EFY Rexburg 7

Through a series of weird events, I was accepted to be a
counselor for EFY for the 7Th and final week in Rexburg. This was my 3rd year being a counselor, and I have done it a total of 8 weeks. I am in school summer semester, so it only leaves me 3-4 weeks after school gets out to be a counselor.
I was "co-co's" with Tia Hammond and Jennifer Jackson. Tia and I were co-counselors last year, so we both laughed out loud when we found out that were co's again. We had the 14-15 year old group. They were a bunch of awesome kids. We were blessed as counselors to not have any large problems that we had to focus on all week. That allowed us to focus on our teaching and helping our participants understand the gospel in a way that can bless their lives. By boys were so alike that they all bonded day 1. That was a blessing in a way, but also a curse in a way. They all felt very comfortable with each other and I, so we got along really well. But when it came time to be serious and talk about the gospel, they had their struggles. I learned a lot from them. I feel very blessed to have gotten to know them. As a counselor that only worked one week, it was as if I was a participant
going for my week of spiritual upliftment for the summer. That week they really focused on the Atonement and how it can bless our lives through repentance. I learned so much about that subject and gained a greater appreciation for the life of Jesus Christ. The directors that week were Brother and Sister Bacon from Alaska. Bro Bacon is a part of the seminary program up there and loves the youth of the church. Sis Bacon brought along their 2 week old son, yes, 2 weeks old, and spent a lot of time with him. They refer to their children as "Bacon Bits". Brother Bacon taught so powerfully and by the spirit, it was hard not to get emotional at times. He had some event that happened on Wednesday that he mentioned made him "depressed". But as he went to the youth and felt their excitement and light, he was picked up and carried spiritually back to where he needed to be. He never mentioned what it was, but I got the feeling that someone close to him had passed away. On friday, Bro Bacon said that he "was going back to Alaska a changed person." I felt the same way, and doing EFY this year taught me a lot. I feel that it also prepared me for things to come in my life. As I was there that week, I felt I was there for a reason, that the Lord needed me there that week. But I also knew that it would be my last week as an EFY counselor for a couple of years. What a great ride it was, I am more confident than ever about the youth in the church today.