On Friday night -- two weeks ago! -- our ward had a Relief Society sleepover at Camp Heber. My first instinct, which will not surprise those of you who know of my hermit tendencies, was to skip out on this activity. But a friend of mine asked me to sing a couple of songs with one of my neighbors, and I didn’t want to let her down. I’m so glad I decided to go!
I hurriedly packed on Friday afternoon, and in my haste I managed to forget both the music we were supposed to sing and a jacket. Normally not having a jacket would not be a problem for me (I so rarely get cold), but a very un-September-like cold snap had just moved in, and Camp Heber is in the mountains. As soon as I arrived at camp, I changed into my sweats and tennis shoes, with extra socks. The wind was blowing, and I was freezing. Fortunately, my friend Heidi had brought along an extra jacket, so I was alright. I sure wished I had brought some gloves, though!
We had two different kinds of soup, rolls, and hot chocolate for dinner. There is something so satisfying about warming your hands on a cup of hot chocolate when you’re out in the cold. I was surprised at the turnout – we had about 35 women show up – I thought we would be fewer because of the weather. (Marc thought we were crazy not to cancel.) I loved having the opportunity to just sit and chat with so many of the women in my ward; it seems like I don’t often get to talk with many of them, and there are so many of them that I love!
There were several women who came that I never would have guessed would make it, notably one woman with four small children who suffers from severe depression and rarely leaves her house at all. Another woman has made it her mission to befriend this young mother, and somehow persuaded her to attend the campout. I could tell it was so good for her to be there. Also, an old friend came who moved to Oregon a couple of years ago. That was a happy surprise.
Here's an example of something that makes me proud to be a woman: here we are up in the mountains, and people brought pewter serving trays, tablecloths, and bread baskets for the rolls. I love it. Just because we're "roughing it" doesn't mean we can't have an attractive presentation, right? Would a man ever do that? I seriously doubt it.
We woke in the morning to a fresh blanket of snow -- six inches! It was so beautiful, and the camp looked entirely different when covered with snow. But I think the best part was our morning devotional. The woman in charge chose renewal as her theme and used many scriptures to support it. (Hey, even the weather cooperated!)
My favorite was from Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Who doesn't need those blessings? We discussed this principle, that if we put the highest priority on the things that have the most importance, we will have the time, the energy, and the strength to do what we need to do. I need to ask for help with this every day -- I love the idea that my strength can be renewed each day.
Here's another good one: (Romans 12:2) "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." I love the juxtaposition between conformed/transformed. If we will put off worldliness, our minds will be renewed, and we will be transformed. I really haven't put a lot of study into the Bible, so these verses sounded very fresh to me, and I love the promises they contain.
The whole purpose of the campout was to give the women in our ward an opportunity to escape our usual responsibilities, if only for a little while, to re-establish our connections of sisterhood, and to feel renewed. I know for me it was definitely a success, and we're hoping to make it an annual tradition.
10 comments:
Wow, I've never been the first one to post before! I am working late in my office (midnightish...) and just thought I would check before locking up! Thankyou for such a touching account. It made me teary at the end of a long few days to hear that promise.Did you go to the R.S. broadcast last Saturday? I just loved it! I mostly thought of all my family members whose burdens are heavy with motherhood resonsibilities and financial responsibilities as well and I felt so lifted and capable of enduring. I loved the R.S. Presidency member who told the story of a mother counciling her daughter to pray about something and when the daughter said, "Do I have to pray about EVERYTHING?", her mother said, "I do." I decided that I my morning prayers (and evening) were not enough to understand the many answers and direction that I seek continually and have decided to give myself a challenge to pray about everything! So far, it's hard to do! The first day, I didn't remember one time during the day after my morning prayer. Even when things were particularly stressful and I needed focus and direction, I forgot my committment. I recommitted again this morning, and I did alittle better today. I love the idea of knowing and understanding that I can ask the Lord and expect promptings and solutions about everything I pray about. I'm glad you went on the campout (a rather daunting adventure to me!) and it sounds like it was indeed a renewal. I loved reading your thoughts on it and will keep you posted on my prayful attempts to consult the Lord on every issue-employees, correct choices in packing my lunch, fabric selections, organizing my too small office, my dear family, Dad's travel safety, meeting the rug-cutter's deadlines and dealing with her strong language, mother's eyesight, retail choices, time managment, well you get the picture. I love you and am anxiously awaiting your next photos! Goodnight.
I'll never understand computers! Why did my post show the time of 9:49 p.m. when it is ll:49? Does it know you are reading it on mountain standard time??? Who knew!Goodnight one more time.
Excellent thoughts. Thank you.
That sounds like a great weekend. Beautiful pictures!
Kudos to you for voluntarily going camping! (I don't know if I would would be willing to do the same). It sounds like that was an inspiring weekend. I love it when scriptures hit you hard and bring new insights and meaning into your everyday life. Thanks for your reflections!
That's so nice that your ward has a retreat. Our ward has one too, I've never been ot it before but I am going to go this year. Reading about your account makes me excited to go to ours.
Oh, I love your mom's comment.
Me too I loved your mom's comments. What an awesome insight. I think it is so very nice to get together as sisters. I don't have any so any friend that I cherrish I turn into a sister...I love the scriptures you quoted...wow...you see sometimes when we get out of our comfort zone good things come to pass...glad you went
I am so glad you went on that camp out. I think it's a great idea and something so fun for women to get to do, we are definitely strengthened by each other. I love it that there were table cloths and pewter trays too.
Your lesson on renewal sounds fantastic, those are great scriptures.
Your photos are beautiful.
What a wonderful activity. I wish our ward would do something like that, and that I could get up the nerve to abandon my hermit like tendencies to actually go! I am so proud of you for going. It took guts, I know, and the rewards were great. It sounds like you had a wonderful, spiritually uplifting, friendship building time!
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