My Guatamalan mission president told once shared with us a story that embelished the examples I saw in the people of El Salvador and Belize... sobering me to a greater understanding and appreciation for the temple.
He said that for most of his childhood, his parents slept on the floor. When he was old enough to recognize that this wasn't normal, he asked his mom why. It was then that she told him that years before they had sold their bed to pay for their trip to the temple in Mexico so that their newly converted family could be sealed in the temple for all eternity.
I also met one of the first families to be baptized into the church in El Salvador that traveled to Arizona (which was the closest temple that existed in those days) to be sealed in the temple. This was a huge trip... and an unfathomable and seemingly impossible expense to this young and poor family with many children. I remember being deeply touched and impacted as they related to me that they sold their home and almost all of their possessions in order to pay for this trip.
It was stories like this that made everything I had learned throughout my life- CLICK. To these people... there was no sacrifice too great, no price too steep, or suffering too extreme to outweigh the eternal promises of the temple. They truly saw the bigger picture- they had vision set on eternity. They saw their temporal "sacrifices" as just that- temporal! These decisions, sacrifices, voyages, and covenants were made years ago... and I could see with my own eyes and feel to my core... that they and their families had been deeply and eternally blessed. They and their children, and their grandchildren... were reaping the eternal blessings the Lord had been pouring upon them since their decisions to forsake ALL and follow Him- to the temple.
I saw the saints of El Salvador and Belize saving their pennies throughout the year to be able to pay for their big trip to Guatamala City- a long, expensive, inconvenient, and dangerous trip that took up to 16 hours. They didn't see all this as any huge "sacrifice"...but did it all with hearts bursting with gratitud for the opportunity to enter the Lord's house. It was like President Hinckley said,
“You are making a sacrifice, but it is not a sacrifice because you will get more than you give up, you will gain more than you give, and it will prove to be an investment with tremendous returns. It will prove to be a blessing instead of a sacrifice. "
I will never forget watching the tears of joy they shed upon their return from their arduous journey. I also could not deny the difference I saw in those saints that made these "sacrifices"- their resulting strength, joy, comfort, and light. I have always pinned to be like them.
Yet... I have always lived with a temple nearly in my backyard. No "sacrifice" needed to get there! I thought it was a top priority for me... but then I moved here. The temple is only 7 hours away in Halifax and Boston... but for some reason... it seemed forever away... and amongst all that I become involved with here... it became a more and more lofty goal. Yet... I feel that I have been even more blessed for efforts required to attend the temple while here.
In June, I was feeling terribly "homesick" for the temple. I was very isolated here... but those "heart throbs" were not from lonliness... but from a deeper pinning for the peace found only in the temple. SO.. I set out to go to Halifax! Not feeling a need to pay to stay in a hotel... I opted to stay in a hostel! I had stayed in hostels in Central America... and they always suprised me for being clean with a respectful atmosphere amongst international travelers. I expected no less in Canada! At almost midnight, I followed my GPS and turned onto the road that had my hostel...and was initially taken back by what I found. The streets were dark but full of colorful and exciting people in the most elaborate apparel. From the music, to the smell, to the elicit drug inspired murals... I was getting the sense that this was no where I wanted my grandma to see me in. Yet... I felt at peace. I pulled up to my hostel... and couldn't help but laugh- what was I doing here? Yet... I felt peace. I finally found someone to open the door for me and was given a tour of the musty bathroom, simple bunkbeds, and rundown design of the hostel. My roommate seemed nice enough, and I continued to be confused as to why my Spirit was so comfortable when my brain was in a frenzy. I flipped a mental coin and the Spirit won. I parked my car and was bringing my bag out when my roommate was already waiting for me outside and kindly grabbed my bag and started up the stairs. He turned back only to eagerly say, "Listen! I have got such a surprise for you! We're gonna have so much fun tonight!!"... and all I could say was, "oh... umm... ok! I love surprises?"...but my brain started reeling trying to prepare for whatever it would be. When we got to the room... he was excited to thrust a hug jug of beer in my hand and wave a marijuana joint in my face and say, "Check it out! I got this from some Ozzie that was heading out and couldn't take it on the plane!" YA!" and as I tried to start formulating my tactiful response... he asked, "so... what brings you to Halifax?" ... and I lost it. The irony of it nearly caused me to wet my pants. All I could squeak out was... "I'm... here... to... go to the... Mormon temple!" ... and even through my tear- filled eyes... I could see a genuine kindness and goodness radiating out of this stranger who was so kind to offer to share with me his favorite things. I then explained a little bit about who I was, and he was instantly accepting and ok with my soft rejection. He wanted me to at least talk with him outside while he smoked his joint... and I (after learning in the past how sensitive I am to second hand) asked him to do so AFTER I went to sleep.
