AUSTRALIA—Twelve teens from the Sydney congregations parted the idyllic waters of the picturesque Kangaroo Valley as they paddled home from a three-day canoeing and camping trip on December 23.

The expedition began on December 20 when the teens paddled seven and a half miles to the campsite, accompanied by Local Elder Colin Hercus and Preaching Elder John Macdonald and his wife. Hot weather and a headwind tested the strength of the paddlers. Upon arriving, the group swam, and the girls applied natural mud-packs as organic “beauty treatments.”

The next day brought cooler temperatures, some rainfall and fishing. Leah Romanos managed to catch an eel and the biggest fish—a large carp.

“I was surprised,” Romanos said. “It almost took the fishing rod; Mr. Hercus had to help me with the net.”

The fish provided lunch for the hungry teens. Living on packed food supplies sparked the teens’ creative culinary skills. Some of the combinations included spaghetti soup and taco scrambled pancakes. The setup of tents was equally as creative.

“I had to literally squat and dive to be able to get into my tent,” teen Nicholas King said.

To light the campfire, Preaching Elder John Macdonald and his wife sent the campers hunting through the forest in search of dry wood after a day of rain. The teens enjoyed a meal and a rare chance to dry their clothes and sleeping bags.

Teen Zachary Hooper said a highlight of the trip was “sitting around the campfire with mates.”

The next day began early as the group packed up and set out on the 5.6-mile journey back to the pick-up point.