I am a reformer

re·form

 

1: to put or change into an improved form or condition b : to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses

2: to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action

3: to induce or cause to abandon evil ways <reform a drunkard>

 

This video represents so much of who I feel I am and who God is making me to be. I have never felt like I fit in. I have always felt different than other people. I do not like to be comfortable and I strive to follow God no matter the cost. I have always sought to change things, to make big impacts.

And I know I will. Because I am a child of God, the Lord of Lords. He makes changes in people. And He has changed me. The hardships I have faced will not go unused by my Father.



Utah Trip Part 2

Tuesday, March 27th: This day is the greatest. Why, you ask? It was my 22nd birthday. On this day, we went to BYU first. We sat in on a concert and chapel service. The music was absolutely beautiful and I actually really enjoyed it. We got to walk around BYU campus a little bit. We went into one of the buildings on campus and met with some professors from the University. I don't remember the name's of the people we met, but we got a very extensive background story on Mormonism and the LDS Church. We got to ask a couple questions and then we had to leave.

Me and Caeli-we had to dress business casual for this day

Taylor, Me, and Allie (with a slight appearance from Grant behind us)-at BYU Chapel

BYU Orchresta

 After BYU, we went to Utah Valley University. At UVU, we got to engage with some students. I really enjoyed this time. I think this was my favorite conversation day. I met with a girl named Amber. She was a Mormon-convert. We just had a great conversation overall. After trying a Utah-must (Creamies) we were on the road to dinner. We ate dinner, and the restaurant was notified it was my birthday. I had to stand on my chair while the restaurant sang to me. Never done that before. Check-bucket list. Overall, it was a good day.

Taylor, Caeli, Amber (our Mormon friend), and Me

 Standing on my chair while the whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday to me

Wednesday, March 28th: I think this day was my favorite day of them all. The first thing we did today was go on a tour of LDS Humanitarian Services. It was so informative and I really enjoyed seeing how much the LDS Church is doing all around the world. It is hard to explain the whole system they have operating, but I was very impressed. These people, in general, know how to serve, to give. They take Jesus' mission of serving the poor and feeding the hungry very seriously. We got to walk through each area and see first hand what is going on. I would have loved to actually do some service, but I know there are many opportunities for that in Corvallis, too.

After the large tour, we then went to the Beehive House, also known as Brigham Young's House, for a large lunch with many Mormon leaders. I sat next to Elder Wilson, who is a member of the 70. We had a nice 3 course meal with different forks for each plate. I was so aware of my manners and which fork to use. I really enjoyed myself overall. I got a picture with Elder Wilson, but I don't know what happened to it. :( After a great lunch and hearing Elder Wilson share his testimony, we went on a grand tour of Temple Square.

Mallory, Peter, Kyle, Elder Wilson, Jade, myself, Caeli, and Greg(the leader of our trip)

At Temple Square, we first went into the South visitor center. There we saw a model which displayed the inside of the temple. (You gotta know we are all VERY curious). We were greeted by two sisters, (I can't remember their names for the life of me) one from Seattle, WA, and another from Australia. They are women serving on their mission at Salt Lake City, Utah-Temple Square. We got to hear first hand more stories about their faith, Joseph Smith, the Temple, and why things are the way they are for LDS faith. We visited the outside the Assembly Hall, inside the Tabernacle (where the Mormon Tabernacle choir sings), and ended our tour at the North Visitor Center (where we saw a GIANT status of Jesus).

The Sisters that lead our tour

Outside the Tabernacle (women from the Relief Society just got out of their meeting)

Inside the Tabernacle-Look at the huge pipes!

Me and Allie in the Tabernacle

Our whole group with a HUGE Jesus behind us

Next, we visited the Conference Center. We had great timing, because that weekend Salt Lake City was hosting the LDS General Conference at the Conference Center. The building is huge, and my favorite part was exploring the roof where we could see beautiful views of the mountains and the city.

In the Conference Room

One of the coolest parts of being at the Conference Building was getting to go on the roof. On the roof, we could see beautiful views of the whole city and of course, the beautiful mountains that I love about Utah.

Allie, me, Jade, and Caeli on the roof

Beautiful View of the City -Salt Lake Temple in center

The Group all together on the top of the Conference Center

Thursday, March 29th: We traveled two hours away to Utah State to meet with students and have more dialogue. I think in general this was my least favorite conversation. My table had Austin, me and Taylor and we were greeted by 3 Mormon students to dialogue with. In this conversation, we talked about the Godhead, or the Trinity, and the ideas about afterlife. I could get into this, but it is confusing to explain and I don't want to unfairly represent the opinions and beliefs of others. I sensed a lot of uncomfortable shiftyness at my table. To this day, I am still confused about how the conversation went about and exactly how to go about explaining what happened during it.

We spent the rest of the day on the road and then we came home (to the church we were staying at) and slept soundly.

Friday, March 30th: I enjoyed this day mostly because of the way it started. This was the only day I got to enjoy a hot shower. (Do you know how much of a big deal this is?!) It was a big deal; at least to me. Then we headed over to a local church to meet up with an old Polygamist women and a ministry run in Utah to help people get out of Polygamy. Hearing this woman's story was heartbreaking. I resonated so much with what she was saying. I know how it feels to be manipulated and controlled by someone who is meant to be close and loving to you. I was so proud of her all at the same time and the way she took her children out of it and started a life for herself.

