Last week, I had the opportunity to work at Camp Kesem BYU. That definitely wasn't on my original plan for summer, and me getting involved happened so suddenly. I was at EFY in Cedar and heard that the camp needed a therapist in order to happen. And since several different plans I had for that week had fallen through, I decided to go for it.
Anyways, the premise of Camp Kesem is really neat. It's a camp for kids who have a parent who has cancer (whether the parent has died, is currently in treatment, or is in remission). It's run by college students (so it's also a leadership program) and there are multiple camps throughout the nation. It's a basic summer camp, with all sorts of fun and activities (including great things like swimming, crafts, sports, a ropes course, talent show, theme days, and camper names). However, all the kids have one thing in common... having a parent with cancer. And they are able to talk about that at nightly cabin chats and it definitely comes out at the Thursday night "empowerment ceremony" (basically a camp-wide cabin chat that focuses exclusively on cancer). And at the end of the ceremony, a skein of yarn is unraveled and everybody takes hold of it to show we're all connected. It is all then cut up and everybody ties a piece around their wrist. I still have mine on. A nice reminder that we're all in this together.
As for my personal experience, it was a hard week for me. I wasn't feeling well physically during a lot of it, which was really hard. I was also struggling with some other personal stuff. But it was so neat to be there. The counselors and coordinators were all so incredible, as were the kids. I had so much fun with them and learned a lot from them. It was amazing to see these kids just be kids, because so many of them have to grow up so fast in their situation. It was neat to see them realize that they're not alone and that there are others who understand them and their situation. They are so strong and such amazing examples of resiliency and I definitely grew a lot from witnessing that. I learned that I need to appreciate what I have more. I was reminded of how fun and cute little kids can be. I realized that maybe I will be a good mother one day (as that is a worry of mine). And I know that I can be more kind and giving to everybody around me.
Though it was hard while I was there, I am so grateful I went. I highly encourage everyone to get involved, especially since the camp is entirely run by volunteers. Nobody in the camp is paid (including the professional staff, like myself and the nurse). And none of the kids have to pay to go, which is such a blessing, since many families are very strained for cash due to cancer treatments. It's really incredible. However, because of that, they definitely need money and donations to keep going. So if you feel so inclined, a great way to support them is by donating some money so that the camp (and magic!) can continue to happen in these kids' lives.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Taking EFY Home
I was going to write a long list of "You Know You're an EFY Counselor When..." but that's been done before and I don't think I have anything to add. (There are some seriously funny ones.) So I decided to do a slightly more serious blog about what I learned.
Every Friday, we emphasized "taking it home" to the youth. We talk about how awesome EFY was, but how EFY is a waste if we don't apply what we learn once we go home. And in order to do that, we must first recognize what we learned. So in order to not be a hypocrite, I wanted to recognize a few of my takeaways. A couple of my main ones are not being as afraid to open my mouth (or use my fingers) to share the gospel. That's one reason I'm trying to share more gospel-related things in my blog. You never know who may be coming across this and hopefully they can glimpse my testimony. I also definitely came away with a much stronger testimony of Christ and the Atonement (this is definitely due in part to The Living Christ activity we did each week, as well as some amazing classes and personal spiritual experiences). I know there's still so much more I could learn about these things, and I know my testimony still needs to grow more. But it definitely grew a lot. And I am currently working on reading Jesus the Christ in order to help continue to grow that testimony.
But my last week of EFY, Celeste (my wonderful BC) talked about recognizing what we learned from EFY that will help us be better wives and mothers in the future. There are a lot of parallels from being an EFY counselor to being a wife and mother and just to life in general. I know I still have a ton to learn. And honestly, being a wife and mother still scares me sometimes. But I feel a bit more at peace about it after EFY. If I can survive some of that craziness, maybe (just maybe) I can be a good wife and mother in the future. And I know I have a great future ahead of me. So without any further ado, here's my list of "What I Learned About Being a Better Wife and Mother at EFY"
You must rely on the Lord
The Lord better knows and understands your kids than you do. He knows how to help them. He can give you strength. He'll prompt you. He won't let your kids get past His love.
You can't be afraid to ask for help
You can't help these kids alone. Prayer helps since Heavenly Father truly is there. But there are also other people around who are so willing to help. But you may need to get out of your comfort zone and ask for help (which is hard for me to do sometimes).
Satan works hard against you when you're doing the Lord's work
Satan manifests himself in different ways, especially when he knows that you're working hard against him. And you are definitely working against him when you are trying to help people come closer to Christ (whether you're helping your kids come unto Christ or you're just bringing yourself closer). One way that Satan really works against me is through feelings of discouragement or feeling like I'm not good enough or doing enough. If Satan can plant those feelings in me and get me to stop what I'm supposed to be doing, then he's won. I have to exert all my power against him and bring souls to Christ, despite difficulties.
People have their agency
It's so hard. You do all you can to bring these kids closer to Christ and to change their lives for the better and sometimes they choose to go a different way. But agency is part of God's plan. You can't force the Spirit upon others or force them to choose right. They must make the choice themselves. And it's so wonderful when you see them make the correct choices on their own.
Listen to and take time for others
Listening shows people that you care about them. It strengthens relationships. It means so much to show you are truly there. That it isn't just a job. And it's not a chore. The most important thing besides your testimony and dedication to the gospel is just to show how much you love and care for them.
Forget yourself in the work
With all that's going on in my life, it's so easy to focus on myself and my worries and concerns. But as I served those kids, I was happier and my problems didn't seem as big. It can be hard to get out of myself, but it's so amazing when I can.
