There Is A Place

Living here in Guatemala has really opened my eyes to the great blessings that I have had in my life.  I've always lived so close to a temple. You didn't have to drive far, just up the street.  We've always had plenty of food, we were spoiled with electronics, a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, the list goes on and on.  I'm feeling very humbled to be here. 

In Relief Society today we watched a video.  I wasn't for sure what was being said, but the temple was in the background.  I was thinking about all the great blessings that we have been given.  I have always tried to be grateful for the temple by going often, but I have a new found gratitude for the temple having it be so far away.  Not having everything be so close and not having the gospel be so common around us, I have had a great desire to seek peace, comfort and just plain spirituality.  I have wanted to "feast" upon the scriptures and to listen to the words of the prophets more and more.  Something about not having it all so close by draws you closer despite the distance.  It's hard to explain.  I just wanted to share these thoughts with you and I hope that it helps you to recognize the great blessings that you have in your life. 

This week I was thinking to myself almost all day everyday, why am I here?  What is it that I could possibly do here to make a difference?  I can't speak the language and I don't really have anyone I can talk to. I was sitting in church and it hit me.  I may not be able to speak the language right now, but with time and practice I can come to really love and make this place my home.  I don't have a for sure answer to what I am suppose to be doing here, but I do know that this place has some amazing people.  I can see it in so many eyes of the people I talk to/listen to.  They have a lot of love despite the cultural tendencies.  I realized that I do have a place here.

With all this being a little scattered, basically I have come to see that you can be close even when you feel so far away.  You can draw closer to family, to friends, but most of all you can draw nearer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  No matter how close or how far you are, you can come closer to him. You can learn to love and you can come to recognize that you do have a place here, not matter where you are.