Encampamento Dia 4

February 17  Tuesday

I think we got a little more sleep last night (no night camp watch assignment).  It appeared that there had been no problems the previous nights, so the adults got to sleep.  The morning walk to the lodge and restrooms found a herd of horses grazing on the lawn in front of the lodge - beautiful animals. 



It must be the last day of camp - the sign is beginning to sag, but the spirit in the camp has not.  Everyone was in the lodge early, reading their scriptures and writing in their journals.  After breakfast, everyone was ready to go!

I could post so many pictures of the beautiful setting we found ourselves in.  The mornings are cool and refreshing as the sun filters in through the trees.  Last night as we prepared to go to bed, we looked up at the stars (through the trees) and marveled that we have the experience of sleeping next to the forest/jungle in the country of Brazil looking at bright stars in the sky.  I would never have thought of dreaming of such a possibility.  We feel very blessed to be here at this time, serving with such wonderful people - adults and youth alike.


Groups were gathered together and sent three different directions.  Our group followed Theo down the road for a while, and then he stopped us in front of some planks of wood with wires and handles attached to them.  He gave instructions on how to step into the foot straps and how to hang on to the wires attached to the boards.  Then he told them to work together to walk up the road. . . this is called the caterpillar walk.  The teams struggled as they tried to learn to work together, exchanging who was in the front (thinking that someone else could do better). 


Eventually they figured how to do 'the walk' usually with someone in front of the group saying "direita, esquerda, direita, esquerda"  (right, left). 


As they were able to advance, the came to the stopping point - a dip on the side of the road that led to the mud/swamp bog.  They had to cross here to get to the other side of the lake.  Some successfully waded through mud waist deep and were willing to go back to help others.  Especially touching was a young girl who was the last to enter the mud.  She was having a difficult time until two other girls came back to help her - one on each side of her. They were all helped out by young boys reaching to them and pulling them out.  Real team work!

Merl and I hurried back up the road to cross over the lake in a much cleaner manner.  We passed what appeared to be a giant sunflower plant - everything grows much bigger and faster here. 


The next stop for the muddy kids was to cross a stretch of the lake using wire cables - one to walk on and one above to hang on to.  They were able to accomplish the task without anyone falling in.

At the end of the cables, they were helped into life jackets to swim/walk across the lake using a cable that went under the water.  I think this exercise was to rinse away as much mud as possible.  They then swam back and were helped out of the water and sent to the other side using the cables again. 

We stationed ourselves at the cables taking photos of each of them as they crossed.  Merl took the opportunity to wander around by himself enjoying finding small treasures in the thick undergrowth.  He came back with a miniature bouquet, a collection of the smallest flowers he could find.  Each flower was unique and beautiful.

(Merl):  I find that the creator had a wide spectrum imagination in color, size, shape, origin of the flower bud, etc., in His creation of flowers. Where there is much rain, there are many plants and flowers on every substrate that will support growth. As is the Redwood Forest, this land is a botanical paradise.
After everyone got all the mud washed off, they headed back to the lodge going around the lake for showers and lunch; we went via the bridge. 

Pres. and Sister Wright
with Pres. Anderson and João

Pres. and Sis. Wright, Mission President and his wife, arrived shortly before lunch, and we were again asked to assist them and eat lunch with them.  We have had the privilege to meet with them on other occasions including fixing meals for them when they are in town.  We have grown to love them and have a deep respect for the good people they are.
After a late lunch, we followed João back to the clearing at the end of the road.  There everyone was asked to sit down in the grass.  The gathering started with singing "I Stand All Amazed" with Sister Wright accompanying us on the violin.  She then spoke about music and the influence it has in our lives.  Music can bring us closer to the spirit or take us further away.  She played another hymn, and then Pres. Wright spoke about missionary work and the importance of preparing for and serving missions.  Pres. Nunez then asked everyone to find a spot along the forest edge to think about the things we had heard and felt and to pray for guidance in our lives.  While doing so, Sister Wright began to quietly play sacred hymns.  It was almost ethereal listening to the music float through the trees bringing a sweet spirit to everyone.  We could hear sniffles in almost every direction.  After re-gathering, the meeting was closed with prayer, and everyone went back to camp to prepare for the afternoon and the last activities of the camp.