The Lord makes up the difference
I know I'm not the best leader or teacher. I don't have tons of scriptures memorized and I don't understand all church doctrine. But it doesn't matter. As I did the best I could, the Lord filled in the blanks of what I couldn't do. But He only fills in the rest after I've done all I can. And the Lord blesses you and others for your efforts, even when you don't feel like you've done enough of you don't feel completely "into it."
Discipline
Disciplining is super hard for me. But it is definitely important to enforce the rules so that the kids can stay safe and on the right path. And discipline is a lot more effective when you already have a relationship with them (see note about listening and taking time for others).
Thursday night (and other) payoffs
EFY is probably the hardest thing I've ever done. I never understood that before when people who had been counselors said that. How could EFY be hard? It'd be the most fun thing ever. But after my first day... I got it. It's so hard. You pour your heart and soul into this and sometimes it seems like you didn't make a difference. But then Thursday night rolls around and you realize that maybe you did make a difference in some small way and it's such an amazing and humbling experience. I know that I'll crave and treasure those same moments as a mom. I have to work through those hard times to get the reward, but those payoffs will come if I do my part and then look for the payoff. One hard thing for me was when the payoff I was expecting wasn't there. There were sometimes other small moments throughout the week that give you that payoff, which was a blessing. But other times I truly felt like I didn't make a difference. So I had to remember that my God is a fourth-watch God. And sometimes that payoff is a long time coming. Some payoffs I never saw personally each week. But I know they were there... even if some kids don't manifest the changes and payoffs in their lives until years later. They were there. One of the session directors noted that we touched thousands of lives this summer, between the kids themselves, their families, their communities, their future missions and families... It was definitely humbling to think about. I have to hold on to that promise, because I didn't always see the payoff Thursday night. (Though it was generally there.)
You must be on higher ground to help others
So many of the kids needed help and there was no way I could help them if I wasn't prepared and farther along than they were. I had to have a knowledge of gospel principles. I had to have a strong testimony. I had to have my own "spiritual bucket" full before I could give anything to others. And because I was prepared, I was able to help these kids. And that was amazing.
You never know what the Lord has in store...but His plan is best
I think it's so easy to go through life with a plan. But in my case, the Lord always seems to have a different (but better) plan. One of my aunts told me that she knows she's doing what the Lord wants when she's doing something that she never planned on doing by herself. That definitely happened at EFY. I wanted to be at BYU for EFY, but I am so glad He placed me at the other campuses He did. I maybe wanted to have certain co-counselors or certain kids or certain roommates. But in every case, I was exactly where I needed to be.
Importance of keeping a schedule
At EFY, there is a very specific schedule. You always know where you're supposed to be, when you're supposed to be there, and what you're supposed to be doing. That is a stark contrast to how my life normally is (as evidence in the last week since EFY). But I came to the realization of how much more productive I am when I do have a schedule, or at least a general idea of what should happen each day. Obviously, as a mother (and just with life in general), things won't always go according to plan. But it's so important to have a plan to begin with, and then you can modify from there.
Follow the promptings of the Spirit
There were so many times that I felt the need to ask a certain question or tell or certain story at EFY and I had no idea why. But as I followed those promptings, it ended up helping these kids so much and in ways I never would have anticipated. It was amazing to hear kids tell me that something I was prompted to say really helped them.
Oh man. Going through this list just makes me miss EFY even more. And I know there are plenty of other parallels I could draw, but this list is getting long and I know I need to post it (if I keep working on it, posting may never happen). I know that even with these lessons, I still won't be completely prepared to be a wife and mother. But I know how patient my EFY kids were with me as I learned and grew. I'll just have to hope and pray that my future husband and family are as understanding. I'm grateful for all that I learned and all that I will continue to learn.
I'm truly taking EFY home... and I'll "Never Be the Same." :-)
Every Friday, we emphasized "taking it home" to the youth. We talk about how awesome EFY was, but how EFY is a waste if we don't apply what we learn once we go home. And in order to do that, we must first recognize what we learned. So in order to not be a hypocrite, I wanted to recognize a few of my takeaways. A couple of my main ones are not being as afraid to open my mouth (or use my fingers) to share the gospel. That's one reason I'm trying to share more gospel-related things in my blog. You never know who may be coming across this and hopefully they can glimpse my testimony. I also definitely came away with a much stronger testimony of Christ and the Atonement (this is definitely due in part to The Living Christ activity we did each week, as well as some amazing classes and personal spiritual experiences). I know there's still so much more I could learn about these things, and I know my testimony still needs to grow more. But it definitely grew a lot. And I am currently working on reading Jesus the Christ in order to help continue to grow that testimony.
But my last week of EFY, Celeste (my wonderful BC) talked about recognizing what we learned from EFY that will help us be better wives and mothers in the future. There are a lot of parallels from being an EFY counselor to being a wife and mother and just to life in general. I know I still have a ton to learn. And honestly, being a wife and mother still scares me sometimes. But I feel a bit more at peace about it after EFY. If I can survive some of that craziness, maybe (just maybe) I can be a good wife and mother in the future. And I know I have a great future ahead of me. So without any further ado, here's my list of "What I Learned About Being a Better Wife and Mother at EFY"
You must rely on the Lord
The Lord better knows and understands your kids than you do. He knows how to help them. He can give you strength. He'll prompt you. He won't let your kids get past His love.
You can't be afraid to ask for help
You can't help these kids alone. Prayer helps since Heavenly Father truly is there. But there are also other people around who are so willing to help. But you may need to get out of your comfort zone and ask for help (which is hard for me to do sometimes).
