Today I got lost while trying to get to church. Not because I was completely incapable of finding out how we've been getting to church every week on my own, but because every possible way of getting to church was inaccessible to me. So that made for some creative "solutions" that didn't actually end up working.
There are three underground lines that I can access from Notting Hill: the Circle and District (which are accessible via the same platform), and the Central line. The Circle and District lines can be a bit unpredictable, especially on the weekends, so I normally take the Central line and transfer once before getting to the train station which then allows me to get to the right area for church.
Well. The Circle and District lines weren't running this weekend due to maintenance, so I headed down to the Central line, thinking it would be just fine and that I'd be there early. WRONG! There was someone on the track for the Central line, and we were all told to find alternative routes because the Central line wouldn't get us where we needed to go quickly enough.
There was literally no other way I could get there by tube, so I started heading back to the Centre to find Internet access (actually, I don't know what I was doing because I was too irritated to form a coherent plan). I ran into Dr. Talbot on the way, and he helped me find a bus that would take me to the train station. I missed the bus by mere seconds and found myself waiting at the train station when Dr. Talbot and his wife, Sandy, showed up. They were going to be getting on the same bus as me to get to their own ward in Hyde Park.
The bus to Victoria station didn't come. And it didn't come and it didn't come until, finally, I realized that, even if I did make it to the station, I would have missed my train. By the time I was having this revelation another bus showed up that was headed to Wandsworth. My ward is in Wandsworth, so I hopped on. My words to Dr. Talbot were, "What's the worst that can happen?"
I figured out the answer to that as I found myself wandering in a strange part of town in the rain for an hour. I really wanted to make it to my ward because Elder Holland was speaking there for a special meeting. However, after an hour of being lost, I realized that I was going to miss that meeting regardless of how fast I walked.
I was frustrated, but then a thought came into my mind reminding me that, while hearing Elder Holland speak in person would be incredible, it's not the most important part of going to Church; the most important part is partaking of the sacrament. Upon realizing this I found my way to the bus stop and took the same bus I had ridden there (going the opposite direction) back home. I figured that, at 10:15, I could make it to the Hyde Park ward in time for the eleven o'clock meeting.
I was praying so hard at this point that I would be able to take the sacrament. I kept saying in my head, "I don't care what else happens, I just would like to take the sacrament," over and over and over. Prayers work because, in spite of a few more missed stops and backtracking, I made it to the building five minutes before the meeting started (it actually started at 11:10!). God is always mindful of us, and He knows just how to help us most.
I ran into Amy and Chloe at the same meeting because it was impossible to get to their church building, too. They had had a similar experience to mine, except they weren't alone, and I think the area in which they were walking was a tad more familiar. . . I was in what felt like a sketchier area of Chinatown in NYC. Oh the fun that was.
But the most important thing is that I made it to church. It was a good meeting, and I was so grateful to be there. The Church is true no matter where you are, and that is the most beautiful thing to me.
Amy and I were going to catch a bus home, but then the stop we were at was bypassed due to something that I don't understand. So we walked home. I don't think I've ever taken so many "Sunday walks" in one day in my life! Ah today was one for the memories. And stories.
I got home and started packing because I leave for Paris (squeal!) early tomorrow morning! I think, for me, packing is primarily mental. I have the hardest time getting started because I have it in my mind that packing is the worst thing on earth, but then I do it and it's not so bad after all.
In the midst of my packing, Chloe came up and told me they were going to be going to Evensong at Westminster Abbey a little after two. I joined them, and we had a good experience. We got to sit right in Poet's Corner which was thrilling, and there was some beautiful music.
It was interesting being in a Catholic service. The Catholic church gets a lot of things right, and I learned things I needed to hear tonight, but there are more complete truths out there that I am so grateful to have access to. The Book of Mormon clarifies so much, and modern prophets are such an incredible blessing I'm afraid I've taken too much for granted. I learned a lot more than what was being discussed doctrinally tonight.
We got back to the Centre an hour or so before we needed to be back down for dinner, so I finished packing. I'm delighted that I still have oodles of space in all my bags, and they're all still well under the weight limit. Hooray for easier travel!
After dinner we had a retirement party for Dr. Durham. Unbeknownst to me until tonight, we were the last group of students he will ever have. I am so grateful I had the chance to take a course from this wonderful professor. I learned so much, and I grew to love him. He's a good man.
So, basically, a Sunday that started out amazingly frustrating ended up being simply amazing. It was a good way to end the Study Abroad part of my trip. Life is a wonderful thing.
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