More stories!

Kenzie Mitchell
What’s in the shoe tonight?

Incident #3- Little did I know what was coming to me when I was changing into Footloose. I thought I was going to put my high tops on and be free from any problems. I was wrong. As I was putting on my shoes I noticed that the insides of my shoes were rather wet. Not just damp, but soaking wet. Jackie told me that she had to pour out a lot of the water because there was so much in there (Thanks Jackie). Instantly, I knew it was Sister Bone who was up to this no good kind of prank. So of course I had to go out and perform in those drenched shoes. Was it the worst I had with those shoes? No, but it definitely was uncomfortable. Knowing that Sister Bone was up to this I knew I had to get her back somehow or someway. THIS IS WAR!!!!!!

Incident #4- Bahahahaha. This time it was my turn to get back at Sister Bone! So Sister Bone was sitting on this stool on stage left with the headset to call the dances. During the show, I noticed she was off the stool and that was my chance to go in with my plan. I poured some water on the stool so when she would sit down, she would get a nice wet spot on her bum. She came back to her stool and noticed the wet spot on the stool. She pointed at the ceiling thinking that water came dripping down from it. Oh and I put water in her shoes too. She knew it was me because later she pointed her flashlight in my face and of course I acted like I did nothing wrong. Later in the performance, someone told me that Sister bone put grapes in my Jazz shoes. Those Jazz shoes needed to go on for the last number so she thought for sure she was going to get me. Well I took the grapes out of the shoes, put them in a nice little cup, and went up to Sister Bone to place the cup full of grapes in front of her and said, “You didn’t get me!” With a big ole’ smile I skipped off to the other side of the stage. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Kyle Spaulding:
“ It is a strange occurrence that 40 very different people can be in very close proximity for long extended periods of time without having drama. This has been our experience on this journey. My story is about this miracle. On Saturday the 31^st we went to the temple as a group. I was going to do baptisms for the first time. I have never baptized anyone and I was somewhat nervous. After being reassured we began. The spirit that was there was so strong. I reaffirmed the love and bond that we all share. It was one of the most powerful experiences in my life. I either baptized my friends or watched and in that short period of time I have never felt closer to anyone. We helped one another get ready, get in and out of the water, got towels, and the only concern was for others. I realized at this point why our group has such a special time together. WE truly love one another. I don’t know a lot of the people on the team in a deep meaningful way but I feel a deep meaningful love for them. I realized that no matter the time or distance I would do anything for my group of friends.

During this session a temple worker had submitted some of her ancestors’ names and we did them. The spirit had whispered for her to come look in the room right as I began doing those names. She was able to be present for the names being done. She related to me this story afterwards and I felt how important temple work for the dead is. During the time I was baptizing I had a very special feeling doing several parts of the baptisms and it would not surprise me if it was when I did that sweet sisters relatives. This strengthened my testimony of God’s love for all his children. If there is one highlight of the trip I think most would agree that this was it.

The second most spiritual experience of the trip happened this day as well. Have you ever met someone and just known you were supposed to meet. It seems most of the team felt this way and I would like to relate my experience with this. When Alex and I were assigned to our family after the show it was very typical. It was very obvious after we got to their home that it was something special.I felt the spirit confirm that we were supposed to be there for the next two days. As we spoke I realized why. I want to go into dentistry but have a lot of doubts and concerns about making that ultimate choice. Matt is a recent dentist graduating only 5 years ago. Matt and Erica were a fun hip couple with 4 boys and a baby girl. I doubt I will ever find a more perfect role model for what I want in life. Matt had similar doubts and concerns with his life choices but I was able to see that he and Erica were so happy and fun and caring. They made me feel welcome and like we were not just guests but close friends staying for a visit. There could not have been a more perfect home stay for what I have been struggling with in life. I loved this family in a way that was beyond my abilities. Both Alex and I wished we could have spent more time with them. This day I realized that the spirit is helping our group probably every step of the way. I have never experienced anything like it. It has been worth every sacrifice, pain, discomfort, and heartache to be here. Maybe it is because of all that we have sacrificed to be here that makes this trip so special. I will forever hold this time as one of the greatest moments in my life.”

