Hunter Central Stake Youth Conference 2010

This weekend was our stake youth conference, "Called To Serve", which gave the Hunter Central youth the missionary experience. On Thursday, the kids checked in and were given their missionary bags and assigned to zones and districts and then had an opening devotional and broke up into classes that taught about some of the different missions around the world. I volunteered to drive the three days and we headed out to Provo, trying to keep all the kids with other kids from their districts, to a park to eat lunch. Unfortunately, I am directionally challenged and even with driving directions, I still managed to get us lost and was one of the last ones to arrive at the park. Fortunately, the youth that drove up with me were very patient and turned it into an adventure. After lunch, we drove the youth up to the Harman building for some classes and then the leaders headed over to a stake center to set up table and chairs and decorate for the evening's festivities. We had a few hours in between this and when the food arrived, which made me sleepy and pretty much un-useful in my opinion, wandering around with a glazed look, asking for things to help with and moving in super slow motion. The youth walked back and we had dinner followed by a talent show and then a devotional (which was really a fireside). We then traveled to the hotel where we stayed overnight and got very little sleep.

On Friday, we were up bright and early and traveled to another park after breakfast for zone games. The leaders were asked not to participate because they really wanted the youth to step up, so we were happy to sit back (in the shade) until it was time to prepare lunch: taco salad. I'm pleased to report that I was more useful on Friday; I set out plates, silverware, toppings, and chopped up leftover sliced tomatos and I have the stains on my pants to prove it. After lunch, we went back to the hotel and changed into our best dress clothes and traveled back to the stake center where the youth entered the "MTC" for their training classes. I took the opportunity to go home and take a nap, then headed back over that evening to drive them to their teaching appointments. It was really neat to see how excited the youth were about going out to teach the families in the stake. And they did get the true missionary experience with some families shutting the doors in their face and some not answering (the youth were not happy about this, but the leaders thought it was funny since they knew it was planned). After their teaching appointments, we drove back to the stake center for the evening devotional and refreshments and then...home for the evening.

Saturday, day 3, the final day: We are groggily returned the next day at 6:30 am for breakfast and then a trip up to This is the Place Monument where we had a service project: building a log fence and corral. Again, the leaders were asked not to help the youth except to give directions, so I hung out and helped make sure things were level...until my allergies and the heat got the best of me. It went pretty fast and we were back at the stake park within hours where we had a Cafe Rio-style lunch and then a HUGE water fight. I tried my very best to stay dry, but the youth (and some of the other leaders) were not having it and I did get a bit wet, but I admit, it could have been a lot worse. I left around 3 pm and decided that I would be of no further use as a zombie, so I did not go back for the evening festivities, which ended with a testimony meeting, a dance, and devotional (again, more like a fireside).

All-in-all, it was an accomplished weekend as I did not get sunburned.