthood brethren present to command the rain to stop.  Members of our stake presidency quietly and privately did what we requested of them.  But it didn't stop.  The rain was just as torrential as ever.  Not because they didn't have the power.  Not because they didn't have the authority.  Not because they were not true representatives of God.  Not because they didn't have the faith.  But because God had something better in mind!  After that, we knew we still needed to petition God for help.  I quietly told Cassie that we need to unite together in faith and prayer with everyone present to MAKE the rain stop.  We needed to MAKE it happen by our faith.  She too knew that was what we needed to do.  We felt that it was God's will to have the rain stop.  We knew we needed to be instruments to fulfill that will.  Someone had to act as the voice for the prayer.  Cassie didn't want to do it.  After all, it is an intimidating job to stand and act as the vessel to make a miracle happen in front of about 100 people.  She asked others to say the prayer but no one wanted to be in that position.  So up she stepped onto the table to pray in faith.  We all bowed our heads and united our faith as Cassie said a simple but ultimately powerful prayer.  Let me say, I've said a lot of prayers in my life but there is something special about a prayer that proceeds a miracle.  I've talked a lot about the power of God in this post.  The power of God is true and real.  It's a strange feeling when you feel the power of faith combining with the power of prayer to allow God to work through you to bring the elements of the earth into submission.  Almost like you are being a conduit to light and power flowing from God through you and out into the world.  It's a spiritual feeling but almost temporally tangible as well. I don't know if everyone there felt that way as we were praying, but I sure did. I knew my faith was being used in unison with that of so many others.

And so what do you think happened?  Well yes, of course, as soon as that prayer was finished and the amen sealed that prayer of faith, it was as if the flood gates were turned off.  Maybe someone could say it was a coincidence if they had not witnessed it and felt the power of it themselves, but I know and so does everyone else there that they witnessed a real miracle.  I find it even more unrealistic to consider it a coincidence since we later learned that another group of campers down further in the camp were praying at exactly the same moment we were and when they finished at the same time, we all saw what happened.  We all felt inspired to pray at the same time because God wanted to reveal His hand in our lives in a very real and powerful way.  They say that miracles don't convert people.  That's very true.  But I know that our testimonies were fortified, enlarged and expounded upon.  Girls learned outside the Sunday school classroom that faith produces miracles- that girls can make miracles happen.  I heard the girl's testify of it during their concluding testimony meeting and I knew that God knew exactly what He was doing when He sent that rain storm that night.

The next day was boating (under blue skies and sunshine I might add).  It had been years and years since I last went boating.  Thankfully, Bishop Peterson, Dennis Park and other 3rd ward members came up with boats and water toys for everyone to play with.  I bravely rode "The Molecule."  My poor scrawny arms couldn't hold up to Brother Park and his crazy driving.  I totally got dumped into the water.  The girls were die hard.  But it was so fun.  We went back and forth between beach and boats.  Four hours of sun and water meant I got burnt to a crisp. Yep, I am only two colors: red or white.

That night was our last night at camp.  It was a culmination of what we had focused on during the week.  We had a faith walk centered around our camp theme.

It ended at a small fire-pit where we had our youth testimony meeting and youth leader awards.  I can say that I finally have a testimony of the glory of Girls Camp.  Girls Camp is a sacred week. And like all sacred things, it should be a priority for those that have the opportunity to participate.

Girls Camp abounded in beautiful images.  I saw girls transform in attitude and character as they distanced themselves from the day to day worries and cares of a frantic world.  I saw sweet friendships made.  I saw testimonies grow and flourish.  I saw youth and leaders working, playing and growing together.  I saw a stake unified by the youth.  And I saw a group of girls more prepared to face the challenges of an increasingly difficult and wicked world.  As I observed the "Girls Camp natives" in their beloved camp environment, what I witnessed gave me a sweet assurance that the youth of this Church are up to the challenges of this world.  They will rise to the occasion.  They are being trained and prepared to be the new group of leaders that will help ready this Church and the world for the Savior's second coming.  I look forward to the years when my Eve will go to Girls Camp and I am excited to hear about her unique and amazing experiences.

So many of the girls shared how they look forward to Girls Camp all year long- from the day it ends until the day it starts again.  So many shared about their struggles making it to camp- an element that shows how much Satan would love to keep them from coming.  They shared about the way camp fortified their faith and testimonies for the coming year.  They shared about their friendships and experiences.  They shared about how they know they can do hard things because they did them at camp.  They shared about their love for the Savior and His love for them.

Summer gets hectic.  There are so many things and people vying for our attention... family vacations and reunions, sports camp and music camps, jobs and the like.  Many of these things are very good thing but they can also distract us from things that are more than good- thing that are great and vital to our well being.  Somethings are good, some are better and some are best.  Some people, including youth and even parents and leaders, don't have a testimony of Girls Camp. They don't think Girls Camp is all that special or important, but I witnessed something totally opposite.  Girls camp is one of those things that is great and vital and in many many cases it is the best way to sacrifice our time.  There is a reason the Lord has inspired the Young Women's program and Girls Camp.  There is a reason the Lord asks so many people to sacrifice their time, talents and efforts in making camp happen.  We step away from the worldly distractions and let our hearts and minds focus on the Savior. We find unity with others of faith.  We learn and grow and become closer to and more like Christ.  Yes, Girls Camp is a Sacred week and I hope I have the opportunity to participate again one day.

Just as glowing and fabulous as the day they arrived.

When I got home Friday I finally felt the reality of life set in.  Kole's blessing had enabled me to make it through camp week. That evening the aches and pains from days of hiking caught up with me.  So did the lack of sleep.  And my sunburn finally got the best of me.  Ahhhh, life. I suppose it is the principle that God gives us the blessings we need when we need them.  I just got different blessings to meet my needs at home.

I testify that the Lord is in the details of our lives.  He knows what we need and when we need it.  He knows the blessings of Girls Camp and how much the youth need it.  He cares about what matters to us and for us.  And I know that the Lord loves the youth so much that He gave them Girls Camp.

I am sure I am already forgetting and leaving out so many things that happened.  But I won't forget the truly remarkable and unique women I shared the week with.  I love you all so much!