For almost a month now, I've never gotten the chance to go to church for two reasons: (1) I don't know where our chapel is here in Panama City Beach (PCB) and (2) I have no means of going there.
But yesterday, I had unexpectedly enjoyed my Easter Sunday for two reasons as well: (1) I was able to attend church and (2) I was invited to an Easter dinner.
The missionaries here in PCB have called me on my phone last week and asked if I wanted a ride going to church every Sunday. Of course, as embarrassing or as shy as I was, I said yes. Thankfully, they found a family who was willing to come pick me up on their way to church so as I am able to attend as well. I couldn't have been happier.
My very first time to attend church here happens to be Easter Sunday. So it's quite more special than it would have been. I dressed up in pastel color to go with the occasion and funnily enough, almost all the girls at church were wearing the same color as I was. I felt like I belonged. Hahaha.
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| Good morning! |
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| Dress: Forever 21 | Tights: Rue 21 | Flats: American Eagle |
I wore yellow to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. It felt like the perfect color. Like sunshine and light and birth.
But of course, I had to wear tights because I'm still not that used to the cold weather here. I couldn't bear the thought of bare legs in this weather.
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| The chapel here at Panama City Beach |
I was picked up at the apartment by Sister Patty Rivera and her daughter Marie. They were really nice. I am and forever will be grateful for them for having exerted effort and time to pick me up and let me attend Sunday services.
Marie is only 2 years younger than me but she's sweet and seem more mature than me (for one, she's the one driving whereas me, I have an expired driver's license in my wallet). She took the time to walk me around chapel and ask in which Sunday classes do I want to attend. Of course, being the new girl and not knowing anyone around, I just followed her like a lost puppy.
After all the services, they drove me home again. But before parting ways, Marie asked me if I had plans that evening and if not, I can go to their home and have an Easter dinner with them, the missionaries and John (another nice guy I met at the chapel that morning). I said yes, of course.
At around 6 in the evening, she picked me up and we drove to their home. It was such a lovely house. I didn't take a picture because I felt it rude to do so and I was to shy to ask for permission. I was surprised to see that there were more people than she let me into thinking. Her aunt, uncle and cousins were there too. I felt like intruding a family occasion. I was glad that I wasn't the only one out of the Rivera family that was there.
For the first time ever since I was little, they gave me an egg to decorate. I haven't done so in years and it amazed me that they use food coloring and Sharpie pens to decorate Easter eggs here rather than Crayola which we used when I was little.
The missionaries were creative enough to make little egg people. I, on the other hand, became intimidated and just wrote a simple greeting:
Like I said, everyone else's eggs were very creative! We even ended up having a storyline for it. It made us all laugh. ♥
That evening, I had the best home-cooked dinner I had since I got here in America. I was so grateful to the Rivera family that I almost cried! I was also grateful that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because no matter where I may be or how much of a stranger I am, other members of the church will look out for me and actually care for me. This unfamiliar world called Florida has suddenly felt like home a little.
Brother Rivera cooked the dinner which was beyond delicious. I never realized until now how much Americans celebrate Easter. It's a great holiday for everyone, it seemed. Lots of stories were shared over dinner, egg painting, egg hunting, chocolate and gift giving. Wow. It felt like Christmas!
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| Dinner: ham, mashed potatoes, broccoli and cauli flowers, hot buns |
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| Dessert: carrot cake and chocolate chip cookies |
I can't blame them, really. It's fun to be around bunnies and eggs and all the pastel colors. But let's not forget that it's the resurrection of Jesus Christ that we're all celebrating Easter.
I'm not sure where all the eggs and bunnies derived from but it's fun. Glad I was able to experience that!
I started out March great by traveling on my own from Manila to here in Florida. I ended the month with this celebration and in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as I renewed my covenants. ♥
Here's to hoping for a much awesome April!
A.
