Elder Hodges in Basel Switzerland

David continues to diligently serve as a missionary in Switzerland. He absolutely loves the people, sharing the Gospel and the food! :-) He sent us some new pictures in his email on Monday! Needless to say I was pretty excited! He will be home in 7 1/2 months... I miss him but know he is doing what he needs to do and he is where Heavenly Father wants him to be!

This is Elder Lind, Severin and Elder Hodges on July 12, 2009. This is the day Severin was baptized! Doesn't he just glow? They all look so happy! The church is true! A day like this in the life of a missionary makes up for all the rejections and tracting long hours! Elder Hodges, Elder Lind, Carlos Pardo, and Severin. All were born in the USA and currently living in Basel. Carlos is Chilean but was born while both his parents were attending BYU. Severin was born in Washington DC.

David at the Matterhorn in Switzerland. He titled this picture, "Observing my newly acquired kingdom!" :-) It's great that he gets to visit some incredible places while serving. It is absolutely beautiful over there! He is making such lasting memories and friends while doing the Lord's work for 24 months!

Kyle is an adult, HS graduate, and Eagle Scout all in one week!

Kyle turned 18 on June 6... graduated from Denbigh HS on June 13...earned his Eagle Scout rank on June 16! It was quite an exciting week for him. Kyle has definitely decided to attend BYU-Idaho. He'll start there in January 2010. He actually went and tried out for the SVU coach in July and was offered a talent award. SVU cannot give scholarships because of the division it is in or something like that. It wasn't a full ride because they cannot do that. Kyle just didn't feel SVU was the right place... very small... less than 1,000 students. So, he decided after that to go to BYU-Idaho. He still has plenty of time to work, work, work and continue to earn money for his mission. He plans on leaving after going to BYU-I for one semester.

Kyle and Grandma Christman after graduation.

Kyle with his 2 best friends- Jordan and Justin Agee!

Girls' Camp FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!!

Yes, I am having such a fun summer.... I haven't had time to post anything! And I thought teaching seminary kept me busy during the school year... now the kids are keeping me busy this summer. We are having lots of fun. I'll post some pictures too. And soon it's school time again.

Summer started with GIRLS CAMP! I went as the assistant ward camp director. It was literally one of the best weeks of my life! I know most of you are thinking that is really sad because I've been on some awesome vacations but being with the Young Women of our ward... with no distractions like the TV, computer and cell phones. It was just amazing. We went to Sherando Lake in Western VA. It is beautiful there but you cannot get cell service. We had to drive out of the park about 5 miles to get cell service. I drove out on Friday (we were leaving on Saturday) to call Patrick because he was coming up that night because the Stake Presidency was speaking... when I got in range for me cell phone... I had lots of texts telling me Michael Jackson had died the day before! It was crazy to think we missed so much... but as I drove back to camp, I cried because I wasn't ready to go back to the "real world"! I loved getting to the know girls, laughing with them and having so much fun. I was actually really thankful I missed all the media circus over MJ. We have the greatest bunch of girls in the NN 1st Ward! I will forever be teased because we thought we had a bear in our camp. The ward camp director, Kim, left our tent with a stick to "save the girls" as did our other assistant, Ellen... I on the other hand was scared to death and stayed in the tent and prayed! It ended up being an albino skunk trying to eat our garbage! This is Ally. She was a YCL (youth camp leader) and one day they had to dress up as their camp nickname. Her nickname was "Sasquatch" because she has such big feet... which she really doesn't but she is always tripping over them! :-)

Another day... Ally had to dress up as a super hero... she choose "Y" Girl! And no, we are not obsessed with BYU or are we?! We had lots of fun making these costumes... and I have to say... she had the best ones in all of camp!!

I don't know how your Girls' Camp is but at ours when you lose something you have to do something silly to get it back like sing "I'm a little tea pot" or spell your name with your butt or anything else that is semi-humiliating in front of EVERYONE! Well... Fatima lost her bra (don't ask the most common question which is ... How on earth can you lose your bra??)... it so so funny when they held it up for the group to see! This is just a priceless picture... it was so funny!!

I love this picture too of Ashleigh in so much pain while getting her hair braided by Alice. What girls will do to look good at girls' camp!

Kara & Nikki are so happy! Can you tell there was nothing but laughs all week??!! Everyone just got along so well! (We won't mention the ward next to ours that told us to "Shut Up" because our girls were up late into the night!) It was such a joy to be there! All the girls from our ward! The theme was "Know the Ropes"! I hope I can go again next year! I have to make up for not going when I was a teenager! Coming soon... Kyle's graduation!