At the beginning of January, 800 plus apprehensive and rather shy teenagers joined together at Kings College in Auckland, for five busy days of activities and gospel living in the first Especially for Youth (EFY) program held in New Zealand. At the end of the five days, eternal friends had been made, testimonies had been increased and many tears were shed as they departed back to their homes after experiencing an “awesome time” under the direction of Elder Hans Sorenson and Brother Scott and Sister Sheryl Butters.
As part of the program, every morning the youth participated in group study then attended classes and devotionals. Afternoons and evenings were filled with sports events and team building activities and dances.
One youth noted that “The first dance wasn’t too good as everyone was shy. The second dance was so much fun as everyone was encouraged to participate and dance.”
Many youth felt that the testimony sharing had the greatest impact on them. Adrian, from Lincoln Ward, Henderson Stake, remarked “EFY was the best week of my life. I loved EFY. The best thing was sharing testimonies in our group. Everyone cried in our group.” Eliza from Lincoln Ward also said, “I left EFY knowing that we are children of a Heavenly Father and that he has a plan for us! Everyone cried when it was time to leave.”
John noted: “I didn’t know anyone in my group of 20. The first night we were all pretty quiet but by the next night we were all the best of friends.”
The Young Single Adult Counsellors assisting in running EFY made the sacrifice of taking unpaid working time and summer vacation time to help and were crucial to the success of EFY. They also had to attend training sessions prior to EFY so that they could be well prepared as counsellors.
Chelsea remarked, “As a counsellor I observed the youth in my company growing in confidence and reverence. By the end of the week it was hard for us to say good bye to each other because of the bonds we had made, through sharing of personal feelings and goals and uplifting experiences and they continually commented on how great it was to be there and how happy they were that they had come.
Clemens remarked “On the Thursday night after testimony meeting Ross and I walked into Marquee C and there was complete silence. Every one of these 40 young men was on their knees at the feet of their beds in prayer. We couldn’t believe our eyes. We watched as young men would finish their prayer, lay out their sleeping bags, get in and go to sleep. This was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen in my life. EFY was exactly what I needed as a Young Adult. It was the perfect ‘life realignment’.
Some boys attending were even subject to a haircut in order to stay at EFY but once they received their missionary style they spent their time throughout the rest of the week with heads held high and a smiles on their faces.
Brother Shane Paki commented, “From our little corner of the world, I can say there have been some miraculous changes to all – but in particular, two YM who by all accounts were all but gone as far as the church was concerned, before EFY. Post EFY, gone is the big spikey hair, replaced by missionary style haircut. Gone is the distant relationship with parents and other youth, replaced now with a complete change of attitude and heart. Gone is the indifferent attitude toward church obligations, both now wanting to serve firstly the sacrament and ultimately missions. They “get it” now and it took EFY to teach them the language of the spirit. Our Bishop had to chase all the youth who attended EFY out of the chapel, because they didn’t want to go home. Normally they’re first to the car and waiting.”
Brother and Sister Butters believe that EFY helped youth see themselves again as a beautiful child of God with all the potential that goes along with that. “They liked what they saw they could become. And they learnt that the Lord, leaders, parents and good friends are there to help them reach ‘that potential’.
James commented, “The first thing I’m going to do when I get home is tell my parents how much I love them.”
The Kings College facilities were perfect for the EFY needs. John Powell (the Kings College venue director) was a little apprehensive about having a possible 1,000 young people using the facilities for the week. But then he read the EFY handbook, given to him by Brother and Sister Butters, from cover to cover, and was very impressed with what was going to be taught to the youth.
Also he could see from discussions with Brother and Sister Butters that everything would be well organized, and therefore the youth were going to be kept busy doing good and wholesome things all week.
