Girl's Camp - Trust in the Lord

 I got called to help with Stake Girl's Camp this year.  It was nice to be needed after having had to be released from a prior calling that didn't work out because I was still struggling through chemo and its effects.  I was pretty down, and Sister Orchard, who I have served with in Stake Primary and YSA and gone to Wood Badge with asked for me to be able to help her.  I did all I could to be a support and take care of the things she assigned me to do.  And it turned out to be a really great camp!  It was a little hard for me because I came into it late and people already knew each other. It was also a little hard at camp too because of the same reason.  But I did get to know and appreciate some new people even though big group gatherings of people I don't know, and even ones I do know, aren't really my thing.  But I looked for ways to help all I could.  At first she just wanted me to help with the hike, but it expanded to much more and I was able to serve as needed.  I learned some new things that I'm glad for.  I don't think I want to do this again, but I'm grateful I did get to serve.  

We had what I like to call the 'campsite miracle'.  By the time Sis. Orchard was called it was very late to get a campsite.  They like the girl's to go to Pine Valley, but there was only one group site left then.  She got it, but we just kept worrying about how small it was and how crowded everyone was going to be there.  We pondered and visited it and rented other nearby single sites in the next over campground, but it just wasn't right.  We kept working on everything else and moving forward.  I was a little discouraged and one point and wondered if we should just cancel after the camp host made it sound like we couldn't put tents anywhere but on the one designated tent site in each little camp.  There was no way we could fit everyone then.  But Sis. Orchard just kept moving forward with her "trust in the Lord" attitude and one day she just checked the reservation site and suddenly the group site next to ours was no longer reserved during our time slot and she got it reserved right then.  And that made all the difference in us having a wonderful, comfortable and convenient camp!  Lots of things worked out and people to help were found where we needed them.  And she was called right in the middle of it all to be her ward RS president.  She was an awesome example to me and everyone of really trusting in the Lord and keeping a positive attitude through it all.  

The top picture is of the girls from my home ward.  The two girls on the climbing wall are from my ward and I had both of them in kindergarten!  I helped with getting the climbing wall to come to camp.  I had been in charge of getting it for Cub Scout Day Camp for several years and knew the people to call to get it set up and how to help with it there at camp.  I was in charge of the hike and took them to our favorite waterfall in Pine Valley.  The middle shot is of Sis Orchard and another stake YW leader and her husband.  The girls in red were waiting (leader with a curb pillow) for their turn on the climbing wall.  Below is a picture we took of all who came on the hike.  I'm on the back row with the black straps across my chest and a visor on.  

We encouraged the girls/leaders to come up with a haiku about the hike, but I don't think any did.  But Paul and I did one on a pre-hike we took and I came up with one after another pre-hike.

Spring torrents rushing, Forcing passage thru' jammed logs, Splashing down the stream

Delicate stars on stems, Glowing white, tinged with purple, Columbine glories

Another one from me:  Divine creations, Nature's glorious details, Showing us God's love

I found one to go along with our camp theme:

Why do I worry, God says I will be with you, So I put my trust in Him

Something new I learned was where to get some shirts printed for the best price in town with really nice people to work with.

And I also learned how to transfer pictures onto these little wood slices in a very simple way!