This week was a really good one for me. I got to reflect a lot on who I am and the kind of decisions I am. I made a lot more friends. I learned how to dance. I got to visit a really cool new place. I got more practice training and teaching. This week, was the Young Single Adult Convention. We had asked for permission about a month ago and still hadn't heard anything. We really wanted to go because a big part of our internship had been leading up to this event. We were going to train groups of 50-70 young adults on the importance of Self-Reliance. Aside from that, this was an opportunity for us to make more friends and immerse ourselves more in the culture. However, getting permission was a little complicated because of where the convention was being held. Long story short, we ended up receiving the permission that we had been waiting for and we were able to go. The convention was hands down the highlight of this week. We got to know a new area of Bolivia, we ate new food, we met new people, learned to dance and got to share how much we love the Self-Reliance initiative with other youth our age. Thankfully, the weeks leading up to the convention, we had been preparing just in case. Aside from work, I had a lot of fun at the convention. There were 2 dances and I got to dance a lot. When I first got here, I hated the dances. HATED. People here dance a lot different than I am used to dancing. It's kind of funny because, at home, I have no shame dancing (flailing my body around to the music). Whether people are laughing with me or at me, we're all having a good time. Here, I get the weirdest stares. I've had a couple of people tell me to stop because I was doing it all wrong. ouch. About a week ago, we had some friends come over and one of them was so patient with me. He slowly taught me how to do a lot of the dances and never once judged me. This made the convention so much more fun! I still only like dancing with people who are patient with me and know what they're doing but, I am not as embarrassed because I know a little more. It's really fun! Something funny that happened this week: At the dance in the convention, one of the boys asked me to dance. He was really good at dancing and BEYOND patient with me. It made it so fun. (I've danced with other boys who just side step and stare at me as I stand there doing nothing-not fun). Well, I am really oblivious and it takes me a lot to pick up on hints... Anyway, this boy asked me like three times if I was tired. Every time he asked, I looked at him and said no. I was so confused why he kept asking me if I was tired. If I was tired, I'd say something. After about 45 min. of dancing, there was a break in the music. We all went to get water. He looked at me and said he had to go to the bathroom and that he'd be right back.... HE. NEVER. CAME. BACK. Definitely not one of my best moments. Oh well hahaha. Overall, this week was so fun! I am really grateful to be here. I reflect on all of the events that led up to this trip and I am really grateful for Heavenly Fathers hand in my life. I know his hand is in my life because there have been so many tender mercies relating to this experience that I cannot count. I know God loves me. I am thankful to be his daughter.
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EmilyHi! I am a student at BYU and I am studying Spanish with minors in Global Business and Latin American Studies. I am doing an internship in Cochabamba, Bolivia with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and their Welfare and Self-Reliance initiatives. Archives
August 2019
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