Week Number 23

Wow!  I'm a little dizzy.  

This week was such a change from everything we've been doing all summer.  

     Since April we've been outside, very active and challenging ourselves.  This week was spent in the office.  There were challenges but they we more in trying to remember SO MANY responsibilities for next year.  I'll be busy all winter with preparation work for 2013.

This is my desk  - next year.

Mike was outside much more than me.  He was still working on staining cabins and his responsibilities next year will be with groups serving outside.

We did get to work on Challenge Course a couple of times, and we had a special guest.   Our special guest was the mother of our Challenge Course Team leader.  She was at camp celebrating her 90th birthday and brought her entire family  She rode the swing twice and loved it.

Happy 90th birthday -- Putting on harness for swing.

On Sunday afternoon our District took a 10 mile ATV ride to the outback.  We visited an old Sheep Herders cabin that is being refurbished by the camp missionaries.  The couple that built it in 1939 and spent their summers in it came to the mountain and explained it's history.

Sheep Herders Cabin

LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK:  You've got to get in the driver's seat.

    When we learn to drive we can read every book on the subject, watch videos, talk with experienced drivers, but until we sit behind the wheel in the drivers seat we will not know how to drive.   We can read every cookbook and eat delicious food, but until we actually cook we don't know how to create the dishes.  We can read every parenting book and talk with other parents, but we finally "get it" when we have our own children.

     We can read the scriptures, listen to inspirational speakers, and study the gospel of Jesus Christ.  But, until we LIVE it's precepts of love, obedience, kindness, sacrifice, etc. we have not and can not become true followers of Christ.

Week Number 22

     We spent Monday through Thursday staining cabins in Camp Esther.  We had a great crew of missionaries working and the work went quickly.

     On Friday and Saturday we were busy with families on Challenge Course 5.  On Saturday we helped over 120 people swing.

     Wednesday, on our p-day, we drove to Salem, Utah and had the most delicious sausage and bacon pizza I think I've ever eaten (Mike ordered it)  plus a cherry strudel pizza.  Our dear friends, (more like family) the Nielsons have opened "Big Don's Pizza".  

I am feeling a little guilty but loving the pizza.

Good stuff

     At church on Sunday they announced the assignment for Team Leaders for next year.  There are seven teams, Camp Management, Challenge Course, Maintenance/facilities, Maintenance/trails, Lake, Camp Hosts, Security, and Support Services.  Mike and I have been asked to be Team Leaders for Support Services.  We go to a meeting in the morning to hear our job description.  I know I work in the office and Mike works with service projects.  - More information to follow -

     On Sunday afternoon it was fun to line up 100+ ATVs in the parking lot and take a huge group picture.  It was five rows about 20 deep.  They stood in the basket of a tall crane to take the picture.

     Sunday evening we rode our ATVs out to Maple Grove, an out-back camp.  Now Fall has come to the mountain the colors a beautiful.  As we walked out of the sun into the quiet shade of Oak Grove it was so peaceful.  The ground was carpeted (literally) with red, yellow and orange leaves.  The sun filtered through the trees above.  Heavenly Father is an artist.

carpet of leaves

so beautiful

 LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK:   Give me a mountain. 

     A talk by Elder Von G. Keetch, Area Seventy, Utah Salt Lake City Area, today in church was centered on facing the challenges that are put in our lives.   Many of the missionaries here have health problems or their families are facing problems. 
     We may ask why do trials come to us when we are striving to live as good a life as possible?  To put it simply - it is because we are being prepared to be better than we are now.  When we face our trials with courage and faith we grow spiritually.   Our trials may seem to be mountains to climb but we should appreciate them for the the strength they bring to our lives.

Week Number 21

This week was much different from the previous weeks.  We like change.

     On Monday we had a Challenge Course Team meeting to discuss our new assignment now that there are less guests visiting camp.  We will now be staining the cabins in Camp Esther, and Camp Rebekah.

     Mike and I attended the meeting thinking we would simply be getting instructions from the team leaders and we were asked to coordinate the missionaries.

 

     There are approximately 20 missionary couples asked to stain cabins.  There are thirty eight cabins to be stained.  We have three weeks to get it done.  We need to assign the missionaries.   Who goes where, when to be there, and what to do.  They also need to work on course at various times during the week.   Can we spell j-u-g-g-l-i-n-g?

    We spent the week spray washing, sanding and spraying a wood preservative on the cabins.  This is totally new to us.  This is a new challenge.

Working on cabin in Camp Esther

     We all worked hard Monday thru Thursday.  Families filled the camp Friday and Saturday so we worked on Challenge Course 5 all day, both days.  It's good to be busy.

     Monday evening all the missionary couples met together for a presentation on the Parable of the Ten Virgins.  We used a powerpoint that I made for the Knolls Ward.  It was a great evening and everyone seemed to enjoy the presentation.

LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK:  Leadership was taught by Christ.
I really like this quote. 

