Week Number 13

This week saw one big change but for the most part settled into the pattern of weeks on the mountain.

     The Challenge Course team, comprised of 16 couples, has been rotating through the challenges courses.  Mike and I have spent two weeks on course 1, 5, 4, and 3 each.  We were quite sure we would spend the next two weeks on Challenge Course 2 but that was changed when the Team Leaders decided it was time to give each couple a permanent assignment on a specific course.  Mike and I were assigned and will spend the remainder of our mission on Challenge Course 5. THE HIGH SWING!!!   We are thrilled.  We love the course and love the other two couples we will be serving with.

Elder and Sister Bastian

Elder and Sister Bastian are the Course Leaders.  Their home is in Neola, Utah but they spend the winter in St. George.  This is their second summer at Heber Valley Girls Camp but their first summer on the Challenge Course.  They are fun and kind and we love working with them.  We are finding we have a lot in common with them including the fact that we each have 12 grandchildren.

Elder and Sister Harkness

Elder and Sister Harkness live in Sandy, Utah.  This is their first summer at Heber Valley Girls Camp.  We really enjoy working with them.  They are full of energy and fun to work with.  We look forward to getting to know them better.

For our p-day this week we simply bought some deli-food and sat in the park for a few hours.  We had a long talk and just enjoyed being together.  Of course, we're together 24/7 serving on our mission but a peaceful, relaxing picnic was wonderful.

Our picnic in the park

This week we had a very special guest on Challenge Course 5.  She came with her sister who was so devoted. 

Our special guest

Jenna, 16, was in a wheel-chair and had no use of her muscles.  She couldn't sit up, walk or speak.  She could smile. When her sister was on the swing she watched with such delight it was wonderful.  We wanted so much to make it a good experience for her so we put a helmet on her an took a group picture with all the girls from her ward.  The most inspirational part of the entire afternoon was watching her 18 year old sister, McKenna.  She knew every eye movement, every sound, every nuance and could respond to Jenna, and meet her needs.  We witnessed complete charity - the pure love of Christ - between these two remarkable sisters. 


We were blessed with rain showers again this week.  They cooled the air and kept the dust down.  However, they never once interfered with running the Challenge Courses.

LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK:

1 Corinthians 13:4 & 13
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity

• 
  We will never forget the charity we witnessed in the love and devotion of one sister to another.  I hope someday to have such a charitable heart for everyone I meet.
  

Week Number 12

Because this was the week of the 4th of July, the camp was open for families.  Girl's Camp will resume tomorrow, but this week we had 2,500 - 3,000 guests that were here with family reunions.

Our Challenge Courses were open for the families to use.  AND THEY DID!

We were on Challenge Course 3 this week.  It is a beautiful course. 

Challenge Course 3  - Up the cargo net, across the ladder to the nest and down the zip line

 

 

My view from the Eagles Nest

I thought I'd show you the different camps that make up Heber Valley Girls Camp.

 

Each Camp has five campsites with at least four cabins in each.  Each cabin sleeps 16 girls and their leaders.  Each camp has one large pavilion and several small cooking pavilions.

A typical camp site -- Can you see the deer?

The Priesthood who come to help have their own sleeping quarters.

Where the Priesthood sleep.  The cots are soft and comfortable

The girls sleep in cabins like this

Girls cabin -- Sleeps 16

The girls meet in the outdoor pavilion for meals and crafts, etc.

Outdoor pavilion -   Inside is a room for medical, staff and restrooms.

     Heber Valley Camp is amazing.  The girls have the Challenge Courses (of course), Legacy Lake, hiking trails, all the food they can eat, clean cabins, restrooms with showers.  Their leaders plan a week full of crafts and games and speakers who can touch the hearts of the young women in this beautiful setting away from the noise and commotion of the world.

     This week was so much fun.  We had some families with over 140 members at their family reunions.  They had a few days to get to know each other and strengthen each other.  The ages ranged from Great-grandparents (85+), Grandparents, parents, young parents, teenagers, adolescents, children, toddlers and infants.  I helped an 84 year old grandpa go down the zip line after climbing the cargo net and crossing the bridge.  I had a four year old girl do the same thing.  

LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK:               Families Are Forever

The family unit is so important.  It gives meaning and purpose to every age.  Grandparents enjoy their grandchildren with such an unconditional love.  Parents learn patience as they teach their children the important lessons of life.  Children feel protected and cherished as they receive support from their family members.   I watched brothers-in-law acting as brothers and sisters-in-law interacting with the children of their siblings.  I watched Grandparents holding babies and cheering on their children and grandchildren as they challenged themselves on the high course.  Then the entire family watched with awe, amazement, and overwhelming support as Grandparents challenged themselves and succeeded.

This weeks tender mercy:

     We have been concerned with the fire danger this past month.  Utah has had 42 consecutive days with no rain.  The camp was so dry and dusty; making is uncomfortable for hikes, games, challenge course, etc.  We prayed for rain.  Not only to make it more comfortable and not only to reduce the fire danger but for all the people affected by the fires and all the brave fire-fighters.