Another story…Day Eight.

Wendy Bone

Ranger Joe was awesome!!!! We got the best tour guide ever as a group of sixteen of us explored the Oregon Caves together. He gave us mini seek-n-find challenges, told interesting stories, and he enjoyed teasing Brother Bone. He kept commenting throughout the tour on how much he liked our group. At one point, the dancers scaled a long staircase while I stayed behind with Ranger Joe. He commented that he liked us Mormons—that we were dead on in regard to the importance of family. He said he didn’t believe much of the other stuff, but he respected the focus on families.

At the end of the tour he asked if anyone had a good singing voice, and he proceeded to place six dancers in the middle of a long walkway surrounded by rock while the rest of us, along with Ranger Joe, stood at the cavern exit. The six dancers began singing a verse of Nearer My God to Thee, but the acoustics made it sound as though 100 people were singing in the tunnel. The harmonizing was beautiful. Ranger Joe put his head down and closed his eyes throughout, an indication that he truly appreciated the reverence of the moment. Afterwards, we all exited the cave and he congratulated the six dancers for their effort and commented that it almost made him cry.

His humorous and kind nature made him our instant friend. We love you Ranger Joe!

Day Eight.

Grants Pass, OR to Cresent City, CA

Today we drove a lot and do some fun sight seeing. First we went to the Oregon Caves. This was an hour and a half tour. We had to split up into groups, 15 per. group, and we descended at different times into the caves. Each group was able to have a different experience, and everyone will agree that we all had a great time.
After the caves we ate a great lunch at Pizza Hut. Shortly following our lunch we drove to the Redwood forest. Once there we hiked in about a mile on a trail and got to see these beautiful trees and wildlife. It was so much fun to take pictures with these breathtakingly large trees.
Once we were done at the Redwoods we were able to check into our hotel and some of us had the opportunity to visit the harbor or beach. Shortly after that we had a great family home evening by Rachel Withers and then some of us called it a night, while the others went to a sea food restaurant next store to the hotel.
This day of rest was greatly needed by all of us and we had so much fun spending time with one another.

 

 

Stories and Experiences:

Cristian Joubert:

Today was our experience at the Oregon Caves. It’s Monday of week 2 on the tour. We are taking some free-time from dance to enjoy some sight-seeing. Our group disembarked the bus and every single one of us formed lines at the restrooms. After a short while a woman in a park uniform came and officially greeted the team. We gathered in the hacky-sackin’ boys (including Bro. Bone) and the photo-face-splicing, giggling girls to the circle. We made our way to the main building and began breaking off in groups. I was in Group 2 with Camille, Celeste, Jane, Jamie, Daniel, Elsha, Kali, Amanda, Megan, Kylie, Dave, Bethani, Jude, and the Bones. Our tour guide was Ranger Joe Alexander. He has been working and guiding tours at the Oregon Caves for ten years. Before we began the actual tour Joe showed us some fossils and rocks, showed us pictures of significant individuals, and gave us a little bit of trivia. As we walked through the caves we continued to marvel at the substantial sums of new and interesting info we received from Ranger Joe. The hour and a half tour proved most adventuresome, not to mention entertaining. At the near conclusion of our  tour, Ranger Joe gathered us in. He gestured towards a very long tunnel. A five-hundred-foot straight shot toward the light. A small number of our group dashed toward the mouth of the tunnel. We thrilled as we breathlessly ran the incline. Once at the top we found the gate locked, so we waited a moment or two for the rest of our group to gather. Once Joe got up there with the keys, he paused for a moment. Before he opened the gate, he enlightened us concerning the acoustics of the tunnel. He said the resonance was ideal for music. And so with his invitation, 6 of us, 2 boys and 4 girls, went about 40 yards and huddled after a brief collaboration, where we settled on “Nearer My God to Thee”. We found our starting note and began to sing. Joe was right; the acoustics were out of this world. The hymn resonated beautifully throughout the cave. It penetrated the cool, damp air. We learned later that our tour guide, Joe, was so moved to stillness. He closed his eyes and drank in the melody with the rest of the group. Sister Bone related to us later Joe’s respective comments concerning the experience. For us, the members of the little impromptu choir, it was a window for testimony. All in all, I would consider it the most significant teaching moment of the entire tour.

