So I figured that since I’ve been back in the good ol’ U.S. of A. for a month, it was time to redesign the blog. Lemme tell ya, it was hard to change! I got really attached to my Parisian set-up! But hopefully I can keep using my blog while I’m at school so everyone can keep up with all of my adventures. It probably won’t be as exciting as wandering the streets of Paris, but you never know - Provo is a crazy town!
I can’t believe that I’ve been home for a month. How insane is that?! The summer is flying by! So much has happened in the last month for me. Here’s an update and then I’ll get into detail about my job as an EFY counselor J:
On June 16th, I boarded a plane in Geneva, Switzerland and headed back to the states. The flight was about 9 hours long and pretty painless. I watched the Justin Bieber movie (2 or 3 times...the kid is talented!) and slept here and there. I landed in D.C., went through customs, and then headed for my gate to take me home to St. Louis. I was so ready to get back and see my family! (And to share the presents that I got for them J). Long story short, I was stuck in D.C. for 10 hours. And I was NOT happy about it. My mom was going to take me to get Mexican food when I got home (I was craving it like crazy!), but I would have to wait another day. There were storms and United Airlines is the most unorganized, unprofessional airline in the world. TOTALLY never flying with them again! We boarded and deplaned twice and sat on the runway for HOURS. I was supposed to arrive in St. Louis at 6:00pm and arrived at 4:30am the next day. Jet lag + hours of delays = exhausted Rachel.
It took me a good couple of days to get back into the swing of the time change but I had to adjust fast because I had to report to my first session of EFY (Especially For Youth - a summer youth program sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) the following Saturday afternoon. I attended EFY three times myself as a teenager and LOVED every minute. It was my dream to be a counselor!
On Saturday, I left my house around 10:00am to make it in time for my training meeting. My first session was in Nauvoo, Illinois and it was a little over an hour and a half to drive there. I was by myself so I made the drive fun by singing to the radio/CD’s the whole time. It really helps you stay awake, too!
I was super nervous for the training (why? I don’t know) and arrived at our hotel in time to check in, drop my bags in my room, and head to the meeting. While I was in the hallway, I met Brian and Warren (two of the guy counselors) and we walked to training together. I’m glad that I didn’t have to go by myself! I mean, I’m sure I could have handled it but it was nice to go into the meeting knowing other counselors.
Once we arrived at the meeting place, we met up with a few other new counselors and a couple of the B.C.’s (building counselors - they’re like counselors for the counselors) who would be training us. We all sat at a small table and started talking about the week and what would be expected of us. The discussions were incredible! We worked on our teaching skills, had our questions answered, and got our nametags and shirts. It was neat how fast all of us new counselors bonded. After the meeting, we went to dinner together at the hotel’s restaurant and then all of the counselors went to the Nauvoo temple together. It’s SO beautiful!!!! It was neat to get to go with just the counselors before the week started and the kiddos arrived. After the temple, it was off to the pool at the hotel! Brittney led us in water aerobics (which I’m pretty sure was absolutely hilarious to the people not swimming). SO FUN! J
Sunday was church, nap, and meet the session director day. After a little devotional in the evening, we got to see who our co-counselors and BC’s were and started planning the week. I don’t mean to brag or anything but I seriously had the BEST Co’s on the planet. Gena, Conner, Garrett, and I had a total blast together! I love ‘em all. J And they got to be some of my closest friends throughout the week, so I was really blessed to have had them around. Anyways, after planning and coming up with a cheer for the Monday meeting (we were the Smith family for the week...you’d think it’d be easy to come up with something, but it wasn’t!), it was off to the hotel to do door tags.
The rest of the week was CRAZY busy/amazing, so I’m gonna have to bullet point it...it would seriously take FOREVER to write down every detail! I’ll throw in a picture or video every once in a while to keep it interesting though. J
MONDAY
- Got up nice and early to get ready for the youth to arrive
- Practiced the counselor dance for orientation
- Worked at registration and danced like a fool to get kids to sign up for the variety show
- Met my gorgeous, fabulous, incredible 16-18 year old chicas at Meet Your Counselor
- Met up with the whole company and realized what an AMAZING week we’d have with everyone. Seriously. Our group was the bomb! J
- Danced at orientation
- Played FHE games in front of the temple
Isn't that stunning?!
Conner was CRAZY at poison (the game in the video). At one point, I got flung across the grass and seriously flipped. Luckily, I didn't get hurt but I got up with grass stains on my khakis and wounded pride.
- Went back to the hotel for devotional, Disney princess song lullaby (my girls had me sing them to sleep before lights out), and bed (as a counselor, you learn to REALLY appreciate your sleep!)
TUESDAY
- Meetings at 6:30am with Eliza (who was a FABULOUS B.C!)
