Hey friends! How have y'all been? This week flew by so quickly! There seems to always be too much to do, and never enough time to do it. The hardest thing right now is balancing my many "needs" with my (oh so many) "wants." It takes a lot of self-control and energy to do so!
Monday
I met with my English group half an hour before class started, and then after a long and boring class hour, I went home to eat lunch, only to rush back to campus to meet with my psychology of religion group a half hour before class started. Our presentation about Buddhism went well! In fact, the teacher told us that these were the best presentations out of any her previous students had given! I had a few hours to work on assignments before biking over to my research class in the Taylor building. I enjoyed the discussion we had about different levels of listening and how each level can validate or invalidate someone. These things I'm learning are very applicable to real life. Then I went to my singing class, and we have to perform solos on Wednesday!! Ahh! I'm actually not that nervous :)
That
evening we had a game night for family home evening. I joined in a group
playing "Code Names" and we got roasted three times in a row.I met with my English group half an hour before class started, and then after a long and boring class hour, I went home to eat lunch, only to rush back to campus to meet with my psychology of religion group a half hour before class started. Our presentation about Buddhism went well! In fact, the teacher told us that these were the best presentations out of any her previous students had given! I had a few hours to work on assignments before biking over to my research class in the Taylor building. I enjoyed the discussion we had about different levels of listening and how each level can validate or invalidate someone. These things I'm learning are very applicable to real life. Then I went to my singing class, and we have to perform solos on Wednesday!! Ahh! I'm actually not that nervous :)
Tuesday
What a
long but glorious day! I tried to get to class early so I could stop by my
custodial job on the way and ask to take this Friday off, but I just barely
made it to class on time as it was. Go figure! As soon as class was over, I
quickly walked home and grabbed some things before heading to the MTC for work.
I signed up to help out with baptismal interviews at 11:15 a.m. I tried to be
as quick as I could, but I got there about 5 minutes late. It turned out to be
just fine because the lady was new and didn't even know I was coming!
Ironically, Robby Hughes happened to be in the large group of missionaries that
I was helping out. It was so funny because he totally knew I was not a member!
But fortunately he did not blow my cover. Afterwards, I went to a training
meeting, then started my 4-hour shift. It was a long day of work! I'd been
texting people all day to see if they would be home because I had a printer
arriving in the afternoon, and I didn't want it to sit on the front mat outside
the door all day (even Provo has theives). Fortunately for me, one of my
neighbors (who I just met this past Sunday), Mira, had dance practice canceled
and was able to store it in her house for me until I got home. Just before I
drove home from the MTC, I stopped by the Harman Conference Center building too
great a few things for my TA job. As I was grading the assignments, my overall
boss lady walked by and we had a great conversation. She told me to start
emailing professors if I want to be an online TA next semester and work more
hours for lots of money. That would be the dream because I make $13 an hour and
I could work from home or wherever I was at. When I got home, I knocked on the
door across from our apartment to pick up my printer. I got to talk to Mira for
a bit and get to know her better. Then I spent around a half hour setting up my
printer, and I'm so excited! I made dinner, and as I was just settling down to
eat, Lexy texted if we were home because she got locked out of her apartment!
So she came over to chill with us until I had to leave for institute. Katherine
and I walked over together. After Institute, we went upstairs to see what kind
of treats they had and I was able to talk to two or three new people and get to
know them a bit. Then I grabbed a muffin to drop off at Whitney's place since
she's so close by. She wasn't home, but I got to talk to her roommate (and
previous mission companion) Megan-Jean, who looked like she was having a
stressful night. While walking home, I passed by Matt from the summer ward we
combined with and got to talk to him for a bit. It was so cool to see how
blatantly God is answering my prayers. I told him I wanted to notice others and
make more friends, and I was given so many opportunities to talk to and care
about other people today. I didn't actually have much homework to do, so I
stayed up working on the essay I am writing for the Brimhall contest. It is
turning out pretty okay and I am grateful that my friend Kathrine will look it
over to edit it.
Wednesday
I was
supposed to meet with my group half an hour before class started, but I was not
feeling super well and didn't get ready in time. But at least I made it to
class on time! After class, I headed over to the library to work on a personal
project and to check out a really nice camera to use for the next 2 days. Then
I went over to the Kimball Tower to heat my lunch in the microwave before
class. Afterwards, I met with my professor because I was worried about the
projection of the course and what I need to do to get a good grade (I currently
have a 76%). It was so relieving to talk to her about it and to feel reassured
that I'll be okay. I went home and got ready to head over to Sam's Club to buy
a bunch of things, and I was so sad to find out that they were completely sold
out of mini hummus packs. After coming home, I quickly unloaded everything and
practiced my song one last time before heading to my singing class. I opted to
go third to get it over with. I honestly think that I was doing very well,
except for I got over excited when I was near the end, and so then I forgot the
words to the last two lines! Yeah, so that was a little embarrassing, but
overall it was fine. That evening, we had a Relief Society art night which was
very fun, and I worked on painting the Swedish flag for my roommate who served
there.
