YW Girls Camp
The past week, we were invited to help with the YW Girls Camp that was held on a sheep farm out in the boonies.   The owner of the farm is the Tartu branch president.  During the summer, he and his family live out at the farm as there is much to tend to.  He had the Estonian Army put up big tents for the girls to sleep in and they also provided sleeping bags and mats.  As you tell by the picture, this place is so beautiful with rolling hills and forests.  When we say that, we are describing 95% of all Estonia. 

Army tents for the YW

Shopping for the food was an interesting experience.  We took all our knowledge about Girls Camp food and threw it out the window.  Not only were we dealing with food that we were unfamiliar with, but food that is measured in liters, kilograms and other unfamiliar quantities.  Once we figured those things out, we now had to figure out how to cook for people we don't even know.  A customary breakfast here is not one that most American teenagers would eat.  What if they didn't like some of the "American" items on the menu?  As it turned out, they liked the American food as much or more than their traditional fare.  So how did the cooking go?  Except for the pot of oatmeal that never ceased (really, we made so much that it just kept coming out of the pot and wouldn't end), we did pretty good and we kept the hungry girls happy. I'm pretty sure that kitchen angels were watching over us.  Many times, we had just the right amount of food.  No one went hungry in our kitchen!  And speaking of kitchen, it was "small".  It was just big enough for two adult cooks and if we were careful, two young women.  Most all the activities and meals were in the Assikvere Community Center that was built for all the farmers in the outlying region.  There was a large room that is used for meals and plays that the community puts on from time to time.  There was a large room off the kitchen that was used to store books and things which we used for our room.

The girls came from all over the mission.  Two from Lithuania, one from Tartu and Narva and several from Tallinn and Latvia.  It was split about 50-50 of those who could speak English and those who spoke Russian.  I had a great time with the Russian speakers trying to communicate with them with my limited Russian background.

Assikvere Community Center, built in 1933

On the first full day, Sister Allred took them all on a 7 km (5 miles) gratitude hike to Pala where a small lake was made for recreation.  During the hike, the girls were paired up with someone and they shared things they were thankful for.  After each rest stop, they changed partners and continued their gratitude session for other things like people living, people who have passed, physical bodies, nature, the gospel, etc..  By the time they reached the lake, the sky was gray and it looked like it might rain.  Three of the Russian speakers changed into suits and went swimming anyway.  They had a blast.

Sister Allred on the Gratitude Hike

The little lake in Pala

A lot of wet fun in the lake

I thought this was a  nice shot

The next day, the girls did a certification olympics and the girls moved from station to station for instruction.  Later, they had a service project and an activity with the sheep.  The sheep needed to be brought to come into the barn.  They were out in the field and were just content to be there grazing on the abundant grass.  After some "encouragement", they got the lead sheep moving back to the barn.  You know how sheep can be - they all started following single file on a well established sheep run in the pasture.  As they approached the barn, they suddenly stopped and it looked like they might bolt at any minute.  As the girls slowly approached them, blocking any possible routes of escape, the sheep entered the barn with cheers from all.  You might compare this to the shepherding of new converts.  You want to lead them to safety and not scare them off by too much "handling".  You support them while they make movements away from the world and continually cheer them on when they have secured themselves in the gospel.

In the sheep barn

If you look real close, you can them running across the field

Apparently, they raise marshmallows here

Later that day, the girls presented their skits.  They were hilarious, considering they were in another language.  President and Sister Harding came and after dinner, conducted a fireside presentation and a testimony meeting that was really sweet.  We fed them all some chicken alfredo.  It was a miracle that it didn't kill them all.  We were suffering from a lack of correct ingredients and confidence.  You would be pleased to know that our cooking was well received, especially the American dishes (Sloppy Joes and Chili).  They gobbled down the chicken salad sandwiches like there was no tomorrow.  Girls Camp cooking is no different from Arizona to Estonia, you still work like rented mules.

"Friends can help your dreams come true"

"Story of the creation"

On Saturday, we cleaned and packed up and said goodbye to our new friends.  They gave us cards that are so precious.  I'll include pictures of them here.  It was a fun camp and we learned a lot.  If all goes well, we will probably be doing a return engagement next summer.

Front covers of our cards

On our way back home.  It really is pretty here

Like I said before . . .