Young Adults
It was 49 degrees when we awakened this morning! It is wonderful! Thunder and lightning - the works.
We got up early and got ourselves to class on time. Sister Anderson taught this morning about the Apostle Peter. With only 7 of us in that little classroom, we all chimed in about the scriptures we were reading and the feelings that moved us about this great disciple of Christ. One of his most meaningful statements to me was (when Jesus asked him if he - Peter would also go away with others who could no longer follow Christ) "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." After being in the Lord's presence, Peter couldn't even imagine seeking truth anywhere else.
I feel like that as well, even though I am nothing compared to Peter. I can't imagine finding the peace and joy anywhere else besides Jesus Christ.
After a couple hours of lessons, we walked across campus to a 6-story building which is comprised of light airy halls, windows everywhere and classrooms, large and small. It is a gorgeous structure. On every floor there are murals - very large murals and quotes with questions to ponder.
We toured through looking at the art and then walked back across the campus to our own training building. I use the term "walk" loosely because we were hurrying - not exactly running. It was raining...heavily. We had two umbrellas - in our suitcases in our room. We had quite a distance to cover. I put my notebook over my just-washed hair and was going as fast as I could. We passed two young elders gong the other way. They had umbrellas! They were also going to London. We waved merrily at them and wished them well - and congratulated them on being prepared for rain.
Suddenly the rain stopped - not really. It stopped raining on me. A young sister with an umbrella came running up and walked me to my building. We chattered away. She is heading to Louisiana on Saturday with her companion, who was holding her umbrella over another senior sister. That was so very kind. Meanwhile, SK arrived back in class literally soaking wet. His suit was dripping water. It dried out as we sat in class. He never complained - not one bit.
I don't know what they are saying to all of the young missionaries, but they are incredibly kind and polite and helpful. They hold doors open for us. They let us move to the front of the lines in the cafeterias. They greet us with "Hello!" in the languages they are studying. If we look bewildered or lost, one of them always comes to the rescue.
We sat with two young sisters at dinner who are learning Italian, and who are called to the Rome Italy Mission to serve in the Temple Visitor's Center. I thought our mission sounded plush, but that beats ours by a long shot!
In the afternoon, we taught a lesson to another couple we've been assigned to. They will be serving in the Czech Republic. Then they taught us a lesson. We could choose any subject we wanted, but it had to be something we thought they might find helpful. We used all the principles in "Preach My Gospel" that we could. Then they taught us. Then our cute young instructor critiqued us. He was kind. I could see where I needed to improve. I talked way too much. SK did great! Tomorrow we will do it again, with a different topic. Then we all trooped over to the the MAP and got our picture taken by a sweet young sister who was passing by.
By the time dinner came, I was tired....ready to be done. Why does this wear me out like that? It isn't like I'm trying to pass a physics exam. It is a joyful subject and really pleasant to work at. I love the gospel, and I love talking about it, learning about it, teaching it. But I was done.
We had a lovely dinner, walked around the campus (we logged almost four miles of walking in today) and then came to our room. Throughout the walk, we were among hundreds of young missionaries.
I read an article once by a man who is not a member of our church. He was alone, walking on a dark deserted large-city street one night, and heard young men's voices behind him. He tensed, wondering if it was a gang. He hurried his pace, and then glanced over his shoulder. He recognized that they were missionaries from our church and immediately sighed in relief.
There must be around 3,000 young adults here. By and large, as a group, they must be the nicest 3,000 kids on the planet.
 |
| SK in the morning. He is using this handy little steamer...a first. What a sport! |
We got up early and got ourselves to class on time. Sister Anderson taught this morning about the Apostle Peter. With only 7 of us in that little classroom, we all chimed in about the scriptures we were reading and the feelings that moved us about this great disciple of Christ. One of his most meaningful statements to me was (when Jesus asked him if he - Peter would also go away with others who could no longer follow Christ) "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." After being in the Lord's presence, Peter couldn't even imagine seeking truth anywhere else.
I feel like that as well, even though I am nothing compared to Peter. I can't imagine finding the peace and joy anywhere else besides Jesus Christ.
After a couple hours of lessons, we walked across campus to a 6-story building which is comprised of light airy halls, windows everywhere and classrooms, large and small. It is a gorgeous structure. On every floor there are murals - very large murals and quotes with questions to ponder.
 |
| These murals were very large - 2 on every floor of this beautiful building. Each was accompanied by a sign with a scripture and a question. |
 |
| Alma the Younger....I didn't get a picture of the sign that went with it. |
 |
| Our little district. Left to Right: Elder and Sister Berrett, Sister Anderson, Elder and Sister Perkins, Elder and Sister Madsen |
 |
| These photos don't do them justice. The colors were brilliant and they were back lit, meaning that the lights in the painting are actually lit from the back of the canvas and glow with a gentle yet brilliant light. |
 |
| Looking across the campus to the north from the 6th floor....look at those mountains....snow! |
 |
| Looking south toward BYU campus. See that cluster of red buildings? That is where our granddaughter Lauren is living while attending BYU! |
We toured through looking at the art and then walked back across the campus to our own training building. I use the term "walk" loosely because we were hurrying - not exactly running. It was raining...heavily. We had two umbrellas - in our suitcases in our room. We had quite a distance to cover. I put my notebook over my just-washed hair and was going as fast as I could. We passed two young elders gong the other way. They had umbrellas! They were also going to London. We waved merrily at them and wished them well - and congratulated them on being prepared for rain.
Suddenly the rain stopped - not really. It stopped raining on me. A young sister with an umbrella came running up and walked me to my building. We chattered away. She is heading to Louisiana on Saturday with her companion, who was holding her umbrella over another senior sister. That was so very kind. Meanwhile, SK arrived back in class literally soaking wet. His suit was dripping water. It dried out as we sat in class. He never complained - not one bit.
I don't know what they are saying to all of the young missionaries, but they are incredibly kind and polite and helpful. They hold doors open for us. They let us move to the front of the lines in the cafeterias. They greet us with "Hello!" in the languages they are studying. If we look bewildered or lost, one of them always comes to the rescue.
We sat with two young sisters at dinner who are learning Italian, and who are called to the Rome Italy Mission to serve in the Temple Visitor's Center. I thought our mission sounded plush, but that beats ours by a long shot!
In the afternoon, we taught a lesson to another couple we've been assigned to. They will be serving in the Czech Republic. Then they taught us a lesson. We could choose any subject we wanted, but it had to be something we thought they might find helpful. We used all the principles in "Preach My Gospel" that we could. Then they taught us. Then our cute young instructor critiqued us. He was kind. I could see where I needed to improve. I talked way too much. SK did great! Tomorrow we will do it again, with a different topic. Then we all trooped over to the the MAP and got our picture taken by a sweet young sister who was passing by.
By the time dinner came, I was tired....ready to be done. Why does this wear me out like that? It isn't like I'm trying to pass a physics exam. It is a joyful subject and really pleasant to work at. I love the gospel, and I love talking about it, learning about it, teaching it. But I was done.
We had a lovely dinner, walked around the campus (we logged almost four miles of walking in today) and then came to our room. Throughout the walk, we were among hundreds of young missionaries.
I read an article once by a man who is not a member of our church. He was alone, walking on a dark deserted large-city street one night, and heard young men's voices behind him. He tensed, wondering if it was a gang. He hurried his pace, and then glanced over his shoulder. He recognized that they were missionaries from our church and immediately sighed in relief.
There must be around 3,000 young adults here. By and large, as a group, they must be the nicest 3,000 kids on the planet.
Comments