I am so blessed!

Well, nothing really exciting happened today...sorry I don't have more pictures! I'm sure after I get home from Egypt in a few weeks, I'll have a ton. Classes are going great and I am learning so many cool things. I'm taking a class on the Arab-Israeli conflict from a Palestinian's perspective and it is so interesting. I've thought about a lot of things that I never have before and it's fun to sit around at meals talking to people about Ancient Egypt and the Abrahamic covenant. Although I feel really uninformed most of the time...some of these people are whipping out references to doctrines/historical events that I don't think I've ever even heard of!

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to study here. Today I was doing a reading on the Atonement for one of my online classes and I was struck by the fact that while I was reading it, I could see both the Garden of Gethsemane, Calvary and the Garden Tomb. Being here brings new significance and perspective to things I have long known about the Christ's life, but rarely thought about in a deeper sense, fearing that my inability to grasp the magnitude of the Savior's sacrifice would just make my head spin rather than increase my faith. My recent pondering has been much more the result of the point I am at in my life than my physical location here. But today while I was studying, I had some insights that really hit me.

Our Savior, who was the Master Teacher, knew exactly how to change the lives of those with whom He came into contact. He went about healing them- not to prove that he was the Son of God or as powerful punctuation to His teaching, but because more than anything, He was full of love. He wanted to heal their bodies and minds, but even more, he was out to heal and purify and perfect their hearts.

He wants to see me succeed, and His love for me was sufficient that He was willing to endure whatever it took to allow me to return to Him. I do not and cannot comprehend the full scope of the Atonement, but I am constantly struck by the fact that He suffered not just for mankind, but for me personally, for each one of us. The pains that He suffered were not for the world as a whole. He knows my name and knows specifically the cross I have been called to bear in this life. He has already carried it, and is waiting for me to take His hand, open my heart and allow me to be healed.

I don't know if any of this makes sense and sorry I always ramble! Hope you all are doing well. I love you!