2014 Jacksonville East Stake Girls Camp!!!!!!

July 28-August 1, 2014

A Psalm by definition is a sacred song or hymn.  It is praising the Lord through good music.  It is a celebration of the Atonement.  A Psalm can be created, played or sung by any one. Although sacred in nature, it can have a beat and be lively (with the exception of during Sacrament meeting or in the Temple).  All are accepted. The Lord loves to hear you play and sing. He made you to create!

 In James 5:13 it says: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

In D&C 136:28 it says: 28 If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

We are even counseled in D& C 25:12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

 WHAT!!! The LORD’s soul DELIGHTETH in the song of the heart… The Lord loves a heart filled song….not only does he love it but he says he will answer it with a blessing upon your head!

When we speak through the computer we call it ichat, when we listen to music, we listen on an ipod, when we talk on the phone we sometimes use an iphone, this year at girls camp we are going to write lyrics and praise the Lord through good music. We are going to sing and dance and create.

 We are going to delight the Lord with the songs of our heart…

iPsalm, do you? 

A few things I know...

Because I did not want to take time away from you and I was not feeling well during our testimony meeting I did not share my testimony. However, I feel that it is important for you to know where I stand......

I grew up in a pretty small town in Minnesota called St. Cloud.  Winters were brutal, like freeze your ears of brutal. When my high school friends and I would walk outside in the middle of January we would cover our faces and scream as loud as possible all the way to the car in order to keep the cold from swallowing us. Probably didn’t help that we were wearing cheerleading uniforms huh?

When I was younger, in elementary school I loved the snow. Everything about it, how if felt falling on my face and tongue, how fresh snow smells and I especially loved it when the snow was slightly wet, perfect for packing into snowball and forts.

At recess during those cold months my classmates and I would play “King of the Hill”.  We’d push all the snow we could gather into a big pile and then pack it as hard and tall as possible. If more girls than boys were interested in playing then the girls would make fancy stairs and draw designs around it with our gloved fingers. Everyone playing would put one foot in a circle to figure out who would be the first king. “Engine enigine number nine going down Chicago line, if the train should jump the track do you want your money back? Y-E-S spells yes and you are NOT it!” Round and round until the last boot in climbed the hill. The goal of the game is to see who can stay on the hill the longest without being pushed off. If you successfully pushed the king off the hill, then you were the next king.

“Wherefore, Stand ye in Holy places and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold it cometh quickly saith the Lord”

Standing in Holy places is not the hard part spoken of in this scripture. I love going to the Temple, not hard to stand there. I love attending all …okay I loved attending MOST of my church meetings, not hard to stand there. I don’t mind standing up for all my beliefs. Standing in the moment or making the choice to stand is Holy places is not so hard.

For me, it’s more difficult to “be not moved”.  Temple sessions last a few hours, sacrament meetings an hour, the time we spend standing in the Holy places in small BUT being not moved means not being moved from the spiritual increase we received from standing in the Holy place. Taking the increase with us and being commented to not move from it. Not moving even an inch. Being loyal to that knowledge and the covenants we made while standing those Holy places. It means not allowing our bodies or minds to be moved away from the things we know to be true through our thoughts and actions.

I picture it like my elementary school king of the hill game. As kings or in our case queens of the hill we have an overwhelming number of opponents trying to push us off the hill or trying to make us move.  The Only difference is our lives are not a fun game in the snow (Which I might add I was quite good at…girl got skills) it is our lives. We need to be not moved from our Heavenly Father and his amazing plan for us.

I hope the experience of this year’s girls camp was an opportunity to temporarily stand in a place where you learned a little bit more about being in Holy places and I pray that camp helped you strengthen the commitment to be not moved  from ALL things Holy.  I know beyond any doubt that whether it is hard for us to get to the Holy places or to be not moved; with the help of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can accomplish all hard things.

I know our Savior lives!! I know Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real, and they are somewhere. I know the gospel has been restored to its correct order in our time. I know our Savior, who is real and somewhere is the head of this gospel and this is part of our eternal plan. I know these things because I have studies about them, I have asked in prayer if they are true and then I have acted upon the feelings I have received during those prayers.  As I quietly act upon the teachings of Jesus Christ I find those truths confirmed over and over again. I am beyond grateful for the Saviors atonement, I am thankful for the gift and guidance of the Holy Ghost in my life. 

