I arrived in Dayton, Ohio at 7:30 p.m. after a layover in Cleveland. I was thoroughly excited now! I found my bags and I also found a brother and sister who took me to camp in my dream car; an Impala (my dream car). I was late (as I had expected) for service, but at least I was there safely. I happily took my things to “J” dorm and then went to the tabernacle. Brother Adam Knight was preaching and I could feel that the Spirit of the Lord was already circulating the building. The brother made an altar call and then asked those with the Holy Spirit to come and pray with those at the altar. I went forward and prayed until I felt the Spirit surround me and I found myself crying tears that were long in coming. I had received the Holy Ghost the very year before at camp and I rejoiced to see that the girls I was praying with were calling for It.

            After service, I was encircled by my many friends from Ohio/Michigan. I was jouyous to find that they were all there. Soon we were in our dorm making new acquaintances and listening to our counsellor, Sister Sally Duke, introduce everyone. There was another counsellor there as well; Sister Heather Miller. I love them both and I hope they go again next year! The Wallace’s came that night with my beloved violin so that I could play for the services.

            The next morning, I arose at 4:30 and raced to dress and get ready for the day. I was that excited. Unfortunately, there was nothing to do and all my friends were still asleep, so I had to wait for another hour and a half before I went down to walk around the camp. Emma and Katie Ann Mast and Lauren Erickson joined me after a few minutes. At 7 we were joined by Kristin. At 8 we had breakfast and at 9 the morning service started. Brother Samuel (I can’t remember his last name) from India preached “A Man with Unconditional Obedience”. I loved the sermon! Even though it was early and the people were still half asleep, there was still a great move of the Spirit all over the building. He preached again that evening about the power of the tongue. By that time, the young people were all paying more attention to the service and were feeling the Lord move and were receiving it much better.

            Brother Newton Bennet of Tucson, Arizona preached the next morning (the 30^th) and Brother Adam Knight preached “A Point of No Return” that evening. Brother Carmen Mills of Canada preached “Happiness” the 1^st of July and Brother Ron Spencer preached that evening. Brother Shawn Martin from Arizona preached “Contrast” the next morning (the 2^nd) and Brother Ron Spencer preached again that evening. On the 3^rd, Brother Carmen Mills preached “Using What You Have” in the morning, and Brother Ron Spencer preached again that evening. On the last morning, Brother Samuel preached once more.

            On July 2, 2008, I had a refilling of the Holy Spirit and I had a peace and a joy fill my soul. I felt that I could go on with life with a better outlook. I felt that I could go home and face the battles with a quicker mind. The Lord was good to me during the services and I definitely had a wonderful time. I told my testimony by the bonfire the next evening and it seemed to confirm what I felt. It’s truly amazing how different I felt!

            On the evening of the 3^rd, I went home with the Mast’s. It was a relatively quiet trip. The reason being that Emma, Katie Ann, and I were sleeping (much to Levi’s relief). Lol! Nothing much was done until the next evening in which I went to the dairy farm where Levi works. It was rather interesting to watch the cows being milked and I enjoyed the whole thing (and I didn’t mind the smell, though others do). The cows were brought in  from a place in the back and were put in sideways with their backsides toward the middle of the building. Levi and another young man wiped the cows’ udders with water and then dried them. Then they suctioned the milking machine to each of their four udders at once. The milk then went into a big jar and, when the cow no longer had milk to give, Levi or the other man pulled a lever and all that milk went up into a tube that took the milk into a giant tank. From there, it goes into a jar that the Masts take home.

            Sunday, we went to church at Brother Ray Erickson’s and all of us girls sang Be Thou My Vision. After service, we went to Brother Ben and Sister Alma Erickson’s house for lunch. I enjoyed it very much! (Thank you Brother Ben and Sister Alma!) Then, we went to the Mast’s. This time, though, we had Lauren with us and we were using the Erickson’s van.

            Wednesday, we went shopping at the Burlington Coat Factory. I bought a shawl and a skirt (which I later gave to Mariah because it was too short for me). While we were there we put hats and scarves on for a silly hat photo. It was so funny! I love that store!

