June 17th through June 24th, 2024

Experienced a very different and very enjoyable week.  We spent Monday through Friday helping the Traverse City District Girls Camp at Hideaway Inn in Indian River not far from Burt Lake State Park.  Elder Gibbons was one of two Priesthood holders there and their role was to watch over and protect the 16 young women, ages 12-17, who attended.  I am still waiting for more pictures, but here are a few I did take with my own camera.

First day get-to-know you came and lunch at Burt State Park before heading to the camp.

Right now this is the only picture I have with Elder Gibbons in it (middle, back)

After checking into the lodge and taking a group photo, we piled into vehicles and went to a preserve to hike.  It wasn't much of a hike, but it was beautiful.  Later back at camp, two girls actually had ticks!

Each day there was a gospel focus.  On Tuesday Elder Gibbons and I taught a devotional about Temple Wedding Sealings.  The blessings of the Temple are dear to our hearts so it was a joy to share with them.  As part of the class we gave them a picture of the Detroit Temple and provided materials for them to make a "vision board."  We asked them to visualize themselves one day kneeling in a sealing room across from their fiance and write on their board qualities they hope to find in a young man and qualities they want to develop in themselves.  In the evening, five couples were invited to answer questions about relationships.  

I was asked to hang out with the youngest group of girls, which only ended up being 3 girls and their two Youth Leaders.  

From left to right:  Ann and Eliana (youth leaders), Ariya, me, Nadia and Emma

Before leaving the last day, each girl was presented a certificate stating how they contributed to a wonderful camp experience.  To our surprise, we even received one.  LOL.

On the first day, one of the youth leaders provided a big poster board with fire logs on it.  

All week long people filled out little "flames" of ways they saw people doing kind things.

You can see what was written about us.  

A water slide was rented for a couple of days and the girls loved it.  As for Elder Gibbons and me, we had great fun watching them :) 

Needless to say, by the time we got home Friday midday, we were ready for a long nap, but we wouldn't trade our experience for anything.  Although we wore our missionary name tags all the time, it sure felt different to be focused on something completely different.  We are glad to back in Cheboygan hoping to love and support the people we have come to know and love in the Branch here.

Sunday at church we had a Taco Bar potluck after our meetings.  We regularly have about 40 people attending Sacrament Meeting, some are visitors during the summer.  We had three from New Zealand this week.  We also had another Senior Missionary Couple serving in "Records Preservation" in the Lansing area join us as they were in our area doing some sightseeing.  Just so happens we have mutual friends.  Each of us know Dave and Tammy Montgomery.  They knew them in Utah and we knew them in Arizona when he was serving as the Stake President of the Young Single Adult Stake.  Small world!

Left to right:  Elder Rogers, Elder Sines, Elder and Sister Gibbons, Sister Smith and Elder Smith

Even though today was our PDay, we had to squeeze in apartment inspections across the Mackinaw Bridge.  Transfers are Wednesday and they had to be done before then. This is our second time doing so.  It was sunny and 78 degrees.  Along the way we saw a herd of buffalo, but the picture we took isn't a good one.  I am sure I have mentioned the bridge before, but it crosses the Straits of Mackinaw which is where Lake Huron meets Lake Michigan and leads to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  We drove to the very top to inspect one set of Elders apartment which is right at the Canadian border.  

The two pictures above are driving to the north.

These two pictures are heading back home from north to south.

It is pretty spectacular and was the world's largest span bridge for a very long time.  Apparently when the wind gets too strong they close down the bridge and you can get stuck on the wrong side.  We have an extra bedroom in our home here which we are to use for any missionaries getting stuck from crossing back over.  We understand that on Labor Day they shut it down and allow people to walk across the bridge.  It is said to be about about 5 miles.  If you cross over and back walking 10 miles you can claim the title "Double Crosser."  Who know?  Maybe we will do it ourselves!

When we got home today and picked up the mail, Elder Gibbons had received this wonderful, homemade card from Sister Froelich.  We learned this week that none of the missionaries in our District are being transferred Wednesday and we were all SO happy!!  Sister Froelich has been with us since we got here.  We will be so sad when she is transferred, but at some point we know she will be.