Zion

Zion is the pure in heart. It's also those who are trying to be pure in heart. I'm living at home with my parents, so I'm constantly surrounded by people I have known and loved for years. In the last month, I've spent lots of time with each of my siblings (except amazing Carolina on her mission who I MISS), my wonderful grandparents, aunts and uncles, more extended relatives, lots of friends, and ward members I've known all or most of my life. I've been very grateful for the quality and quantity of my associations. 

Last week, after the amazing 5000th broadcast, I flew to LA for my visa appointment. Through a series of unfortunate events, I lost my rental car key, and I could NOT find it. Luckily, I was on the phone with my whole family and Carolina (it was P-day). I was pretty panicked, but Carolina offered to say a prayer for me over the call. She prayed that I would find the key within the next hour. Well, I had looked everywhere! I was, of course, in my boot, and three times I had hobbled up and down three blocks, in and out of Einstein Bagels, up and down the elevator to the tenth floor to the Spain visa offices, and back to my parking lot to no avail. I got off with my family, and then Cristian very lovingly stayed with me on a video call during the whole journey, talking me through where I should look and helping me stay calm. 

I had just about given up, so I called the rental company. I was told I would have to pay $654 to get the key replaced and the car towed if I couldn't find the key. That is money I cannot afford to part with at the moment! Then, miraculously, at about 55 minutes since Carolina had said her prayer, I found the key lying in the parking lot. I just cried with relief when I found it. I was so grateful for my community supporting me virtually from Nevada and London and Florida and Spain. Also, after many, many prayers offered for the cause, all my visa paperwork was accepted! Hooray!

Then I got home, and my foot hurt all the time. That's been so rough! I just want to go on a walk with all my heart. Before, my foot would only hurt if I walked too much. But this week, it's been hurting almost all the time. My mom finally suggested a No Walk Week, so that's what I'm doing. Last night was Lili's wedding reception, and we all helped a lot with it. Unfortunately, I was pretty immobile, but they found me some good sitting-down jobs. It was all so much fun! I just loved seeing everyone come and help with everything. Desi was arranging flowers, Hannah and Britta came over and helped, the boys set up tables, and we chopped and poured and washed and organized and decorated. Olivia had been working on the quilt and the yard for months, Edgar built a gazebo, and Edgar's sister made a gorgeous cake, and Dad had lent his dancefloor. During all the hubbub, Grandma was addressing invitations for Deseret's baby shower that Olivia is throwing. It really does take a village to do all these things. Then, at the actual reception, so many people from the ward helped serve food. Everyone brought such nice presents, some of them handmade and so beautiful. The whole reception was just perfect. Then, of course, we all cleaned up. 

A lot of this is just normal behavior for so many. In Zion, people come. They help. They serve each other. Then they receive help and service next time. There's not a lot of fanfare, just community. And everyone's invested in each other's lives. As a single person moving around a lot, I'm so grateful for the church wherever I go, where I can find that community. I'm grateful that I don't have to pay by the minute to call my family or send a letter that would take weeks or months to arrive, like people did in the past. No ward or family or community is perfect, but a lot are pretty great. 

I hope I can always be a builder and contributor wherever I go. I hope I can be the community or the slice of Zion that someone really needs. I hope I can give and serve and lift where I stand. Until one day, I get knocked over or need to sit down (maybe even like now with this silly boot), and it's my turn once again to be served. What an inspired system it is. I can't wait for heaven, but until then, I'll enjoy Zion on earth.