10.31.2009

Who are you?

Dear readers (all two of you),

Multiple people have logged onto my blog several times without revealing their identity. I'm particularly curious who's reading from Ithaca, New York. If y'all could just post and say "hi," I'd be tickled pink inside.

Sincerely,
Me

p.s. Y'all should comment more--it'd make me feel all good 'bout myself and stuff.

10.30.2009

Mormons Against Modesty?

I can't believe this. Her poor children.

The first calendar was bad enough, but now this?...

10.29.2009

FireFlies

Another newer favorite. The official video is on youtube, but the embedding feature is locked. So check it out on your own!

Jai Ho

This is a new favorite song of mine. I still haven't seen this movie, but I want to SO badly.

10.26.2009

Spontanious?

Ok, so I'm supposed to be writing a short story right now for my Adv. Creative Writing class, but instead I'm going to tell you a short story. :)
I took off to California last weekend on a whim! I've been thinking about my college experience for the past several weeks and realized I haven't done anything "special." Oh, believe me, I have college stories, but they didn't seem to be enough. I wanted spontaneity--something I'm actually quite terrible at doing. I haven't missed a day of school in two years, and the day I missed two years ago was only for my interview to be accepted into my major! It was time. I needed excitement, fun and adventure. So, when an email came asking if I could help film a documentary in California, what do I do? I went!


Beautiful Beach

Erin R., Brittney G., Brooke G., Me

Erin R., Brittney G., Brooke G., Me

Brittney G., Me, Brooke G.
(The man in the background with the spearfishing stick and tattoos
carried me through the rocks in the next picture!)

Dangerous rocks

Erin's friend Kevin caught a fish spearfishing

Showing of his Halibut--just before wiping
some of the blood on his cheeks!

Beautiful sunsets


Seaweed hugged my ankles, saltwater kissed my lips,
the sun warmed my soul and waves washed my spirits fresh.

10.21.2009

My Head Hurts

Why do I get upset about the most stupid things. Today should have been an amazing day, but for some reason it just wasn't. I'm tired, my head hurts and I'm abnormally grumpy. First of all, I missed three questions on my ELang grammar assignment. Why are the rules surrounding effect/affect so difficult for me? Then at work I just felt a hole. My coworker was laid-off on Monday at BYUB for "financial reasons." I suppose the claim of financial problems is legit, but management really handled the whole thing poorly. The day she was notified, with no prior warning whatsoever mind you, all of her daily radio tracks were turned over to a student and the combination locks on all of the doors were changed. Yesterday she came in to clear out the rest of her belongings and get her work from the computer to build a resume tape of her productions. But, like I said, the door was locked and they removed her rights from the computer so she couldn't get on--but technically it was her last day as still an employee! Horrible. So, I guess seeing her corner cleared out and dark just left a bad taste in my mouth. And my other coworker wanted to talk about a mutual male friend of ours who I might be interested in, but I've been on this 'no gossip' kick, and have no interest in talking about boys. Then in my dance class we've been practicing our performance routine for next Wednesday--which I have been more than excited about--but my teacher changed my partner for height reasons. I was ticked! I shouldn't have been; I should have been charitable and happy I could make accommodations so my partner could go to a taller girl without a partner, but I wasn't! I wish I could feel that way, but it's no use. I'm no longer excited about my performance whatsoever. After that I watched a video recording of myself in my next class. I realized how unattractive I am. I knew I wasn't supermodel quality, but I never thought I was plain. Then I did very poorly on another quiz. If average on these quizzes is three points, shouldn't the professor give it up?! Oh, and after feeling really excited to find I got "accepted" to the NY Nat Geo internship, I found out it wont be final until MARCH! I don't know if I can wait that long. My head hurts.

10.17.2009

It's Official

I deactivated my facebook account.

And I'm sick.

10.12.2009

Missionary Work

I know this is kind of long, but I didn't have the heart to cut anything out. This is the first email we've received from my cousin since he touched ground in Armenia. It's letters like this that really open my eyes to the world we fail to remember on a daily basis. I love him and his brother, who is also serving a mission at this time. I'm so grateful for their decisions to serve.

