Girls Camp Pt 4 (the end)

Camp was also very spiritually uplifting. It was focused on the articles of faith and missionary work. We were encouraged to give away a Book of Mormon...we also had a great Nite Hike that I was fortunate to participate in and really loved being a part of it. One thing that was sad but also very uplifting too in a sense. There was a brother in our ward who was schedule to be one of our Priesthood leaders up at camp that week. Sadly he fell ill a week and a half before camp and diagnosed with Leukemia. So he was no longer able to make the camp. Sadly, while in the hospital contracted pnemonia and died the Friday before we left. I didn't know him extremely well and learned a lot about him while at camp. He was responsible for many of the enjoyment the girls had at camp namely the activities they were able to participate in. He built the zip line in his back yard and he was also in charge of rappelling and the rifle shooting. So needless to say they honored him while we were up there. His memorial was Wednesday and so we flew our flag half staff in his honor and had a moment of silence at the time his funeral would be starting. It was very humbling and very difficult for a lot of us to be there as we wish we could have been at the funeral as his wife had served in Young Women up until about 3 months or so ago and the girls knew and loved her and we as leaders also knew her and loved her and really wished we could be there for her and her family. But we knew we needed to come to camp too.
So the Stake made a name tag in honor of him one tag was given to each ward and we were instructed to pass it around and let everyone wear it. I started by wearing it and then passed it on. When the Young Women participate in one of the said activities they receive a "trinket" to put on their name tag after they completed it. (ex. rock = hike, heart = archery ect..) so while one of the leaders had his name at rappelling she got the idea to "earn" a trinket in his name and put it on his tag. We then decided that the girls and/or leaders would make sure we got a trinket for each "activity" before we left and present it to his wife upon our return.
We told the Bishop our plan when he came up and supported it whole heartedly and said we should present it to her in Relief Society. So we did so the next day. It was a very wonderful experience as we were able to thank her for all the service her husband did so that the Young Women could have a good camp and good camping experiences. Needless to say there was not a dry eye in that room. It was a wonderful experience to see the excitement in the Young Women's eyes as they participated in an activity in his behalf proudly wearing his name badge.

We then ended camp and we stopped in St. George on our way home for some good food.

And here we are all at the end (minus Sierra and her Mom who was our cook) they had to come home early do to an asthma attack...