Men you won't find on TV, but only in TV ward!

As I've said previously in this blog (and is the reason why I started it two years ago, even if I haven't write too much since then), I've been always surrounded by men, always! But I noticed that among my closest friends, I was used to the Latino-Quebecois kind of friends... until I moved to Arizona! I came to a new ward, to a new stake, to a new culture! I came to TV ward... not, is not a ward that you attend on television instead of going to church, but TV ward is Temple View YSA ward, the best YSA ward ever! And there, I met friends who were not necessary what I was used to... 

Nop, I don't know all the guys in my ward as I knew the 15 guys in my YSA branch in Montreal! Nop, they can't speak Frenchpanish with me! Nop, they would not give me a two-cheek-kiss and a warm hug as French-Canadian-Hispanics do! They don't even know my brothers and family as my guy friends in Canada did! Many of them know anything about Peruvian culture so they would never ask me to bring a causa rellena de pollo for a choir practice! Many of them know everything about country dancing, but I am more a Latin dancer! They would quote movies or songs and I don't even understand it or I'm not able to reply because I just know the movie lines in Spanish or French! They won't ask me to help them with their last-minute Sunday school lesson (and sometimes even to give the lesson for them) because they don't even know that I love the challenge of last minute teaching! They won't ask me about less-actives because I don't know the 85% of YSA in the area, active or not, as I did in Montreal. They won't ask me information or advice about the ladies they want to date because I don't know everything about them as I did in Montreal. They won't ask me to convince our bishopric to let us have Latin dances because they are so many more people who already organize so many events... And there is so much more...

I must confess that when I first move here, I was feeling a little worried about the kind of guy friends I would have here, because I knew that it was a different culture. But now, even if I love a lot my friends from Montreal and I have so many great memories with them, I feel so grateful for the amazing gentlemen I've met here, particularly those in my ward. Yes, it's different that what I was used to, but I love that difference!

I am amazed by the great love that I feel for and from the priesthood holders in my ward. It would be normal to say that about my brishopric, because YSA bishoprics, with their wisdom, knowledge, love, and of course their lovely wives, are always so loving and welcoming and just know how to make new members or visitors feel home in their YSA wards (I've been/visited YSA wards in Montreal, New York, Alberta, British Columbia, Utah and Arizona, and it's always the same). But I feel so blessed not only for my new bishopric, but also for all the new friends that I've met in my new ward, Temple View.

I know that in our church meetings we always heard about how amazing women are, and, even if I know so many wonderful women, young and older, who are great examples to me, and many of them are in my ward, I think it's important to remind men how amazing they are too. At least I know that those in my ward are wonderful men! Really!!! I often reflect about how is it possible for them to be so nice, so gentlemen, so benevolent, so cautious, so diligent, so reverent, so enthusiastic, so talented, so grateful, so joyful, so patient, so responsible, so tolerant, so charitable, so funny, and many others so, so and so qualities! 

Some of our choir members

When I hear their testimonies I feel so uplifted! When they tell me about their missionary experiences it gives me a greater desire to share my beliefs! When they share their talents I feel amazed and have the desire to develop my talents and discover new ones! When they are willing to serve me like giving me rides or when they open doors for me, they remind me that I don't need to do everything by myself and that it's okay to ask for help and to give them opportunities to serve! When they give me a priesthood blessing, they show me that, even if my dad is not here to give me priesthood blessings, my Heavenly Father is caring for me through righteous priesthood holders who live worthy of their priesthood to be able to serve others. And I could keep going and sharing how amazing the brethren in the Temple View elders quorum are, but I would never finish!

I don't know all the guys from Temple View ward yet, and I know some of you more than others, but I just want each of you to know that you are special and that I know that you are playing an important part in our ward, and that my life is better because of the little things that I'm learning from each of you! 

• The Montez brothers:



The Montez, Daniel, Scott, and their lovely sister Nicole.