I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only path that leads to true happiness. I wish I could serve a mission and proclaim this to the world. One day I will understand why God wants me here--in lil' old Provo, Winter of 2009--I know he has a purpose for my life.




what up
after 3 days of traveling i finally made it to armenia. we got in at about 2 am, then went over and slept at the mission presidents house. we got up at 630, ate breakfast, and then interviewed real quick with the president and were assigned where we would serve. we had a quick orientation with the ap's, and then went over to the spot where the armenia mission was dedicated by elder oaks. We read the dedicatory prayer and had a chance to look out across yerevan and mount arat and ponder. it was a cool experience. after that we headed to the "genocide" museum and learned more about it. Arenia has been through so much, from the genocide to the soviet power .I definitely admire them for the courage and strength to be still standing. After that, we cruised over to the mission office, where a taxi was waiting for me. Without warning, I was told "good bye elder lusk, have fun in Alaverdi." I got in and sped off. Alaverdi is basically the most northern place in Armenia. It sits on top of a mountain and is located on a plateau that overlooks a canyon. To get to the village, you take this chair lift thing ( it is like a really old, rickety Gondola), and it takes you up. It was about a 4 hour ride to get there. We stopped in Vanazor, which was about three hours away. to pick up my new companion, elder gull. He is from orem and is way legit. we are a lot alike so it works out well. Anyways, we finally got to Alaverdi, hopped out, and rode the lift thing up to our village. I thought I had prepared as well as I could for a culture shock, but I dont think it was possible to prepare for what came. I guess my mind didn't really know that something like this existed, so preparing for it was basically impossible. It felt like something out of a movie, like a really old russian town or something. I had a bunch of pictures but i brought the wrong cord so i'll get them to you next week. its a very beautiful town; lots of trees that in fall colors, and a river that runs at the bottom of the canyon beneath our village. theres basically just a bunch of apartment looking things that just look unfinished. theres a few houses that just look like old cottages. people also live in these things that are made out of sheet metal, and they are about as big as an average bedroom. We get water for about 30 min in the morning and at night (on a good day9<:), and as for the toilets there isn't any flushing going on. you do your thang and then grab a bucket of water and pour it in to flush it out. our shower(if you can call it that)is pretty interesting to. ill get the pic of it sent next week....
well anyways, its been good so far. my first night in alaverdi we had 3 appointments set up. i couldn't understand to much, but i got the main ideas of what everyone was saying. our last meeting was at a ward members apartment, and we were meeting with her nephew. this ward member is very strong and has an unbelievable testimony. before this area was opened up 2 years ago, she has a dream that to missionaries is suits came to her house and taught her about jesus christ. when the two missionaries got there, one of which was my mtc teacher, she recognized them and recognized the names from her dream, and she was the first person baptized there. well, we were teaching her nephew about faith and about the commandments. he had already met with the missionaries before and knew about what we were talking about. i didn't speak much, but at the end i just decided to bear my testimony. i told him that i didnt know much armenian, but that god loved him very much and asked me to come to his house to bring him this special message. i said that the message i had would change his life, that it was the message of salvation, and that he had a savior who would take all his burdens. i talked about god's plan for him and said that the gospel has been restored and god has called missionaries to proclaim it. And last i told him that i knew without a doubt that this church was the only true church on the face of the earth, and that god wanted him to be baptized. That night, we set a baptismal date for Arsen. Yesterday, we went to church and watched gen. conference. the church is a room underneath the town hall, which you have to take the lift down from where we are to get to. we have about 40 members, although only about 20 come because the others can't afford to take the lift down, which costs 80 dram, which is about 20 cents. I told elder gull to get ahold of the members and tell them that anyone that wanted to come to church from now on i would pay for their lift down, so hopefully we'll get some more people. we have one melchezedeck priesthood holder who is the branch president. elder gull is his counselor and i am the other counselor/clerk. we have two aaronic priesthood holders, two boys that are 12 and 13. they pass the sacrament for us each week. luckily yesterday was gen conf day, so i didnt have to talk or teach, but every sunday me and elder gull wil give the talks and teach sunday school. After church, we met with an investigator there, and then went home for lunch. We had 4 appointments set up for that night so we got on that after lunch. One of the appointments was with a man named Artur. Again I couldn't say much, but I helped my companion teach him about the restoration and the book of mormon. I felt myself going back to one thing again, and that was my testimony. I bore him my testimony and again said that God has called me to proclaim this message to anyone that would hear and be willing to follow Jesus Christ. That night, we set a baptisimal date for Artur. Tonight, we are going to teach him about that commandments and the word of wisdom, because he is a heavy smoker like most people in armenia. I am confident that if he turns to the savior the smoking wont be a problem anymore.
anyways, the work here is good. im in a town where the church is brand new, so we are building it up just as they did in the early church. i have been touched by how humble and nice the people are. they really have nothing at all. more nothing than i thought existed. yet, they will give you everything they have. i think everyone just has one pair of clothes, and the kids basically look abandoned and dirty. the children are awesome, they love the missionaries. one of the 12 year old boys with the aaronic priesthood likes to follow us around with his flashlight, to give us light and carry our bags. he wants to serve a mission after the army(everyone is required to give service to the army for like 3 years when they are 18). hes legit. i like talking to him because i dont feel bad when i screw up.
i am so grateful for everything i have and for this gospel. it is the light in a world of complete darkness. it amazes me of how much God loves each individual and knows each of us better than we know ourselves. last night, we taught a lot of the children about Jesus Christ. As all the kids swarmed me and at on my lap, everyone completely covered in dirt and with shoes, I for the first time in my life felt like the Savior. I could care less about how dirty the kids were, or where I was, but I unconditionally loved each one. I showed them pictures of Jesus and told them that Jesus loved them very much. To see each of their faces light up made my day. This gospel is all about love, it is what Jesus Christ lived and died for, and it is what He taught. I have already fell in love with the people here, and am so excited to have this opportunity to serve my God and King. Service is happiness, and I am grateful to fulfill the prophecy Christ that says "the gospel will be taken to every creature..."

