Second thing to not take for granted, Scriptures. The Book of Mormon is not yet available in Nepali (Although the first week there was a delegation, I guess that's what you'd call them, from Salt Lake here working on the final stages of translation. So it should be coming very soon!) and so the members are reading scripture in their second language when I can't even understand some of it in my first. And I noticed that most of them are using their phones at church (which I guess isn't that different from back home). One of the most heartbreaking things happened on our first Sunday at church, I decided to take my Quad (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price) to church instead of my phone. Then in Sunday School this boy, who is probably around my age, sat next to me. Now I don't know if he is an investigator (of the church) but he had already glued himself to the Missionary's side and asked him questions through the whole class. But anyways before class started I'm sitting there and he's sitting there and I'm holding my scriptures on my lap. After noticing that he was staring at them I turn towards him slightly (so he knows I'm willing to talk without me actually having to start the conversation, you know). So he asks me if it's my Book of Mormon and I explain that it also has my Bible and such, and then he asks if he can you know see them (which means touch them). Normally this would be a HUGE deal to me because sometimes people aren't as reverent as I would like them to be. BUT this kid takes my scriptures as gently as you would pick up a new born, looking as if I've handed him the most precious thing in the entire universe. And he starts turning pages and just looking at verses that he probably can't fully understand and just... Never! Never take your physical scriptures, written in your language, for granted. Because there are still so many denied that sacred privilege.
Ok. I'm done crying I promise. I would now like to tell you about one of my favorite people. My absolute favorite person in the whole wide world is my twin Jacob. He's in India and unfortunately not who I'm talking about BUT the Elder's Quorum President is very similar to my Jacob. He's obviously great with the people in that ward and he's always very happy. When he smiles his eyes crinkle and you can almost see every single one of his teeth (it's like when people say he smiled from ear to ear). He is just super cool and makes both me and Jenessa very happy. This past Sunday an American girl was teaching the lesson and so this guy (we don't know his name, shameful right?) had to translate. So at one point the teacher had us chatting with a partner and then our time is up so she tells the class to settle down. She then turns to him gesturing for him to say the same thing in Nepali. And he raises his arms (like Moses parting the Red Sea) and says, in English, "SILENCE!" It was the funniest thing ever. He is just awesome and I'll try to get Jenessa to ask him what his name is.
We also met James Mayfield, who was a member of the Seventy when Howard W. Hunter was the prophet and is the founder of Choice (a really great volunteer program that we didn't hear about till we got here). He was very nice and reminded me of my Grandpa Jensen, one of the greatest men to ever live. His whole program is about integrating the volunteer efforts with the community so the work doesn't stop when the volunteers leave. It's really awesome.
Basically Church is awesome and the people are awesome. Don't take it for granted. 15 out of 10 would recommend Church to everyone.
-Keturah, the hike and the awful buses were definitely worth it
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