Kira at - OYA

Here's Kira telling you about OYA. OYA stands for outdoor youth adventure. Basically it was amazing. I got to white water rafting on level three rapids (whatever that means), horseback ride on trail horses (fun stuff), do all sorts of ropes courses (yahoo) and do a miniature pioneer trek on pioneer day (how ironic it was on the same day). In my group there were fourteen people including me. Seven girls and seven boys. he guys in my group were hilarious. I have never known a group of guys that sang practically none stop. They would sing anything anywhere as long as you gave them a couple lines, including really girly songs like girls want to have fun, and high songs too. Think of a song with a really high note, one of the guys could hit it easier than any of the girls. The firesides were amazing. Hey had some great speakers. The theme for this year was Psalms 37:5, and how we need to commit ourselves to the lord and how he will help us in return. This year I learned that there are some things that you can't commit only half way. If you are going to do something, do it full out or it’s not worth it in the long run. My favorite activity was called the blind walk. It is just what it sounds like, you are blind folded and you go for a walk trying to follow a distinct noise. The only trouble is there is more than one noise, a rattling sound and a bell sound. When I first heard the rattling noise I thought that was the noise I was suppose to follow. Then the other noise came on but i ignored it until told by another person to follow the other noise. This noise I found out had never moved and lead to something that represented the iron rod. When I got the string I stood there for a moment not knowing what to do. I was told I have made it but there was still more to go. I thought that following the string would be easy, but there were trees close together and stumps still to trip on, the difference was there were fewer obstacles and I had direction, a goal. His experience really made me think about my life and also missionary work. What you first hear, or learn as a child is what you learn to follow, and after following that noise and someone comes along and tells you to try another way sometimes you are reluctant to follow but when you do it all seems to make more sense. I realized that the bell noise was clearer, it remained constant, and the other noise was just leading me in unnecessary circles and obstacles. Also, when I did reach the end I was kinda mad at myself for not seeing the obvious, but as we discussed the experience together I found others had similar stories to my own and I felt comforted. I realized that sharing experiences and testimonies really do help others stay on the right path, and that we need to work together if we want to live with our Father in heaven again.