I am grateful for being part of this year’s camp experience and above that I am eternally grateful to have spent a week with you brilliant young women! You are inspiring, you are chosen and I love you! Thank you for being incredible!

Susan Lee

Standing in Holy Places with Sister Ortega

Stand in Holy Places and not be moved!  What a wonderful day at the Temple with some of our Young Women Camp leaders.  The Temple was busy!  This is exciting as there were so many people attending the Temple that day.  I was able to talk to everyone that attended from our camp, but one dear Sister that I would like to focus on in this posting. Her actions for me spoke louder than words and touch my heart.

This dear Sister is has been coming to camp for a while now.  She has worked with our Young Women long enough to see some of her first years to go off to college and also missions.  She Stands in Holy Places such as the Temple, but also in her home, church and camp.  She is one that I so look up to!

Yesterday in the Temple, this Sister came with a few from her ward.  One of which is in a wheelchair.  Our camp leader camp came to the temple to also serve this day.  She helped this dear sister in the wheelchair every step of the way.  She was so gentle, and guiding, the Temple workers that also worked with this Sister in the same way.

I found myself staring, not because of the Sister in the wheelchair but because I was seeing the Lords work at hand.  I was wondering that this point was I obvious in my staring.  But, I found myself not caring as it touches my heart to see such wonderful work at hand. 

The Temple is such a wonderful place.  Easy to stand in a holy place there.  But we must remember who we are and Stand in Holy Places no matter where we are and this is what our Camp Leader was doing.  Standing not only in the Temple but continues to give and stand with a sister that could not by helping her attend the Temple.  I am sure she makes every place that Sister Ortega stands a Holy Place.

When you are at camp in a few weeks, go up to Sister Ortega and talk with her, she is one of our Sisters at our New Personal Progress Station.  Stand with her and learn there are many ways to Stand in Holy Places.

-Sister Judy Carroll 

Pre-camp wrap up...

Thank you to all who came and made our pre-camp- certification day a huge success! We hiked, we certified, we ate and we planned! Special thanks to Veronica Crider and Celestial Farms for a great experience!!! Looks Like even the cows had a good time! (I think that cow is smiling!)

Stake Leader's Meeting

Pre-camp is tomorrow!!!

Camp Leader's Meeting

Camp Mom's, Cooks, Crafts....all leaders and staff....

General Conference April 2013

Young Women General President Elaine S. Dalton

2013  Jacksonville East Stake Young Women's Camp
"Oh, The Holy Places You Will Go...and Stand!"

2013 Young Women's theme:

“Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord” Doctrine and Covenants 87:8

Camp Dates: July 15-19 2013

Camp 2.0 – Oh the Holy places you will go…and STAND!

“We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in  

obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.” Twelfth Article of Faith

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we do believe in sustaining

the law in all things. This past week we found that we may not have been in compliance with

copyright law with our use of Dr. Seuss inspired images. As much as we love The Cat in the Hat and his friends and all that they can offer, we can not use Dr. Seuss images and such for camp.

But this is not going to stop us! Camp 2.0 is now coming forth! We are still going to call it “Oh

the Holy places you will go…and STAND!” This goes along with the Mutual theme for the year:

“Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold,

it cometh quickly, saith the Lord” Doctrine and Covenants 87:8

With this change our year group names and logos are changing. But the spirit of camp will not change. We can all draw closer to our Heavenly Father by being at camp. I encourage you to go and sign up for a week of up lifting experiences and friendship that can’t be found in any other place.

We love you and hope to see you at camp!

Your Stake Young Women Camp Leaders,

Judy Carroll, Veronica Crider, Susan Lee

 Important notes:

The Big Picnic:

Monday night we will have a “Big Picnic” dinner. Everyone can dress in their favorite flower covered hats.   (No face painting or masks). The Big Sister / Little Sister ceremony will be held. All members of the (4th years) will be assigned a member of the (1st year/Little Sister) to help them during their first experience with camp.

Skit Night

Each year group will be responsible for providing a skit for Their assigned  evening. Please use the camp theme and daily themes as a guide for your topics. 4th Years are permitted to have their traditional skit, provided that the girls “double up” on parts if needed to finish in a timely manner.

Secret Sister Gifts

Each girl will be assigned a Secret Sister at camp. Once a day, (Tuesday through Friday) they will be able to leave their Secret Sister a gift in the pouch with her name on it. These can be letters, handmade gifts, or purchased items. We’ve asked them to keep costs at $5.00 or less for all three gifts. Secret Sisters will be revealed on Friday evening.