Satan works hard against you when you're doing the Lord's work
Satan manifests himself in different ways, especially when he knows that you're working hard against him. And you are definitely working against him when you are trying to help people come closer to Christ (whether you're helping your kids come unto Christ or you're just bringing yourself closer). One way that Satan really works against me is through feelings of discouragement or feeling like I'm not good enough or doing enough. If Satan can plant those feelings in me and get me to stop what I'm supposed to be doing, then he's won. I have to exert all my power against him and bring souls to Christ, despite difficulties.
People have their agency
It's so hard. You do all you can to bring these kids closer to Christ and to change their lives for the better and sometimes they choose to go a different way. But agency is part of God's plan. You can't force the Spirit upon others or force them to choose right. They must make the choice themselves. And it's so wonderful when you see them make the correct choices on their own.
Listen to and take time for others
Listening shows people that you care about them. It strengthens relationships. It means so much to show you are truly there. That it isn't just a job. And it's not a chore. The most important thing besides your testimony and dedication to the gospel is just to show how much you love and care for them.
Forget yourself in the work
With all that's going on in my life, it's so easy to focus on myself and my worries and concerns. But as I served those kids, I was happier and my problems didn't seem as big. It can be hard to get out of myself, but it's so amazing when I can.
The Lord makes up the difference
I know I'm not the best leader or teacher. I don't have tons of scriptures memorized and I don't understand all church doctrine. But it doesn't matter. As I did the best I could, the Lord filled in the blanks of what I couldn't do. But He only fills in the rest after I've done all I can. And the Lord blesses you and others for your efforts, even when you don't feel like you've done enough of you don't feel completely "into it."
Discipline
Disciplining is super hard for me. But it is definitely important to enforce the rules so that the kids can stay safe and on the right path. And discipline is a lot more effective when you already have a relationship with them (see note about listening and taking time for others).
Thursday night (and other) payoffs
EFY is probably the hardest thing I've ever done. I never understood that before when people who had been counselors said that. How could EFY be hard? It'd be the most fun thing ever. But after my first day... I got it. It's so hard. You pour your heart and soul into this and sometimes it seems like you didn't make a difference. But then Thursday night rolls around and you realize that maybe you did make a difference in some small way and it's such an amazing and humbling experience. I know that I'll crave and treasure those same moments as a mom. I have to work through those hard times to get the reward, but those payoffs will come if I do my part and then look for the payoff. One hard thing for me was when the payoff I was expecting wasn't there. There were sometimes other small moments throughout the week that give you that payoff, which was a blessing. But other times I truly felt like I didn't make a difference. So I had to remember that my God is a fourth-watch God. And sometimes that payoff is a long time coming. Some payoffs I never saw personally each week. But I know they were there... even if some kids don't manifest the changes and payoffs in their lives until years later. They were there. One of the session directors noted that we touched thousands of lives this summer, between the kids themselves, their families, their communities, their future missions and families... It was definitely humbling to think about. I have to hold on to that promise, because I didn't always see the payoff Thursday night. (Though it was generally there.)
You must be on higher ground to help others
So many of the kids needed help and there was no way I could help them if I wasn't prepared and farther along than they were. I had to have a knowledge of gospel principles. I had to have a strong testimony. I had to have my own "spiritual bucket" full before I could give anything to others. And because I was prepared, I was able to help these kids. And that was amazing.
You never know what the Lord has in store...but His plan is best
I think it's so easy to go through life with a plan. But in my case, the Lord always seems to have a different (but better) plan. One of my aunts told me that she knows she's doing what the Lord wants when she's doing something that she never planned on doing by herself. That definitely happened at EFY. I wanted to be at BYU for EFY, but I am so glad He placed me at the other campuses He did. I maybe wanted to have certain co-counselors or certain kids or certain roommates. But in every case, I was exactly where I needed to be.
Importance of keeping a schedule
At EFY, there is a very specific schedule. You always know where you're supposed to be, when you're supposed to be there, and what you're supposed to be doing. That is a stark contrast to how my life normally is (as evidence in the last week since EFY). But I came to the realization of how much more productive I am when I do have a schedule, or at least a general idea of what should happen each day. Obviously, as a mother (and just with life in general), things won't always go according to plan. But it's so important to have a plan to begin with, and then you can modify from there.
Follow the promptings of the Spirit
There were so many times that I felt the need to ask a certain question or tell or certain story at EFY and I had no idea why. But as I followed those promptings, it ended up helping these kids so much and in ways I never would have anticipated. It was amazing to hear kids tell me that something I was prompted to say really helped them.
Oh man. Going through this list just makes me miss EFY even more. And I know there are plenty of other parallels I could draw, but this list is getting long and I know I need to post it (if I keep working on it, posting may never happen). I know that even with these lessons, I still won't be completely prepared to be a wife and mother. But I know how patient my EFY kids were with me as I learned and grew. I'll just have to hope and pray that my future husband and family are as understanding. I'm grateful for all that I learned and all that I will continue to learn.
I'm truly taking EFY home... and I'll "Never Be the Same." :-)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
EFY- Cedar City 2
I wasn’t supposed to be in Cedar City last week.
When I was hired to be a counselor for the summer, I was given (and accepted) five contracts. You’ve already heard about those weeks. But as I was working EFY and realized how much I loved it, I knew I wanted to work as many weeks as possible. I realized I was available to work the week of July 30, and that the team I worked with for the majority of the summer was working in Cedar City that week. I really wanted to work with them. That want became even greater when I realized that my sister was going to a participant that week at that session. It would be so fun to see her around. So I started telling all the BCs, coordinators, and the administrator that was I available to work Cedar 2. But it didn’t look likely, since they actually had more counselors than they needed. I had the opportunity to take other sessions that needed counselors that week, but I still held on to the hope that Cedar would become available, so I didn’t volunteer. I figured that if I didn’t get it, I still was able to have five amazing weeks as a counselor. A sixth would just be a cherry on top.
