The theme this year was Light Your Fire Within. Several of our Stake YW picked the theme. It was centered around the Church-wide theme of "Arise and Shine that thy light may be a standard for the nations" D&C 115:5 and also our Stake President's challenge of studying Preach My Gospel. Each ward was a nation and we held our own version of the Olympics complete with synchronized swimming!
Early the second morning we headed off on a sunrise hike to a higher lake about 2 miles away where 4 of our older YW talked about gaining and sharing testimonies. We then read a letter from a missionary couple from our stake serving in Africa. It was such a great letter I want to include it in this post. I had asked the couple to share with the YW how they could light their fire within aside from the standard answers they always hear - read their scriptures, go to church, etc. Here is their reply:
"Dear Rachel, Thank you for thinking of us. A quote from our Area Director of Temporal Affairs, "The Strength of the gospel lies in individual testimonies.". We are finding here in Africa the truth of those words. As the gospel moves forth here, we not only hear the depth of the testimonies of these humble people but see and feel of their love for the Savior as they testify. Small children do not say the common things we hear at home, but express their love of the scriptures, their gratitude for the restoration of the gospel and their joy of that knowledge. I am talking about 5, 6, 7 year olds. I know better now than ever that I have a responsibility to myself, my Father in Heaven and my brother, Jesus Christ, to live each day in service to others as the only way I can even begin to repay my debt.
"I think and have always been taught by my parents that service, with a grateful heart, is the best way to live my testimony. If I want to grow closer to Heavenly Father I have to look inside myself and answer tough questions. Am I striving to keep the commandments? Do I look outward to needs other than my own? How do others see me? Do I consecrate my time to the gospel?
"I "Light my Fire Within" as I see the extreme poverty that so prevalent here. Do I need so many clothes? Why do I waste so much that others scrape for? Why don't I study the scriptures more? As I think of these things I am prompted to do more, be more, and to share more.
"The Young Women of our Stake have so many advantages that we all take for granted......a car to take them to church, a nice set of scriptures to ponder and study (the youth here have the paperback set the missionaries give out. They are very worn on the outside but much more so on the inside. They cherish the words and seek to understand how it applies to them).
"What do I wish I had known before I came here? More of, I wish I had studied the scriptures more; I wish Preach my Gospel was my daily bread, I wish I had been more like the pioneers- more trusting, more obedient, more accepting of and grateful for trials.
"The fire within should be a cleansing fire to move us past our sins and imperfections and toward the light of eternal life.
"Wow, I don't think you expected a novel! Tell the girls if I could change one thing in my life it would be to use the plan of repentance more often and then to study the plan of salvation more. I have learned that the strait and narrow way does not funnel you toward the Lord but perfects you because the strait way means there are challenges and difficulties along the way and it is narrow because we must keep an eye single to the glory of God. I hope I have answered your request a little. Use what you may, I have been strengthened just thinking about these things as they pertain to me. Love to you all, give Addie a special hug from me."
Wow - what an incredible response! I loved it! We had given all the girls the same shirt - we were going for unity - and after the letter was read we gave them a necklace and asked them to write their testimony on a paper. We also gave each willing YW a Book of Mormon to place that testimony in and encouraged them to share their testimony with someone.
I think girls camp is my favorite part of my calling in the stake. Yes it's a lot of work and planning, but I am so uplifted and strengthened by these YW and the sisters I serve with! I know Heavenly Father listens as we ask for His help in planning activities for our youth. I love watching how things come together and how at the end we hear the growth from these incredible YW in their testimonies. It is an amazing 3 days and I look forward to it each and every year!