Rachel Withers:
"Today I went 225 ft. deep into the earth by way of the Oregon caves for an hour and a half. Our tour guide Jennifer, bless her heart, was very green, if you know what I mean.  Inside the cave there was beautiful granite and slimy looking rocks in the shape of banana’s.  Each room of the cave was different with different forms of rock.  I felt like I couldn’t get enough oxygen inside the cave because of the high amounts of carbon dioxide.  There were a lot of steps in the cave, 500 to be exact, but we all made it with our dancers energy.  Our tour guide actually said our group was the least tired group she had taken.  So parents you have fit kids thanks to dance.  Well anyway, the cave was fun she told us stories about how the first man to come into the caves was chasing his dog who was chasing a bear and the man lost his light so he made it out by finding the 44 degree water running through the cave.  After we got out of the cave some of us climbed to the top of the mountain trail the caves were beneath.  The view was phenomenal with rolling hills and trees in every direction.  Summed up I felt like a true cave woman after I climbed out of the mouth of the cave.  We just got to the redwood forest national park. “

Dave McNary

“Today we have had the opportunity to go to the harbor as we on our way back from our adventure we had decided to take a short cut which involved passing through a nearby ditch. As we approached the gap we were dismayed to find that there was a spongy looking mass at the bottom of the ditch. It was not the most inviting sight but Beth being the brave champion piped “it’s like living on a farm we have to pass through ditches all the time.” “Alrighty young lady, be my guest and cross first!” I chimed! She took a deep breath and bolted in her attempt to clear the ditch. After clearing a whole two inches she landed in the green wannabe grass which sunk immediately. She squealed in alarm then flew out of the ditch quicker then she fell into it!! Then turned around and stared at us with wide eyes struck with terror! Needless to say she survived and it was funny!!”

Kylie Brusco & Kamrie McCandless

“One more story about our host family this weekend. I think the 13 yr old only girl of 7 boys, was the most excited out of all of them to have the two older sisters around. Her and her mother admitted to checking out our costumes as they hung in the laundry room to air out, and they discovered that Kamrie was Glenda the good witch in the dance “Popular.” They were so excited! They loved that routine.

After family prayer Sunday night, we sat around chatting for a few minutes. Estie, our little sister, left the room to go brush her teeth. At that moment I felt that perhaps she might like to try on one of our costumes, like dress up or something, considering she hadn’t had sisters or female cousins to play with. Then it hit me. Glenda. Pink sequins. I leaned over and asked Kamrie if she would be willing to share. We pitched the idea and extended the offer to Estie and she was absolutely thrilled!!! She eagerly put on the costume, let us do up her hair a little bit, then happily posed for the camera! She looked beautiful! Kamrie jumped in the photos with her and showed her some good poses for the role as Glenda. Estie is a doll and I know she will never forget her weekend with two big sisters.”