Clean Up

Each year group will be assigned clean up duty in the Great Hall after each meal, around the campgrounds and nightly in the bath house (restroom). Adhere to the instructions provided by the CFYFC Handbook. Be prepared to do your share!

Snack shack

Each camper and leader will receive cards to use for spending on snacks and drinks. The shack will be open several times each day, however, moderation will be enforced.

Your Butterfly Ways...

YOU were never meant to be anyone else,

YOU were truly made to fly

And you don’t need a cape if you’re already a butterfly!

Learning to Fly

When I was first learning how to be a good photographer I had the opportunity to spend time in the Butterfly Gardens at the Minnesota Zoo. What an amazing place! This was an enclosed garden full of beautiful plants and lots of different butterflies. Many caterpillars munched on leaves and there were several stations with maturing chrysalis. It was warm, almost steaming, but what caught my attention was that although there were several people walking the brick laid paths admiring the different species, it was quiet, reverent. 

One landed on my Mom’s shoulder, flapped its wings a few times then flew to the next flower. Colorful dots darted above our heads and I snapped shot after shot. These are three of the pictures I took that day.  I marveled at the Lords creative abilities. I have always loved butterflies, but this experience started a love affair.  I tried to imagine how much fun it must have been for Heaven Father and Jesus Christ to create these beautiful, graceful, delicate creatures.

Relatively unattractive caterpillars wrap themselves in a tedious process and emerge an amazing new creature full of color with new abilities. As humans we too have this opportunity. We can take ourselves from the place we are, wrap ourselves in all things good with the atonement of Jesus Christ and emerge a new incredible creature with beauty and abilities we didn’t know possible. The Atonement, or “at- one- ment” gives us wings to fly and color to vibrate.  Imagine the happiness it brings the Savior when we partner with him and turn into what we are meant to be.

Understanding and using the atonement is a lifelong process. Part of the process is finding a way to grow closer to our Savior so we can understand Him and become like Him. Girls Camp is an opportunity to do just that. Turn off the world, put aside the everyday, and as our Stake Young Women’s President Cari Ladd said this week, “Fully commit to the camp experience.”

Let the Girls Camp experience become part of your chrysalis! Commit to the experience and I promise you will grow closer to your Savior, learning to hear the Spirit easier and feel the love of your Heavenly Father in a way that is only possible at camp. 

Join us ladies, let’s learn how to fly!

-Susan Lee
Assistant Camp Director

Let's STAND!

  Standing in Holy places can be literal like standing in the Temple,  but it is also a state of mind, an attitude and a way of life. Where ever we find ourselves we can make it a Holy place. Come to camp this year and tell us how YOU stand!

Whoo! Whoo! Leaders!!

Are you ready?

Since 1912, many Young Women camps have been established and dedicated all around the world. A camp with the most basic and simple accommodations can become a sacred place where the Spirit of the Lord is present, where daughters of God put the principles of the gospel into practice, and where the glorious blessings of nature are appreciated in happy ways.

All over the world, young women like yourselves are enjoying the experience of camping. In Africa, one of the first camps was held at a chapel, where the young women slept on the grass and learned to cook on an electric stove. In other places, camp is held on the beach or in the jungle or in the mountains. Wherever camp is held, one thing is sure: young women love to go to camp! When asked about the favorite part of the Young “Camp!” Why is this a favorite? What happens at camp that makes this such a memorable experience?

Camp has always been a favorite activity because it is at camp that you can establish a mini home. Your tent becomes your home, and there you can gather all the essentials you need to be happy and comfortable and progressing. At camp you can discover that the Lord is great. He has provided this beautiful earth for us to enjoy and preserve. At camp, you learn that you really don’t need much to be happy. You leave your makeup and music behind and learn to become self-sufficient. You learn the importance of a strong, healthy body so you can climb mountains and swim in the ocean or in streams. You learn that the scriptures can speak to you very personally, and you also experience what it feels like to be still and to listen to the song of a bird or to the voice of the Spirit, sometimes for the first time.

---ELAINE S. DALTON

Fourth Year Big News!

Hey Fourth year girls, BIG news!!! Fourth year high adventure this year will be during camp! On Tuesday you will be leaving camp with me and taking an adventure I promise you will never forget and will remember forever! I am sooooooooo excited about this adventure, and trust me, you would be too IF I were allowed to tell you, which I'm not. SO you will just have to come to came and find out.