• Daniel,  you invited my friend Vanessa to your FHEs, I went with her, and then I just loved it! So it is because of you that I became addicted to Temple View ward! I felt that it was the place for me and found friends there... it has changed since I went there the first time, two years ago, but I am grateful for your friendship and how it allowed me to be in this ward, which is a great blessing to me. You were actually the first person I met in Temple View and you've done so much for me my first times there. You introduced me to almost everyone who was there at that time and those friendships that I made there gave me the desire to be in that ward when I came back a year later. You helped this Montreal girl to learn how the YSA work here in Arizona and that it was okay to not be the famous girl who knows everyone and everything as I was used in Canada. My life would be totally different if I hadn't been to your ward when you invited Vanessa, I would probably not even be here, and I am really grateful for all you did for me. You came to my rescue many times (yeah, like when I took a ride with that stranger when I was walking to FHE), you gave me advice and you showed me that you cared for me, even if you barely knew me. I could see how Christlike you are through this acts of charity towards me. Thank you for had being an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring me to Temple View! That has brought many blessings to my life! 
• Scott, Daniel had talked to me about you when you were on your mission, and when I met you I understood why! You are great! I think that the Elders quorum in our ward is blessed to have you as their president (along with Daniel and Andrew as your counselors); they have good examples to follow! You are so kind with everyone and you know how to make feel everyone welcome. We can feel your humility and your love for your Savior, and you just know how to make people smile. And I love to see you trying to learn to dance Latin music and your improvement. You are not an expert YET, but that doesn't stop you to keep learning and to invite girls to dance at the Latin dances. That shows your desire to learn, your perseverance, and that you know that it is by practicing new skills that we achieve perfection, and I'm not talking only about dance, but about different aspects of life.  

• The Snow brothers, Jace and Bricklin: I was thinking about your last name and thought: I had  snow for almost twenty winters in Canada, but it's here, in Gilbert, Arizona, where I'm getting the best SNOW I could ever ask for! Snow is cold but you are COOL! Snow is white and you are white, or may I say pure! There are funny things we can do in the snow, and you know how to bring fun wherever you go! :) You always make me smile and know how to make me feel important! I am grateful to have you as my home teachers; you are just so enthusiastic about home teach me... you were even willing to come at 6 a.m. or to sacrifice ultimate frisbee for me! :) Just for that, I am willing to make more Peruvian chocolates just for you every time you visit me! :)

Andres Dolor

• Andrew, my favorite pain (Payne): the meaning of the word "painful" has changed to me since I met you, because my "Payneful" experiences are totally pleasant and not painful at all! You know how much I appreciate your unconditional friendship and all the little and great things you've done and still doing for me. I would never do enough things to show you my gratitude and love! You are an inspiration to me. Your example as a Pedrito helps me to become the Molita that I strive to be; I learn so much from you and I love and enjoy our conversations because I'm always uplifted by them; you always find the right words and give me the motivation to keep my Molita status. You are a true disciple of Christ! I already told you how much I love your prayers and the reverence that you show to your Heavenly Father. Your wisdom (o vejez hehe) is a reminder to me of things that are important to me and helps me to stay focused on things that really matter in life. You've been a source of guidance in important decisions that I've had to make and you've give me opportunities to develop my talents, to grow, to accomplish my goals and to do the things that you know are important to me. I know how busy your life is and how hard you work in your personal projects and goals, but you still find time for me and for those that the Lord bless through your faithful service and love. You know how to keep the Spirit in your life and in your home and to make of any place you go a sacred place! And I've also found the best salsa partner I could ever ask for in you, and por supuestation, my español it's so much buenation gracias a ti! You are a dear blessing to me! You are a delightful pain :)

