What was not easy was trying to get ready for this conference the same week as starting at my second placement! I didn't get a whole lot of sleep. And I got to drive the 5 hours it takes to get there...so fun!
We finally made it there and met everyone else at the bonfire. Sadly we got there too late for the haunted house...and we heard it was the best one they'd done! Arrgh! The bonfire was fun but once again, I'm not going to take blinding pictures at one. Use your imagination of what a bunch of YSA around a bonfire looks like.
Late at night + Liz being really tired + bonfire = funny things out of Liz's mouth!
The next morning it started snowing...and didn't stop. At all. We went from this:
Things became very scary. The snow was heavy, and very wet and the leaves were still clinging to the trees. The snow stuck like glue all over everything- when I went out it was only a second until I was covered in snow. The trees couldn't take all the weight of the snow and large branches started snapping and falling. As the storm went on, whole trees fell. It was cold and windy too.
They had to cancel the outdoor activities and revamp the class schedule. I felt bad for those in charge! They were able to set up large games for people to play in the main cabin.
I went to my cabin to work on my costume and it was a dangerous walk with things falling all over. While at my cabin, the power went out. And stayed out. I wanted to get back to the main cabin but was not looking forward to going out in the storm. The Holy Ghost said to me "If you're going to go Liz, you must leave now."
In the hour since I went to the cabin, a tree fell across the trail. Branches were everywhere.
There were a couple of girls leaving the conference and carrying their stuff in the storm. I joined with them and we made our way through the 6 inches of snow as fast as we could. When we heard trees snapping, we ran like crazy. It was so dangerous. I made sure I had everything with me so that I wouldn't have to go back in the storm.
On our excursion back, we encountered several girls who chose to be out in the cold and wind and danger! They were standing in the road, taking it all in. I couldn't believe it. We said "It's dangerous, you shouldn't be out here." And they said "Oh, we're fine." It became a parable in my mind- we can't let ourselves be in places of danger spiritually. We have to run, like Joseph of Egypt.
We were basically trapped there at camp- as soon as the fallen trees were cleared, more fell. I debated leaving, but I knew we'd be safer there. And we were.
We played games and had the dance equipment run by a generator. Putting on my getup in the dark was a bit tricky, but I was glad it turned out alright! The dance was really fun, my friend is a really good dj. And I got asked to dance by not one, not two, but six different guys! Cha ching! I got a lot of votes in the costume contest, but didn't win. Darn you Bellatrix!
On Sunday the sun was out, the snow had stopped and it was lovely.
Upon leaving, it became very clear why the power had gone out- there were several trees that had fallen that were resting on the wires. I wanted to take a photo and document it, but we got out of there quick instead!
Once you got out of camp, you'd never know that such craziness had taken place.
The Holy Ghost had said to me "Liz, you're gonna want a flashlight for this conference. Trust me." And I hadn't really thought of it but decided to bring one- good thing! Parts of the cabins, like the bathrooms, were very dark and I wound up sharing my light. Hello parable of the 10 virgins!
to THIS in a very short amount of time!
I stayed in the fort cabin, not the castle, but it was pretty:
Things became very scary. The snow was heavy, and very wet and the leaves were still clinging to the trees. The snow stuck like glue all over everything- when I went out it was only a second until I was covered in snow. The trees couldn't take all the weight of the snow and large branches started snapping and falling. As the storm went on, whole trees fell. It was cold and windy too.
They had to cancel the outdoor activities and revamp the class schedule. I felt bad for those in charge! They were able to set up large games for people to play in the main cabin.
I went to my cabin to work on my costume and it was a dangerous walk with things falling all over. While at my cabin, the power went out. And stayed out. I wanted to get back to the main cabin but was not looking forward to going out in the storm. The Holy Ghost said to me "If you're going to go Liz, you must leave now."
In the hour since I went to the cabin, a tree fell across the trail. Branches were everywhere.
There were a couple of girls leaving the conference and carrying their stuff in the storm. I joined with them and we made our way through the 6 inches of snow as fast as we could. When we heard trees snapping, we ran like crazy. It was so dangerous. I made sure I had everything with me so that I wouldn't have to go back in the storm.
On our excursion back, we encountered several girls who chose to be out in the cold and wind and danger! They were standing in the road, taking it all in. I couldn't believe it. We said "It's dangerous, you shouldn't be out here." And they said "Oh, we're fine." It became a parable in my mind- we can't let ourselves be in places of danger spiritually. We have to run, like Joseph of Egypt.
We were basically trapped there at camp- as soon as the fallen trees were cleared, more fell. I debated leaving, but I knew we'd be safer there. And we were.
We played games and had the dance equipment run by a generator. Putting on my getup in the dark was a bit tricky, but I was glad it turned out alright! The dance was really fun, my friend is a really good dj. And I got asked to dance by not one, not two, but six different guys! Cha ching! I got a lot of votes in the costume contest, but didn't win. Darn you Bellatrix!
Mario and Medusa:
Having a Greco-Roman moment at the dance:
Lots of great costumes!
Lots of Harry Potter costumes!
Loved the TMNT costumes! The girls were a flock of birds:
The Medusa costume had been in the works for years. I started sewing a white dress and put it aside about 6 years ago. I've been collecting jewelry and snakes for the last few years. Even found gold snakeskin sandals on clearance a couple years ago. I had finished the white dress this summer, it became a fake wedding dress for a display at Girls Camp! I dyed it green, took in the waist, added trim and part of a snake necklace on the bodice. I found this scrap of green that became the front flap. I bought sheer black material and made a drape. Getting the snakes in my hair was the tricky part- I glued clips to them (Thank you E-6000 epoxy! You could bond an anvil to the side of a building!) and then layered them in my hair. I didn't have light to do eyelashes/contacts but still did green eyeshadow and just ran around with no glasses on (they were tucked in my bra, lol!).
I got a lot of compliments on my costume, it felt good. I like Medusa because I can understand having crazy hair, ha ha.
The power stayed out for the last 24 hours of the conference- and it was still out when it was all over on Sunday afternoon. We still had church though, which was good. I wish I could have showered, but we were all safe and warm. I felt that we were really protected this weekend.
On Sunday the sun was out, the snow had stopped and it was lovely.
Our snowy fort:
Upon leaving, it became very clear why the power had gone out- there were several trees that had fallen that were resting on the wires. I wanted to take a photo and document it, but we got out of there quick instead!
Once you got out of camp, you'd never know that such craziness had taken place.
The Holy Ghost had said to me "Liz, you're gonna want a flashlight for this conference. Trust me." And I hadn't really thought of it but decided to bring one- good thing! Parts of the cabins, like the bathrooms, were very dark and I wound up sharing my light. Hello parable of the 10 virgins!
We found Electric Avenue on the way home!
Totally gonna rock on down there...and then I'll take it higher.
This conference makes #19 that I've attended in the last 4 years if I've tabulated correctly. They're fun and I love meeting new people and getting spiritual nourishment, but it's getting a little old. I'm not really supposed to be at these, ya know? I should be doing other things in life.
If the Spirit tells you to go now or bring a flashlight, do it.
Overall a crazy but good weekend!
2 comments:
Wow, that's more excitement than I want at a conference! I wish I'd ever checked that one out, I'm just too lazy to travel that far. My favorite snowy conference experience was the one by Jamestown a couple years ago, though actually I think it just rained on all the built up snow. Still it was so much fun at that girls scout camp.
I had a lot of fun at that Jamestown conference too, glad you had a good time!
Post a Comment