     Rain came this week.  On Thursday we woke to pouring rain.  It was such a relief.  It rained all morning.  At 3:00 pm, when we started working on our Challenge Course, the rain let up and the sun shone through the clouds.  We worked with families until 8:00 pm.  As soon as we reached our cabin it started raining again and rained all night.

     

Psalms 40:11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy loving kindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

     (A side note:)  The deer enjoyed the cool rain also.  The forest is cool and damp.  Mike witnessed deer playing tag among the trees.  A bull moose (probably the father) was playing tag among the trees with a young calf moose.

 

Our Eleventh Week

Last Sunday, after I posted my blog entry for the week, I walked outside because there was heavy smoke in the air.  I took this picture.

Smoke on Sunday evening.

      I think most of Utah is on fire.  We have emergency preparedness meetings and training on evacuation procedures.   At least two of the Elders serving here are professional fire fighters - specializing in range fires.  They are confident that we are secure in even the worst case scenario.  Could be a very interesting summer.  I'm hoping for day to day service.


This week was spent working on Challenge Course 4.  We had Young Women, Youth Conferences, and family reunions.

We are busy everyday and becoming more confident with our assignments.

      On Friday we had a Ward Youth Conference visit our course.  One of the young men was 18 years old and in a wheel chair.  He was paralyzed from the waist down.  I was worried about him making his way through the wood chips.  I did not need to worry.  He was able to climb the pole - 25 feet - cross the cable to the Eagles nest and ride the zip line. ALL this with only the use of his arms! He is amazing.  He is on the Olympic paraplegic tennis team.  Nothing stops him when he sets a goal.   Whenever I feel like saying "I can't do this" in the future, I will think of him.

THAT WAS THE LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK.

Our Tenth Week

Boy, time sure does fly.

We were assigned to Challenge Course 4 this week.  I have been very apprehensive to serve on this course.  The Eagles Nest is high and out in the open, and the cable you walk to get to the Eagles nest is tricky.  I knew I would need to be in the nest and do my part in making the course run smoothly but I worried and prayed a lot.  Monday arrived and when I woke up I felt confident and ready to go.  I marveled at the change in my mind set.  It was an answer to prayer.  I even enjoyed my time in the nest!

Bunni in CC4 Eagles nest.

Mike spent the week belaying.  This is hard work but he loves doing it.  It was a great week for us at camp.

The best part came on Saturday.  We had Chad's family (- Reed at BYU), Sheri's family, and Joe and Katie come to visit us.  WE MISSED Brooke's family.  Hopefully they can visit before our mission is complete.

On Saturday evening we were able to give them a tour of some low courses and play the games.  They stayed up at camp in one of the cabins.  On Sunday we attended Sacrament
meeting together on the mountain.  Afterwards we went down into Heber City for a picnic in the park before they needed to head home.  We can't get enough time with our grandkids.

L-R Tanner, Preston, Rachel, Benson, Ella, Jessica with Grandma & Grandpa

 Brooke and Nathan - this is a formal, public invitation to come and visit.

LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK:

Put your faith in the Lord when the seemingly impossible is put before you.  This like unto the lesson I learned last week.  This time it applied to me personally.

Our Ninth Week

This was another busy week.  I think I'll probably say that for the next two months.  We seem to be getting into shape (a little) because we aren't completely exhausted most evenings.

We started the week Monday morning by helping at the Welcome Center when the campers arrived.  We helped direct traffic.  Mike even got to hold a flag!  You can see behind us are three lanes.  The left two lanes are for cars and trucks.  The right lane is for trucks pulling trailers and buses.  My job was to keep the exiting traffic from using the right lane when new buses were arriving.  There were times when the back up of traffic was about 15 cars in both lanes and 6 buses in the right.  I wish I had a picture but I was too busy to stop and take one.

Mike welcoming and explaining the course to girls and leaders

We spent the week working on Challenge Course 5 again.  We work each course for two weeks.  We start with an opening, welcome, and safety explanation.  Then we help the campers on the high course and low courses.  There are four - two hour sessions.

Mike resting between sessions.

Between sessions we have time for a quick lunch and a bottle of water.  Some days we only have time for a granola bar.

Filling our ATVs with gas

    This is how we fill our ATVs with gas.  We've put over 250 miles on them just going to and from our cabin to the Challenge Courses.  We're need to go on more rides in the outback and plan to as soon as we get our breath.

Sister C with her two daughters after her flight on the swing.

      We had a group arrive on the course that included a mother/leader with her two daughters.  Sister C told us from the moment she arrived that she was deathly afraid of heights and falling. (a bad combination for the swing)  We explained the safety and security measures we take to keep everyone safe but I don't even think she could or would hear us.  Her daughters "flew" and loved it.  They really wanted their Mom to try.  Daughters can be very persistent.  Finally, after watching, crying, and shaking for two hours, Sister C decided she would participate for one reason - to show her daughters she could face her fears and triumph.  SHE DID TRIUMPH. 

LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK:                   With God, all things are possible.

     We will not get through this life without challenges and fear.  We can allow the fear to stop us.  We can sit there and watch the world go by and not participate because we doubt our ability to survive, let alone succeed.  OR  We can face our fears develop faith in ourselves, family, friends and Heavenly Father and accomplish what seems the impossible.

