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You will find it less easy to uproot faults, than to choke them by gaining virtues.
—John Ruskin

Cleanup Games

by Kathryn Summers

“We have to clean up before Mom get home” is often the signal for protests and feet dragging. You could try to do all the cleaning yourself, but you’ll never be able to pick up toys faster than the children can drop them. It’s got to be a group effort.

Wouldn’t it be great if cleaning up were just as fun as making the mess? Luckily it can be. There are lots of cleanup games that are fun for everybody—kids and baby-sitter.

Bedtime Game. It doesn’t actually have to be bedtime to play this game. One person is designated as the “Mom” or “Dad.” The rest are “kids.” Everyone is assigned a spot of floor, couch, or chair as his or her “bed.” When all the children are faking sleep, the playacting parent pretends to sleep also. This is the signal for the kids to creep silently out of bed and start picking up the toys and clutter in the room and putting them away as quietly as possible. As soon as someone makes a noise, the “parent” jumps and chases everyone back to bed. The game continues until the room is clean.

There are many variations on this game. The key ingredients are a figure in authority, workers, and lots of imagination.

Color Hunt. If you have paper, a pencil, and a supply of small treats (like raisins or jelly beans), you can play Color Hunt. In this game, the scorekeeper says, “Everyone find blue!” Each child looks for toys or other items that are blue or have a spot of blue. For each item found and put away, the child gets a point. Then everyone finds red, or white, or yellow until the room is clean. At the end of the game, give each child a tiny treat for every point he or she earned.

Again, there are lots of variations. You can have everyone pick up round things, then square things, or soft things, then heavy things, and so on.

Take a Corner. There’s always a standby contest. Give each child a corner of the room and have a race to see who can clean his corner the fastest.

You’d be surprised how fun these games can be. Younger brothers and sisters have actually been known to ask if they can play. The games take all the struggle out of cleanup, turning it into a fun, group activity.

Service with Pets

Brandi Horsley of the Nampa First Ward, Nampa Idaho Stake, wrote this about a service project she completed for Young Women.

“For my service project I took two cats, two rabbits, and my old pony, Nugget, to the nursing home for a visit. The nurses let me take the pets into each resident’s room.

“When I took Nugget into one man’s room, he started to laugh. As he kept laughing different staff members came into see what was going on. They had never heard him laugh before.

“One lady wanted a ride. She had horses when she was little, and Nugget brought back happy memories. When someone would get hold of a cat or a rabbit, it was hard to get them back. I think they would get their fur petted off if they lived there!

“Most of the people living in the nursing home were raised around livestock and pets all their lives. When they entered the home, they lost this. I know how much my pets mean to me, and I would hate to be without them.

“It is so easy and so very rewarding to spend a little time visiting the nursing home. It makes me happy to know I can make someone else’s day a little brighter.”

Graduating Seniors

Commencement exercises of the Cairo Egypt American College held at the Giza Pyramids featured the graduation of Lisa Cooper and Cameron Johnson, both members of the Cairo Branch.

Lisa, an accomplished pianist, played piano for the school’s Swing Choir as well as for several plays, orchestra, and band performances. She also worked as assistant editor of the school paper and helped coach softball.

Cameron lettered in three sports, representing the school at international volleyball, basketball, and baseball tournaments. In addition to being an honor roll student, Cameron served as seminary class president.

Top of His Class

Paul Thomas Belue of the Dunmore Branch, Billings Montana East Stake, graduated at the top of his high school class. Besides his academic achievements, Paul was the quarterback of his varsity football team and played basketball. He played trumpet in both the concert and jazz bands. He is also a talented artist.

In addition, Paul served as seminary president for two years and also served as branch clerk.

Student of the Year

Susan Bastian, 14, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was singled out as student of the year at her intermediate school. Susan is an honor roll student. She participated in student government and played piano accompaniment for the glee club.

Susan likes to write stories and wants to be an author someday. She has served as Beehive president in the Rose Park Fifth Ward, Rose Park North Stake.

On the Trail

For the fifth year, the Adventurers of the Cleveland Ohio Stake hit the Appalachian Trail for the backpacking adventure.

Preparations were intense as the girls planned the most creative menus that would fit in backpacks. Fettuccine Alfredo won raves while the mountain mush was voted the meal most likely to be skipped.

The Adventurers started on the South Mountain section of the Appalachian Trail in Maryland. They were soon into lush, green forest that was a relief from the heat. For the next three days, the girls with their Young Women and priesthood leaders marched 22 miles, carrying their own water supply most of the way. Along the hike were areas that became well known during the Civil War. At the completion of their hike, they visited Harpers Ferry, a town well known in American history.

