This blog was supposed to be my report on Girls’ Camp.  That was the plan when I left almost two weeks ago to spend five days camping with the youth in our ward.  I’ve been home eight days and I still don’t know what to say about the week.  Not to brag but our camp was blissfully and wonderfully uneventful. 

At one time leading up to camp, we were hoping to have up to 13 girls join us.  The final count was eight girls and five leaders.  Six girls live in the ward and two were what I jokingly referred to as “borrowed.”  Our girls ranged from ages 12 to 17.  Some have grown up in the gospel and others are converts.  With such varying ages and backgrounds it was a bit risky on our part to put them all in the same tent.  But that’s what we did and I think it turned out okay.  At least, I haven’t heard any complaints.

Due to the excessive wet year we’ve had, the river next to camp was running high and fast.  A couple of weeks before camp we were warned it could be muddy, cramped and filled with mosquitoes.  The campground dried out quite a bit before we got there and it wasn’t muddy or cramped.  However, we didn’t luck out with having the mosquito population suddenly dwindle in numbers.    They were out in full force and seemed to mock our attempts at keeping them at bay.  We called our assigned camp spot “Nauvoo,” because it was swamp-like, yet, we tried to make it beautiful.

This was only my third outing as a leader and I’m still learning.  I haven’t quite learned the balance between spending my time with busy work and bonding.  It would have been nice if I would have spent a little more time with the girls.  One small regret I have is I tried to fulfill our lone sixth year’s wish list (she doesn’t ask for much and just wanted to do three things at camp) and acknowledge our birthday girl’s special day.  It came down to trying to do two things at once and both girls got a little shortchanged.  But again,  neither complained.

The girls in our ward truly are an amazing bunch of kids.  I’m not being superfluous, I truly believe it.  I have the privilege of associating with the future leaders of church and community and I am here to reassure you, we are in good hands.  The youth today are remarkably strong with a strength I’ve never known.  Some of them have known their fair share of heartache, but they don’t give up.  So, yes, I love my calling and no, I don’t feel qualified yet.  But I guess when I do it will be time to face a new calling.  For now, I’m going to enjoy my time I get to spend with some good kids.