            Thursday, we were going to have a nice little tea party by the pond, but, unfortunately, it started pouring just before that time. So, we couldn’t do it by the pond. But, we weren’t going to keep from having a tea party. Katie Ann came up with the brilliant idea that we should go to the house Sarah was taking care of to have our tea party. All of us were thrilled! Sarah asked permission from the owner and the lady was happy that we were going to stay there. We all gathered in the kitchen and, as soon as Sister Suzie came in from getting the milk, fell to our knees to ask her permission. She laughed and said we had to ask Brother Albert. We asked him, but, like all parents, did not answer immediately and, instead, waited until after dinner to answer. It was in our favor! So, we went to the house with all our pretty dresses and, after setting up, took pictures and then sat down to tea. We all (well, nearly all) changed our names. I changed mine to Alexandra Feodorovna Romanov (the last empress of Russia), Lauren was Lady Laurena, Heather was the Countess of Monte Christo, Emma was Lady Emalina, Mindy was Princess Belinda, Loretta was Lady (or Princess, I can’t remember) Nellie, Katie Ann…I can’t remember, and Kristin was…well, Lady Kristin. Our delicious tea snack included: crackers, cheese, tea, and…Oreos and M&M’s! MMMM! It was so good!

            After tea, Lauren, Katie Ann, and I danced the Virginia Reel to the tune of my Celtic music. We were soon out of breath and Heather, Kristin, and Sarah took their turn. It was so fun!

            Then, we all got drinks and popcorn and descended the stairs to the entertainment room. We watched Pride and Prejudice. The movie was pretty good except that Jane Austen used my name for one of her characters. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except, that Lydia was VERY flirty and always giggling (not laughing, giggling). I wanted to slap that Lydia. I hope I don’t look like that. She even had the same color eyes and hair as me!

            Anyway, when the movie was finished, Emma and I hurried into the bedroom we were staying in and jumped…or, rather, sank…into the bed. It was midnight when we did so. We laughed and told secrets until 2:45 a.m. I will always remember that night.

            The following morning, we went with Martha Zimmerman to the Kingwood Center. We had gone there last year, but the house was closed and a lot of the fountains weren’t playing. This year, all was open and the fountains were working beautifully. Such a fitting scene to our eyes after seeing the movie the night before.

            Then, we went to the Zimmerman’s for lunch and some of us went for a swim in their pond. I couldn’t resist getting wet! It felt so good! When we were finished, we went out to their garage and some of the girls played Knockout. We went for a tour of the farm and then we had dinner by the Zimmerman’s little cabin. Emma took Lauren and me for a ride on the fourwheeler. It was so thrilling! It made my stomach do flip flops. Dinner was delicious and I enjoyed it. After that, we all played volleyball. It was so funny to watch the young men trying to get the ball! They almost always ended up on the ground.

            Our last activity was a game of Knockout. I won only one game, and that one came as a shock. I beat Kristin! WOOHOO! Oh, sorry. He he. :D

            Friday, we did some more picture taking. This time it was by the new pond. I love the new pond! It’s so lovely! But, then, it was time to say goodbye. :( I wasn’t ready for that. I didn’t want to leave. Emma and I have become very close. I shed a few tears on the way to Lauren’s. Nathan Erickson met us in the yard when we got there and took Lauren’s things in for her. Then, we went inside. Oh, my. The sight we saw when we walked in was quite shocking. There in the corner of the dining room was a group of boys who actually looked like gangsters. Justin E., his cousins, and Seth C. were standing there with mohawks, guns (fake), dark sunglasses, and trenchcoats. A rather scandalous sight if you ask me.   

            Anyway. I felt right at home after a few minutes. Lauren had a nice, big bookshelf in her bedroom that I went to immediately. I was thrilled to find a few books that I haven’t already read! (I’ve read most of Heather’s interesting books.) The rest of that day was short and lazy. The next evening, however, we went mini golfing. It was delightful and I enjoyed myself to the utmost; even though I lost miserably. Afterwards, we were just going directly to the house, but the girls wanted to go to Starbucks. So, after a generous offer from Heather (thank you, Heather!) we did. I got my favorite, Strawberries and Crème! I loved it! Then we headed for the house. Well, on the way, we kept hitting red lights. Finally, we hit a green light! And Nathan went nuts. He shouted out the window. I can’t remember all he said, but he ended it with something like, “…and I’m so hyper!” Now that was an understatement for what Mariah and I were like in the backseat. If we didn’t have our seatbelts on, we would have been doing a jig.

            So, you can imagine how we were when we got to the house. That night, Kristin, Seth, Justin, Mariah, Lauren, and I stayed up until 5 a.m.! That was the longest I’ve ever stayed up and it was very interesting.

Well, the next day we bid our gracious hosts and hostesses goodbye…and a tearful one, I might add. And we flew home.

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!