Last weekend we had our first vacation. We went to Danxiashan Global Geo Park in Shaoguan China. We left Thursday night after teaching and took two trains to get there. The first train was super nice and very clean and we only rode that one for about a half an hour. The second train was a little more run down and we were on that one for two hours. The people sitting next to us and across from us wanted to teach us Chinese the whole way there. Also, everyone on the bus was taking pictures. A lot of them were trying to do it discreetly, but they must have forgotten that the flash was on, on their cameras. Haha. We finally got to the station we were supposed to get off at and ate at a KFC! It was really spicy, since the Chinese like all their food spicy, but the French fries were really good. We then took a taxi for about an hour to the hostel we were staying at. It was way nicer than I thought it was going to be. I had pretty low expectations for the hostel, but it turned out to be really cute.
The next day we headed to the Global Geo Park and started looking around. We found some good photo opportunities and did some crazy hiking!
Engagement site!
Cassie's forever alone :(
I would have climbed farther down the path if I wasn't being attacked by bugs!
I hate everyone for making me climb 10,000 stairs.
I'm not joking. Literally 10,000!
We climbed to this cool little gazebo and decided to pose like models.
And took this pretty cool picture of me feeling on top of the world.
Plus I took a selfie with these two guys who were trying to take pictures of us without making us notice. We noticed...Haha!
The second day we went back to the park and took a river boat cruise through all the mountains and then we did some more hiking! China is so beautiful!
River boat cruise!
Oh! And guess what? They made me climb more stairs!
As we were hiking they had all these little spots were you could pray. Supposedly you buy the little incense sticks and when you light them you say a prayer and as long as they burn they are sending your prayer up to heaven.
That night (Saturday) we took the train for about two hours headed towards home because the church was holding a district conference in Guangzhou which is only about a half an hour away from my apartment. We had booked a hostel in the city, but when we got there they told us that they had given our rooms away. Luckily some of the members who had booked hotel rooms for that night were able to squish together some people and give us a room. They were so happy to help, and we were so grateful for their willingness to help us out. Plus, that hotel was super nice and I had to take a picture of the bathroom because it's the first time I've seen a western style shower/tub while I've been here. Haha!
We slept really well that night and then we woke up and we were able to go to the conference which was held in the hotel. They had Elder Wong of the seventy there. I was able to participate in a YSA discussion with him before the general meeting. That was so cool to be apart of, since there were oh about 10 other people in the meeting. Elder Wong is super funny guy and it was fun to get to know him a little more personally.
Some thoughts I had from the meetings:
-Elder Wong kept bringing up the fact that we have to pay a price for what we want. He asked us if we were doing all we could to live with God and have an eternal family someday? He said the price for what we want is often very high and difficult to pay, but if we realize that exaltation is something we want we will find a way to show the Lord we are willing to pay the price. He said that his wife is quite a bit older than him, but he wanted her to be his eternal companion so he told the Lord that he was willing to look older than her, and then he pointed to his gray hair! he said that was one of the prices he has to pay. What a funny guy!
-He also told us that we need to be very specific when we pray, and that if we are more specific the Lord will answer specifically as well.
-He referenced Elder Packers talk about the pearl representing the gospel and how sometimes we make the box too complicated so others cannot admire the pearl: "A merchant man seeking precious jewels found at last the perfect pearl. He had the finest craftsman carve a superb jewel box and line it with blue velvet. He put his pearl of great price on display so others could share his treasure. He watched as people came to see it. Soon he turned away in sorrow. It was the box they admired, not the pearl."
Boyd K. Packer, “The Cloven Tongues of Fire,” Ensign, May 2000, 7
-Prayer is something WE need, not something the Lord needs.
-Have faith because there is a God of Israel who knows ALL of the details of our lives.
I am so grateful for the church and how it is the same no matter where you are in the World.
Later on Sunday we went around and explore the town and we found a library. It was so huge! And we were able to get library cards and check out the English books! So fun!
I'm super excited to read some good books while I'm here.
We spent Monday hanging around the city, reading our books at a cafe and the library, eating pineapple from the little carts on the streets, sleeping, eating american pizza, and watching some fun water shows in the park.
I would say it was a very successful vacation, but now it;s back to the routine of teaching. I was super excited to come back to my apartment and sleep on my hard, moldy bed. Who knew I would ever miss that thing. Luckily, we have another vacation next weekend and we will be going to the Avatar Mountains where they are going to make me climb even more stairs!
I hope everyone is staying caught up with the scripture challenge if you are doing it! XOXO
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