The blogging seems to have ceased for a long time. I am not a patient person, so to sit and type a blog is usually near torture, as I am a move, move, move, type of gal. However my heart is full at this time, and to not blog and journal about this past week would be utter nonsense on my part. This week I had the opportunity to be not only a Young Women counselor, but a camp leader for these beautiful young women (a group of teenage girls from church which I am blessed of serve). It was held at Heber Valley Camp, also known a the Temple on the Hill. Let me preface this by sharing that never have I laughed or cried so much all in one week. I learned through so many amazing experiences. These are some things I learned that I did not know.
I did not know that if you challenge girls to do things they may not think they can do, almost all will learn a spiritual lesson, and feel closer to God. That if they choose to climb a long rope ladder tethered only by a harness and belay rope, (held by a well trained elderly missionary couple), teeter on a horizontal ladder, and jump off the edge of a plank onto a zip line soaring through the air high above, that they can gain more confidence in themselves.
I did not know that you could leave a valley and travel to the mountains, and have these girls give up cell phones and I-pods, and watch over a hundred young women truly know, if they had not known yet, that they are divine daughters of God.
I did not know that all at one time I could see through hundreds of dirty braids, sweaty brows, tattered jeans, and make-up-less faces, directly into the spirits, the souls, the 'true selves' of all of these girls. I did not know that when I looked at them this way I could truly love and care for 28 of the girls I know so well now, and feel I love them as though they were my own children. I did not know that when I looked at these fabulous young women who bore their souls to me, that if I saw them through God's eyes, that for moments I could see them as He does. I knew He loves them, but I had never seen how much until this week.
I did not know that young women could teach a not so young woman so much. I did not know I could get a note from a 16 year old young woman expressing herself to me, and that I could look up to her so much, and want to be like her.
I do know however that these girls are a million times stronger, happier, and wiser than I could ever have imagined, because they know who they are, and what they stand for. They know that they are daughters of God, and that is the difference.
I did not know what it felt like to have my daughter stand and bear her testimony that she is a daughter of God, and that she would sob in front of 45 girls and leaders as she told me how much she loves me. I do know that I never thought it possible that I could love her more because I had the privilege of seeing her through His eyes this week. I do know that I am so grateful that he loaned his beautiful daughter to me to raise and love.
Finally, I do know that the reason why I get to learn these things is because I am a daughter of God, and I know he loves me, and I love Him with all my heart. Every good thing I do for these girls is through Him, through prayers and through the strength He gives me. I could not do any good thing I do without knowing this. I am grateful to be so blessed to know these things more now. I am grateful to share this experience with these young women. My heart is truly full.
