Last weekend Elder Davis and I had the opportunity to travel to the Bear Creek Camp, located in Connersville, IN about an 1.5-hour drive from Fishers.
Our dear friends Elder Jeff and Sister Sonia Henkel who were instrumental in raising funds for the camp invited us.
The drive was beautiful through acres and acres of farm land of corn and soybean nearly ready to harvest with tiny towns that seemed frozen in time. A refreshing feeling from city life.
Then in a remote hilly terrain we turned off the country road on a gravel road and arrived at the camp. It reminded us so much of being back home in Washington. We have a Bear Creek less than 1/2mile from our home in Woodinville and the dense woods reminded us of the forest minus the evergreens that surround us there.
We learned the 300+ acre camp was purchased by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from the Boy Scouts in 2020. For the last 6yrs thousands of service hours and money has been given to design a camp that hosts overnight and day visits, offering typical outdoor activities like archery, orienteering, and nature exploration.
We arrived around 7 PM. There was a 5- Stake Young Men’s camp being held where our Mission President Boyd C and Sistra Debra Matheson were asked to speak.
After the fireside all in attendance went on the newly prepared Faith Walk similar we are told as the one in Heber City Utah. They divided us up in small groups. We were able to go first while the Young Men gathered.
A 1.3-mile guided night walk, which used noise-canceling headphones and guided audio/visual stations along the trail all about our relationship with our Savior.
With the headsets on there was no conversations you just listened, reflected on the messages as you walked. Rare uninterrupted individual time.
“Each of us is on a journey—our life journey. We choose our own path and create our own story. All of us are different and unique. We have different backgrounds and experiences, different talents and gifts, and different influences and motivations. And yet, despite our differences, we all share this earthly life existence and move along paths of our own choosing. Life is often shaped by the choices we make.”
A transformation at dusk happened that brought me pure joy. As I was looking at some of the beautiful artwork on the trail I saw flickers of light all over. At first I wondered if my eyes were playing tricks then I realized I was seeing fireflies!! I don’t remembered ever seeing them before unless it was when I was a child. It was truly magical.
At this station you were invited by the audio to sit down on some logs and write down a struggle, weakness, worry or trial you were experiencing on a piece of paper with invisible ink, no names. We gave the clip boards back and continued on the path listening to inspirational music, scriptures, and prophetic quotes related to trials.
“Our struggles and challenges are often invisible to those around us. Friends, Church leaders, and even family members may never see the battles we are quietly fighting or the weight we are carrying inside. But the Lord sees us. He knows our names. He is aware of and sees every challenge, every obstacle, every weakness, every trial.”
A few minutes later we came around the corner and there were the challenges we had written down with others lit up.
Tears came to my eyes as I read them…”my parents are getting a divorce, Does God really hear me? My Dad has cancer. I moved and will be starting a new school soon worried about making friends because I am shy. I’m dealing with addiction and don’t know how to get out of it. I’m being bullied. I’m having trouble leaving home. I want to be able to leave freely with no fear. Am I good enough?”
“Many carry quiet burdens—grief, illness, loneliness, anxiety, or prayers that seem unanswered. Others face conflict or isolation that few of us fully understand. When life feels unfair and confusing, in those dark moments when you are tempted to ask, ‘O God, where art thou?’ please remember this powerful truth: He knows you.”
At one section we saw several screens depicting the Savior in biblical times healing. By each picture you drew out a small piece of leather that was in a basket. At the end of that section a person stood there in silence to collect those leather pieces representing trials in our lives and another person quietly held a beautiful woven bracelet of colorful string for us to have.
“He who ‘descended below all things’ knows how to heal your broken heart and make you whole again. Trust His promise that the sun will rise again for you and tomorrow will be better than today” (Clement M. Matswagothata, April 2026 general conference).
I did not take any more pictures except this one at the end because I too was having a powerful revelatory experience.
“Walking with Jesus is not about having everything figured out. It is about staying close to Him—choosing to keep walking, one step at a time, with Him at your side. He will guide you. He will strengthen you.”
“. And thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me. “ Moses 6:34.
Challenges will come and we will have pivotal moments or crossroads where we choose which path we want to take and decide the type of person we want to become. These moments define us. Our choices matter.
Like the tiny miracle of fireflies at dusk may we take time to notice His light in our lives and choose to walk with Him every day❣️
Elder Davis and I LOVE YOU ALL and pray His choicest blessings on this path of life we walk DEAR family and friends♥️. We are not alone He is standing near ready to help if we will but let Him in. Forward with faith we go.
❣️Skittles ❣️ Elder Scott and Sister Kristy Davis
Love you❣️