Then, while I was in Kirtland, I got an e-mail saying that I had an available contract for EFY. I checked the link and found out that it was for Cedar City 2. I was super excited and accepted it, telling all my girls how excited I was to work another week, especially the session my sister would be attending. I wasn’t quite sure how it happened, but I was grateful. (I found out later that some spots opened up and as the administrator was talking to the team about who they could offer it to, lots of people said my name. So she offered it to me and I accepted it.)
So all that back story explains why I wasn’t supposed to be in Cedar City. But I was so excited for another week and so ready to go. However, as the week wore on, I truly started believing that I really wasn't supposed to be in Cedar City. That I should have just stayed home and ended my EFY counseling career in Kirtland. I felt that I wasn’t making a difference. That I wasn’t clicking with my girls. That some other counselor should have been offered and taken the contract because she would’ve been able to help these girls (and boys). That I shouldn’t have fought so hard for that week, by constantly reminding people that I wanted that week.
Needless it say, with those feelings going on… It was SUCH a hard week.
But the week wasn't all bad. I had 16-18 year-olds again and they were fun. Of course, just like every week, there were some problems here and there, but nothing terribly major. Most of the hard stuff going on was my personal stuff and feelings with me, not issues with the group. My co-counselors were great and our name was Everlasting Glory (taken from Revelations 14:6-7)
(Pictures!)
And there were lots of fun, funny, and spiritual things that happened. Plus, there were so many tender mercies that happened that I am SO grateful for because they showed me that the Lord truly is aware of me and looking out for me. Just a few of those tender mercies... a couple of my girls coming and dancing with me in the lobby when I was on dance duty during the second half of the Friday night dance and feeling super down (though I don't think they realized that). And the session directors (the Dixons) coming up with one word to describe each counselor and my word being "depth." Until that word was said after my name, I didn't realize how much I've been working towards exemplifying that word this summer. I really have been trying to deepen my testimony, as well as deepen my relationships with Christ and those around me this summer, and it was so amazing to have somebody recognize that. And then just to have some participants and other counselors say or do certain things that helped me to realize that maybe I did help to make a difference.
So... maybe... just maybe... I was supposed to be in Cedar City. And I am so grateful for that.
But I miss EFY already. Those six weeks were some of the craziest, hardest, and most emotional weeks of my life. However, somehow, they were also among the most fun, fulfilling, and growth-promoting, weeks of my life. Funny how that works. And just like I'd tell my kids each week, I don't want it to stop here. EFY shouldn't just be a fun memory or a neat week (or weeks, in my case). It should be a springboard to the rest of your life. I rose a little higher because of EFY and I want to continue that growth and not sink back down to where I was (not that I was in a bad place before... I'm just in a better place now). It won't be easy, but I know I can do it. And I WILL do it.
When I was hired to be a counselor for the summer, I was given (and accepted) five contracts. You’ve already heard about those weeks. But as I was working EFY and realized how much I loved it, I knew I wanted to work as many weeks as possible. I realized I was available to work the week of July 30, and that the team I worked with for the majority of the summer was working in Cedar City that week. I really wanted to work with them. That want became even greater when I realized that my sister was going to a participant that week at that session. It would be so fun to see her around. So I started telling all the BCs, coordinators, and the administrator that was I available to work Cedar 2. But it didn’t look likely, since they actually had more counselors than they needed. I had the opportunity to take other sessions that needed counselors that week, but I still held on to the hope that Cedar would become available, so I didn’t volunteer. I figured that if I didn’t get it, I still was able to have five amazing weeks as a counselor. A sixth would just be a cherry on top.
Then, while I was in Kirtland, I got an e-mail saying that I had an available contract for EFY. I checked the link and found out that it was for Cedar City 2. I was super excited and accepted it, telling all my girls how excited I was to work another week, especially the session my sister would be attending. I wasn’t quite sure how it happened, but I was grateful. (I found out later that some spots opened up and as the administrator was talking to the team about who they could offer it to, lots of people said my name. So she offered it to me and I accepted it.)
So all that back story explains why I wasn’t supposed to be in Cedar City. But I was so excited for another week and so ready to go. However, as the week wore on, I truly started believing that I really wasn't supposed to be in Cedar City. That I should have just stayed home and ended my EFY counseling career in Kirtland. I felt that I wasn’t making a difference. That I wasn’t clicking with my girls. That some other counselor should have been offered and taken the contract because she would’ve been able to help these girls (and boys). That I shouldn’t have fought so hard for that week, by constantly reminding people that I wanted that week.
Needless it say, with those feelings going on… It was SUCH a hard week.
But the week wasn't all bad. I had 16-18 year-olds again and they were fun. Of course, just like every week, there were some problems here and there, but nothing terribly major. Most of the hard stuff going on was my personal stuff and feelings with me, not issues with the group. My co-counselors were great and our name was Everlasting Glory (taken from Revelations 14:6-7)
And there were lots of fun, funny, and spiritual things that happened. Plus, there were so many tender mercies that happened that I am SO grateful for because they showed me that the Lord truly is aware of me and looking out for me. Just a few of those tender mercies... a couple of my girls coming and dancing with me in the lobby when I was on dance duty during the second half of the Friday night dance and feeling super down (though I don't think they realized that). And the session directors (the Dixons) coming up with one word to describe each counselor and my word being "depth." Until that word was said after my name, I didn't realize how much I've been working towards exemplifying that word this summer. I really have been trying to deepen my testimony, as well as deepen my relationships with Christ and those around me this summer, and it was so amazing to have somebody recognize that. And then just to have some participants and other counselors say or do certain things that helped me to realize that maybe I did help to make a difference.
