Values and Colors

              One of the main purposes of our camp is to help all those who come draw closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. As one drives into the camp, they are greeted by a row of banners each a different color.  A  very striking entrance.  But, do these banners have meaning?  Is there a reason each banner is a different color; white, blue, green, red, orange, purple, yellow, and gold?

 

                The colors stand for the “Young Women’s Values”.  Each value is represented by a different color:  Faith-white;  Divine Nature-Blue; Individual Worth-red; Knowledge-green; Choice and Accountability-orange; Good Works-yellow; Integrity-purple; and Virtue-gold.

                These colors are carried out in all their activities.  The different young women’s groups often wear t-shirts  showing these colors and showing their camp theme.  For the youth in the church a theme was chosen for the year.  It is “Stand Ye In Holy Places and Be Not Moved”.  This theme was carried out in all their camp activities.

 

                Often as  the girls walked to the lake, their reflection would be in the lake, showing these wonderful value colors.

 

 At the Lake one of  the focal points was a large planter filled with flowers and surrounded by flags displaying the special colors.  If we can touch even a few young women’s hearts while they are here, our purpose has indeed been met.

 

It's Only 2 Minutes, but . . !.

IT’S ONLY TWO MINUTES, BUT . . .

  . . . on the Lake, the Sister in the tower calls for “2 minutes of silence”.  Oars are placed across the canoes, talking is stopped , heads are bowed, and it is quiet.  One might think it is a waste of time.  Just let them have fun in their canoes.  But a miracle is happening on the water:  Eyes are seeing.  Ears are hearing.  Hearts are being touched, and the Spirit is whispering  to souls. 

 Here are a few entries written by the girls and leaders in the Lake Journals:

“This was amazing!  I never knew how pretty nature was.  Just sitting in the water and to be able to look and watch in silence.  It was truly amazing.  This was such a great place and I appreciate your kindness.  I would just like to bare my testimony that I know this Church is true.  Being here has made me grateful for nature even more.  I love Heavenly Father.  Sydnie”

 “I had such an amazing experience while we had our two minutes of silence, and when we sang the song, I seriously burst into tears because I know my Heavenly Father created this world for us to enjoy and be safe and  not ruin it. I love being a Mormon and I love Heber Valley Camp.  Thank you guys so much, and President Hinckley.”

 

 

 

 “During the quiet time I looked into the water and saw I had a halo of light around me. It reminded me that I am a daughter of a King and it reminded me of my worth.  I felt peace. Falicia.”

 

“As we had the quiet time, I looked around at all of the amazing creations God has given me.  I thought, He has given me so much that is so beautiful, and I need to repay Him with kindness towards others, not jealousy anger.  Thank you for providing a place I could feel the spirit and peace.  Diantha”

 I pray that as we missionaries leave the mountain, that we can find time each day to have “2 minutes of silence” so that our eyes can see, our ears can hear, and that the Spirit can touch our souls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Winds Came!

(This event happened in August)

The Winds Came!

Thursday at the Lake, the winds came. In a few minutes, what started out as a brisk summer breeze, turned into a mean gusty wind. The water that was covered with ripples, now was an angry lake with white capping waves. The young women and leaders were caught off guard and soon were swept toward the rocks of the dam. There was no possible way to get to the dock or landing beach. The two rescue boats were helpless against the wind and found themselves against the rocks.

 

 

 

When all seemed hopeless, there was a solution. Elder Turner stood as a tall beacon on the shore, and waved the frantic girls who were struggling to stay off the rocks, into a safe haven in the grass by the tower. This is like a lesson of life. When those winds of adversity blow, and they will, there is always hope. Just look to the beacon on the shore. Head towards that safe haven and the arms of our Savior.

 

 

Rain or Shine--We Go Boating!

Most of the days at the lake were sunny and hot.  But sometimes it rained, but our campers still went boating!