• Mark 10:27

      And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Our Eighth Week

This will be a short post because this week seemed to fly by. 

     Monday morning the first group of Young Women and their leaders arrived.  They start arriving at 7:00 am.  As missionaries we go out to the welcome center to greet them with waves and cheers and receive a lot a waves in return.

     We greeted buses, vans, trucks pulling trailers, and cars.  There were at least 15 buses and more than 50 trailers bringing up all the needed supplies.  There was a total of over 3,100 campers.

     A lot of these YW groups came from Heber Valley and so came in cars.  This is not the normal transportation.  We expect to see 30 or more buses arrive in the coming week.

    The rest of the week was spent working on the Challenge Courses.  We were kept so busy, I had no time for picture taking.  

     Our P-day was Wednesday and we were able to meet Joe, as he drove home from Seattle, in Salt Lake City for lunch and a great visit. 

     Friday and Saturday we worked with Youth Conference Groups and Family reunions.  

     One family came with 48 members and 30 of them were children under the age of 12.  
One little two year old girl (SO CUTE) was so excited to put on a harness and swing.  Her Daddy and a missionary pushed her until she was swinging "High"  Probably 8 feet up both ways.  The grin on her precious face made my whole week!   Wish I had a picture, but I needed to concentrate on her.  


Lesson learned this week:
Families are the greatest blessing in our lives.  There is abundant joy in families sharing experiences. 

"No success in life can compensate for failure in the home."
Pres. David O McKay 

"If I were asked to name the world's greatest need, I should say unhesitatingly, wise mothers; and the second, exemplary fathers."    Pres. David O McKay


Turn off the TV, cell phone, and computer.  
Do something meaningful with your family.  It will have eternal rewards.

Our Seventh Week

     We are finished with the day to day training now.  From this week on until the end of August we will have a camp full of Young Women groups or family reunions or miscellaneous groups from different organizations.  In short, we have a FULL camp.  Probably 90% want to try the Challenge Courses.

Monday:  The Young Women arrive at 7:00 am.  They come in buses and I have been told it is an exciting time.  There are girls and leaders waving and shouting greetings to the missionaries as we meet them and the missionaries do their part in returning the welcome.  I can't wait to be a part of it tomorrow morning.  (I'll take pictures)

     At 12:30 - 1:30 we train the YW Leaders on the low courses.  

     The first group of 50 - 60 girls arrive on course at 1:45 pm and stay until 5:00 pm. 

Tuesday through Thursday:   We, on the Challenge Courses, start with a 9:00 - 12:15 session, then a 1:15 - 4:30 session.


The girl's leave Friday morning.  The missionaries send them off with cheers and waves.


THEN later on Friday we have a 3:30 - 5:30 session, (grab a granola bar) then a 6:00 - 8:00 pm session with families or Stakes.


Saturdays will be really fun.  We start with a 9:00 - 11:00 session, (grab a granola bar) then a 11:30 - 1:30 session, and finally a 5:30 - 7:30 session.  These sessions are with families.


I am told that almost every session is always full and we stay until every guest has their turn on the Challenge Course.  

Mike and I serve on Challenge Course 5 for the next two weeks.  That is the course with the high swing!!!!!


OK.  Here is a short re-cap of this week.

      Monday, at 6:00 am, all the missionaries met at the Welcome Center for a flag raising ceremony and singing of the National Anthem to remember those who gave their lives in defense of our country.  They also honored the missionaries who were veterans.

Mike is the 5th Veteran from the right.

The flag was raised to half staff for 1/2 a day and then raised to full staff.

     We have an Elder at camp who sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He led us in the National Anthem, then we repeated the Pledge of Alligence.


We had family reunions in camp the rest of the week.

     Mike and I were still assigned to Challenge Course 1 and worked there with the families.
It was fun.  I thought I'd take some pictures from the Eagles Nest to show you my perpective of the week.  I am now certified to work in the Nest alone.

Family gathering.   Mike ready to belay.

Mike belaying a Young Woman across the cable to the Eagles Nest.

Looking down the zip-line from the Eagles Nest.  I came within one foot of the far tree.

     This evening, after district meeting, it was much, much to beautiful outdoors to even think of going back to our cabin.  We rode our 4-wheelers to Legacy Lake and walked around it.  This is a 30 minute hike on a path wide enough for one hiker and stays near the shore of Legacy Lake, except for a short hike into an Aspen grove. We stopped there and listened to the peaceful quiet. It wasn't silent because we could hear the breeze in the Aspen leaves and birds were singing.

Lesson I learned this week:  
                    We need more quiet in our lives.  

I prefer the quiet you find in nature because there is a back drop of gentle breeze, bird song or rippling brook.   
But, quiet time can be found in our homes.

So many of us live busy, demanding lives.  Even our children have little time to stop and listen to the quiet.  You feel such gratitude for the wonder of this world when you can simply stop and listen to the quiet around you.

Tomorrow - 7:00 am - THE GIRLS COME TO CAMP!!!!!