August 6, 2007

Girls Camp

Wow, what an experience. We all met at the local grocery store parking lot in order to start our trek up into the mountains and to what I understand to be a pretty nice camp site. When we arrive, I notice that there are tents already set up for us which consist of heavy-duty canvas stretched over a slightly raised wooden base. "Wooden Base!!", I think, "Things can crawl through!!" After unloading and announcing tent mates, we all settle in for the stake welcome and lunch after which a five mile hike will take place. Things go well and it is time for dinner which we are late for because we are waiting for Shem to bring all of our unit equipment up, stoves, lanterns, etc.., since we didn't have enough room in the other vehicles. Shem is late and everyone is starving. He finally arrives, dinner is scarfed, and it is time for the ward skits. I have to say here, that ours is the best because the girls made it funny with a nice spiritual message. I can hear the laughter all the way up to our campsite. It is quite a sound to hear over 150 girls laughing in the middle of nowhere. After our skits we are supposed to have a faith walk, but it begins to rain...no pour...just like that. Girls are running to their tents, screaming, some are crying because there is so much lightning and thunder that you can feel it shake the ground. It is 9pm and no sign of it letting up. About 11pm we decide to grab what we can and run to the hall on the grounds. After a slippery ride there, we unload to find about 75 girls in the hall already, most are wet and wearing sheets that have been cut for their heads. Shem has brought up the biggest umbrella you have ever seen and so is making sure each load of girls is covered when they come inside. He, however is soaked. About 12:30 we go back to the tents in order to avoid the mayhem inside the hall and Shem again is making sure everyone has light and heat in their tents. The rain doesn't stop until the sun comes up.

The next day the stake lets us know that rock slides have occured on the road and that the rains are supposed to start again after which more rock slides may block our path home. We are instructed to get our things and leave before lunch if possible.

It is with a heavy heart that I tell the girls and.......oh, who am I kidding. I load up faster than you can blink and wait for Shem to lead us home. That was one long night and even though it was hard to leave after planning for three months, it was such a relief to get out of a flooded tent.

On a different note, we also did some parade watching during the week, and baby is still fine. My first Dr. Appt. is Thursday, and I will keep you posted.