Alex Ashby:
“After a long and exciting day of explore the caves and giant mystical forests we ended up at the Lighthouse Inn in Cresent city, which incidentally is right along the coast.  We had planned on a bon-fire and Family home evening on the beach tonight, but due to overcast skies and a surly wind blowing many opted out of spending time on the beach.  A few of us who were more stubborn decided that we were going to experience the beach anyways!  Because what good is being next to a beach if you can’t enjoy it?!?!  So we bundled up and headed out.  It was actually alot of fun and not as cold as expected because we had a couple of ostrich races and started an intense game of “line tag”.  In case your not familiar with line tag, it basically consists of drawing a giant spider web in the sand and then playing tag while only stepping on the lines.  It was a ton of fun and everyone who participated left the beach with red noses and smiling faces :) the end.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Urie:
"I got another recipe! This tour has been filled with wonderful food provided by our home-stay families which I thank you for so much. During my stay at the Jessee’s home my home stay mom made the best Bean Salsa. She agreed to share the recipe with me and also to let me share it with you! Here it is,

Bean Salsa

2 cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 can corn (drained)
1/2-1 bunch of cilantro
1/4 cup or so purple onion
1  t. minced garlic
chopped jalapenos – to taste

Sauce
Mix: 1/4 oil ( I use canola)
         1/4 lemon juice
         1 t. cumin

Pour sauce on bean mixture. Stir.
Yummy! Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as me and the girls who had the privilege of staying with this lovely family did. "

Day Seven.

Grants Pass, OR

Today we were able to go to church with members of various wards in the Grants Pass Stake. This was such a treat to be able to visit with the youth. After church we were able to visit with our homestays which is a real treat because we do not normally have that much time to visit with our home stays. It is always dance,neat, shower, sleep, eat and then get back on the bus again. It was so much fun visiting with them. They were so generous and kind to all of us. One example that is the same for all the dancers on the team is every home stay we were with let us hang our costumes up to air out for over the weekend. The show we put on is that of such high energy that we tend to sweat in our costumes…a lot! They were a little damp you could say. They also let us do some laundry. We as a team would like to thank each and every one of our home-stay families again for their kindness and for letting us stink up their homes with our smelly costumes. We appreciate you more then you know!
After we visited with our home-stay families we were able to put on a fireside for anyone 12ysrs. old and up in the Grants Pass Stake. This went over very well with a lovely turn out. The spirit was felt by everyone their, be it through song or word. Following the fireside we had a short question and answer session.
The Lord really does work in mysterious ways and we are so grateful to be apart of his missionary and to be able to help touch the lives of so many according to his will.

 

Stories and Experiences:

Kylie Brusc0:

“Pre-face: When I was 12 years old my parents were divorced. Since my parent’s temple sealing was broken, I have asked priesthood authorities over and over again what will happen to me? Will I be all alone not sealed to my family because of the divorce? Will I still be sealed to my mother who is still a faithful member of the church? With so many different answers to my question, I could not be sure any of them were correct.

I stayed with a family in Grants Pass whose situation is not too far from my own. Three boys and one girl were in the home which completed the exact layout in my immediate family (tender because I have not been home in 7 months). After a divorce and their mother remarrying a man with 4 boys, they have a combined family of 7 children; super bright and sweet kids. I loved them!!! They were happy to have two big sisters in the house.

KC, the mother of the home, was personable and outgoing. Her and I shared personal experiences while preparing dinner and could relate because of the similar situations through divorce and family struggles. I praised her for how awesome her kids are turning out and she reassured me that the Lord had always guided her in raising them. We stumbled across the topic of temple sealings and how that works out for the kids when a temple seal is broken. She shared her perspective but then felt confident in sharing a letter from the first presidency with me. This letter was sent to her in response for her request for temple divorce. I cannot share the exact words, but from that I was reassured that children born in the covenant will not be denied their birthright and blessings of a temple sealing because of their parents . Ultimately, through that sacred covenant, are we not sealed to each other but ultimately our Heavenly Father? His tender mercies would not deny his children those blessings they were born into.

My heart rejoiced to finally know the truth! I know that Pres. Monson is the Lord’s Prophet on the earth today. With his signature on the bottom of this letter I had no doubt that this was the truth. I can finally feel peace knowing that all will be well with my Heavenly Father and that although the seal no longer exists between my parents, because my siblings and I were born in the covenant we will not be denied those sacred privileges and blessings we are entitled to. "

Day Six.

