a better update

Things have been pretty hectic here in Buena Vista. I have had great couple of weeks.

I was able to finish my second and third week of Burdens. I have learned a lot about myself and how I can do better.

Classes have been great for the most part. I am still doing not so great in science. I am trying really hard and I hope that I can do much better as I continue to try harder. I just had mid-terms; however, only Western Lit had a real mid-term the other classes had tests and essays. I think I did great in all of my tests except for science of course.

I have gone to plenty of school and Institute activities. Our football team had its first win of the season. Our girls soccer team is going to Nationals! The Bella Voce, Chamber Choir, and Orchestra had their first performance. Fading Point, our schools A Capella group of 9, had their first school performance. Fading Point has only been together for 5 weeks and they are ranked 6th out of 25 as the best school A Capella group. The Shenanigans, our schools comedy group, had their first performance. Institute had a Fireside which I loved. This past weekend was the regional Single Adult Conference which was pretty cool; although, only about 20 people who weren't from the school came.

School has been pretty fun! It seems like everyday there is something going on here. Since this is Halloween week there is a lot of Halloween stuff going on. Friday is "Wear a costume to class day" Although everyone must make sure to stay in the Honor Code and there are to be no masks. I am not sure if I am dressing up or not.

We had Ward Conference which was really fun. The Stake President and my awesome bishop, Bishop Olsen, spoke. I loved it. Bishop Olsen is awesome. He makes me cry all of the time, not in a bad way it's just that he cries all of the time which makes me cry.

I have a calling as Family genealogy co chair. I haven't started my duties yet because we need a "special computer".

I am going to two Institute classes. Book of Mormon and New Testament. I love my classes and the teachers. Elder Cochran teaches BOM and I love him so much. He is so funny and loves to make us laugh. He graduate BYU Summa Cum Laude. Elder Berrett teaches NT and I love him. He knows everything about everything and he even helps students with their school work.

I have met a lot of interesting people here.

I can not think of anything else so I will leave it here for now.

Another update

I apologize for being so preoccupied that I forgot to blog. I have been so busy. I had mid-terms last week. One class was a "real mid-term" and the other ones were a test and an essay. It was pretty hard but I survived. On the second part of my actual mid-term I got 110.75 out of 130. That is not bad for my first mid-term.
I have also been preoccupied with work. Granted I only work three days a week but it is a killer when you do not get home until 8pm and have to do homework, read the scriptures, and sleep.
On Mondays I also tutor elementary school children and it is awesome but sometimes after tutoring I am so worn out.
I go to all of the school functions so that means on Fridays and Saturdays sometimes I do not get home until after 10pm.
But things are great here and I love it.
I wish I could go into more details but I have to run to English literally so I will try to fill you in later. I just wanted you all to know that I am still alive.
I will also tell you about how My talk on Burden is going.
I also want to let you know that last Sunday I got my Patriarchal Blessing! I am so happy.

A "Burdenful" update

As you know a week ago I let you all know that I have decided to pick six topics and live them for a month. This month I chose burdens since my life has been full of them. Well it has been a week and I have finished my first test. I read and applied all of the scriptures on distress, afflictions, burdens, tribulations, oppression, grief, and suffering. I am so excited that I got to do all of them in time.

I have learned a lot in this short week, but I know that I have more to learn. I will share a few scriptures that I liked, learned, and will ponder as I start my new adventure of getting rid of my burdens.

Distress
* What I liked: People, like the King Abaz, continue to sin against Heavenly Father because they are in distress.
*What I learned: The Lord answers us when we are distressed; however, he may not answer us immediately.
*What I am pondering: 2 Corinthians 4:8

Afflictions
*What I liked: When I look to God and are pure in heart, and pray with exceeding faith, he will console me.
*What I learned: Heavenly Father sends afflictions so that I will remember my duties.
*What I am pondering: Mark 4:17; Alma 31:33 and 36:3; D&C 98:3 and 122:7

Burdens
*What I liked: Numbers 11:11-16 meaning Heavenly Father brings people into my life so they can help me with my burdens.
*What I learned: Psalms 55:22( If I cast my burdens upon the Lord my righteousness will not be moved).; Matt. 20:9-13( No one is more righteous than the other).; Acts 15:28 (burdens are necessary).
*What I am pondering: Matt. 11:28-30; Jeremiah 17:21; Mosiah 24:21

Tribulations
*What I liked: Deuteronomy 4:30(Listen to the Lord when I am going through trials).; Judges 10:14 (I can not be delivered out of my tribulations by other gods, only the true God).
*What I learned: Acts 14:22; 2Cor. 1:4
*What I am pondering: D&C 58:4

Oppression
*What I liked: D&C 109:67 I will be redeemed from oppression
*What I learned: Prov. 3:31; Psalms 9:9; Isaiah 53:7
*What I am pondering:Isaiah 5:7 and 2 Nephi 15:17

Grief
*What I liked: Eccl. 1:18 (grief comes from wisdom and sorrow comes from knowledge).; 1 Nephi 1:18 (I can pray unto the Lord for other people).
*What I learned: John 21:17; I John 5:3 D&C 103:4
*What I am pondering: Hebrews 12:11; D&C 63:55

Suffering
*What I liked: Psalms 101:5-7( Those who are faithful will dwell with God).; Matt. 19:14 (The kingdom of heaven is full of children).; Hebrews 2:18 (Because Jesus Christ knows what it is like to be tempted, he can help me through my temptations).; D&C 18:11 (Jesus Christ died so I can repent and come unto him). and 109:76 (For all of my suffering I will be crowned with glory and honor and gain eternal salvation).
*What I learned: Matt. 3:15; 1 Cor. 12:26; Hebrews 11:25
*What I am pondering: 2 Cor. 1:5-7; and 1 Peter 2:20

As you can see I have learned a lot and have a lot to ponder in order to learn more about myself and what to do to get rid of all the burdens I am carrying.

