(Hope you don't mind that I borrowed your pictures Katie, I didn't get to take any) :( This past Thursday-Saturday I particapated in a youth activity through my church called Youth Conference. On Thursday we arrived in Eatonville and were put into "families". Each family consisted of a "big sister" and "big brother" which about 8-10 other people. My family was Dallan, Eli, Jacob, James, Tyler, Alyx, Kaitlyn, Julia, Lavina and myself.
When I was put into this family, I only knew three people, and one of those people was one that I knew of, but hardly talked too and by the end of the weekend, we were really GREAT friends. Considering we stayed up Friday night talking for 2 hours :)
But the family part of this activity wasn't the only best part. ALL DAY thursday all the youth went around the small town on Eatonville doing acts of kindness and service. For example, weedi
ng people's lawns, painting fire hydrants, restoring brick walls, building a bridge, a free car wash, weeding the rain garden of the town, and so many more things I cannot list. My family and I are the ones that weeded the rain garden and went around the town knocking on peoples doors asking if they needed any help.
This experience is the one that I have been asking for and is one I will never forget. I have been wanting to do things for people and help them in any way, but didn't really know how too or where I would start. So as we went around neighborhoods, we came upon this lady that was in a wheel chair and had some mental disabilites. We asked her if she needed any help and she replied that she was house sitting for her brother, because he went in for open heart surgery and was having it that night, so she would call him and see if it was okay with him. She called her brother and he wanted to talk to the adult that was with us. Jackie talked to the man, and he told her that he had been praying for weeks on end that someone would come to his home, asking if he needed any help and that he was sooo greatful for us. This REALLY hit me. I felt like my family and I were the answer to his prayers. The feeling of this was incredible. Knowing that this man had been praying for US to come and help and we showed up for him was just outstanding.
You never know what you can do for someone without knowing it. Like this man, we had no idea who he was or that we were the answer for him. So doing random acts of kindness and service is probably the best feeling you can get.
I made a ton of friends at youth conference which is another benefit to this activity. These youth have the same standards and morals as I do, which makes everything so much easier.
The funniest part of youth conference was just the random things we would say and how I said, " That's going on my blog!!" Like when we were trying to say each other's names backwards, "Berner...renreb...sounds like rehab!" haha. And when I tried adding "pepper" to Dallans plate, but it was really sand. :)
The youth of 16-18 years old, particapated in a activity called "speed dating" the boys would sit in a row of chairs and the girls would be sitting in front of them. And you would have one minute to ask the boy/girl questions, get to know them, then move on to the next person. It was so much fun! Getting to know these boys was pretty tight :)) T
hen having a dance that night, made it easier for the girls to ask the boys to dance, when that slow dance would come on. Instead of having your heart dropping and worrying about not getting anyone to dance with.
Overall these three days have been the best. And I'm looking forward to the next two years of it.
When I was put into this family, I only knew three people, and one of those people was one that I knew of, but hardly talked too and by the end of the weekend, we were really GREAT friends. Considering we stayed up Friday night talking for 2 hours :)
But the family part of this activity wasn't the only best part. ALL DAY thursday all the youth went around the small town on Eatonville doing acts of kindness and service. For example, weedi
ng people's lawns, painting fire hydrants, restoring brick walls, building a bridge, a free car wash, weeding the rain garden of the town, and so many more things I cannot list. My family and I are the ones that weeded the rain garden and went around the town knocking on peoples doors asking if they needed any help.This experience is the one that I have been asking for and is one I will never forget. I have been wanting to do things for people and help them in any way, but didn't really know how too or where I would start. So as we went around neighborhoods, we came upon this lady that was in a wheel chair and had some mental disabilites. We asked her if she needed any help and she replied that she was house sitting for her brother, because he went in for open heart surgery and was having it that night, so she would call him and see if it was okay with him. She called her brother and he wanted to talk to the adult that was with us. Jackie talked to the man, and he told her that he had been praying for weeks on end that someone would come to his home, asking if he needed any help and that he was sooo greatful for us. This REALLY hit me. I felt like my family and I were the answer to his prayers. The feeling of this was incredible. Knowing that this man had been praying for US to come and help and we showed up for him was just outstanding.
You never know what you can do for someone without knowing it. Like this man, we had no idea who he was or that we were the answer for him. So doing random acts of kindness and service is probably the best feeling you can get.
I made a ton of friends at youth conference which is another benefit to this activity. These youth have the same standards and morals as I do, which makes everything so much easier.
The funniest part of youth conference was just the random things we would say and how I said, " That's going on my blog!!" Like when we were trying to say each other's names backwards, "Berner...renreb...sounds like rehab!" haha. And when I tried adding "pepper" to Dallans plate, but it was really sand. :)
The youth of 16-18 years old, particapated in a activity called "speed dating" the boys would sit in a row of chairs and the girls would be sitting in front of them. And you would have one minute to ask the boy/girl questions, get to know them, then move on to the next person. It was so much fun! Getting to know these boys was pretty tight :)) T
hen having a dance that night, made it easier for the girls to ask the boys to dance, when that slow dance would come on. Instead of having your heart dropping and worrying about not getting anyone to dance with.Overall these three days have been the best. And I'm looking forward to the next two years of it.
Olivia, Mandee, Haley and I stuck by each others sides most of the trip. With the ride up there with Sister Anderson being a blast, to the actual hike, almost "dying" together and the ride home made that day so much better. Knowing these girls were and are there for me, along with the other YCL girls from camp is the most amazing feeling you'll get.
Sometimes I realize that without my family, I would probably be somewhere I could never imagine. I am the 5th child out of 6 which is SUCH a blessing. A lot of people say how could that be? 6 kids is way to many! But i find it as more siblings that have my back and that they are there for me constantly. My mom and dad are the best parents in the whole entire world. Of course my mom is not a teenager anymore, but she is the one to be known as the 16 year old teenager that hasn't matured yet. :) And my dad isn't so much like that, but it's amazing to see how my parents have each other's backs. To also see how my brother and sisters get along and have a connection like no other is such a blessing. And to see them having their own families makes me realize that life is going by so fast! I mean I'm 16 and have 3 neices and 2 nephews! And I'll be having my own life not too long from now! 
