I am in Love

Don't you just have that feeling when you think of that person who you really like and you think of being with them for eternity? And then suddenly, you just feel that that person is the right one for you? I always get it when I think of that lady who has been a best friend to me for years. Over time, I have come to ponder about it, and I sure have developed that love for that person.

But let me tell you a story on how we met, and how I fell in love with her.

It started when I first moved back to my home city, Makati. A wise bishop advised me to move to a different ward, since I live in Makati again. I moved into my home ward. And this soon-to-be-friend moved into the ward at the same time I did. We didn't really start getting to know each other until we attended Young Single Adult activities. The first one that we went to was a Valentine's activity. I was referred to her sister, and she was my Valentine's date. I had the chance to do a musical number, and I sang a Paramore song, and playing a guitar. I passed by their table, and she said that we should have a collaboration sometime. And so we did. Another YSA activity came, and we had something what we call a "Family Home Evening", since a lot of single adults have no family close by (parents and siblings). Afterwards, a sister who initiated another hang out time after the previous activity. We had a dinner in a restaurant with a karaoke bar. We stayed there until at least 3 o'clock in the morning. We laughed, we sang, and we had so much fun. Of course, with me loving music, I never back out on a karaoke. And for a lot of times, we sang a lot of duets together. And we sure blended like heck! It was lovely to the ears. We continued to attend activities until such time that we started hanging out just the two of us. We would go out to some plaza's, eat out, do a lot of random stuffs, and most especially- go to the temple. There came a time when we are both serving in the Youth organization for the church. We would go with the 12 year old's to 18 year old's men and women to find what they want to do in life. It was a fun experience, and definitely a learning experience for both us. There was more to handling youth people than actually caring for them and learning to love them as if they are your little brothers and sisters. We had so much fun for that.

As you all know, I served a Mormon mission. We both made a goal to go on a mission. We promised that we will do our best to return with honor, and become better people. And so we did prepare on doing so. I prepared myself, and so did she. I got called to Alaska, and a month after I got my assignment, she got her's as well. She got called to one of the provinces in the Philippines. It was truly a relationship that strengthened us each other without making any unnecessary commitments. And so, we had somehow an informal relationship. I actually didn't realize that I have feelings for her until such time that I actually left to serve for awhile in a nearby mission around Manila. I think the saying "You will never know that you love until you lose it beside you" is true. I was hurt for a moment because I can't see her for a span of 2 years. Apparently, it went longer than expected. The first 4 months were really hard for me. Knowing that I am only a bus ride away from both home and her, it was clearly a test of faith for me. But of course, I made a promise, first to the Lord, and to her that I will be ever faithful in and on my mission. And thus far, I did pretty good.

Afterwards, the Provo MTC made a big turnaround for me. Knowing that my mission didn't start until such time that I have entered the MTC, it felt long somehow that I still have 2 years left until I can get to see her again. But I still have the promise in my heart and mind that I will do all that I can to finish my mission with honor. There was no time for homesickness, no time to be idle, and most definitely no time to become disobedient. And so, I did all that I can to become that missionary I needed to become. We still kept in contact through email and letters. But on the last transfer that I had, I was impressed to ask in prayer on what I need to do when I get home, and if I needed to get married, who should it be. I focused mostly on the who part of my prayer. (Disclaimer: I was and still am focused on my mission when I was doing the prayer). And many times with those question, it would always come out as "Go ahead and she will be the one of which you need to be married with in the temple."

Well, if that is what I need to do, then like Nephi in the Book of Mormon, I shall say " I will go and the things which the Lord has commanded". Apparently, I just need to do something about it in order for me to really show my love for her, and most especially, to become more obedient.

Now, off to do some loving actions!