- Devotional with the girlies at 7:00am
- Breakfast, 20-minute trek to the company spot, and gospel study
- Morningside (a devotional with the session director)
- Classes! J
Stretching to wake ourselves up after no sleep
Shades, attractive EFY polo, frizzy hair, and my name tag. Beautiful.
- Free time, followed by dinner
- Games night and cheer off!
Gena and Cade
Our family's beautiful banner
Tug of War vs. the 14-15 year-olds. We dominated! 
Pioneer games wouldn't be complete without the stick pull
Conner vs. Brandon. It was a tough match!
The most amazing co-counselors EVER cheering on the Smith Family
Gorgeous view of the sunset on the Mississippi
WEDNESDAY
- Meetings at 6:30am with B.C.’s
- Devotional with the girls at 7:00am
- Breakfast, 20-minute walk to the company spot, gospel study
- Morningside
- Hopped on a huge bus and went to the Old Nauvoo cemetery, the Trail of Hope, The Red Brick Store, and Carthage with about half of the youth at the session (everyone did it, but some did it Wednesday and others did it Thursday)
My absolutely fabulous (and gorgeous) roommate Lyndsi and I at the cemetery
The last road the the pioneers walked on before leaving Nauvoo and heading to Salt Lake
Roomies being goofy. Props to Ammon for taking a sweet pic!
My beautiful, amazing, wonderful, incredible, fabulous girls at Carthage
The Smith Family posing at Carthage
Co's on the bus
Bahahaha...I love this picture. I think we're both really tired here- Came back to the stake center and had dinner
- Sunset by the Mississippi and Vocal Point Concert!
The performers did a great job!
- Hiked back to the hotel for devotional, Disney princess song lullaby, and bed
THURSDAY
- Meetings at 6:30am with B.C.’s
- Devo with my girls at 7:00am
- Breakfast (found out that the boys painted on my car windows...I know it was out of love, but if my dad knew he’d KILL ME), 20-minute walk to the company spot, and gospel study
Thank you Smith boys for showing your love, thank you Cade for coming up with the idea, and thank you Garrett for helping me scrub it off
- Morningside
- Temple baptisms with our company (COOLEST experience ever)
- Went back to the hotel to change into not Sunday clothes
- Toured Old Nauvoo at had lunch at Pioneer Pastimes
Bear racing
- Went back to the hotel to change into Sunday clothes
- Came back to the stake center for dinner, musical program, and Session Director fireside
- Had testimony meeting with the Smith’s (our company) and the Young’s (Lyndsi and Brian's company)
- Headed back to the hotel singing hymns with our company before devotional, Disney princess song lullaby, and lights out
FRIDAY
- Meetings at 6:30am with B.C.’s (by this point, I was so tired I was running on nothing...you get no sleep as a counselor! But it’s worth it J)
- Devotional with les filles at 7:00am
- Breakfast, walk to the company spot (which got taken by another group...so we protested with a loud rendition of “Book of Mormon Stories”, and then gospel study
We had a very talented family
- Young Men/Young Women Activity (First the girls went to go and see the new Joseph Smith movie at the Visitor’s center and then we switched with the boys and went back to have morningside with just the girls).
- Lunch
Some of our group for the week. The boys picked wildflowers for all of the girls. You guys were the best!
- Variety Show
- Free time (we took some company pictures and then a few of us went to get ice cream because it was HOT. Garrett also played us some of his music at a little concert for the company. He’s got some serious talent! The kids were loving it J)
The Smith Girls
- Clean the building with our companies
- DANCE!
- Take It Home, Company Devotional, walked back to the hotel, and time for one last Disney princess song lullaby before lights out
SATURDAY
- No meetings, but I got up early to make sure that all of my girls were up and ready for the bus (most were from the west coast, so they had to catch flights at the St. Louis airport)
- Said my goodbyes to my amazing kids. I was SO blessed to have them in my group for the week! They changed my life and made me want to be a better person. Thank you Smith family! J
- After the kiddos left, we had a meeting with counselors, B.C.’s, coordinators, and the session director to talk about how the week went. Seeing as I had the most amazing co-counselors and the most incredible youth (I’m sure every counselor says that, but still), I had nothing but positive feedback about my week in Nauvoo. Week one as a counselor was definitely a success!!!!
- One last breakfast at the hotel
- Garrett and I followed each other back to good ole St. Louis (we wanted to make sure neither of us fell asleep on the drive back), I went home and slept for a few hours, and then we met up and carpooled to Columbia, MO for the next session at Mizzou.
But that, my friends, is a life changing experience for another day. I’ll make sure and post about it soon! J
1 comment:
LOVE IT!!!! You just made up for the journal that I didn't write for that week.
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