So... maybe... just maybe... I was supposed to be in Cedar City. And I am so grateful for that.
But I miss EFY already. Those six weeks were some of the craziest, hardest, and most emotional weeks of my life. However, somehow, they were also among the most fun, fulfilling, and growth-promoting, weeks of my life. Funny how that works. And just like I'd tell my kids each week, I don't want it to stop here. EFY shouldn't just be a fun memory or a neat week (or weeks, in my case). It should be a springboard to the rest of your life. I rose a little higher because of EFY and I want to continue that growth and not sink back down to where I was (not that I was in a bad place before... I'm just in a better place now). It won't be easy, but I know I can do it. And I WILL do it.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Road Trip Back to Utah
After EFY was over, my roommates Sara and Julie came and picked me up in Hiram and we started on back to Utah. But we had lots of fun on the way.
Saturday
We went to the John Johnson Farm and got a tour. I loved being able to visit again. I also ran into two of my girls from my group that week. We also went to Historic Kirtland, but we only had time for a tour of the Newel K. Whitney Store. We then went to a musical that the Kirtland Stake put on, called "This is Kirtland!" Four of my girls also were there, so we got a picture outside of the church afterwards. (Aren't we cute?)
We also made a stop at the Kirtland temple and watched the video and looked around the grounds.
We then headed to Cleveland to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. My tiredness definitely hit me halfway through. But it was cool. Then we hit Wal-mart to buy some groceries and hung out in our hotel the rest of the night.
Sunday
Woke up, had the free continental breakfast at the hotel (we made sure we only stayed in hotels that had free wi-fi and free breakfasts), then left and headed to Cleveland to go to a YSA branch we had found. It was in the smallest church building I've ever seen. The chapel was half-sized. There were no pews on the side, and it wasn't super deep, either. And apparently, they even have Sunday School just in the chapel because there aren't a lot of available rooms. It was just super tiny. And there was a security camera monitoring the building and lot. (It was in a kind of sketchy part of town.) Partway through the meeting, I came to the realization that it was the branch I would've attended if I had ended up going to Case Western for grad school. But I heard back from BYU before I ever finished my application there. Weird. After church, we drove to our next hotel and hung out for the rest of the day.
Monday
Day one of Cedar Point. It was definitely draining, since it did get pretty hot and humid, and I'm just not used to humidity. We went on lots of rides and also saw two different shows. One show had extreme sports- roller skaters, scooters, bikers, and gymnasts. It was crazy. A couple of the athletes had even won medals in the X Games. And then we saw an ice skating show with Snoopy and Friends. It was so nice to get in some air conditioning for that!
After the park, we took a quick dip in the pool to cool off. The pool was FREEZING, though. And then we hung out in our room. Cuz we're cool like that.
Tuesday
Day two of Cedar Point. We made sure we hit the rest of the roller coasters that we hadn't hit yet, including Top Thrill Dragster. That was an amazing ride. Two hours of waiting for 17 seconds of amazingness. You basically go straight up and straight down 420 feet at 120 mph... with nothing holding you in but a seat belt and lap bar. I totally would've waited in the line to go again, but the ride was having difficulties and kept stopping and mechanics had to keep looking at it. We felt lucky to have gotten on it, because pretty soon after we got off, it seemed to shut down for at least an hour.
It was actually the day of breaking-down rides. Several rides shut down for a while due to some sort of issues. But we were able to go to every roller coaster in the park, plus some other rides. We left the park a bit early since we were drained (it was supposedly cooler than Monday, but it felt so much worse... I even got slightly sunburned) and because we couldn't get on the rides we wanted to anymore.
Wednesday
Left the hotel and traveled to Nauvoo. I read two books on the way and started a third.
We got to Nauvoo, and most of the places to tour were closing, but Julie and I managed to see the Cultural Hall and the Scovil Bakery. We then just wandered around Nauvoo a bit and ended up at the Visitor's Center, which was still open. We met up with Sara there, who had been having dinner with a family friend.
All three of us then bought some custard at Annie's Custard and wandered around the Nauvoo temple, before heading down to the Nauvoo Pageant. It was amazing. I'm so grateful I was able to see it. I also got to meet up with my friend Melanie, who is performing in the pageant this summer, briefly afterward.
We then collapsed at our hotel.
Thursday
Continued our journeys. We made a stop at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, which was cool. I wish we had more time to explore other parts of the city, but maybe some other time.
We also stopped at Sara's brother's house for dinner and that was nice. I also got nominated to drive through Kansas, since I didn't have to sit through Nebraska on the way out like they did (thank you, airplanes). We stopped in the middle of Kansas (Hays, to be exact) for the night.
Friday
Drove 12 hours. I started off the day, driving through the not-so-pretty part of Kansas. Once we traded off, I napped some of the rest of the way. And read. And tried to talk on the phone to a friend.
So... states visited (or at least driven through) on this trip: Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. Definitely quite the adventure. And many different license plates were seen (I probably would've seen even more if I hadn't been reading so much.) :-)
And now I'm home. And I leave again tomorrow for another week of EFY, and then a family reunion and possibly a family vacation after that. I've never been gone so much from my home base as I have this summer. I've loving these adventures, but it will also be nice to settle back down. Which means I also need to figure out my life and what I need to do once EFY and vacations are over. Yikes. Wish me luck!