Next week my week's homework is to research talks on burdens and apply them to my life and write how it makes me feel and what I can do about it. I just went on the website and searched talks on burdens and there are over 3, 000. I am going to be swamped this next week; however, I know that it is well worth it.

Sunday I will also be getting my Patriarchal Blessing. I know that it will help a lot.

Thank you so much!

I know double posting is bad taste but I just had to post this. I have been worrying about not being able to pay the rest of my balance since I got here and realized that everything wasn't fully covered. I have been praying about finding a job and paying it off. Two days ago my dad gave me one hundred dollars to buy a homecoming dress and I gave it to the college to make my debt go down to $300 and also so I would be able to register for the Spring semester. Then today I found out that I got the cafeteria job here at college on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and I was just so thrilled because I would be able to eventually pay off my debt and if I still had some money to save I would be able to go home for Thanksgiving or at least buy I phone so I would be able to talk to them everyday because I have been missing them like crazy.

To my surprise as I got on the computer about 10 minutes ago something told me to look on my SVU email, where teachers email you and the financial aid office talks to you about any problems they have, and to my astonishment I had an email from the financial aid office and it said that an anonymous donor paid off my remaining balance for the Fall Semester.

I just found out that not only did she or he pay off my remaining balance of the fall semester him or her paid most of my spring semester debt and so I only owe $96.25 for the Spring and since I have a job I have them taking money out bi-weekly until its covered. I am so relieved and happy.

Thank you so much! I know that in this economic time it must not be easy, but thank you. I will not let you down. You helped me out so much and I know that you will be blessed for this.

A test

I realized yesterday that we have six months before we hear from the prophet, his counselors, the apostles, the seventy, and other authorities of the church.

Monday, the day after General Conference, I went to the Book of Mormon Institute class and Elder Cochran told us that we all should read our notes that we made from General Conference everyday and try to apply them to our lives and then live them. This got me thinking about everything.

So I decided that I could do even better. What if I chose six talks that I can relate to and apply them to my life and live them or get rid of them?

But there are about 26 talks that I would have to go through and choose only six to live by? Yes, I know that was very hard for me so I am going one month at a time.


This month I am doing Elder L. Whitney Clayton's talk on burdens. I realized that there are some problems in my life that have become burdens and it is hard to be going through college with stupid burdens that I do not need. Some of the burdens are a result of my stupidity and others were caused by others. In any case they need to be gone and this is the best action to get them out of my life. If I just continue to be acted upon nothing will get accomplished-Elder Cochran taught me that.

I chose some very cool and informative ways to go about doing this talk:

For a week I will spend writing scriptures about burdens, grief, suffering, tribulations, and three other types of scriptures. I chose to look in the topical guide and choose the scriptures that were mentioned. This is going to be a test for me because I have a hard time keeping at this type of thing, However, I am so determined to do this that I know it will get done. I feel that it will help me because I will read about all of the people in the Bible and Book of Mormon that have went through things and made it out. It will be harder than just writing down word for word what happened and what was said. I will actually write how each thing makes me feel and how I can apply that to my life

The next week I will research seven talks on burdens. This will help me to see and feel what people felt and learn how they dealt with burdens and how they got over them.

The following week I will ponder what I have learned and continuously ask Heavenly Father if there is anything else I must learn in order to get these pesky little, and one huge, burden out of my way.

The very last week I will see if I can actually give a talk on burdens; however, if it doesn't work out I will listen to hymns and continue to ask Heavenly Father if there is anything else I should know.

I have a problem with feeling the spirit and I know that it will help me out a lot to do it this way. It will help me to know that the spirit is with me and that I am worthy of such a marvelous thing.

My test to you is to try this out for yourself and see if it helps you. You do not have to do yours the exact way I am doing mine, you don't even have to do yours on burdens. It doesn't even have to be for the six months, just try it out.

Needing a little pick me up

When I got here I knew that I would have to have a job to finish off college, I only needed $600 to pay off my tuition. That's not bad. However, when I got here I was sick for the first week and a half and just went to my classes slept and was dragged to some school functions. I was so scared and happy to be on my own that I totally forgot to look for an on campus job. Then after the week and a half I remembered and starting looking, after all it is a small campus and only a few people will need a job, well there was no on campus jobs available and I couldn't find anything around Buena Vista. I was able to bring my debt down to $400. And now there are two openings available in the school. One is in the mail room and the other is in the Cafeteria. The mail room job has interviews because so many people have applied and the cafeteria people are taking there time looking at the applications.
Well now because of my debt I can not register for the Spring semester until I either get a job or pay off my debt. I talked to my dad and he said that the money he was going to give me to buy a homecoming dress will have to go towards the debt, which I agree with, however, it is only going to be $50-$100. That is only 1/4th of the debt and I have until the end of the week to come up with it or I can kiss my education goodbye.
I feel so awful. I love it here. I mean I can do better spiritually but I have never felt like I belong to anything in my life like I do now. I don't know what to do. I have been praying and reading my scriptures everyday. I am glad Saturday is General Conference. I need Him so bad and I can just feel everything slowly starting to fall apart. I can never be happy for longer than a moment it's just doesn't happen for me.
The financial aid people have been trying to work with me and I totally understand, it's only right that I give them their money for this awesome education.
I just do not know what else to do. If I had the money I can give it to them and the problem would be over, but I don't so I am left teetering on am I staying or am I going.
Please just keep me in your prayers.