 “Jesus said several times, “Come, follow me.” His was a program of “do what I do,” rather than “do what I say.”  . . .  He walked and worked with those he was to serve. His was not a long-distance leadership. He was not afraid of close friendships; he was not afraid that proximity to him would disappoint his followers. The leaven of true leadership cannot lift others unless we are with and serve those to be led.”
― Spencer W. Kimball

Week Number 20

The Challenge Courses are really winding down.  We only had one session during the week but we were booked full all weekend.

We had time to go on a long, beautiful hike through the camp on Tuesday.  We hiked across a small stream and through thick aspen trees.  This mountain is truly amazing, quiet, and tranquil. 

On our P-day we took a long drive.  We drove 45 miles to Mirror Lake and to Provo Falls which are close to the mouth of the Provo River.

Mike at Mirror Lake - Elevation 10,800 ft.

Provo Falls

Down stream from the falls

We really want to take our grand-kids to these falls and play with them in the water downstream!  The water must be about 40 degrees but kids were having a fun time playing in it.

The same day we also took a drive along a dirt road in the mountains across the valley from Heber Valley Girls Camp.  We drove from Midway on the North to Aspen Grove and Provo Canyon on the South.  Probably 40 miles.  SO MUCH FUN!

We helped inventory camp supplies on Wednesday morning.  So, we did some service.  This next week will see a lot more work around the camp. 

LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK:
God's creations are spectacular!  Nothing man made in this world can compare to them.

Week Number 19

Heber Valley Girls Camp is slowing down.  School has started so there aren't many family reunions scheduled.  We have a few but we will now be starting on different assignments.  Cabins need to be painted, and the entire camp needs to be made ready for winter.

I thought I'd post a few photos of our Challenge Course 5.  It has been so much fun serving on this course.

Our shady spot

The picture doesn't do it justice but this is our shady spot under huge pine trees.  We sit here to eat, visit and prepare between sessions of guests on the swing.  On hot sunny days it provides a cool, shady, almost cave like place to sit.  LOVE IT.

Helmets and Harnesses

This is how our harnesses and helmets are hung ready to be put on the guests before they fly high on our swing.  In the back ground in our shady spot.

Challenge Course 5 Sand box

For the children who are not using the swing (and sometimes parents) we have a sandbox.  Mike once saw 14 children playing in it at one time.  This is a popular spot.

We went to Provo on our P-day, Wednesday to attend BYU Education Week.  We usually spend the entire week going to classes.  This year we were able to attend three classes on Wednesday afternoon.

                                      We learned so much in those three classes. 

As I write this, Chad, Sloan, Jessica, Rachel and Tanner or flying over the Pacific Ocean on their way to Guam.  They are excited - as they should be - but I will miss them and, of course, I will worry about them because --  I worry.
At least Reed is here attending the Y so we will see him often.

LESSON LEARNED THIS WEEK: 
              Normal does not exist.  In this life we need to be faithful and flexible.

Week Number 18

    This was our last week having Young Women at camp.  We will miss them.

     We had a weekend full of family reunions.  We were busy from morning until night.  Our Challenge Course is a favorite for families.  Children love the swing.   Anyone 3 years old and older can swing.

     This week we helped a 91 year old great-grandpa swing.  He went all the way to the top!   He had such an amazing attitude.  He was cheerful and ready for a new experience.   I knew he was secure and safe but the initial drop can and does take your breath away.  I was holding my breath the whole time.

     We also helped a young woman who was blind to ride the swing.  She had a wonderful time.  Imagine the trust it takes to be pulled up 40 feet and let go of your security strap so that you dropped down until you start swinging.   In complete darkness!!

     This evening we went on a long ATV ride with 2 other couples.  The ATV trails here at camp are amazing!  There are some over looks that make you feel you're on top of the world.

     I want to find new and interesting events to share each week but some weeks are pretty much the same as all the others.

Lesson learned this week:
     Enjoy each day no matter what it brings.  It's your attitude that keeps you young and opens up the opportunity for new experiences.

Week Number 17

This week was full of Young Women Camps.  The camp takes on a whole personality of it's own when the Young Women are here.  They are so full of energy! 

We also had our cabin re-stained on Friday and Saturday.  We had to be up and out by 6:30 each morning and on Friday we weren't needed on course until 3:30. At least on Saturday we were on course by 8:15 am.

Starting work at 6:30 am

spraying our cabin

 Since we had eight hours on Friday morning we decided to go to the Timpanogos Temple.  It was a wonderful experience except I "misplaced" Mike for about two hours.  I waited in the chapel while he hurried into the 8:00 am session.  The temple workers and security were searching for him until we figured out where he was.  He did a session and I was able to enjoy some quiet time.  When we met up again we did some sealings.  No matter what you do in the temple you spend your time in peace and quiet while serving.  It was a wonderful morning.

Mount Timpanogos Temple

Lesson Learned This Week:
We had a reason this week to go to the Lord in prayer and ask for His help.  It was a time of need and we are so grateful for the knowledge of His love and our ability to approach Him with faith that He will hear our prayers.  
I also learned that as we pray to our Heavenly Father we need to feel worthy to ask for His help.  Since we never know when the need will arise we must live each hour of each day to feel that worthiness.