• Brandon Dana, I just can't avoid smiling when you're around! Our serious/funny conversations are always so interesting! You are a great friend... even if you take forever to text back, even if you try to make me go country dancing and even if you don't come to choir (I'll get you there, I promise I will!!!). I appreciate that you want me to teach your priesthood lessons (if only I could, you know I would! I miss to teach, and guys conversations are always interesting hehe) but I admire your willingness to serve by teaching your brethren in the quorum. Teaching the gospel it's a privilege! I always have fun in your company and enjoy to share with you the things I learn... like those things about the Book of Mormon in ancient america... isn't it cool? :)

Tanner Riggs

• Tanner Riggs, the latino inside a gringo body: Really, I don't understand why you're not brown! You dance like a latino, you talk like latinos, you have a "I love pupusas" sticker on your car and more Spanish music than what I do! Latin fun is guaranteed in your car! You are probably the one who remind me the most my amigos latinos from Montreal! You also know about Peruvian food and you love! That's awesome! You were one of the first guys I met in Temple View two years ago and you've been always so cool and nice with me! You are fun, friendly, willing to serve me, and I am glad to have at least a guy friend here who knows how to hug like Hispanics do! I told you, you were born Latino! :)

• Trevor Davis: It's cool to see that for any problem, any challenge, any insomniac night, or any other excuse, you turn to music creation! It's a good thing to turn to! Oh, and milkshakes too... Thank you for your example of gratitude showed by your desire to serve anytime that the opportunity comes as others have serve you before. Service brings blessings and I know that it would bring blessings to your life (I'm sure it actually does).

• Sam Flemming: It's such a great privilege to know you... I hope you won't forget me when you'll become rich and famous with your magical musical talent! You are an inspiration to me! To sing your musical arrangements for choir is a challenge for what I've been used to sing, and I just love that because it pushes me to improve my musical skills! Your passion for music amazes me! I am grateful for the service you do around you with the music you make. I know that through your talents and your personality, you will have a great influence for good in the life of those who will cross your path (actually, I think you're already doing that!) Your dedication to the music you create shows also that you know the importance of working hard and with perseverance to achieve our goals. Thank you for using your talent to testify and share of your love for your Heavenly Father!

• Brandon Halls: Yeah!!! I found my Brazilian-Portuguese buddy! :) I am grateful for the opportunity I have to practice a little my Portuguese (mixed with French and Spanish) every time I see you! That gives me hope to be fluent in Portuguese some day... some day... And I am always uplifted when you talk about your mission experiences. Thank you for your comments at church lessons.

• Jake Packer, do you know how to make a sad face? You are just always smiling... ALWAYS! And that is great! You are always so optimistic and positive, it's just amazing! It's always rewarding to have you around! Your smile it's a testimony to me that the Gospel does really brings joy to our lives! And by the way, I am grateful to know that you know about Peruvian food! I love having people around me who knows about my culture or at least who knows Spanish! :) And you are so musical talented! Thank you for sharing your talents with us and to helping us in the choir!

• Preston Hon, thank you for helping our ward members to index! I know, I haven't been there yet, but I promise you that I do index at home, and that's why I just go to the other Sunday school lessons, but I think indexing is a great activity that brings blessings to our lives, and I am grateful to have someone in our ward willing to help with it! And thank you for ensuring that our ward members have the opportunities to attend the temple. The temple is really important to me (I'm almost obsessed with temples), so thank you for serving in that calling and to help others to see the importance of the temple in their lives!

• Devin Barnes: "Do you have a ride home, because I saw you walking to get here?" haha yeah, I think that was our first conversation! For someone who is used to walk and to do everything with any help from anyone, and who is learning, here, to be served, it is really appreciated to see that others care for you. Thank you for showing me that you noticed my situation (even if I love to walk, I really really do) and that you were willing to serve me.

• Steven Neher: I enjoy so much our conversations about Peruvian food (although they made me feel hungry)! You talked about it with so much joy! And I enjoy listen to your mission stories. I know that you are someone who loves the Lord and who does his best to show it by serving other and through your humility. Thank you for being a disciple of Christ!