Saturday
We went to the John Johnson Farm and got a tour. I loved being able to visit again. I also ran into two of my girls from my group that week. We also went to Historic Kirtland, but we only had time for a tour of the Newel K. Whitney Store. We then went to a musical that the Kirtland Stake put on, called "This is Kirtland!" Four of my girls also were there, so we got a picture outside of the church afterwards. (Aren't we cute?)
We also made a stop at the Kirtland temple and watched the video and looked around the grounds.
We then headed to Cleveland to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. My tiredness definitely hit me halfway through. But it was cool. Then we hit Wal-mart to buy some groceries and hung out in our hotel the rest of the night.
Sunday
Woke up, had the free continental breakfast at the hotel (we made sure we only stayed in hotels that had free wi-fi and free breakfasts), then left and headed to Cleveland to go to a YSA branch we had found. It was in the smallest church building I've ever seen. The chapel was half-sized. There were no pews on the side, and it wasn't super deep, either. And apparently, they even have Sunday School just in the chapel because there aren't a lot of available rooms. It was just super tiny. And there was a security camera monitoring the building and lot. (It was in a kind of sketchy part of town.) Partway through the meeting, I came to the realization that it was the branch I would've attended if I had ended up going to Case Western for grad school. But I heard back from BYU before I ever finished my application there. Weird. After church, we drove to our next hotel and hung out for the rest of the day.
Monday
Day one of Cedar Point. It was definitely draining, since it did get pretty hot and humid, and I'm just not used to humidity. We went on lots of rides and also saw two different shows. One show had extreme sports- roller skaters, scooters, bikers, and gymnasts. It was crazy. A couple of the athletes had even won medals in the X Games. And then we saw an ice skating show with Snoopy and Friends. It was so nice to get in some air conditioning for that!
After the park, we took a quick dip in the pool to cool off. The pool was FREEZING, though. And then we hung out in our room. Cuz we're cool like that.
Tuesday
Day two of Cedar Point. We made sure we hit the rest of the roller coasters that we hadn't hit yet, including Top Thrill Dragster. That was an amazing ride. Two hours of waiting for 17 seconds of amazingness. You basically go straight up and straight down 420 feet at 120 mph... with nothing holding you in but a seat belt and lap bar. I totally would've waited in the line to go again, but the ride was having difficulties and kept stopping and mechanics had to keep looking at it. We felt lucky to have gotten on it, because pretty soon after we got off, it seemed to shut down for at least an hour.
It was actually the day of breaking-down rides. Several rides shut down for a while due to some sort of issues. But we were able to go to every roller coaster in the park, plus some other rides. We left the park a bit early since we were drained (it was supposedly cooler than Monday, but it felt so much worse... I even got slightly sunburned) and because we couldn't get on the rides we wanted to anymore.
Wednesday
Left the hotel and traveled to Nauvoo. I read two books on the way and started a third.
We got to Nauvoo, and most of the places to tour were closing, but Julie and I managed to see the Cultural Hall and the Scovil Bakery. We then just wandered around Nauvoo a bit and ended up at the Visitor's Center, which was still open. We met up with Sara there, who had been having dinner with a family friend.
All three of us then bought some custard at Annie's Custard and wandered around the Nauvoo temple, before heading down to the Nauvoo Pageant. It was amazing. I'm so grateful I was able to see it. I also got to meet up with my friend Melanie, who is performing in the pageant this summer, briefly afterward.
We then collapsed at our hotel.
Thursday
Continued our journeys. We made a stop at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, which was cool. I wish we had more time to explore other parts of the city, but maybe some other time.
We also stopped at Sara's brother's house for dinner and that was nice. I also got nominated to drive through Kansas, since I didn't have to sit through Nebraska on the way out like they did (thank you, airplanes). We stopped in the middle of Kansas (Hays, to be exact) for the night.
Friday
Drove 12 hours. I started off the day, driving through the not-so-pretty part of Kansas. Once we traded off, I napped some of the rest of the way. And read. And tried to talk on the phone to a friend.
So... states visited (or at least driven through) on this trip: Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. Definitely quite the adventure. And many different license plates were seen (I probably would've seen even more if I hadn't been reading so much.) :-)
And now I'm home. And I leave again tomorrow for another week of EFY, and then a family reunion and possibly a family vacation after that. I've never been gone so much from my home base as I have this summer. I've loving these adventures, but it will also be nice to settle back down. Which means I also need to figure out my life and what I need to do once EFY and vacations are over. Yikes. Wish me luck!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
EFY- Kirtland
What an incredible week of EFY. Really, it was just what I needed.
I'll admit it. I was kind of nervous going in to the week. I had grown so used to the team I had worked with for my other four weeks and was a little scared to lose them. I knew that the Midwest team had all been working together and with all the traveling they do from place to place, I figured they'd be pretty close. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make friends and I only knew one of the other counselors. But there was no reason for me to be worried. I arrived to Kirtland late, because we had to wait extra long for the shuttle, and so I arrived about 15 minutes into the fireside and just slipped in. I waved to my friend, but sat quietly by myself. But after the fireside, when they announced BC groups, my BC (Codi) immediately gave me a huge hug, and Ellie (one of the coordinators) couldn't stop waving at me. I immediately felt so welcome and so at home, even though I was the only counselor who had never worked with them before.
Another good sign of the week, was once I met my co (Ben), we were almost instantly on the same page and unified. He's such a solid guy. Though I also feel bad that I wasn't able to spend as much time with him during the week as I wanted, since we were on the kind of crazy special edition schedule and I was on musical program during free time.
