Hi friends! Another quick week: hard to believe we're already halfway through February! Ok, let's get caught up on the week shall we? I was able to go to the temple twice (once with Emily:), take my 16 credit Spanish test, watched Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in about 4 different versions, go sledding hardcore, play board games, attend ward prayer, and be an amateur editor to earn my pizza, as well as attending the Adam's Family Home Evening:) ALSO, Country/Latin Dancing last night!
I went to the temple on Thursday and Saturday. On Thursday I went with Emily:) It was a long cold walk, a peaceful session, followed by a very short walk, as some kind fellow temple-goers offered to take us to our respective locations. Blessings! My Spanish test wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and I finished it in 35 minutes! After that I got together with my English group to discuss our project for Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal", followed by the 1988 version of Twelfth Night. Entertaining: yes. Worked for our assignment: no. This was a shame, given that it took up a good two and a half hours! The joy of movie assignments...
On Saturday, after going to the temple, I was picked up by the Whitworths and taken to some crazy big hills in Rock Canyon Park! I had gone sledding previously, but never at such heights! The first time I didn't make it all the way down, as I was too busy skidding to a stop as the sled left me in the dust. The second time I was a little bit more prepared and determined to stay on the entire time. As I started down the sled started jerking to the left, again, but with a sharp pull to the right I straightened out as snow sprayed over me like a sprinkler. I hit a couple bumps, throwing me up before dropping back down as I continued not just down the hill, but halfway across the the flat plain in the middle of the dome we were sledding in. Man was it exhilarating! I raced Brian's older brother at one point, and managed to stay on once more :) As we were wrapping up we went down a different hill, with a large bump/incline at the end. I was nervous, because I knew I was going to go flying, but was a good sport about it and didn't crash and burn too badly;)
I went to the temple on Thursday and Saturday. On Thursday I went with Emily:) It was a long cold walk, a peaceful session, followed by a very short walk, as some kind fellow temple-goers offered to take us to our respective locations. Blessings! My Spanish test wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and I finished it in 35 minutes! After that I got together with my English group to discuss our project for Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal", followed by the 1988 version of Twelfth Night. Entertaining: yes. Worked for our assignment: no. This was a shame, given that it took up a good two and a half hours! The joy of movie assignments...
On Saturday, after going to the temple, I was picked up by the Whitworths and taken to some crazy big hills in Rock Canyon Park! I had gone sledding previously, but never at such heights! The first time I didn't make it all the way down, as I was too busy skidding to a stop as the sled left me in the dust. The second time I was a little bit more prepared and determined to stay on the entire time. As I started down the sled started jerking to the left, again, but with a sharp pull to the right I straightened out as snow sprayed over me like a sprinkler. I hit a couple bumps, throwing me up before dropping back down as I continued not just down the hill, but halfway across the the flat plain in the middle of the dome we were sledding in. Man was it exhilarating! I raced Brian's older brother at one point, and managed to stay on once more :) As we were wrapping up we went down a different hill, with a large bump/incline at the end. I was nervous, because I knew I was going to go flying, but was a good sport about it and didn't crash and burn too badly;)
After sledding we went back to the house, had dinner, and then played the card game "Bang". First a vice deputy to the Sheriff, and then the Sheriff himself, it was a mix of Mafia and alliances, as I either had to protect or be protected. While as the Sheriff I was almost knocked out of the game (which ends the game), but by a stroke of luck shock down the outlaw before he could get me... it was a close call though!
A few notes I took on Sunday:
"Consider often how few who come to this earth are so richly blessed"
"It is our light, not our dark, that most frightens us"
"Rather than lower Himself (Christ) to our level He elevates us to His"
Some things to think about :)
Also went to Ward Prayer, which was like a mini Valentine's day party. A group of guys did a great musical number.
We didn't have any school on Monday, but that doesn't mean I took a day off!
By the way, talked to my missionaries and got a picture of Hermana Riquelme with my grandchild!
I ran from laundry, to the creamery, to watching Twelfth Night with Whitney again... to getting picked up by Sage and her family:) We went to some Brazilian friends of their's, were the plan was to eat pizza and watch a movie. However, when I announced my major was English I was quickly brought a laptop and did what all English majors do best: edit. She told me I had to earn my pizza;)
We had Family Home Evening at the Adam's house, talking about the blessings and benefits of going to be early and getting early before watching Yentl. It's the story of a Jewish girl who disguises herself as a man to be able to study, and all of her adventures and mishaps. Worth watching!
Now, on to yesterday!
My New Testament teacher shared something really enlightening regarding the parable of the good Samaritan.
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Now, let's take a look at what my teacher pointed out. He showed us that Jerusalem to Jericho is going from a point of very high elevation to very low elevation. Now, let's say that this certain man represents Adam. It says he Fell, or, in other words, the Fall of Adam and Eve. The thieves represent Satan. He takes the man's clothes, and nothing else, because clothes in this day and time represented identity, and what does Satan try to steal more than our identity? He left Adam and Eve "half dead", representing the spiritual death we have all experienced. Now, the priest is seen as the Prophets of the Old Testament. They couldn't do anything to save Adam or his children, because Christ had no yet come. The Levite represents the priesthood, but the priesthood alone wasn't able to save man from their fallen state either. Now, we come to the Samaritan. This represents Christ, which is perfect, as the Samaritans were half gentile/half Jew. Jesus was also a half and half, in the sense that he was half mortal, half God, and was also hated by the Jews. Now, the bounding up of the wounds represents the atonement, and it's saving us from sin. The oil could represent the Garden of Gethsemane, known as the mount of olives, where Christ suffered for all of us, with the win representing the sacrament. When it says "set on his own beast" we can connect this to the scripture in Isaiah that says He has suffered for our transgressions and taken our pains upon Him. Now, the inn represents the church, with the host the bishop or members of the ward. My teacher pointed out that he thought the host had been where the beaten man was, and had been elevated by Christ already, then allowing him the chance to serve those just like him. We can see in the repayment the power of the atonement, and how Christ really can pay any debt any of us carry.
I loved what my teacher had to share regarding this parable!
After my morning classes I grabbed a bite to eat before finding a nice place outside to study. It was a gorgeous 40/50 degrees outside, and I found a nice bench to do some of my reading for class.
Right after my Eternal Family Class I booked it over to the Wilk to go to country dancing. I usually feel a little apprehensive to go alone and to not know anyone, but this time it worked out! I learned the Cowboy ChaCha and was able to get to know various guys, as well as dance with Thew from my ward. As country dancing ended at 8:30 I decided to stay for Latin dancing, that was just starting. One of the guys I'd danced with during country had mentioned that latin was right afterwards, and I, being the lover of latin dancing that I am, decided to give it a shot. And I'm so thankful I did!
The real reason I stayed to try it out is because one of the guys didn't have a partner, which never happens in country swing. I went up to him, asked him if he needed a partner, and off we went! His name was Skip, from El Salvador/California, and we had a ton of fun dancing and remembering how the steps went. We must have danced for a good 30/40 minutes! I also danced with a guy from Argentina (Woot!) who told me he could hook me up with empanadas and Argentine folk, which I was more than down for. I then danced with a nice guy from Boise before being asked by a guy from Mexico. We danced the rest of the time, and it was a ton of fun! During the latin dancing I noticed that Nacho, who served in my same mission, was also present. As the dancing wrapped up at 10 and he started walking towards me I said hi, telling him that he'd have to dance with me the next week, as he'd missed out this time;)
It was an awesome, packed week!
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