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I survived being a First Years' Tent Mom

Yes, last week I went to Girls' Camp as a tent mom for the first years. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to do it again!

Going to camp as a tent mom is so much different than going as a YCL (youth camp leader). When I was a YCL, I wanted to serve the girls, but of course I was also there for myself. But as a tent mom, my entire focus was on them. I may have already told you this, but I decided before camp that the most important thing I could teach them and do for them was to love them the way the Savior does, because who knows where else in their lives they can feel that. Of my 13 first years (12 year olds), most of them came from broken homes and divorced families. There were only 4 that I knew of that had solid families with parents actively serving in the church and teaching the gospel at home. One little black girl is the only "member" in her family and goes to church with the neighbors, yet she has read the Book of Mormon 3 times and shared her testimony that she knows the Church is true. I am amazed by the valiance and strength of these young girls.

Brother Mitchell called our campground "The Taj Mahal of camping," and I have to agree. Our cabin had a gorgeous arched window, 2 bathrooms inside, a big living room with couches, and 4 bedrooms. It was kind of ridiculous! And every day the girls could swim in the pool, do crafts, and learn rock climbing and archery. They had a blast. Also, for the first time we didn't have to cook our own meals! They had a kitchen staff that cooked for us, so that was kinda cool.

The first night we were there, they came to the leaders' room at 4 in the morning screaming that they had woken up to bugs crawling all over them. So in the middle of the night they moved all their stuff out into the living room and no one else slept in that room for the rest of camp. Some of them didn't go back to bed after that, so they were dead tired the next day.

On Wednesday, the second day, we had the opportunity to go on a three mile hike. Along the way, we stopped and read Moses chapter 2 about the Creation and discussed it. It was a really neat experience to read about the creation in the beautiful mountains. With the soft breeze and the blue sky, I felt the peace and confirmation of the Spirit, and I hope the girls did too.

It was a little weird at first to be called Sister Hinton, because that sounds like my mom, but after 5 days I got used to it. Some people said it would be preparing for when I serve a mission and have my own black nametag. I look forward to that day!

One of my favorite experiences at girls' camp was when I wrote little notes to each of the girls about their good qualities and why I appreciated them. It was only a couple sentences, but it had a huge impact on them. (I saw one of the girls had taped it into her journal...so cute!) But three of the girls were thoughtful enough to write notes back to me! I never expected that. I'll quote what they wrote word for word so you can get the full effect.

"To Tasha, I think you are so nice. When I talk you always listen you don't just fake like the other people. It was so fun when we went on the hike together even thought I was sweaty and hot. I really like you because you are respectful and you are nicer to everyone even if they're not nice to you. You are a really good friend. Thanks for being a friend, Helena."

"Dear Tasha, I just want to thank you for being so nice and respectful also very understanding to all of us girls and also teaching me stuff I never would have wanted to learn. Thank you! Sincerely, Shay PS - I think you are sweet, helpful, understanding and outgoing also very smart. Thanks again I will always remember you and you're my hero!"

"Dear Sister Tasha, Thank you soooo much for all your help! You are my favorite camp leader. And thanks for the wonderful notes on our doors, like I said you are the best camp leader ever! Love, Kali PS - Go Utes" (Her Uncle is the U of U head football coach)

That made me indescribably happy because it means I'm doing my job - helping them feel the Savior's love for them and helping camp to be a good experience.

A few of the other highlights of camp:
*becoming closer with Lizzy Mitchell. She's so comfortable in her own skin and not worldly, which is probably why I feel like I can really connect with her. She's so funny.
*one of the girls singing "once an ostrich went yodeling" instead of "once and Austrian went yodeling"
*one of my first years making an effort to learn sign language and be friends with an older girl at camp who is deaf
*one of the YCLs telling me that I should be a yodeler
*all the games we've played: signs, psychiatrist, telephone, telephone charades, telephone pictionary, kai
*the beautiful journal I made at craft time! The cover paper is from a Monet painting so I'm gonna use it for my art history notes next semester
*Megan's silliness which made all my first years fascinated with her. On her bio sheet under something no one knows about you she wrote "I have 4 belly buttons" and a few of the girls came up to be asking if that was true! haha

Friday during scripture study with the girls I had a really good experience too. We combined with the 2nd years (who my grandma was over so she came too) and read out of Alma 36 the story of Alma the Younger's repentance. I checked in periodically to make sure that they understood what was going on. The best was at the end of the discussion when I got to bear my testimony of the Savior and repentance. One of the girls said, "I've noticed in the Book of Mormon it says to keep the commandments or you'll be punished, but what if you mess up?" Then I explained how the Savior's Atonement allows for repentance and eternal progression even until we are perfect. It was absolutely beautiful and everyone was so focused on learning the gospel. I am so grateful that I got to be prepared, worthy, and present to teach in the right moment when that girl was ready to learn that truth. If I had supported the snipe hunt, who knows if I would have been able to have that experience.

