On the Friday of retreat, Kensley and Mom Kim picked up my mother and me to begin the long car ride up to Camp Overlook. We stuffed the car with supplies for the weekend and hit the road. The drive is about 3 to 4 hours from where we live to get to the Shenandoah Valley so we had plenty of time to nap while the moms chatted. About halfway through our drive we got behind a semi and followed behind it for a while, unable to move into another lane because of the traffic, and unable to see too far ahead of us because of the truck’s height. Our GPS told us to take a right off the highway up ahead so when we saw the semi begin to exit, we naturally followed it not realizing that it took a turn off one stop short of the one we were supposed to take. The turnoff we took led us to the weigh station. There sat three 16 wheeler trucks in line to be weighed and one compact Kim car. We couldn’t stop laughing when we rolled up to the scale. The men working there looked so confused as to why we were among the big trucks waiting to be weighed. After we got back onto the highway and made our correct turn, we stopped at Panera for lunch and got a meal to save for dinner. We made it to Camp Overlook a few hours before check in began and laid out the games and candy for when girls would arrive. When the cars started coming in with excited campers, I helped them to their cabins and directed the flow of traffic while Kensley checked everyone in. It was a busy and fun start to an amazing retreat and I look forward to next year with my Rainbow family. 

With Rainbow Love and Service, 

Lauren Ann

On Saturday September 29th, Sara, Kensley, Lauren, Reagan, Alex, Maddy, Eva, Bella, Amelia, and our prospect Audrey attended Rainbow Retreat 2018. On the Saturday of retreat, everyone woke up early for breakfast where Grand Page to the GWA, Sara, gave the meal prayer. After breakfast, all the girls broke up into small groups lead by Junior Grand Executive Board members as group leaders. There were ice breakers and small games for the groups to combine with each other to play. Then, everyone came together into a rainbow circle to introduce themselves and explain what rainbow means to them. After that, there was a poster competition where the winners got to get lunch first. Our Grand Worthy Advisor, Kensley, gave the lunch prayer. After lunch was a small break which a scavenger hunt to determine who would get s’mores first later that night. Then was the obstacle course with group leaders Grand Faith Lauren and Grand Recorder Sara. One of the favorite obstacles of the event was the blind makeup challenge where our GWA Kensley and our GWAA Gigi both got makeovers from a blindfolded girl. The winning team got to get dinner first.  Once the obstacle course was over, girls were invited down to a game of giant bowling and Pictionary. The dinner prayer was given by Grand Religion, Kate. After dinner, everyone got the opportunity to decorate shells that will be used for the next grand assembly. Finally, everyone made the trek up the mountain a bit to reach the s’mores that some of the dads had set up by a fire, and once s’mores were eaten, girls could head down the hill for a surprise dance party! After a day full of exciting events and delicious meals (thanks to all the dads who fed us all weekend!) the girls were all happy to crawl into bed for a good night’s sleep. With so many girls attending their first retreat, Hampton is excited to say that our girls are very pleased with the weekend and excited for more! 

In RL&S,

Sara

Hampton #2

On Saturday September 22nd, Sara, Kensley, Lauren, Reagan, and Aubrianna attended the JDI dinner in honor of MVJD and raising money for the Hike Fund. Hampton also had prospects present: Elise and Jasmine. There was a buffet style dinner and a table of items to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The funds raised, including donations from the dinner, were in honor of the Hike Fund which VAJDI has been raising money for. Dinner was delicious and we even got to see the announcement for the Supreme Ritual Competition team where our Rainbow sister from South Norfolk, Mary, got a spot and our own assembly sister, Aubrianna, got to be her alternate. Our Hampton Prospect, Elise, also has a spot on the team. We are so proud of all our sisters for the work they do and for putting in time and effort to earn spots on the competition team. We can’t wait to see how they do at their International! 

In RL&S,

Sara

Hampton #2

On August 25th, Hampton went to our monthly service project in Phoebus. We work with the local church to make lunches and give them out, along with clothes, to the homeless people in our area. We had a big turnout this month! Our girls Bella, Eva, Thora, Kensley, Sara, Reagan, and I all showed up. We mixed peanut butter and jelly to spread on 70+ sandwiches and made 70+ bologna and cheese sandwiches, too. We packed snacks in brown paper bags and raced to see who could stuff bags the quickest. Afterward we helped load them into the van and headed to our location to pass them out. Many people come out to get our lunches and are always so grateful to us. It’s an amazing feeling to help people in our community, and I’m so glad I get to share these experiences with my Rainbow sisters. 

With Rainbow Love, 

Lauren Ann