My fun, busy, but yet gross week.

Wow!!!! I just got beck from girls camp about 4 hours ago and I had a BLAST!!!!! . . . . Well, except for the muggy, muggy weather. Since we were right by the lake it was just so sticky, hot, gross, sweaty, and just dehydrating.

We arrived there tuesday and I met my J.C.s and my level leader. We had an opening fireside and we met the camp director then. It was the same as last year. . . Every night we had a ward devotional and tuesday's one was were we had a cup full of m&ms and we had to eat all besides 3. Once everyone was done we found out we had to share some certain things depending on the color. Like brown was share and emabarising or funny moment.

Wedensday we had to go on hikes and lucky us, it was a down pore!!!!! The level 2 girls were originally supposed to go on a 5 mile hike but because of the rain, it was just barely a mile hike. During that time we collected trash and some leaves, sticks, rocks, and whatever else we could find for our calosh. That night for our devotional we talked about some qualities we had. Next, we talked about our devine qualities. So our leader would say like, "Who are you, Tori?" and everyone in the group would name some things off that you were or that you did or something like that. And to my very great surprise. . . everyone, even the girls that I have been having trouble with said that I was Christ-like. And once I heard that, I just started bawling!!! I didn't know I had that big of an influence on all of them. Even the leaders agreed on that and said I was an example to them. WOW!!!!

Thursday, from 9-12 the 1st and 3rd years went boating. then we had lunch and then from 1-4 the 2nd and 4th years went boating. So we got to go on the tube and get flown off of it. . . you know how that is. =) After that we got dressed for the bishops night. Our theme. . . well one of them, was a cowboy type of thing. So we had to dress up as cowgirls. Some of my friends had put eyeliner on themselves to look like beards and mustaches. It was so fun!!! One of them was my "boyfriend" you could say. So the bishops had a shoot out with marshmallow guns. It was fun because a lot of the girls had their own guns too and we shot the bishops. For devotionals that night we talked more about our devine qualities. Our leader decided to have all of us girls to know at least 3 different devine qualities. I decided that I would have Christ-like, kind, and talented. When we decided on which quality, we had to remember the names or else that meant we didn't really feel like we had that quality. 

Friday, we went boating again, but like the paddle boats, canoes, and kiaking. 2nd and 4th years went from 9-12. Then from 1:30-4 the others went. So I'm glad I got in the morning because it was a supper hot day!!! Then at night, we didn't have a ward devotional. This is the special night when it's like almost the only reason why you come to camp. Our them was "Like the Stars: Steadfast and Immovable." And wow!!! It was an amazing night. So we all walk down to a corner and the J.C.s start singing hyms. And one by one, the girls in the line watching and singing with the J.C.s go on the path that goes in the middle of the camp ground. At the very begining, a leader handed me a bag of gravel and said, "these are your trials. Carry them while you are walking. You have to do this by yourself. This is your burrden." And so I walk on and a few leaders later, a leader says to me, "I know it is very very hard to remember the savior all the time. But it is your job to remind yourself and others that He is always there. NO MATTER WHAT!!! This message I'm giving you is only for you. Not for the girl in front of you and not the girl behind you. Only for you." I still have been crying about it when I tell it to people. So all of the leaders from the stake were lined up giving everyone hugs and saying "I love you" At the very end, Sis. Nicoliozo, the stake camp director said, "now is the time to let go of all your trials. It's time to let them go and move on. Now go and throw your trials in the fire, and watch them burn into the flames and never think of them again." I'm even crying right now as I'm typing this. Once we were all in the place where we were supposed to be, we watched a slide show of all of the pictures the assistant director took of us. After that, Sis. Nicliozo stood up and bore her testimony for the last time. This was her last year being girls camp director. When she was done, we all stood up for the last time with her to say the young women's theme. Everyone could hardly say it because they were all crying so hard. Last, in our cabin, our ward had a testimony meeting and it was the strongest one I have ever been too. I bore mine. The spirit was just so strong. Mostly because of a friend who just had a very, VERY!! strong testimony that made everyone cry. It was just so peaceful and wonderful.

I just really needed this girls camp. I think this time, it was a special one for all of us going through these really hard times. My testimony has grown so much from this. I will never EVER forget this wonderful girls camp.