I am speechless. I don't even know what to write. And when people ask me questions about what's going on, I have no idea how to answer.
The thing is, I lived my dream this summer. How am I supposed to describe such a remarkable experience? Even the word "remarkable" does not justify it.
Especially For Youth
First, there's EFY. For those of you who don't know, EFY stands for Especially For Youth and is a camp to strengthen the testimonies and lives of the youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or even non-member youth. It's a program to remind them of who they are, where they came from, and why they are here. And while the program is specifically designed for these amazing young people, my life was entirely changed. I was the one reminded of who I am, where I came from, and why I am here. And why I have EVERY reason to be as happy as I can. As I got to teach and know the youth in my groups, I was the one learning from them. They are truly amazing and they don't even know it. They don't hear it enough. I wish I could go through each of them individually to thank them for how they impacted my life. And I hope, that by some miracle, and through God, that I helped them in some way.
That's exactly why EFY was so amazing, it was all through God. I was given the opportunity and privilege to be His hand in their lives. It wasn't anything I did, but everything that God did. It wasn't my work, but His. And I was simply blessed enough to be chosen to take just a little part in it - to open the door and allow Him into their lives. I have no idea why He let me be a part of it, I'm so flawed with mistakes, but what matters is that he did allow me to be a part of it. And it's because of that, that I know He loves me more than I ever knew before. And I'm more than grateful.
And I can't forget my amazing co & friend counselors. This is the part that so often overwhelms me. They played a huge, gigantic part in changing my life. They are so much stronger and better than I could ever be and I grew so much from them. I'm so lucky to have had them in my life at a time when everything seemed to be falling apart. They didn't know anything that was going on, yet they were there for me and they helped me in ways that they will never know. I have never had friends who have helped me in the ways that they did, and we only knew each other for three weeks! (To all my other friends, I do want to make a point that you have also helped me in equally amazing ways, but also in different ways. Neither is better than the other and I'm still so grateful for you.)
Overall, I have never felt so accepted, comfortable, peaceful, and happy. And it's all because of the counselors and youth that I know how much God does love me. So, to each and every single one of you, I say thank you. Thanks for showing me so much love and being such good friends. You were God's hand in changing my life. I got to know all of you at a time of struggle, and you turned that hard time into the happiest time. Words can't describe how you all made me feel. There's so much more I want to say, I just don't know how to say it.
Sun Valley
So there was EFY for three weeks, and then I went straight to Sun Valley, ID. I believe that my last two blogs were about Sun Valley, and it was a stranger who wrote them. In fact, I can't help but laugh at some of the things I wrote. At first, going to Sun Valley was not a good experience. It was a trial. It was hard. I was alone. And I was a little frustrated... why didn't I just stay in Utah doing EFY where I could feel the Spirit 24/7 and be happier than I've ever been before? Why did I make such a stupid mistake in leaving?
There were so many moments within the first two weeks where I literally almost packed up all of my stuff and left right then and there. But something inside me stopped me and said, "Keep going, keep going. Don't you give up." And that's exactly what I did. I kept going, and I didn't give up. For that, I am ever so grateful. Did it continue to be difficult? Yes. Did I miss EFY so much that it hurt? Yes. But I wouldn't give back the experiences I had for the world.
Being the only LDS member in my part of the dorms was... let's just say an interesting experience. Originally, I hated it. But, I grew to love it. I got used to answering questions of every sort on religion. More than anything, I got used to being different. I got used to being the only one not drinking, not swearing, etc, etc.
And for being different, I thought everyone would mock me. Yes, some did, but most did not. One experience that I will always remember is when one girl asked in her beautiful accent, "Wait, you don't drink, smoke, or sleep around?" And feeling a little on the defense side I said, "No, but I mean, it's not like I don't have fun, there's other ways to have fun." She replied, "Oh no, I don't mean it like a bad thing. I mean, I look up to you for that. That's amazing." She actually thought it was "amazing!" And to my surprise, so did many others.
Another thing that meant the world to me, is how as time went on, people began cleaning up their language a LOT around me. They went to a lot of effort to keep from saying inappropriate things and from swearing. They stopped asking me if I wanted a "sip" and they began understanding that I was going to keep my modesty in check at all times - even while swimming. Most importantly, they knew and respected that I would never budge from my standards. They even began to just expect me to have high standards, which helped me to live what I believe even more.
If it's anything, I learned that most people around the world are actually respectful of religion. The only two people who did bluntly (there were many who didn't do it bluntly) mock me were ironically Americans who had fallen away from the Church.
And oh my, did I end up talking about religion a lot. There literally was not one day that went by that I didn't answer questions and explain what we believe. Definitely different from Utah, right? Every day was a missionary opportunity. While teaching others about it, I learned so much myself. And I'm so grateful to be a member of this Church. I'm so grateful to know all of the truth, and not just part. I'm especially grateful to know it for myself. To whoever is reading this (if anyone even is), I know that if you sincerely pray and ask God if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and is the right church and if the Book of Mormon is true, then you WILL receive an answer in some form or another. I promise that to you. Knowing what is true isn't about what people tell you is true, it's about what God tells you is true. It's about feeling the Spirit and recognizing it and the message it has for you.
Ok, back to Sun Valley. The best part, were the friends I made - friends from all over the world. In the end, we are all the same. We feel the same, we smile the same, we laugh the same, and we cry the same. And I'm so grateful to the great friends I made. These are friendships that will never end, even while being across the world from each other. I'm extremely grateful for the way they accepted me the way I am - all my weird little quirks, standards, and all... Particularly my craziness, dancing in the car, saying very American things, being a goof! Also, I'm so insanely excited for those of my around-the-world friends who will be coming to visit me in Utah! I can't wait to show them real America! Or, my America that is!
Sun Valley ended up being one of the greatest blessings in my life. To add to all that I mentioned, I guess it was only a plus that I saw Oprah Winfrey, the guy who invented FB, I babysat for the guy who WROTE the movie Elf, I babysat on set for a supermodel, I met and took care of the kids of the best lawyer in the middle east, the people I worked with were great, I made good money, I went to a waterpark, I shopped, went hiking, horseback riding, and I went kayaking through rapids, holy cow the list goes on forever! Best of all, I became best friends with people from all around the world! I am now known as the "American best friend" and the "American sister." What can I say? I'm proud to be American, and I'm proud to have spent an amazing summer with amazing people, and I'm proud to speak some Slovak and a lot of Romanian ;) .
See what I mean about being so blessed? I'm the luckiest girl ever. Before this summer, I had some disappointments, but those disappointments brought me to know that something even better was around the corner. I knew and felt with everything in me, that something would come up and I would get to be involved in something bigger than me. Bigger than Callie Stats - a plain girl living a normal life. And I, that plain girl living a normal life, got to share the Gospel and the love of God with youth at EFY and with international friends at Sun Valley (or I at least made it clear that we are not polygamists, if anything lol).
Well, apparently I'm not as speechless as I thought... but still, this blog gives no justice to this remarkable summer! I am just so grateful... grateful to have been where I've been, and to be where I am now. Let's just say, I'm in a good place :)
p.s. Leave comments :) I would love to know what you think, or even what dreams you have lived and will be living!
