How I started building my testimony

When I went on temple grounds when I was 4-years-old, that was when I knew that the LDS church was true. I felt the Spirit the strongest on temple grounds. I think this was the first time I felt the Spirit actually. The Spirit assured me that this was a true church. I also felt the importance of the temple even though I did not know what went on in there. Now that I think about it, I think the Spirit was trying to let me know that receiving all of the ordinances in there is my ultimate goal. I can't deny what I felt and learned that day.

Goofing around at Hezekiah's Tunnel

Some of the Jerusalem Center students fooling around after walking through Hezekiah's tunnel. 

This is definitely something to do while in Jerusalem. If you want to beat the heat, go through this tunnel. It's sick to think that the ancient people of Israel carved out such a long passage. It takes like 30 minutes to get through the tunnel. 

Me and a couple others went through Hezekiah's tunnel a second time without flashlights. Instead, we used oil lamps, just like in the 10 virgins parable. We tried to be like the wise virgins, so we bought a ton of olive oil. However, the parable failed to mention bringing more than one candle wick. All of our wicks died out half way through our journey through the tunnel, so we were walking in the pitch black. We all ended up being the foolish virgins.

"The Hardest Part" by Coldplay

I feel like this is my theme song before leaving on a mission. Here's the lyrics:

And the hardest part
Was letting go, not taking part
Was the hardest part

And the strangest thing
Was waiting for that bell to ring
It was the strangest start

I could feel it go down
Bittersweet, I could taste in my mouth
Silver lining the cloud
Oh and I
I wish that I could work it out

And the hardest part
Was letting go, not taking part
You really broke my heart

And I tried to sing
But I couldn’t think of anything
And that was the hardest part

I could feel it go down
You left the sweetest taste in my mouth
You're a silver lining the clouds
Oh and I
Oh and I
I wonder what it’s all about
I wonder what it’s all about

Everything I know is wrong
Everything I do, it's just comes undone
And everything is torn apart

Oh and it’s the hardest part
That’s the hardest part
Yeah that’s the hardest part
That’s the hardest part


It sounds like I really don't want to go on a mission, but I really do. I'm just saying that it's not going to be easy letting go of everything once I'm set apart as a full-time missionary. Waiting to be set apart does feel like the "strangest start." The mission is definitely going to be a "bittersweet" experience. There's still a lot of things "I wish that I could work out" before I leave.

I feel like I am leaving at an interesting point in my life. I really feel like anything can happen in these next 18 months to the people that I care about. I never felt this way during my 3 years in college. That's why it's "the hardest part letting go, not taking part." I feel like I'm going to be in the blind with pretty much everything, except for what will be right in front of me. I wonder what it's all about: Why am I leaving on a mission at this point in my life? I'm sure I'll understand the reason why once I complete my mission.

I Hated Travelling

Recognize how the title is past tense. For some odd reason, I hated travelling when I was a little kid. When I went to the Philippines, I cried. When I went to California, I cried. When I went to Las Vegas, I cried. When I went to Mexico, at least I think we went to Mexico, I probably cried. Now I cry if I don't get to travel. It's weird.

Disclaimer: I am not going on a mission just so I can travel. That's probably the last reason why I am going on a mission. I could have gotten called state-side and I would have been totally fine with it. I have to admit though, I don't mind going on a mission to a place with gorgeous beaches and sceneries with super awesome people.