He was hungry and I was nervous about him traversing those "dynamic" streets outside alone... so I went with him to get the Canadian special, "Putine" (french fries drowning with gravy and drentched with cheese curds) that he was determined that I try while in Canada. I found myself picking at this new dish while sitting crosslegged on a dirty and tired floor of a deteriorating hostel in Halifax, Canada with a new and slightly tipsy friend... and I felt so good about it. As we were eating... our conversation magically warfed into a beautiful, sincere, honest, soulful, spiritual, and inspiried dialogue. He shared with me his incredible journey through drug addiction, drug dealing, jail, getting married, having a child, and his desire to do better. We talked about who we are children of God, what our purpose is in life, and how to change and obtain happiness. This dingy room became so filled with light and joy... even I was taken back at the transformation. At the end of 3 hours, my new friend stopped and said, "woah. I've been getting goosebumps... and feel something... something... awesome. I've never talked like this before... and never felt like this before!!" he then looked at his roll of a marijuana and said, "nothing and no one has ever stopped me from smoking before... but how I feel right now... I don't even want it. This is.. amazing."
This man had told me some dark and intense parts of his past and his soul...and yet during those hours... I had caught a beautiful glimpse of the way God sees him- who he really is and who he can become. I was filled with gratitud for the Spirit telling me to stay. I thought about where Christ walked... and who He spent time with... and was so glad that I had stayed in that hostel... and despite the lingering stench of beer and pot, the colorful language accidentally spewing from my companion, and the blaring music from the rainbow bar across the street... I felt prepared to go to the temple. 
Joe and I are still friends, and I know he reads this blog. He was moved to start his own- and he has continued to teach and touch me.
When I walked into the temple that following June morning... all I could say in response to the worker's warm greetings was, " I. am. home."
This last weekend I had made plans long before full of seizing my last opportunities to hike in Maine and relish the outdoor luxuries I have here. When my friend Brandi, who was baptized 2 weeks ago, came up to be excitedly and told me about the Halifax temple trip...I hesitated. I started thinking about how I was going to D.C. in a week, and then to Salt Lake... where the temple would be so close and readily available without the extra burden of traveling 12 hours and "losing" a whole day. As I looked into her eager eyes and prepared my lame explanation of why I wasn't going... I was struck by the Spirit and heard myself saying, "ya girl! Of course!". Upon further assessment... I came to the acceptance that I couldn't miss Brandi's first time in the temple!
I am so glad I didn't miss this trip. It was probably equally good for me as it was for Brandi. We met up with a canadian branch on the other side of the border at 2am and got to the temple at 9am. I watched these members- from the barely walking elderly to exhausted mothers loading on their 6 sleepy kids... I marveled at how I could find getting myself there remotely "inconvenient". I'm a night nurse- I'm nocturnal- I'm used to being awake at 2am... but for the rest of the saints- this was probably a really hard thing! - and they probably do it regularly- all to go to the temple. As we prayed together, the Spirit was so sweet. I didn't know these Candian members, but we were all united in heart and purpose... and it was tangible.
I was especially blessed to be present for the O'connell's sealing ceremony. They're a family that was baptized a little over a year ago. Emma is in my sunday school and I goat sat for them...and have watched their excitment over the gospel throughout my months here at church. Watching this family in white and make such sacred promises from God... and receive the greatest and unfathomable promises from God...was a truly Celestial experience. Why was I ever tempted to miss this!?!?! Sitting on the bus on the way back and watching the sleeping faces of these faithful saints... I considered myself the most blessed to be with them. I am so grateful to have partipated in a real temple pilgrimage. I am grateful to have been here with members that "get it" and are willing to do whatever it takes to "live it".