Our team spent the afternoon at a local park, enjoying lunch and the sunshine of Utah. We headed back to the church, packed up our stuff, and then we hit the road for Boise.

The lovely ladies I had the pleasure of sharing a room with for a week:
Allie, Jade, Caeli, myself, Casey, Taylor, and Mallory
(P.S. please enjoy the giant Goliath behind us)

Saturday, March 31st: We arrived back home in Corvallis around 6pm and were greeted by downpours of rain, rain, and rain. Welcome back to the Northwest.

Utah Trip Part 1

On Saturday, I returned from a long trip to Salt Lake City, Utah with my college group from church. It was unlike any other missions trip I've ever been on before, but I really enjoyed every minute of it. I learned so much and hopefully will be able to take what I learned and apply it whereveer I go.

Saturday, March 24th: leaving day. We got into cars at 9am and departed around 10am. We drove north to Portland and then crossed over to Boise, Idaho. We stayed overnight at a church right next to Boise State University.

Sunday, March 25th: We woke up bright and early, and got on the road. We may or may not have stopped at Starbucks. No showers for us on this day, so that explains why we look decredpid in the pictures. We stopped in Twin Falls and saw a stunningly beautiful waterfall and were greeted by a rainbow. I saw it as hope being brought with us. :)

When we finally arrived in Utah, we went on a hike at Ensign Peak and prayed over the city of Salt Lake. We learned more of the history of the city and the LDS Church.

Here's the whole group at the falls, right before the rainbow came out

View from Ensign Peak-I am so in love with these Mountains

The group with beautiful Salt Lake City behind us

me and Caeli

Monday, March 26th: In the morning, we went to a local tv station, where myself and Austin were selected to be interviewed on live televison (I tried to upload a video, but it failed. Boo Blogger). We spoke about what we were doing in Utah and who we believe the true Jesus is. The program was called Walking in the Word.

Me and Austin while we're on tv

Then we went to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and had dialogue with Mormon students. We spent a lot of time dialoging with professors and leaders, and when we got into groups, there were about 2 Mormon students (Will and Christitan) and 6 Evangelical students (including myself). We were able to discuss our own faiths, the trinity, and many other complex doctrines from each religion. I really enjoyed being able to talk to Mormons themselves. I found overall my opinions about them were often wrong and I misjudged them.

After we left University of Utah, we got to eat at a great college hang out called The Pie. It had a great underground grafitti brick feel to it. I enjoyed the pizza I split with 8 other people. It had pepperoni, 2 kinds of sassage, ground beef, bacon, salami, and I'm sure more meat that I can't remember. HELLO heart attack. So good. I wrote "OSU was here" on one of the brick walls to make our mark.

After dinner, we headed to Temple Square. We all set off individually and did prayer walks around the square. I really enjoyed this time. I enjoyed the artictecture and beauty of the square, but I was so saddened by the need to appear perfect that I saw consitently throughout this trip. Temple Square is somewhat of a Mecca for LDS people, and it is clear why. I was definately impacted by the 30-40 minutes of prayer time around Temple Square.

LDS Salt Lake Temple

...This wasn't part of MY plan

When God changes our plans, we need to react in faith. God changes our plans because his plans are bigger and better than anything we could have imagined. God is not selling us short.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isiah 55:8-9

Moments of faith are to allows God's thoughts, plans, and ways to operate, lead, and motivate our lives. It gives us a peace that we are following Him. It may not be comfortable, but it is always worth it. After the trial is over, we can truly see why God put us through it.

God, thank you for changing the plans I had for my life. I know and believe your plans are better for me. I don't always see what you are doing, and I certainly do not understand, but I know you are good and I want to trust in what you are doing.

Mary, Feathers, and Opportunities

Yes, so I'm a little behind in terms of the timing of this post. Forgive me. A couple of days ago, I was reading in Luke. The story of how Mary was told about her son, Jesus, is absolutely beautiful to me. It sounds crazy! A virgin foretold to give birth to the Son of God? Um, okay. But really! And it happened, in the most beautiful way imaginable.

source

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 

Luke 1:29-38

The passage goes on to talk about how Mary goes to tell her cousin, Elizabeth, what the Lord has showed her. Can you imagine what an odd situation that would be? The faith Mary and Elizabeth had to have had! Then at my church, Pastor Seth talked about Mary. WOW. Then my blogger friend, Molly blogged about Mary, too! I love when God works out things that way. :)

This verse really stuck out to me. 

"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished" Luke 1:45

Then I was watching tv casually at my parents house when Evan Almighty came on. One of those movies you've seen a few times, but you watch it anyway. So this video clip came on, and it just really spoke to me. 

One of my great friends from Canby Grove, Shock (or Keith) had an experience with God during our beach retreat. He was surrounded by feathers on the beach, which represented opportunities. To this day, everytime I see a feather, I see an opportunity. But the reality is, every moment of every day is an opportunity. 

I choose to take it.