Central Point, OR to Grants Pass, OR

Today we were able to attend the Medford Temple in the morning. Some of us did baptisms and some were about to attended a session. We all had some amazing experiences and spiritually uplifting moments while there. The Medford Temple is located directly behind the stake center there and it was truly a beautiful sight.
After going to the temple we all had time to go to Walmart or take a nap. Then we packed back up the bus and drove to Grants Pass High School for our next show.
This day has been the guys favorite day so far. Why you ask? For dinner we went to an ‘all you can eat’ buffet. They boys were all very, very happy!
After the buffet we had our show to a wonderful audience in a sold out auditorium.

 

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Stories and Experiences:

Kassandra Struk:
"The morning we all went to the Medford Temple everyone went to take group pictures and I had to grab something on the bus. I was on the bus with Travis and the next thing I knew, I turned around and he was GONE! So I figured I should get off the bus before I got locked in on it. I got to the front of the bus and what do you know, i’m locked in. Sister Bone was still outside the bus and I banged on the window to get her attention, naturally she gave me the look ( you know the “what the heck are you doing” look). After trying to get the door open and failing she went and got Brother Bone. He couldn’t get me out either. So they went and got Jeff, the bus driver. Finally, after ten minutes of fiddling with the door they got me out. I was embarrassed and a little sweaty due to the lack of air conditioning.”

Rebecca Urie:
"This Home-Stay was another really fun one for me. There were four of us that got to stay with the Jessee family. When we got there the dad got home and asked us if we wanted to go see the number one Elvis impersonator in the country. We, of course, said yes! So he took all of us and his two daughters to the ‘back to the 50’s’ celebration in downtown Grants Pass. It was so much fun! He gave us all t-shirts to remember the back to the 50’s day too. It was such a fun experience for all of us.
Another fun thing with this homestay was that they had a little girl named Alyssa and one of the girls that stayed their with us was named Alissa. We all got to sleep in the two little girls room and Alissa got to sleep in Alyssa’s bed. We got some cute pictures of this.”
 

Also one last experience that meant a lot to me was I was able to have Jeff’s, our amazing bus driver, granddaughter, Nicole, do the warm up with us. This absolutely was a delight for me. We started off by telling her that if she wanted to warm up wtih us she would have to wear what we wore for warm up. So we gave her one of our black dance alliance shirts. Then we brought her out onto the stage and had her follow along with us during the warm up. She followed along so well and it was so much fun seeing how happy warming up with us made her.”

Day five.

Roseburg, OR to Central Point, OR

We got to go to Crater Lake today. It was very pretty. We got to go on a tour with Ranger Dave Grimes who told us all about the deepest lake in the United States.( Over 2,000 ft. deep!) This was so much fun because Ranger Dave was able to ride with us on our tour bus and tell us everything there is to know about Crater Lake.After our adventure at Crater Lake we arrived late to our venue in Central Point, OR and set up the floor and all of our costumes in about 25 min. It is amazing how fast our group can move when food is the motivation.
Once we had the venue all set up were were able to eat an amazing dinner all thanks to members of the Central Point Stake.Thank you so much to all those of Central Point that hosted us and came to our show!

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Stories and Experiences:

Rebecca Urie:
"We had the most amazing home stay family! They were able to take 8 of us girls and that night we ate the most amazing strawberry pie. Here is Jill Frodsham’s Famous Fresh Strawberry pie recipe!

Fresh Strawberry Pie

1 baked pie shell
about 3 pints fresh strawberries

slice strawberries in half and lay on the pie shell
pile strawberries in the shell heaping towards the middle
Cover with glaze sealing out to the edges.