• Cody Jenkins: Your joy to serve others with your cooking skills is incredible! I'm sure that you could do so many other things, but if you can cook for others, you would do it because you know it is a way to show your love and to serve people. Thank you for using your skills to serve! And I also like the quotes you post daily on facebook; they are often uplifting.

• Gabriel Badillo: I know you're leaving the ward soon, but thank you for have been there all this time... because of you I wasn't the only Hispanic there! :) And thank you for being so nice to everyone and to make everyone feel welcomed and loved around you, specially your fiancée! We can tell that you love her and that you know her great value! I think you will be an amazing husband to her because I can already see that you make her happy. She is a sweetheart, and I am glad to know that she would have someone who knows how amazing she is and all the joy she deserves.

• Cody Reed: I enjoy reading your poems and writings on your blog and watching your videos! You have so much imagination and you are hilarious! When I was back to Canada last summer, every time that I would watch one of your videos I just wanted to take the first plane and come back here because you remind me how cool people from Gilbert are! And also, thank you for your principles of the gospel lessons! I really enjoyed learning from you on those classes! 

• Jake Follet: You are not afraid of ridicule and that's just amazing! You know how to make people smile! I think that people can't get bored when you're around! Thank you for bringing joy and laugh in our days! :) 

• Ryan Barnhill: I would never forget your wafflefest last year!!! I hadn't had one for years so that was really exciting for me (when is the next one? hehe)! :) It's always interesting to hear your points of view about so many things, and I WANT TO HEAR YOU SPEAKING IN SPANISH!!! You are someone who love to have fun and to share that fun with others. You know how to share joy! Thank you!

• Weston Dutson: I don't know too much about you but of what I've noticed you seem someone really nice and humble! You seem the kind of person in who we can always count, and someone who knows to honor his priesthood. Thank you for that!

• Jonathan Haddock: It was a pleasure to sing with you at the YSA conference! I was so glad to see that Temple View was represented there! Without a priesthood holder from our ward, it wouldn't be the same! :)

• Todd Shumway: Thank you for your testimony last night and for your talk last week! I love hearing about mission experiences! And by the way, I need to talk in Spanish with you... it's always fun to hear el acento de España! :)

• Daniel Richins: I don't know you too much, but you did a great job at the FHE learning Latin dance! Thank you for being willing to give Latin music a chance! :) 

Snowflake temple trip with brother Ray, Aron, Preston, Sam, Trevor, Cody, and the lovely sisters who came.

Three years ago I would not even thought about leaving my guys in Montreal forever, but now I am grateful for had been led to Gilbert and to the awesome Temple View Ward (I am just talking about the guys in Temple View, but I've amazing men from others wards and stakes too, but this post is about those in TV ward). Thank you for doing your best to live the gospel and to magnify your priesthood. I might not know all about you all, and your challenges, struggles, weaknesses, temptations, disabilities, your past mistakes, and all those things that make us imperfect, but I know that you have a great potential, and I hope you know it. No matter what your challenges are, keep serving and loving the Lord, and do your best be worthy of your priesthood privileges.

This is the reason why I decided to write this, because I believe that in the world we live today, we need men who stand up for truth and who are not as what TV (here I'm talking about TV as in television, not TV as Temple View) or magazines try to make us think you are! When I see men like you, I know that there is hope for the future. I know that the church is in good hands if our future leaders and fathers are men who are YSA just like you right now. You are part of the chosen generation, don't doubt about it! I am just a brown girl with a weird accent who came from Canada; I barely know some of you! But if I've been able to see that potential in each of you with the little I know about some of you, I know that Heavenly Father, who knows you perfectly, can see so much more than what I see in each of you, and I just want to encourage you to believe in that, in that potential that you have! There might be so many differences between my friends in Montreal and you all, but I am so grateful for that, because from you all, I've learned different lessons and I am developing another side of myself and discovering more about the real me! Thank you for being so awesome! Temple View ward rocks!!!