The Oakcrest Fairytale

Once upon a time, a young maiden signed up to go to Oakcrest, an LDS girls camp for beehive girls. It was in the year 2000. Her bunkmate was to be Joh-Teena Filipe, her childhood friend that taught her all of her basketball skills! They got to Oakcrest, met their counselor named Kix, and had a wonderful week. Two wonderful girls in their cabin were named Becca Hall and Mindi Anderson.They were a year older than the young maiden, and Joh-Teena, but that is okay, they loved them anyway! :) This week up at Oackrest LDS girls camp was one to be remembered. There were Unit prayers by candlelight, trek, solo time, parties, and staff serenade. All the things that a girl could ask for in order to strengthen her testimony and make friendships that could have an endless future!
One experience stood out to this young maiden, and that was listening to Joh-Teena sing the hymn "I Stand All Amazed." The beautiful voice rang with passion and love for the Savior. It testified of truth, and made all that heard it feel the penetrating power of the spirit of god! It was an incredible thing for these young girls, to sit on the medal bunks, and inch thick mattresses, and hear the words of the Savior's mission sung so beautifully! Lives were changed that night, and throughout the week, it was definitely a time of spiritual growth, fun, and friendship!
As the years went on, those friendships formed were distant memories, phone numbers and addresses were exchanged, and occasional contact would take place. But for the most part, those memories were past up but newer, more recent ones with friends and loved ones. To look back and remember that week, didn't happen too often for that young maiden.
Sad to say, there was a point where that young maiden lost her way, those memories and strength found that week were distant memories that were long forgotten. Then her heart broke, she felt a little bit of the penetrating spirit, and she began to change. Those words to the hymn, "I Stand All Amazed" became the anthem of her life, she felt the awe striking power of the Atonement and was cleansed by the love Jesus offered her. Her life changed, she was living proof of the healing, cleansing powers that caused her to truly stand all amazed! Her testimony began to grow again, and she felt like she could maybe help others. Then something happened.
Driving on the freeway, sitting in the passenger seat of her friend's car, the dear maiden got a text message, saying something like, "you should apply for oakcrest." It was from Becca Hall, the friend from long ago, who had helped her grow. Although she was happy about the random reconnection, she dismissed the idea, hoping for a different plan. She was on her way to make another dream come true, till that dream was put to stew.... the decisions were made, that was the plan, she would stick with it, and see it thru!
It was all set, so she thought, then she found out that she lost all that she had tried to obtain. She was rejected, sorrowed and sad. they didn't want her to be the leader that she wanted to be so bad!
The spirit said to her, "call Becca" so she did, she asked about deadlines and plans. She applied, struggled and grew some more. She was accepted to be a counselor at Oakcrest, and it all fit.
The summer as a counselor was hard, great, and fun. She felt like she made a difference, and also learned. Long lasting friendships were made, because Becca texted, and suggested the plan. Who would have thought this is where I would land! I am the young maiden whose life was changed by one summer, and timeless friends made. The lessons learned, the memories made, may be a little foggy, but still have a place in the lives of those girls, whether campers or counselors, it's nearly the same, 11 years ago to today, all of our lives were changed!

Becca,
Thanks for the walk down memory lane! An awesome way to spend Valentine's Day!