Girl's Camp

For all my fellA girls camp attendees, remember the good old days of sitting on "The Rock" and listening to "The Story"? Those were good times. As the Young Women's president here in Palau, and with the branch being not too big, I'm also dually camp director. As I have never been either before, much less at the same time-I'm stressed. So of course, I know that all the original die hards like most of the people reading this-would be a great place to turn for help. Girls camp is Friday Aug 9-10... What I'm really lacking are activities-mostly craft ideas that can't be too fancy because we don't really have craft supplies anywhere in the country. Our theme "It's a Jungle out there" coincides with the Danville Stake's girls camp this year so that I can borrow some of their ideas as well.
Our girls camp here in Palau will be an overnighter in the famous Rock Islands. We will have access to canoes, fishing, coconut trees, sand,...big bugs, big cocnut crabs (seriously they are bigger than my hear and look like aliens!) We will not have electricity of fresh water, and we will be getting there by boat. If as you read this any ideas come to mind that could help me help these girls have the kind of experience that we had, I'd appreciate your input. These girls have also NEVER had a girls camp. So-I really want to give them a great one.
I DO have a copy of girls camp songbook-so that is DONE!!! I've already taught them a few of the fun ones-they love it. I've already taught them about wiggling like a fish, and writing with their butt too. (these for having elbows on the table, losing items, etc.) Any other token memories...? Thanks everyone who can contribute.

I would like to thank...

I have two friends I would really like to thank in particular. The first person I would like to Thank is Lauren. If you scroll down the second to the last post, you will see me lamenting over not being able to post any pictures. I don't know how, but Lauren was able to do so with some pictures I sent in a link from ages ago...she's amazing! I'm so happy to show you pictures of some of my young women. The ones in the pictures below are the ones I call M&Ms. They know it and the love it. Most people have nicknames like sweety and hunny, but being the sugar addict that I am, I name people after Candy. (the other girls are Kit Kat, Taffy, Sweettart.) So Lauren, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the picture posting and blog maintenance. You're awesome. Thank you Lauren!!!

My next friend I would like to thank is Melanie. She has so compassionately decided to not do Harry Potter postings until I can at least get the 7th book in the country. I am greatful that I'm able to read with all the suspence sill intact. Thank you Mel!!!

Palau

Dave and Sheryl at Thai restatraunt

Palauan sunrise

Melly(red), Mercy(white) and Pres. Kesolei (branch president)

with Sheryl after watching General Conference

Madalsar & Sheryl at General Conference lunch

I made spaghettie for 70 people!

Melly and Madalsar

Our Austrailian friends, the Hannahs took us for a day to the Rock Islands







Dave in a Cave

Jelly Fish Lake-they don't sting and there are millions! It's awesome!

The treacherous hike to the secret jelly fish lake-there are 7 in Palau.

We have our own Kayak. This a cave by turtle island in my favorite bay, Neco.

Palauan sunset

Palauan Trivia

I have been trying for much too long this morning trying to post pictures of Palau and my special Young Women, and from my birthday and our trip to the island of Angar(which is part of Palau but is a three hour boat ride away), but my computer hates me, blog spot hates me, and I think the PNCC internect/phone line hate me too....so no pictures for you.
I will have to wait until I have the car (Dave and I share the car, and I take taxis usually when I don't have it, but I don't have any cash today, so I'm stuck at home.) Anyway-I'm going to have to wait until I can go to the PPR (Palau Pacific Resort) hotel loby and use their high speed internet connection to get some pictures going.

I've been trying to upload the pictures of the Dolphin experience Dave took me to for my birthday, and of our trip to Angar, and some other fun ones. Next time.

Palauan trivia: "next time" is a common english phrase used in Palau and is often substituted for "NO", or "I don't want to", etc. The Palauans have a hard time saying no to your face. Saying NO is true in ALL cases-so when you invite someone over for dinner, make plans to go fishing, kayaking, etc., ask them to do something, etc.etc.etc. they will say Yes, even if they mean no. It's very confusing and frustrating and really trains you to lower your expectations of the people around you other wise there is a lot of dissapointment.

Another phrase used and abused in Palau is "Never mind." Never mind is sometimes used for no. I don't know who taught them to use it this way, but it is permenent. They will say never mind if you don't understand what they're saying, if they are done talking about something, if they feel dumb, it's kind of a catch all.

OK-does anyone remember when Nishan got back from his mission and he would nod his head for no and shake it for yes? Well, I guess it's how it's done where he served his mission and I used to always think he was faking it. Well-the lovely Palauan habbit I've picked up is the raising of my eyebrows (up and down once or twice for emphasis) to say yes. EVERYONE does this! When I was getting to know the Young Women in our branch and I'd ask them a question, I thought they were ignoring me and I felt really stupid. Then one of the sister missionaries told me they say yes with their eyebrows. It's annoying when people do it to me, but I do it all the time now. Dave doesn't mind though.

Well-I'll try again later to do some picture posting.

Blogging Babcocks

I guess it was only a matter of time that we get on the blogging scene. Being so far from so many friends and family though, this will be a nice way to update EVERYONE with out the annoyance of mass e-mails or writing similar e-mails to twenty+ people. With the devestatingly slow internet connection we have, it will also be easier to share pictures of the crazy, beautiful place we live in. We're excited to share our adventures and "misadventures" with you.