Anyways, I had the 16-18 year olds this week and I adored them. We were On the Right Hand (from Acts 7:55-56). We had 10 girls and 12 boys (super bizarre to have more guys than girls, but it was fun for me to be escorted sometimes and get to know some of the guys better that way).
We were able to tour some historical sites in Kirtland and the surrounding areas on Tuesday and Wednesday and it was amazing. Our session directors (the Woodwards) also were so informative about all the historically significant things that happened in Kirtland. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize how much happened there until this week. I had heard most of the stories, but didn't put two and two together that they happened there. But Kirtland was the church headquarters for the longest of anywhere besides Salt Lake City, so a lot happened there. I got to be in the room where D&C 76 was seen in vision by Joseph (and then I was able to studying that section on the lawn of the farm where it was revealed). To look at the exact place where Christ revealed himself in the temple to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, and where Moses, Elias, and Elijah came to restore keys (and read D&C 110 on the temple grounds). To stand on the step of the John Johnson farm that Joseph Smith both preached from and was dragged from before he was tarred and feathered. To sit near the site where the first high priests of the dispensation were ordained. It was all so incredible and I feel so blessed to have been able to do it. Granted, it was bit crazy... I was doing a million and a half headcounts to constantly make sure I didn't lose any kids, and the schedule was a bit nuts (including getting less sleep on the touring days). But the busing and touring also provided some extra bonding time as a group. And nothing pulls people together more than spiritual experiences and discussions (one reason why EFY is so awesome). :-)
Company picture in front of the Newel K. Whitney store.
I also had the great opportunity to help with musical program this week. It was definitely a little crazy because we only had four practices instead of the normal six (we lost two lunch practices since we were touring), but it definitely brought the Spirit and helped to set the tone for me to receive some personal revelation that night. And the counselors I got to work with for that were wonderful.
Late night chats with some other counselors were also great... though the lack of sleep due to them wasn't. Oops. I know I still need to figure lots of stuff out with my life and I feel like this week gave me more questions instead of answers. But I am so happy I had the opportunity to be in Kirtland with a great team. And I'm also so grateful that I just got hired on for one more week of EFY, this time in Cedar City. It's going to be awesome.
I'll admit it. I was kind of nervous going in to the week. I had grown so used to the team I had worked with for my other four weeks and was a little scared to lose them. I knew that the Midwest team had all been working together and with all the traveling they do from place to place, I figured they'd be pretty close. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make friends and I only knew one of the other counselors. But there was no reason for me to be worried. I arrived to Kirtland late, because we had to wait extra long for the shuttle, and so I arrived about 15 minutes into the fireside and just slipped in. I waved to my friend, but sat quietly by myself. But after the fireside, when they announced BC groups, my BC (Codi) immediately gave me a huge hug, and Ellie (one of the coordinators) couldn't stop waving at me. I immediately felt so welcome and so at home, even though I was the only counselor who had never worked with them before.
Another good sign of the week, was once I met my co (Ben), we were almost instantly on the same page and unified. He's such a solid guy. Though I also feel bad that I wasn't able to spend as much time with him during the week as I wanted, since we were on the kind of crazy special edition schedule and I was on musical program during free time.
Anyways, I had the 16-18 year olds this week and I adored them. We were On the Right Hand (from Acts 7:55-56). We had 10 girls and 12 boys (super bizarre to have more guys than girls, but it was fun for me to be escorted sometimes and get to know some of the guys better that way).
We were able to tour some historical sites in Kirtland and the surrounding areas on Tuesday and Wednesday and it was amazing. Our session directors (the Woodwards) also were so informative about all the historically significant things that happened in Kirtland. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize how much happened there until this week. I had heard most of the stories, but didn't put two and two together that they happened there. But Kirtland was the church headquarters for the longest of anywhere besides Salt Lake City, so a lot happened there. I got to be in the room where D&C 76 was seen in vision by Joseph (and then I was able to studying that section on the lawn of the farm where it was revealed). To look at the exact place where Christ revealed himself in the temple to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, and where Moses, Elias, and Elijah came to restore keys (and read D&C 110 on the temple grounds). To stand on the step of the John Johnson farm that Joseph Smith both preached from and was dragged from before he was tarred and feathered. To sit near the site where the first high priests of the dispensation were ordained. It was all so incredible and I feel so blessed to have been able to do it. Granted, it was bit crazy... I was doing a million and a half headcounts to constantly make sure I didn't lose any kids, and the schedule was a bit nuts (including getting less sleep on the touring days). But the busing and touring also provided some extra bonding time as a group. And nothing pulls people together more than spiritual experiences and discussions (one reason why EFY is so awesome). :-)
I also had the great opportunity to help with musical program this week. It was definitely a little crazy because we only had four practices instead of the normal six (we lost two lunch practices since we were touring), but it definitely brought the Spirit and helped to set the tone for me to receive some personal revelation that night. And the counselors I got to work with for that were wonderful.