Also, Jalissa (the girl who goes to church with the neighbors) came up to me and said she's read the BoM 3 times but doesn't understand a lot of it and has no one to talk to about it since her family doesn't go to church. My heart absolutely melted. I told her that when I study the scriptures I pray and ask Heavenly Father for understanding, and that always helps me. I also gave her my email address and told her that if she ever has a question I am more than happy to help her. I am amazed by her faith to continue reading even when she doesn't understand, and I hope she will find the answers she is looking for.

My testimony grew so much at camp from the Spirit and their good examples. I learned about who I am and the mission the Lord has for me in this life. I think it was my favorite year at camp ever, and I look forward to returning soon!

Isaiah 3:9 "The Shew of their Countenance Doth Witness Against Them."

"Every man and every person who lives in this world wields an influence, whether for good or for evil. It is not what he says alone, it is not alone what he does. It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she really is....It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us.
"As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. If we think noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them."
- President David O. McKay

Well I suppose I should post an update...

1. I survived babysitting the Moores for a week...and I loved it! Logan and Gavin are such sweet kids and I miss them and their little mannerisms. I miss Logan telling me how he's trying to decide between a career as a garbage man or construction worker, and I miss Logan saying, "go go car waaash?" and yelling "strike!!!" when playing wii bowling (even though it usually wasn't a strike.) Such cute kids and a blessing of an opportunity.

2. My best friend Brian entered the MTC two weeks ago today. He says the MTC is intense but he loves it and his (yes two!) companions. I miss him a lot and it's hard to not be able to help him in person as I'm used to, but I can already see the blessings of this sacrifice. He has special gifts that the people of Ukraine need and I can see that he is growing as well. It is definitely worth it.

3. I am working at the San Diego County Fair! I work in the Home and Hobby Department, so before the fair I helped set up exhibits and take in entries, and during the fair I walk around the floor and answer people's questions. There are a lot of great people there and I am enjoying it. It has been a blessing to be able to earn money with this job and still have time left in my summer to relax and be with my family.

4. I am nineteen years old as of yesterday! To celebrate I went to Sea World with my friends Hillary, Kat, and Ashlee on Monday, and yesterday I went to see "Up" with my mom and siblings. The movie was SO GOOD! I think everyone should definitely see it. The message is that the greatest joys and adventures in life are just doing simple things with your friends and family. The Pixar short before the movie was sweet too. Bring lots of tissue, because we cried a lot! But definitely in a good way :]

The Fire of the Covenant

I just finished rereading "The Fire of the Covenant" by Gerald N. Lund. It is a very moving book that I would recommend to everyone. It tells the story of the pioneers who emigrated from Europe with the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies in 1856. As most of you know, these two companies were very late in the season and were caught in very severe snowstorms with barely any food or clothing. About 1/5 of the people in these two companies did not survive. I have ancestors that were in the Martin company, and as I read of the hardships they endured, I marveled at their great faith.

To leave their homes and families behind and never see them again,
To use up all their savings praying that the Lord would provide a way for them to make a new life in Utah,
To sail across the Atlantic Ocean to a foreign country, and then travel in overcrowded trains to the very edge of that country,
To be insulted and persecuted by the Americans as they passed through Iowa,
To limit their earthly possessions to 17 pounds,
To pull a handcart through 1300 miles of scorching sun and freezing snow,
The constant anxiety about when and if the supplies from Salt Lake would reach them,
To see men, women, and children suffer these things and die when they were so close to Valley,
To endure all this, and be able to sincerely sing "All is Well" at the end of the day -

That is incredible faith.

Brigham Young once counseled the Saints, "Now is the time for our labor. Let the fire of the covenant, which you made in the house of the Lord, burn in your heart like flame unquenchable!"

I truly believe that those faithful Saints not only survived but grew from it because of the "fire of the covenant" that roared in their hearts. I honor them and love them for their trust in the Lord and willingness to suffer all of these hardships without doubting. I am truly grateful for the example these Saints have set for me, and the strength that example is to me.