 

Sisters: Karen Smith, Beth Turner, Barbara Smith, and Me.

Rain, Sleet, or Snow . . .We are always ready to go!!!  Sister Missionaries at Legacy Lake.

Lightening Does Strike Twice!!

During the summer months with afternoon and evening thunder storms, the mountain was struck twice by lightening.  The first time was high up on a ridge.  A tall pine tree was struck.  The lightening hit the top of the tree, completely knocking the top off the tree.  It then went down the tree and into the ground, causing the tree to burn and smolder.  The smoke from the tree was noticed on the ridge, and then missionaries went into the area and found the burning tree before it could spread. We rode up on our ATV's and saw the "lightening tree"  several days later.  This is part of the tree that was blown off the top.

 

 

About a month later, during high fire season, another tree was struck by lightening.  This time the bolt struck the tree, splitting it from top to bottom, only this time there was no burning.  The camp was really protected because if it had started burning a huge fire could have been started.  We went over to see the tree and marvel at the power and force of nature.

               
All over the state fires were being started by lightening strikes.  The miracle of these two strikes was that a fire was not started.  It would have meant that 2500 campers would have to be evacuated.  We were certainly blessed and kept safe.

 

 

All Creatures Great and Small!

 One of the wonders of being on this mission, high in the mountains, is the ability to be surrounded by the Lord's creations every day.  Being a "critter lover" this has been a pure delight.  To be be able to open my door or pull up the blinds of  my  windows and not know if it will be a deer, a moose, a hummingbird, or a ground squirrel that will greet you. .

          

     

All of these pictures are right outside our door or windows!












When we go to our assignment down at the lake, we marvel at it's beauty, but also at all the critters that come to greet us; ducks, geese, deer, and the moose.  The beaver come in the evening, but leave the evidence of a busy night to greet us-another tree has bit the dust.

 

The amazing thing is that the animals and birds seem to sense that this is a special place and that we are special and they don't run from us or our camper guests.  I think we marvel at them, and they marvel at us.

I just need to remember. . . All creatures great and small, our Lord God made them all.

A Camp Mystery.

The tasks and the trials of being a missionary sometime seem a bit overwhelming. We had chosen a gift to give at the end of camp to each couple--a cute, dancing solar flower.  But it seemed to us that some smiles and joy needed to be spread throughout the camp now-not at the end. We wanted to give this gift anonomously, but how to do it. 

A plan started to take place.  I would get up early, dress in my very generic hoodie and jeans, and drive very quietly to the area chosen for this delivery.  I could only deliver about 3 or 4 each morning as many of the missionaries were early risers. I parked a short distance from the cabin or RV, covered my head with my hoodie, and then  tiptoed as quietly as I could.  I stooped down so I would not be seen, and then placed the little flower with its message on the doorstep, and then scurried away as quickly as I could.

 

It seemed morning was too risky, so I decided to do it after dark.  This meant dressing in dark cothes (like a cat burgler),and taking a small flashlight so I could identify the right trailor.  It meant scooting behind cars, around ATV's, ducking under windows, and leaving the little flower on the doorstep. 

 

It took about 2 weeks to get them all delivered. It was so fun to hear the missionaries ask, "Look what I got!  Do you have any idea who is doing it?"  Even the camp newspaper had a picture of the little flower, with comment,  "Who is the person behind the mystery flower?"

 

At the end of the season, we wrote a poem saying,

 

We were so excited

We just couldn't wait . . .

So we gave our little gift

Way ahead of the date.

 

It was so much fun to give-

Just a little solar flower,

As we snuck from cabins to RV's

At such late and early hours.

 

To place it on your door step-

To make your day a little brighter-

To bring smiles and make-

Your tasks and trials a little lighter.

 

So when you leave this mountain

And travel many miles,

Just glance at that little flower-

It's sure to bring more smiles.

 

We gave each couple this little poem, and a small gift.  The mystery has now been solved.