Let's start from the beginning. . .
This was my first group for the summer back in June.
Week #1, session 3d:
"One Love"
There weren't many pictures taken this week... I am not sure why, but it's fine haha.
You can see some other ones
here though.
Then a few weeks later after chillin back home in Richfield for some time, I got an email and accepted three more weeks of EFY! So here is week #2, session 8a:
"Cannot Be Hid"
This was my sweet co-counselor Jacob Jensen. I loved this guy so much.
We were the best at photo bombing. What could we say, look at us.
Sometimes we would take our kids to get snowcones ... even in the pouring rain. You know why? Because look at those suckers! They were worth it.
And sometimes at the dance during the "counselor freeze," our kids would put us in positions that were supposedly funny to them.
I ended week #2 on a huge high and started week #3 a couple days later.. I was exhausted. But I completed the week after some ups and downs & it turned out to be great!
Week #3, session 9b:
"The Avengers"
I was in my first trio this week. My co's were great-- Adam McNevin and & Haley Felton. Bless both of their hearts... we had the funniest of times together!
Seriously look at those faces. Pure happiness right there. hahaa..
Then after taking one week off (which was very much needed) I worked my last week for the entire summer.
Week #4, session 11a:
"Angelic Souls"
I was in a trio again with the amazing Jaclyn Sheffield and crazy-talented Landon Dutson. I could not have been more blessed to have these co's to end my summer with. They are lovely people.
Cute little Jaclyn is engaged and I loved hearing all of her stories. We were surprisingly a lot alike and she had some great insights and advice for me. She was definitely a blessing in my life.
Landon was one of the first guys I met at the beginning of the summer when I did my first session of efy. Throughout the summer we would run into each other as we worked different sessions of efy but we just so happened to end up as co's at the end of the summer. It was cool. He is an awesome guy.
Sometimes my kids would fall in love with me and write me notes.
This one says "Do you work for gilette? Cuz you're the best a man can get."
And for some reason they made me look like a mermaid...? hahaahaa
I can't fully describe how this summer has changed my life. Being an efy counselor has been the most amazing experience. It has been so rewarding.
This right here is what makes efy worth it all. To see the change in someone and to know how big of an influence you have been in their life for the better is something that will forever remain in my heart. One of my girls told me this past week that I helped her find herself and find Jesus Christ. .....How amazing is that? I can't thank my Heavenly Father enough for the gift of the Holy Ghost and for being able to use me as an instrument in His hands to share the good news with the youth of this generation.
Sure, efy has it's ups and downs but without them there wouldn't be any way to learn and grow.
It was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but it was by far the best thing I could have ever done as well. It is mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting. But it is such a spiritual high.
I have learned how to fully rely on the spirit and I have gained such a strong testimony of the gift of the Holy Ghost and the power and strength that come through faith, hope, charity, diligence, and patience. All those christlike attributes are KEY to success, happiness, and blessings!
I feel like efy has been my mission. I have loved every minute of it and have learned and grown so much. I learned something from everyone I came in contact. From the other staff members, the session directors, and the kids, every single one of them has touched my heart in one way or another and I am forever changed.
Just like one of the songs from efy this year--- this is my testimony:
"Sitting in this moment I'm feeling things I've never felt before
My heart is beating in my chest and I can't hold back my emotions anymore
So many times I've asked and prayed to know its real to feel this way
and it's sweeter than I ever imagined
And I'll never be the same,
I have felt His love, and there's no looking back.
There's a fire that will remain, cuz written on my soul is a witness of my own. My faith has taken root and I have tasted the truth. My hearts forever changed, and I'll never be the same"
My testimony is stronger than it has ever been. I know more than ever that Jesus Christ lives and that he loves each and every one of us. I know that this is His gospel and that through Joseph Smith it was restored back to this earth. I know that Christ is our Lord and Savior... our Redeemer. I know he lived for us and died for us and that only by him and through him we are saved and are able to return to our Heavenly Father.
I love this gospel so much. It brings me so much joy. I love my Heavenly Father and I know he hears my prayers and he answers them too! I know it. And I know that Jesus Christ loves me and he is my best friend... He is my strength.
Let me say that again. . .
HE IS MY STRENGTH.
And he always will be.
I thank my Heavenly Father every single day for the wonderful opportunity I had to be an efy counselor this year and to be able to help the youth that I was placed with. I was able to teach them and testify to them every single day of the truthfulness of the gospel. But overall, I know that more than anything this experience was just for me. I am slowly but surely becoming the person I know Heavenly Father wants me to be and I could not be happier.
Love,
Kate
ps. random excerpts from notes I've received from some of my kids:
"Kate you can make me smile without fail all day long! I love how much you love our savior. You really took effort to try to make this week special and to try to get to know me. I feel like I know you so well! You're the kind of person who would be my best friend. You could make the worst day the best day with how bubbly you are. I love ya! I'm really going to miss you. You are by far the best counselor in the world. You're perfect, never change."
"I want to thank you for being such a wonderful counselor. You have brought life into my life. You inspire me to do good and to be a better person. You are so understanding and patient and suhc a great listener. And I truely mean it when I say you were like a mom to me this week. You brought me so much comfort. I know that someday you are going to make a wonderful mother and wife. Thank you so much for teaching me to look at the bigger picture in life. I know that God has a plan for me and that means not everything is going to work out, which is okay because I have faith in the Lord. Thank you for the best efy year I've ever had. You truely are such a great friend and a wonderful and beautiful counselor inside and out. You've taught me so much this week and I am so grateful for that. Thank you so much!"
Those are just some to name a few. Absolutely incredible.