Thursday
I learned something really interesting today in my social psychology class. We learned about how exercising self-control drains you of energy. Another thing that drains you of the same source of energy is making decisions, whether they are big decisions or a lot of small decisions all at once. In small groups we were talking about how people can choose to be happy, but sometimes we are so depleted that we do not have the energy to choose, period. This was an interesting thought for me, and emphasized the importance of self-care. When we are feeling drained, it is vitally important to take a break, eat a snack, take a nap, meditate, or pray. After class, I went home for lunch, then drove over to Walgreens to pick up more prints of mission pictures that I want to use to finish decorating my wall. I had four lessons today at the MTC, so the day went by pretty fast. That evening I had to stay up late working on art projects that were due tomorrow morning. My friend Kathrine also came over to tell me about boy troubles that she was having.
I learned something really interesting today in my social psychology class. We learned about how exercising self-control drains you of energy. Another thing that drains you of the same source of energy is making decisions, whether they are big decisions or a lot of small decisions all at once. In small groups we were talking about how people can choose to be happy, but sometimes we are so depleted that we do not have the energy to choose, period. This was an interesting thought for me, and emphasized the importance of self-care. When we are feeling drained, it is vitally important to take a break, eat a snack, take a nap, meditate, or pray. After class, I went home for lunch, then drove over to Walgreens to pick up more prints of mission pictures that I want to use to finish decorating my wall. I had four lessons today at the MTC, so the day went by pretty fast. That evening I had to stay up late working on art projects that were due tomorrow morning. My friend Kathrine also came over to tell me about boy troubles that she was having.
Friday
Even though I did not want to go to work this morning, I did. Yay for me! After
work I went to my art class, and was so relieved to find out we were just
presenting in small groups at our table, and not in front of the entire class.
Because my artwork was very oh, well, let's just say interesting. That class is
quite challenging because it pushes you to think very creatively. After our
class, I went home for lunch, to study my scriptures, and to take a nap. I left
to go to the Harmon building for work as a TA, and then I went over to Peaks
Ice Arena to ice skate. My friend Kathy came with me and had a blast! I got to
teach her how to skate backwards! And my friend Dani was there. She was so
excited for me to be start jumping, and convinced me to start practicing the
waltz jump. I am getting very good at ice skating overall, and it is so
surprising and exciting for me. It really boosted my confidence to try these
new and challenging moves on the ice. Afterwards, I wasn't feeling all too
well, but I hunkered down and did some homework until I was too tired to focus
and then I went to bed.
My Saturdays are pretty busy as usual. Today I made time in the morning to do a
bit of homework, and then I left to go to the temple to make the 11am session.
What I didn't know was that it would be in Portuguese. Because I had work at 1
p.m., I couldn't wait for the next session and wore an English headset. It was
a great experience to realize that our church really is for everyone. Not just
for English speakers, but for the whole world, for all people and all
languages. Afterwards, I drove right over to the MTC for work. It was a great
time because I met with five different sets of missionaries, and it kept me
very busy. The only downside is that I will sometimes forget who I share what
with, so it can be a bit confusing for me to remember how much I am supposed to
know with each set I meet with again. One set of sisters was leaving on
Wednesday to go out to their mission, so it was our last lesson together. I
loved meeting with them, and so I made sure to grab a picture with them. They
have been such a blessing in my life. After work, I went home and had so much
homework to do! I worked on it and just when I thought I was almost done, I
checked online and realized I had three big articles to read and analyze before
class on Monday. Yeah, so no fun Saturday night for me. I literally worked on
homework until I was too tired and soon went to bed (this is becoming the new
pattern for my sad, pathetic weekends). Now I will just have to wake up extra
early on Monday morning to complete all of the tasks that I need to do for the
day. In fact, this next week is going to be quite busy for me!
Sunday
Wow, I woke up so angry at the world! I wasn't feeling well physically, and so
you can bet I wasn't feel well spiritually! One huge blessing was that I did
not have to teach Sunday school today, since it was fifth Sunday and the bishop
was teaching. That was good because I was not prepared to be teaching today!
After a bit of a grumpy start to my day, I was really trying to change my
attitude and to feel the Spirit. What helped me the most was my concerned
friends supporting and listening to me. During the second hour of church, we were
adviced to share gospel through social media. The confirmation came to me again
that I should film videos of myself about my mission or my testimony and post
them on a YouTube channel. I have been so crazy busy with life, but I decided I
could take some time every Sunday to film a quick video using the pictures of
my mission as a backdrop. The videos may not be the best quality, but that does
not matter. And so I did! I am proud to announce that I am starting my YouTube
channel today! I'll be posting new material every week print (hopefully). I felt
so much better today after being able to bear my testimony, and also having
Katie listen to me talk. I have the best roommates!The link to my new YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/956V0XbMY7k
Love,
Emily Burnham
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