Laura vs. the World: A Leap of Faith

It’s amazing how time flies. It seems like yesterday, I was frantically trying to find my way around the Cancun airport. In just three short weeks I will be on a plane back to Utah, and two weeks after that I will begin my sophomore year of college. Wow.

I’ve been thinking lately about how much of a blessing it is that I am here in México. Heavenly Father certainly has blessed me more than I deserve. This past winter, I began a goal journal, just a little notebook where I write my life goals in. The very first goal I wrote was “Learn Spanish.” The second “Go to México.” I never ever believed I could be fulfilling those goals just a couple months after I wrote them. Granted, the first will take a lot more time, but wow. I truly have been blessed. I’ve learned so much this past year about myself; about who I am. And one of the most important things I’ve learned is you really can do anything you set your mind to. I know it sounds cliché, but I have seen this pattern in my life so much lately. When my senior year of high school began, I had NO idea where I was going to go with my life after graduation. But I decided I wanted to go to BYU and did everything I could to be an desirable applicant. I was accepted. Last semester, I heard about a study abroad program and decided I would love nothing more than to go to México. I was selected and here I am in Mérida. Now, because I know this truth, the future doesn’t seem so scary. In fact, it is absolutely thrilling.

These past weeks have been packed with fun, inspiring, and amazing experiences. I have done everything from ice skating to visiting Chichén Itzá and salsa dancing to watching Ice Age 4 in Spanish. Some of my favorite memories, however, are sitting around the dinner table with Mamá and Papá, just talking. Mamá is soooo funny but she also imparts her knowledge to us, about God, about food, about the Mayan language. She is such an amazing woman; I couldn’t have asked for a better host mom. And Papá is one of best men I’ve ever met. He is kind and caring, and so adorable. Sometimes he speaks English to us and it’s just about the best thing in the world. I am dreading saying goodbye to them.

So I did something kind of crazy this past Saturday. We went to La Ruta de los Cenotes or a route of cenotes. Cenotes are fresh water sources that the Mayans used. They are basically water holes found in caves that are connected by an underground water system. Sometimes they were also used as sacrificial sites and now, they are used as swimming holes. Go figure. But the water is the clearest, bluest water I have ever seen! Anyway, like I said, most are in caves, underground. One we went to was about 50 feet underground and had a hole in the ceiling. Well, one of the guys on our group just jumped off as soon as we got there! It was crazy! And then of course someone else tried until finally, I decided I wanted to jump. I climbed all the way back up to the surface and stepped over the wire fencing off the hole. And then I looked down. It was a looooooong way down. For about a minute or two I fought with myself, my friends encouraging me in the background. Then I had a friend count me down. 3…2…1…and then I jumped. It was the most exhilarating thing I have ever done! Not that I am going to become an adrenaline junkie or anything, but I thought it was so cool, I went back and jumped again before we left. Sometimes, you’ve just got to take a leap of faith. :)

Hopefully these next couple of weeks I’ll be better about posting, but I really think the pictures tell my stories better than I. Have a wonderful Tuesday!