One love

This is me as an efy counselor.

If you don't know already, EFY (Especially For Youth) is a week long program that focuses on the youth to bring them closer to Christ.

As a counselor it is our responsibility to be a leader and friend to the youth as we guide them throughout the week's different activities, morningsides, devotionals, and firesides while providing a pleasant and enjoyable time.

Did I have success? I believe so :)

I was assigned a group of twelve girls this last week at efy.

They were sixteen and seventeen years old and each one of them was beautiful in their own way.

I loved them before I even met them.

Some said that I was their sister they never had.

Others said I was an angel in their life.

And some even called me mom. 

 It has been my dream to be an efy counselor ever since I attended my first session back in 2006 with my best friend Tiana.

14 years old-- 2006                15 years old-- 2007         16 years old-- 2008             17 years old-- 2009

I'm here to tell you all that dreams really do come true!!!! 

Check this out though... how funny, huh? Ryan was in our efy group back in 2008!! 

Small world.

My co-counselor's name was Sergio and he was a sweetheart. He taught me a lot and we worked well together. I was very lucky.

One of my kids had a ukulele so I was entertained by that all week long along with one my girl's fancy cameras. It was a joy. 

My best friend Tiana came to visit me during free time! It made me so happy to see her. It was fun to be with her:) She is the best.

<My cheek was swollen again because I got hit in the jaw at the dance & I'm still not fully recovered from my wisdom teeth being pulled out.. Having a swollen face is not my favorite thing.>

I loved being a counselor this past week. It was an absolutely incredible experience and I could not be happier. I know for a fact that the Lord's hand is in all things and that he placed me in these kids' lives for a reason. 

My testimony was strengthened and I was able to rely on the spirit all week long to help and guide me. The spirit is amazing and I know for a fact that when I was teaching devotionals or lessons that it really wasn't me who was teaching.... it was the spirit. This gospel is so true and it is so beautiful. It makes me so happy and I know that it is the only way to true happiness.

I know that the Lord loves me and loves all of his children and if anything, I learned this week what true, pure, Christ-like love is... I experienced what it is like to have the pure love of Christ; to be charitable; and to love others the way Christ loves us.

At the beginning of the week we as counselors were asked to focus on a question that we wanted answered throughout the week. 

I thought long and hard and then it hit me-- I wanted to know what love is. Christ's love. [Charity]

Probably an hour or two later my question was answered. Someone shared a scripture that said this:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:"

1 John 4:18

I WAS IN AWE. 

I couldn't believe it. I have been focusing a lot on faith lately and I have been working on replacing my fear with faith. So to read that there is no fear in love just made me realize that I need to stop being so fearful! Faith and love go hand in hand. I just simply loved it.

Then the rest of the week was incredible because I forgot about myself and only focused on the youth and how I could help them, serve them, and be their friend.

In a way, you could say that I just served a mini-mission! It was tough work. Probably one of the hardest things I have ever done... I went to bed every night around midnight and woke up every morning at 5am. I met up with my co-counselor every morning at 6:20am and we prayed together for our youth. Then I had a meeting before devotional began, then gospel study, breakfast, morningside, and other activities that followed throughout the day. By the end of every day I was exhausted but it was so worth it. I put 110% effort into everything I did and I know for a fact that I was blessed with the strength and energy to do so.

Saturday eventually came and we said our goodbyes to everyone. Before I knew it I was with my family and relatives up in Midway, UT. It was just a little mini family reunion/get together shindig. Midway is beautiful and I would love to live there someday. 

We went to Park City and rode the Alpine Slides, ate tons of delicious food, played games, went shopping, and enjoyed each others' company.

 The ride on the ski lift was windy, bitter, and cold, but oh so worth it.

I love my family and was so happy to be with them.

I could not believe how tired I was though when I got to Midway. Every time I sat down I zonked out. I couldn't even keep my eyes open. It was crazy! Unfortunately because of my exhaustion, I went to bed early and had to miss out on some of the fun, but it was okay.

Now I'm home and I started my Art in the Park job this morning! I am still tired and I wonder if I'll ever feel totally energized again... hahah I'm sure I will with time ;) 

So that is my life.

I am happy and in love with it.

Love,

Kate

ps. I'm hoping I'll get called to do efy again this summer! I'm crossing my fingers.