Anniversaries

At the end of July, I celebrated my 3 year anniversary of being home from my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bulgaria.

On August 13, I will celebrate my 3 year anniversary of being a Hall Advisor in Heritage Halls at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT.

Both of these anniversaries mean a great deal to me. It is much more than just the passage of time.

Because of my experiences in Bulgaria, I have been prepared for my work with Residence Life. Because of my work with Residence Life, I treasure my time in Bulgaria.

I spent 18 months serving the Lord, and the people of Bulgaria. Service became more of a part of the person I am trying to become. I think it was there before my mission, but my mission brought it out even more. I am grateful that I still get to serve people through my work.

When I describe my work to people, there are a few reactions:
*The wide-eyed look of surprise
*The faraway look they get as they think of their freshman year (possibly the mischief they got into that year)
*Sympathy

Let me tell you. I have loved the last 3 years. Some days are easier than others, but that is life. I get to make connections with new students, and be a part of their lives. I am able to shape their lives, and be a part of their freshman year. Granted, a lot of it is behind the scenes, but I am a part of it. I get to serve 200+ young ladies every day. It gets crazy at times, and my friends and family know that I 'disappear' in April and August, but that is the adventure in it all.

I love the service I am able to give, whether it is unlocking a door, answering random (RANDOM) questions, or giving a smile and wave to residents as they come and go. I really love the service as I develop one on one relationships with those residents who stop by my office and get to know me. I love when they ask for advice in many aspects of life. It is a blessing to be a go-to person in their lives. I look forward to this year, and smile at the possibilities!