Their example gives me greater faith to endure the challenges I am pioneering through -

Choosing to stand apart from the world to be closer to my God,
Being persecuted for what I believe in,
Overcoming the subtle evil of accepting mediocrity,
Living in a world where lust is taught to be love,
Worrying about how to teach my children to be meek and Christlike in a society where vulgarity is the norm,
Learning to get outside of myself and serve,
Shunning the evils of pornography like the plague,
Fighting to not become addicted to electronics and entertainment,
Worrying about the world's economic and political state,
Trying to keep the Spirit while dealing with screaming toddlers,
Learning to let go of my blessings and give of my wealth to those who need it so much more,
and most of all,
letting my best friend and hero go to serve a mission for two whole years.

But I know that just as my Father sustained those remarkable pioneer Saints, He will sustain me. Nothing can stop me from fulfilling the mission the Lord has for me, because I too have "the fire of the covenant" burning inside of me.

Some try to blame Brigham Young or the other church leaders of the day for the tragic suffering that the Willie and Martin Handcart companies endured. But I know that this was part of Heavenly Father's plan. He could have altered the circumstances - but He did not. Maybe it was so that those Saints could learn something about faith.

Maybe it was also so that a lowly 19 year old girl 200 years later could learn something about faith.

Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto lie and salvation....When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life. - Joseph Smith, Lectures of Faith, December 1834


Thank you, my pioneer fore bearers, for exhibiting this kind of faith and inspiring me to do the same. I am eternally grateful. Maybe now you can understand why the Lord let you have this experience.

Europe

So I was talking to my mom this morning about how much I love art history (nothing new, of course) and she mentioned that I should think about going on a tour to Europe next summer. She went on one when she was in college because she liked art history too, and she really loved it and said she found a good price with other LDS people. So now I'm looking into it, but there are so many decisions to make. Most of the LDS tours are to Central America or Church History sites, not Europe. Also, I would love to go to Germany because I am learning that language, but also to Italy, France, and England for the art - but the tours that include all those destinations are pricey. I really want this LDS tour that includes Rome, Florence, Venice, Innsbruck, Lucerne, Paris, and London for $1,909, but it's scheduled for 2009 and that's a little soon! I'll see if I can find it for next summer. If anyone has ideas, suggestions, or other websites I haven't looked at, I would love to hear your advice!

I'm Home!

So if you couldn't guess from the title...I'm back home in California! And I got put on jury duty for my first week home! haha It was pretty lame, but now I'm all finished and made over $100, so I don't mind too much. Now I'm just looking for a job and writing a talk for James' baptism TOMORROW! I am so excited. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. I'm so happy to be home with my dearest family. But I must admit, I do miss this:


Yes, I left my heart in Provo. And I'll rejoice when I go back, because it's become a home.

You are all probably sick of German by now, but...

My group finished our German movie! With puppets! It's a lot of inside jokes from our class, but you might find it funny.

Schauen Sie!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=1038228567496&ref=mf

Dreaming in German

So I had this crazy Spanish teacher in 10th grade, Mr. Greenberg. One day I walk into class and he asks me, "Have you started dreaming in Spanish yet?" Obviously I answered negatively and he asked me to let him know when I started having dreams in Spanish.

I never thought I would have a dream in another language, but last night it happened.

All I remember is hearing a lady say, "Schleißen Sie!" Which means "close it!" and the fact that I understood. But the more important part is that the impossible happened last night.

Sorry Mr. Greenberg.

Carol of Joy

Green leaves all fallen, withered and dry;
Brief sunset fading, dim winter sky.
Lengthening shadows, Dark closing in,
Then, through the stillness, carols begin!

Oh fallen world, to you is the song--
Death holds you fast and night tarries long.
Jesus is born, your curse to destroy!
Sweet to your ears, a carol of Joy!

Pale moon ascending, solemn and slow;
Cold barren hillside, shrouded in snow;
Deep, empty valley veiled by the night;
Hear angel music--hopeful and bright!

Oh fearful world, to you is the song--
Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong!
Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound--
A carol of joy! A Savior is found!

Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes!
Thrill to the chorus filling the skies!
Look up sad hearted--witness God's love!
Join in the carol swelling above!

Oh friendless world, to you is the song!
All Heaven's joy to you may belong!
You who are lonely, laden, forlorn--
Oh fallen world!
Oh friendless world!
To you,
A Savior is born!




Even though this is usually sung at Christmas, it is all I can think about on this Easter day. I hope you enjoy the words and music as much as I do! I am deeply grateful for the gift of the Savior. I am overwhelmed by the peace, courage, forgivness, guidance, knowlege, opportunities, challenges, joy and love He offers me, even though I am so undeserving. He is truly my best friend because when all the world fails me, Jesus Christ is always by my side. I know He lives. I know He loves all of us. I know He is the way, the truth, and the life. Thanks be to God for this matchless gift!

John 16:33
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. Inthe world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."