Late night chats with some other counselors were also great... though the lack of sleep due to them wasn't. Oops. I know I still need to figure lots of stuff out with my life and I feel like this week gave me more questions instead of answers. But I am so happy I had the opportunity to be in Kirtland with a great team. And I'm also so grateful that I just got hired on for one more week of EFY, this time in Cedar City. It's going to be awesome.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
EFY- Salt Lake City 3
This week of EFY was really interesting for me. I was SO excited to go back to EFY all week during my week off. I was even thinking to myself a lot, "If I were at EFY, I'd be doing *this* right now." But then Saturday night hit and I suddenly didn't want to go back. I'm not entirely sure why. I was kind of stressed because I had been trying to look for a real job for after EFY, but I couldn't find anything. I was worried about having a hard week and the necessary energy to be a counselor. I was overwhelmed and just not sure if I could do another week. It was also hard because it started to become a bit monotonous. During EFY training, someone mentioned how important it is to give each week your all because even though you may work multiple weeks in a summer, it's the only shot these kids have. I just thought, "Duh. Why wouldn't I give each week my all?" I was so excited to be an EFY counselor and didn't understand how it could be difficult when you have personal stuff going on and when you're exhausted and spent in every way possible. I was just kind of burned out. It was compounded by the fact that not only was it my fourth week, but it was my third week with the exact same campus, exact same schedule, exact same dorm building, and exact same food. It really became a bit monotonous. And all of these things going on added up to me not really wanting to be there, even once I got up to Salt Lake and was at the fireside. It was interesting that at the fireside for counselors, our session director (Brother Bacon) talked about desires. And a lot of the counselors talked about desiring to help their kids in various ways. I felt pretty inadequate when I realized that my desire was just to have the desire to be at EFY so that I could be a good possible.
Luckily, that desire did come (though it didn't starting coming until Monday evening and didn't really come until Tuesday) and I ended up having a great week. I was with the 14-15 year olds again. This week, I had 12 girls in my group, and there were 34 kids overall in our company. Our company was Glory of the Sun (from 1 Corinthians 15:40-42). Things weren't perfect with our company, but my girls were sweethearts. That was such a blessing, considering how much I was struggling at the beginning of the week. I felt bad that I wasn't able to spend as much time with them as I wanted, since I was on lunch and free time duty a lot, but they were pretty understanding.
I learned a lot personally this week. It was definitely hard in a lot of ways with the different personal things me and my co's were going through, as well as dealing with some difficult things within the company, but it was so good. And there was such a good payoff. As hard as it is, I wish I could be an EFY counselor forever.
The co's... Ryan, Kylie, and me.
Glory of the Sun!
But as for now, I need to finish packing and get to bed. I leave in less than 8 hours to head out to Kirtland for my last week of EFY. I'm sad EFY is almost over for me, but I am so excited to go to Kirtland. It should be a blast!
Luckily, that desire did come (though it didn't starting coming until Monday evening and didn't really come until Tuesday) and I ended up having a great week. I was with the 14-15 year olds again. This week, I had 12 girls in my group, and there were 34 kids overall in our company. Our company was Glory of the Sun (from 1 Corinthians 15:40-42). Things weren't perfect with our company, but my girls were sweethearts. That was such a blessing, considering how much I was struggling at the beginning of the week. I felt bad that I wasn't able to spend as much time with them as I wanted, since I was on lunch and free time duty a lot, but they were pretty understanding.
I learned a lot personally this week. It was definitely hard in a lot of ways with the different personal things me and my co's were going through, as well as dealing with some difficult things within the company, but it was so good. And there was such a good payoff. As hard as it is, I wish I could be an EFY counselor forever.
But as for now, I need to finish packing and get to bed. I leave in less than 8 hours to head out to Kirtland for my last week of EFY. I'm sad EFY is almost over for me, but I am so excited to go to Kirtland. It should be a blast!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Testimony
For my 101 list, I wanted to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting. I don't even remember the last time I did that. I'm not sure that I've done it since high school. But I did it last Sunday. And despite constantly testifying to my kids at EFY, it was still a bit scary to get up in front of the congregation to bear my testimony. But it was a good experience.
It's also interesting for me to note how much there is to my testimony. There are so many aspects and so many things I know and believe. At EFY, my testimony is different each time I bear it, based on the kids or the activity or what we are talking about. It was different once again when I bore it in sacrament meeting.
But every time, my testimony comes down to a few basic beliefs. I know the Jesus is the Christ. I know that He came down to earth and atoned for my sins and suffered all sorts of pain and afflictions so that He can comfort me in my times of sorrow and so that I can return to live with my Father in Heaven again. I truly am a daughter of God. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore His church on the earth today and that he translated the Book of Mormon, which truly is another testament of Jesus Christ. I know that there is a living prophet on the earth today who receives revelation from God to help guide and direct the church. I am grateful for the ability to receive my own personal revelation, as well. I am also grateful for temples and for the opportunity they give me to become closer to God, as well as the opportunity I have to spend eternity with my family because of the power that is there.
I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I may not understand everything yet, but my testimony is my sure foundation. I encourage you to find out for yourself if it is true, as well.
It's also interesting for me to note how much there is to my testimony. There are so many aspects and so many things I know and believe. At EFY, my testimony is different each time I bear it, based on the kids or the activity or what we are talking about. It was different once again when I bore it in sacrament meeting.
But every time, my testimony comes down to a few basic beliefs. I know the Jesus is the Christ. I know that He came down to earth and atoned for my sins and suffered all sorts of pain and afflictions so that He can comfort me in my times of sorrow and so that I can return to live with my Father in Heaven again. I truly am a daughter of God. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore His church on the earth today and that he translated the Book of Mormon, which truly is another testament of Jesus Christ. I know that there is a living prophet on the earth today who receives revelation from God to help guide and direct the church. I am grateful for the ability to receive my own personal revelation, as well. I am also grateful for temples and for the opportunity they give me to become closer to God, as well as the opportunity I have to spend eternity with my family because of the power that is there.
I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I may not understand everything yet, but my testimony is my sure foundation. I encourage you to find out for yourself if it is true, as well.
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