love you all,
elder jordan lusk

10.11.2009

Tears

I haven't permitted myself to shed those salty drops from the corners of my eyes for some time now; but tonight was the night. I hid in my closet and cried.

10.10.2009

Mmm, perfect:

You wake up just a bit too early on a Saturday morning. The air in your bedroom is cool and crisp, as air on a fall morning—or any other day, for that matter—should be. Although you’re fully well aware of all the responsibilities this Saturday contains, it’s not yet time to expose your toes to the harshness of the shivering weather. You hunker back down in a fluffy red comforter, not to sleep, no, just to be for a few more minutes. Perfect.

10.08.2009

On Facebook...

I just put this blog address up on facebook...I didn't think I'd ever do that. We'll see how this trial period goes.

I think I'm going to delete my facebook account in a week or two.

New York, Baby!!!

Next summer I will hopefully stay in this place...



Which is in this city...



Interning with this company...



Yahoo!!!!

10.06.2009

Walk like a 'terp...Talk like a 'terp

You know how everyone asks if you feel any different on your birthday, any older? And of course you answer "no."
Well, today I feel different. ...no, you didn't forget my birthday. I passed the Utah State Novice test for American Sign Language interpreting!!!!! I'm pretty sure something changed inside of me today. I now walk like an interpreter.

Dear Anna:

Congratulations! You have been awarded the Novice Level Certificate! I commend you on your accomplishment. Your certificate, certification card, and other information will be sent separately.

Sincerely,

Mitch

Mitch Jensen, Director

Utah Interpreter Program

10.03.2009

Dear Blog,

I am yet again "finding myself," and I love it! Just as relationships develop over time, I believe we must develop an understanding of ourselves--a relationship with ourselves, so to speak. We constantly change, and constantly need to reacquaint ourselves with who we are as individuals. I have learned more about myself through God this year than ever before, and I know I should be able to say that every year for the rest of my life. I am strong. I am competent. I have a burning testimony of my Savior and his gospel. I love talking. I'm often very prideful, but I wish so very much that I weren't. I love cooking. I love making others happy. I always strive to please those around me. I need attention. I think very little of myself most of the time, while simultaneously putting myself above others. I often worry about my future. I can't really picture myself finding love again. I love music. I love writing. I love the temple. I talk back when I shouldn't. I hold myself to an extraordinarily high standard. I feel pressured to achieve perfection. I make my bed every day. I love food. Dancing makings me very happy. Sign language tickles my insides and always makes me smile. I want to serve the Lord. I want to find an eternal best friend. I want to fix my daughters' hair (when I have them of course). I hate social games/manipulation/pettiness. I highly dislike television reporting while working three jobs and taking classes (even if this gets me into trouble with my professor...ugh!). I love my family so much. I want to have ducks again. I can't wait to go to Africa! I wish I had a car. I can't always decipher between right and wrong. I judge people harshly. I wish I could change a lot about myself. I have a definite liking for physicality with boys; but in spite of this attraction/desire I can't even allow myself to continually date an individual who doesn't meet standards (unlike roommates who think dating is for physicality). I can give my heart and soul in eternal commitment to my future husband. I wish I were a better writer. I'm grateful for my current roommates. I need to read the scriptures daily (as in: I need to do better at this). I allow Satan to work on me. Laughing causes me great joy. I hate working with arrogant people. Sometimes I think inappropriate things are very funny. I get confused with my own feelings. Crisp autumn air is one of my favorite things. I hate ice skating. Nuts make me gag. I hate being smothered by boys. I allow boys to validate me. I feel as though I have no real friends apart from those with which I am related. I wish I were funny. Often, I feel as though I fake being smart. Cleaning helps me feel good about myself. I'm always tired and hungry. I'm like an onion.

10.01.2009

Life

I figured it all out--wasn't that hard, really. I have the next two years of my life planned out. Of course, things never go as planned, but it's a nice thought. Today was good.

Oh, and by the way, I've decided to post here occasionally...again. I've been avoiding the pictures below (Travis and I broke up...and I didn't want to make a choice about whether or not I should delete the posts...I guess ignoring the issue is the same as the "not" choice, but in my head they were different); and instead of writing here, I've written in my "real" journal for the past little while. But I think I can manage and do both. However, no commitments...