As some of you know, I was really nervous about EFY this year. Part of that was just because my session last year was so good, I was afraid that this year wouldn't be able to live up to my experience last year. I was really blessed though, the youth at this session at BYU-I were phenomenal. All of my classes worked out so well, so much better than I expected. Some of my talks involved some fairly abstract ideas, the type that most teenagers are not eager to discuss. So I usually plan a lot of activities and only plan on spending a few minutes in discussion. But these participants were eager to discuss the scriptures and the doctrines of the gospel. We sometimes discussed the topics for 15-20 minutes and they were perfectly willing to wrap their minds around the concepts and discuss them in a very mature and insightful way.
Also (and I've never had this happen before), there were many participants who approached me after classes ended wanting to learn more about the topic--they asked me where I found certain quotations or what else I would suggest they study. That made me really happy. Also, they took copious notes--mostly of scripture references and other things they could study later, which also made me happy.
And, they were among the most appreciative youth I've ever met. So many stayed after each class to thank me for the lesson. Their prayers nearly always included expressions of gratitude. One girl gave me a really kind letter, thanking me for my preparation and for helping her feel closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior during our classes. While at the dance on Tuesday night, I had probably 30 or so participants come up to tell me how much they had enjoyed my classes.
Several participants came into my room at the end of all the classes to thank me--they hadn't been in my last class, so they went out of their way to come into my room and thank me (and I'm sure they did the same for the other teachers). I also had several that stayed well after the classes ended so they could copy down the quotes I used in my lessons. Basically, it was just a really blessed experience. I'm so grateful for the Lord's help and the dedication of the youth.
I really, really wish I had had a camera with me so I could have taken pictures of the "Fear Factor" activity--this will sound really odd and gross out of the context of the activity, but I wish I had pictures of the three guys who chose to lick the toe of another participant. And of course, of the guy who sang (in a very earnest manner, while down on one knee and holding the girl's hand) 'Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree'--beautiful! :)
After the classes ended yesterday I went to watch the variety show tryouts. I love watching the kids demonstrating their talents. And they are so talented--some of their talents are rather useless and completely silly, but still... I'm always very impressed that so many of them are brave enough to share their talents. I think it's great.
On the way home I had a rather interesting gas station experience. I stopped for gas in Shelley, Idaho. As I was pumping gas, a man pulled up on the other side of the pump and started washing his windshield. He saw me and I smiled. He looked at me for a second and said, 'Aren't you a little dressed up for a Wednesday night?' (I was still wearing my skirt from teaching.) I laughed and said, 'Yes, maybe I am.' I explained that I just finished teaching at a youth conference at BYU-Idaho. He asked me what kind of conference it was, so I gave him more information about what EFY was. He still seemed a bit confused and he asked me about the topics of my presentations. I told him that I spoke on a variety of religious topics. He looked at me again, and asked, 'Are you a nun?' I laughed again and said, 'No.' He looked at me again in a pointed way and said, 'You are wearing black and white.' And I laughed again... he had me there, I must be a nun since I was wearing black and white. :)
I found out while I was there that Brother Wahlquist is now teaching at BYU-I. One of the counselors logged onto his student account so I could use the Internet to look up Brother Wahlquist's number. I called him and we talked for about 20 minutes. It was fun to hear how they are doing. They have adopted two more girls. He invited me to stay with them if I'm ever in Rexburg again and told me that it is only an hour and a half from his house to Yellowstone. So my roommates and I may make a weekend trip to Rexburg to go to the temple (it was closed for cleaning while I was there this week, which made me sad) and up to Yellowstone.
Anyway, that's my EFY story. I hope you're all doing well. I love you!
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