I found this paper I did for my Young Ambassador culture class today. We had to sum up our experience in Australia. Reading it today brought back a lot of great memories of wonderful people. It also reminded me of how important it is to behave as the Savior would have us behave toward everyone we meet. I just thought I'd share it. It's a little long, but I still believe every word of it.
Ever since I can remember, I've had a fascination with Australia. I watched every Travel Channel exclusive on Australia that I could find, would go crazy over the wallabies at the zoo, and so forth. Going there far surpassed my wildest dreams. This assignment, itself, isn't hard, but the idea of trying to condense my experience in Australia into compact ideas and words is. I hope that I will be able to share my feelings appropriately.
After our culture class, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what I’d encounter on tour. The realization that I had no idea what to expect from Australia and our tour hit me the minute we arrived. So what did I learn on tour in Australia?
I learned about charity from our first host family. The father built their house himself, and he and his wife ran a business. Two of their three children were active in the Church, but their oldest son had decided he wasn't interested in it. The love they had for this boy was incredible. I think he knew how much his family loved him, and was very respectful and kind, even though he didn't look like one who would be. The whole family was hilarious and the kids were fascinated that we'd never had Vegemite or Milo and we didn't know the Aussie celebrities, but especially that we'd never had Tim Tam slams! My first experience was a great one. They were a great example of charity to us and each other.
I found that charity was a huge theme of the people I met on tour. Not limited to members of the Church, the Speaker of the Queensland Parliament was incredibly kind. What an incredible opportunity we had! I was amazed that Pam's relatives would be so kind to provide all of those meat pies for lunch that day, first of all. Then, to have the Speaker schedule us in for ten minutes and stay with us for a half hour was priceless. I was so grateful for what he said to us about music, and I knew that the positive atmosphere in the room meant that we were helping to set a good example for these political leaders. I also met a sister in the Parliament House who said that they loved Americans and that we were welcome any time. It was humbling to not only be representing the Church, but America as well. I feel that we did it very well.
The family that Dani and I stayed with in Sydney was from Taiwan. They were some of the most innately good people that I have met. They were so kind to us, and fed us extremely well! They brought us flowers after our performance because they thought it would make us happy! It reminded me just how international the Church is.
I learned to rely on the Lord. It was hard for me to believe how much I loved the firesides. Each one was incredible in its own way. The Spirit in each was almost tangible. I got so many comments on how people were touched and felt the Spirit really strongly. I know that it was nothing we did of ourselves, but it was amazing to be a part of. There were many days when I didn't know how I could get any energy or give any more. But when we are in the service of others, the Lord fills us with whatever we need, and it happened every day that I needed it. The same was needed for the shows as well. I knew I could rely on the Lord for anything. There was a performance that I was having such bad allergies that I could not sing. But I had faith enough to open my mouth, and trust that He would fill it. It was one of my best shows.
I learned humility. Being able to perform at the workshops was a humbling experience. These kids were looking at us like experts. I know that I looked at YA’s that way when I was young. It made me want to solidify my craft and be the best I could so that I could feel confident in what I was portraying to the kids.
Performing our show was so interesting with all of the different crowds and venues. There were so many grateful people in our audiences. They were amazed at both the quality of the show and the fact that we'd come perform for them. One day, Nikki told me that her host mom was looking for me, so I got off the bus to see her. With tears in her eyes, and assuring me that she never cries, she told me that she was just "a simple country girl" and had never heard anything like Phantom. She was just amazed and grateful! It was a great moment for me.
It was the little things that were incredible, too. The time when we got to sing for the missionaries at their Zone Conference was so filling, and just what I needed. It seems that whenever we do the Lord's work, He, in turn, gives us just what we need to be sustained. There were countless times that this happened. It was almost daily.
I learned that we need to be the best we can be, always. We never know who is watching. I played Mary in Savior of the World for three years at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. I was definitely watched at that time as a representative of the Church. We never knew who was around us, wherever we were, and had to be the best examples that we could be. Well, one night, after the fireside, I had a woman and her daughter come up to me and asked if I was Mary! I couldn't have been more shocked. There I was, half way around the world, with blonde instead of dark hair, no less, and someone recognized me. It reminded me that people are always watching us as members of the Church. As performers, we sometimes may not be the best examples, as performers tend to be a little crazy, loud and sometimes just plain obnoxious. We need to be extra careful to be the kind of representatives that BYU and the Church would want us to be. I was grateful that, in that moment, I wasn't goofing off or being rowdy.
I learned that I was there for a reason. Daily, I was given affirmations that I was meant to be there in Australia at that particular time, with that particular group of Young Ambassadors. I knew that the Lord was mindful of me and my needs.
I learned that we were there to strengthen the members, not just the friends of other faiths that we made. The King family were our last billits in Melbourne. Becca Schwartz and I received an email from David, the father a little while after we left. In it, he said, "...being a typically far too laid back Australian I held no great expectations for the weekend other than an opportunity to assist your visit. And yet by your departure on the Monday morning we were completely enthralled and uplifted from our time shared together. Both in the way you touched the children and the manner in which your personalities lit up our home. You are both a credit to your families and to BYU, and we are all the better for now calling you our friends."
The opportunities we were given were unbelievable. I was able to go to a country that I've always loved and meet people that changed me. And by some miracle, I got to change them, too, however insignificant my part may have been. I was placed in situations that were outside my comfort zone but still was able to do my job. What did I learn in Australia? I learned about myself, that I can do anything with the Lord's help. I learned that the power of the Priesthood is absolutely real, through the healing power of blessings. I learned that I can relate to and become friends with all kinds of people from all walks of life. It's easy to love everyone when I was in the practice of it, when I didn't even think about it. I learned to let my guard down and let people in. The Australian people were very open to us, who we were and why we were there, and I felt their innate goodness. I learned how powerful the Spirit is and how essential it is that we have it with us always, because I never knew when I would come in contact with someone who would need to be filled.
I was definitely changed in Australia. I know it sounds cheesy, but it couldn't be more true. I learned incredible amounts about myself, life, and the others around me. I will always remember the people I met there and the experiences I had. Australia will stay with me and be in everything I do forever!
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