On their way home, Wanda Bublik, stake camp director, said, “We learned that just as we had a destination and followed a plan each day to reach our chosen campsite, we must also have a plan and destination in mind in our daily lives if we are to reach our chosen glory.”

Youth Conference in Tonga

The Liahona Ward of Nuku’alofa, Tonga, held a highly successful youth conference. The group started in the evening with a Book of Mormon nonstop reading marathon which ended the next morning bright and early. After going home for a break and a chance to freshen up, they reassembled that afternoon for workshops. The girls attended a workshop to learn more about electrical things while the boys attended a workshop on baby care. It was a good thing the stuffed animals they practiced diapering couldn’t complain. They also had some experience with the native art of kato weaving and writing letters to ward missionaries. Then they were ready for mud volleyball. The leaders had plowed the courtyard and added 900 gallons (3,406 liters) of water.

Also included in the youth conference was a sunrise testimony meeting on the temple grounds, an evening talent show, and a dinner dance with parents serving.

Book of Mormon Challenge

The youth of the Malta Second Ward, Declo Idaho Stake, challenged the adult members of the ward to read the Book of Mormon in three months. Many of the ward adults took the challenge. The youth established some rules for the challenge. Team members could only count what they read from that time on. They couldn’t just listen to records or tapes unless there was a special situation.

The youth team consisted of all young people in the ward over 12, including single Young Adults. Everyone married and in the adult classes made up the adult team. At the end of the three months, the losing team would prepare a dinner and dance for the winners.

It was interesting to see the enthusiasm build as the ward caught the spirit of the reading. The following comments from ward members were typical: “This has helped my family so much. We have the most wonderful spirit in our home now.” “I didn’t know the Book of Mormon was so interesting. I could hardly put it down.” “I understood the book better this time than I ever have before.”

As the final day arrived, it was announced that one-third of the adults finished within the deadline, and over half the youth. The youth were ecstatic about their success.

The celebration was held with a great dinner and a family dance.

To the Temple

Carma Bylund of the Columbia First Ward, Columbia Missouri Stake, served as Laurel president and was responsible for organizing a temple trip for the youth. She was consistent in her encouragement and enthusiasm, which rubbed off on the others in her ward. As she evaluated the trip in a sacrament meeting talk upon their return, she radiated the joy that such involved service brings.

Carma also produces a newsletter for the youth of the ward and has assigned every youth to become reporters. She is a popular baby-sitter in her neighborhood and is extremely active in academics, in music, and in extracurricular activities at school. She also enjoys sharing her knowledge of the gospel and brings her friends to church with her.

Kentucky Campers

by Ann Ora Troxler

Looking glamorous isn’t the first thing most people recall when they think of girls’ camp. But young women in the Lexington Kentucky Stake will remember for a long time the “beauty” pageant they held at their certification camp in Wesley Woods near Winchester, Kentucky.

The object of the contest wasn’t to impress anyone, just to have fun. Many competed in the fabulous hat contest, but Angie King of the Owingsville Ward stole the show as best-dressed camper.

In addition to the contest and the usual skits that are part of every camp, the 60 girls and their leaders learned about lashings, cooked foil dinners, pitched tents, hiked the Red River Gorge, went swimming and canoeing, reviewed slides from previous camps, held testimony meetings, and had a Pixie Pal program to do something nice for others each day.

Many of the girls qualified as Adventurers. The only “flop” of the week was provided by a frog that mysteriously (with help from an adult leader) found its way into the swimming pool.

Juggling Demands

William Mars of the Rootstown Ward, Akron Ohio Stake, knows how to juggle the demands on his time. He graduated from early-morning seminary with four years of perfect attendance. He served as president of his seminary class and as an assistant in his priests quorum.

Active in school, Bill was vice-president of National Honor Society and earned his International Thespian Award. He earned the highest rating possible at the Ohio State Science Fair. In addition, Bill plays the piano and is an accomplished artist and juggler.

A Champ

Susan Brandau, 14, of the Lilburn Ward, Tucker Georgia Stake, led her slow-pitch softball team to the USSSA World Tournament Championship. With 122 teams from across the United States participating, Susan’s team, the Gwinnett Panthers, won. Susan batted .683 for the tournament and was selected as one of ten in the tournament for the All-World Team.

Susan is the Mia Maid president in her ward and previously served as Beehive president.

Photography by Craig Dimond

Paul Thomas Belue

Susan Bastian

Tricia Sullivan and Jenny Zuro ready to hike.

Carma Bylund

William Mars

Susan Brandau