Glaze
2 cups mashed berries ( I put them in the blender with all the other ingredients then boil the mixture)
1 cup of sugar (less if strawberries are really sweet)
1/2 cup water
2 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch
Cook until clear about 3 minutes stirring. It will thicken. Pour 1/2 over strawberries. Tab pie plate to settle glaze. Pour rest of glaze over berries covering berries and seal out to edges. Chill (about an hour) and enjoy.
(Also good with peaches or other fresh fruit.) If you don’t have enough berries you can use Danish Dessert for the glaze.

This is such a wonderful recipe and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Thank you Jill!”

Bethani Casper:
"As we were pulling in to the first rest stop in about 2 hours at Crater Lake, to all of our surprise we saw another BYU-Idaho tour bus. I looked at Dave and exclaimed THAT’S ALVIN! Alvin is my step-dad and he is the bus driver for the geology students this week. We were so lucky to meet up at the same place and get a hug, catch up and take some good pictures. Unfortunately, Alvin has the pictures. It made my day, and his too. My mom sent me a text that night that said he called home after he saw me and was really happy, but sad because he misses his family. He will get home Sunday, a week before us so he will be there soon! Love you Alvin!”

Day four.

Coos Bay,OR to Roseburg, OR

Today was such a fun day as has everyday been so far. We were dropped off at the stake center by our home-stays then we drove to see sea lions about an hour away from Coos Bay, OR. After We went to see the Sea lions we started our drive to Roseburg. On the way we had to stop at Wal-Mart because two of the girls had forgot their cell phones so we had to wait for their home-stays to bring it to them.
After a peaceful drive( yes peaceful! our favorite time on the bus is quiet/nap time.) We arrived at our venue in Roseburg,OR and put on another great show. (The venue was beautiful) We love dancing and doing sharing our testimonies through our expressions and talents while doing so.

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Stories and Experiences:

 

Juan Hernandez.

“So we get to our home-stay and the dad asks Daniel how good Daniel’s coordination is and Daniel says that it is pretty good so the dad takes a funnel and puts it in his pants and takes a penny, puts it on his nose and then drops it in the funnel and then he asks Daniel if he can do it. Daniel says yeah I could do that . He puts the funnel in his pants and puts the penny on his nose and before he drops it the dad dumped a cup of water down the funnel. But Daniel did have good coordination because he pulled the funnel out before he got wet and the water went all over the floor.”

Celeste Ouimette.

“Jackie and I went to stay with an adorable young family of five children (the Townsends) in their beautiful house. In the evening, while Jackie was taking a shower I was able to get to know Kari and Cameron (the husband and wife) a little bit. The conversation started by them asking me if I was married also (because Jackie said she was married). I said that I was not married and that started a wonderful conversation about the open and exciting future that is front of me. Kari told me that she went on a mission when she was 22 and got married when she was 26. This was so good for me to hear because I am already 22 and have been wondering about my future and the possible directions that I can go in. They encouraged me about my future and assured me of the amazing things that I can accomplish. This was an answer to my concerns and prayers. I felt a great desire to have faith in the Lord because of the Spirit and the good influence of this family.”

Day 3

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Day three. (pictures)

The Dalles, Or to Coos Bay, OR.

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Stories and Experiences: (more!)

Kali Gawley:

"On our third night on tour Amillitta, Jane, Shaylee and myself were sent home with an adorable couple. One the way home they joked with us that we would be sleeping in a tent. ha ha ha, we thought. When we arrived, instead of sleeping in the luxury of a tent, we were given their shed. We were toured around the shed like it was their most prized position. being shown 75 fishing rods, 4 refrigerators, walls of riffles and guns and their food storage where we learned we could have canned elk or tuna (homemade) for lunch the next day. 3 couches and one small cot, in the midst of tools and fishing supplies were where we were put. They then moved on to give us a tour of their home where we were shown gorgeous guest rooms with queen beds. once the tours were over, and we were left alone in the shed, the four of us couldn’t stop laughing at the fact that we were put in their shed. Amilitta has a video of the place. We love this family with all our hearts and feel honored to have been able to stay in their shed and meet them.”