Hola mis amigos! Alright, let's take a look into this last week :) We're going to run through a Thursday temple trip, a Friday visit to the Provo City Center Temple open house, a Saturday temple trip/Walmart trip/International Cinema/Korean food/Mockingjay 2!, a Sunday meeting/Ward Prayer/movie night, and a Monday frozen tupper/frozen rain/FHE!
After classes on Thursday I headed back to my apartment, where I was planning on heading straight to the temple. However, I was having a lot of trouble focusing/my thoughts were all over the place, so I decided to get my Book of Mormon reading done first. As I was doing so I read a verse that said "Go", and felt quite distinctly that I needed to go to the temple right then! I was in the middle of a verse, but the feeling was strong, so off I went. I've gotten into the habit of bringing a question with me when I go to the temple, and this time was no different. As I was walking up the sun was setting, casting a beautiful golden glow on the temple as illustrated in my pictures;)
After classes on Thursday I headed back to my apartment, where I was planning on heading straight to the temple. However, I was having a lot of trouble focusing/my thoughts were all over the place, so I decided to get my Book of Mormon reading done first. As I was doing so I read a verse that said "Go", and felt quite distinctly that I needed to go to the temple right then! I was in the middle of a verse, but the feeling was strong, so off I went. I've gotten into the habit of bringing a question with me when I go to the temple, and this time was no different. As I was walking up the sun was setting, casting a beautiful golden glow on the temple as illustrated in my pictures;)
Once in the temple I found it just as hard to concentrate, which wasn't like me. However, after leaving the temple I recognized that I was doing the right thing, even if it was hard for me to do. I knew that I was supposed to be in the temple. It was clear that Satan didn't want me helping others, and much less myself. He didn't want me to receive answers to my questions. I know that sometimes we will be tested as we do Good things. I know that we might receive trials as we do Good things. This isn't to say that we've actually not doing good things. This, in fact, should be a testimony to us that we Are. Don't be afraid to do good things, no matter how hard or pointless it may seem today.
On Friday I got to visit a temple of a different sort! Emily, a guy from her ward, and myself went to the open house of the Provo City Center temple, which is where the temple is open for viewing by anyone, including those that aren't members of the church who would normally be too young to enter the temple. They really have done a beautiful job in constructing the temple, which was built off of the remains of an old tabernacle center. Not only is it an architectural feat: the spirit is present, even though the temple has yet to be dedicated.
As always, my unplanned Saturday got busy! After going up to the temple and just barely missing the spanish session... yes, you may all cry with me, Sage picked me up to take me to Walmart (perhaps as payment for my editing prowess;), where I got food before we went to the international cinema on campus. We watched "Like Father Like Son" in Japanese with Ashlee and Assa, who didn't need the English subtitles;) It was an Asian version of switched at birth. The most interesting part was the relationship between the sons and their fathers. One of the fathers, shown on the right, was poor but spent time with his son and got to know him. The other father was rich and always working, and didn't really spend time with his son/didn't appreciate him. It took a child switch for the dad on the left to realize that the son he had raised was his true son, even if the other son was his by blood. Truly a touching story, worth watching.
Then we went Korean style, deciding to taste all of the Asian flavors, both in cinema and the culinary arts ;) We stopped by "Cupbop", aka Korean food in a cup. A quaint little place that my missionary daughter Hermana Cuevas would have died to visit (Korean fan;).
I also finally got to watch Mockingjay 2! I was a little more than excited. Emily watched it with me, and after the film ended I walked her back to her place. In my Eternal Family class we're learning about dating, and were talking about Elder Oaks 3 P's of a date: planned, paid for, and paired off. I jokingly told Emily that she was getting a "real" date, complete with walking her to the door.
On the walk back I had the singular opportunity to just talk with Father. I had left my headphones at home, and with time to kill I found myself starting an informal prayer. We talked about all sorts of things: my worries, fears, and desires. He helped me straighten things out in some cases, but for the most part He was a silent listener, the best I know. He let me work out what I was feeling inside while filling me up with peace.
On Sunday the family Home Evening leaders got together to talk about how we can help more people come to FHE. In Ward Prayer the idea was emphasized by a song regarding it ;) I was feeling pretty alone during Ward Prayer, as I'm still getting to know the other members of my ward. However, Chloe came up to me afterwards (she also just got off her mission and this is her first semester home from the mission) and we started talking. She told me she was feeling a lot of the same things I was regarding not knowing a lot of people or feeling a little lonely at times. It was an eyeopener for me. I had been focused on my own problems or worries before, but seeing that other people were going through the same thing and that I could do something to change that allowed me to snap out of my mood of self pity or whatever you want to call it and talk to her and get to know her better. We went back to our building, where I helped her make some cakepops before going back over to the guys building to see a movie with a group of ward members. More bonding, and more thinking about others rather than myself, which seems to be the root of all sorts of problems.
On Monday I was faced with frozen rain, frozen tuppers, and frozen fingers, as well as Family Home Evening. We made snickerdoodles and planned what we're going to do for the rest of the week. Talk about success!
This week seemed to have a general focus on not quite fitting/ feelings of loneliness. I know this happens to everyone from time to time, and it humbles us and draws us to Christ like almost nothing else can. I learned that it's not about focusing on what we don't currently have, but to consider the FACT that Christ is ALWAYS at our side. Always within reach. Always ready to save us, love us, catch us, drag us out. Ponder on this picture of Christ saving Peter from drowning.
That doesn't just happen for Peter. It happens for us. It happens for me
Every
Day.
All in all a great week! Thanks for keeping up with me guys:)
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