*waits for all readers to return*
All right? Ready? Well hurry up then! Okay! Here we go!
Saturday: The Temple Trip.
So the church rented a "party bus" and after cleaning the YSA church house, we took the 2 hour trek out to Oakland to visit the Temple there. We took a tour of the Christmas lights.
It was wet, and foggy and sooooo pretty in person but unfortionately, terrible for cameras! We went into the Visitor's Center to watch the Joesph Smith movie, at the end of which, I was soooo mad! No one told me he was killed! Not cool!
After the movie and after we stuffed outselves with pizza, we explored the grounds again and I took a ton of pictures, all of which can be found on my facebook. Because of the wetness, we sought shelter within the Visitor's Center once more and looked at all the pretty paintings. It was during which, I was approached by a sister missionary with probably one of the most interesting accents I've ever heard. What it was, I regret to say, I don't know. I must have talked with her for more than half an hour, telling her about my life and how it was that I began to seek the church. And she showed me a scripture I hadn't gotten to yet (I'm still reading Mosiah) and its now my new favorite:
Now, we will compare the word
unto a seed. Now, if ye give place,
that a seed may be planted in your
heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or
a good seed, if ye do not cast it out
by your unbelief, that ye will resist
the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will
begin to swell within your breasts;
and when you feel these swelling
motions, ye will begin to say within
yourselves - It must needs be that
this is a good seed, or that the word
is good, for it beginneth to en-
lighten my understanding, yea, it
beginneth to be delicious to me.
- ALMA 32:28
I'm actually thinking of drawing or even trying my hand at painting something to represent this scripture. Yes, I think I shall.
We arrived back at the church house and President Evans drove some of us girls home. He was chatty and asked us our favorite parts.
I had a lot of fun and I wish the Sac Temple was as nice and had a Visitor's Center. I also wish it was accesible by the train that passes it on my way to work.
Unfortionately, when I came home, the happiness left me. I went outside to feed my rabbits. I only have two left as one died last year and two I found good homes. I opened Coppers' cage and he didn't run to his bowl and give me his funny little attitude. He laid on his side. I poked him and he did not move. I set aside the scoop of food and shook him. He was very stiff. I only sighed and gave both servings of food to Snowflake. I think she was pleased. I came inside and to my mother, I said, "He's dead,"
"Little Girl?" she asked. It's Snowflake's nickname.
"No, Big Boy," That was Coppers' nickname.
I couldn't bury him. It was too cold and too dark. Its difficult to dig holes when the ground is cold and difficult to see what you're digging into when its dark. But I couldn't sleep knowing he would go soft by morning and it would be difficult to handle him. Around 2 30 in the morning, I got out of bed, I fetched a garbage bag and went outside and placed him inside. He was still very stiff. He felt like a stuffed rabbit and his eyes hadn't even glazed over yet.
Sunday: Services and the Baptism of Samantha and Cortnie.
It was the first time I've ever partaken in Sacrament yesterday and I hope I can keep the promise. So far, I've already cursed a few too many times. President Evans seemed to presiding or hosting or however its done. I don't fully understand just yet. Its funny because this isn't even his stake. But he's friendly with the YSA and I think he was there for the baptism and the confirmation of another girl, Lauren. It was a very interesting day and it showed a lot of what I am getting myself into.
He began to talk about the Oakland trip and then, came the surprise.
"I was taking a group of Sisters home and I was asking them of their favorite parts and I was surprised. At the temple, we watched the Joesph Smith movie and it was very uplifting and full of The Spirit and when I asked this, they each expressed that that was their favorite part. But I was surprised by one of their answers. She is a none member..."
My head whipped from side to side, turning to each girl who had been in the car. No! Each of them had been baptized! They had all been raised in the Church! I was the Odd Man Out!
"... and when I asked her, she expressed that her favorite part was talking to one of the Sister Missionaries. This Sister had come from another country ..."
It was odd how I felt at the moment as he continued and never used my name to my relief. I seemed to tunnel vision, almost, in utter shock. He had qouted me, qouted something I had seen as no big deal and had actually forgotten ever saying it until he had said it. It was so interesting, that feeling.
Classes went on and after the three hour block, we were asked to stay for the baptism. Poor Cortnie had to be baptized twice because she panicked and her knees flailed upwards. It was funny as she ran out of the water and she was out of our sight but we all could hear her slip and begin to giggle and as Ashton was forced to tell her she needed to come back because of her knees, we could hear her voice: "Are you serious?!"
I'm sure my hair will betray me during my baptism. Maybe I should consider braiding it to make it heavier.
By time I was home, it was already dark and still, I could not bury my poor rabbit.
Monday: Flash Mob and FHE
Coppers was buried this morning. I am grateful that I bagged him because he had already become a bag of rotting meat and maggots. It would have been too heart breaking to bury him had I not bagged him.
Today was the day of the flash mob. I've been waiting all week for it but I could not find a ride to it so instead, I went caroling with the YSA. We sang at several member houses and even at some non member houses. It was fun. One house, as we began to sing: "Bring us some figgy pudding," we were all surprised to recieve a large plate of homemade toffee! I do believe this family was forwarned!
I got home and dad realed in with the questions. "Hey, were you guys singing at that flash mob?"
"I was supposed to but I forgot to find a ride before hand and I couldn't go."
"It's a good thing you didn't!"
"What happened?"
What happened, indeed! The mall had been evacuated because of the flash mob. Apparently there were too many participating and the mall began to collapse in a sense. Allow me to explain that this is the same mall that was just recently reopened after nearly being burned to the ground last month. Rebuilt too hastily perhaps?
Here's the News Article courtesty of the Sac Bee
Well, so thats that. I think now, I'll go out and continue watching the Lunar Eclipse. It's almost full now.