15 - What Language is That?

            January 2012 I received a big white envelope in the mail. It was a letter that I had been waiting for a long time to get. It was my mission call. With family and friends gathered around I had opened it up to see where I was going. Reading it to myself, I said out loud “what language is that?” My mom started freaking out thinking that I had been called to some strange land but then I eased her fears when I read the words California Sacramento Mission. The language that I was to speak, Laotian. At first, unlike my mom, I was kind of disappointed that I was going states side on my mission. I was really hoping to be called it Italy but the Lord had different plans for me.

            My mission to serve the Lao people in California was one of the best experiences of my life. I would have never given it up for the world. Like many missionaries, I had no idea what I was getting into. I wish that I could be able to say everything that I can about my mission. Write every experience down on this blog. But if I did, I would be here for weeks writing and writing. My mission really did change my life. I grew physically, spiritually, and mentally. Learning the Lao language was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. ແຕ່ວ່າມັນມ່ວນຫລາຍທີ່ຈະເວົ້າໃນພາສາລາວ. This opportunity I had to go and be a missionary not only changed my life only but the life of many others around me. Like I said I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. 

14 - Tabula Rasa

            One thing that I am grateful for is a chance for a new beginning. I don’t remember where I learned it from but the Latin phrase Tabula Rasa has been a slogan for me. In English, Tabula Rasa means a “blank slate.” In this life we can make so many mistakes. Mistakes for the most part are not bad. They are part of learning and part of growing. But there are even some mistakes that we make that we know could have been prevented. Those are the mistakes that are bad.

            Sometimes in my life I have felt that there are some mistakes that I can never get rid of, some that I cannot make up for. But that is not true. A Tabula Rasa has been made for us. A blank slate can be started on again. This is possible through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ made it possible for all of us to be forgiven of our sin by His Atonement. When He atoned for our sins or for our mistakes, He paid the price for our sins and promised us that if we follow Him, He would give us a new start, a clean slate, a Tabula Rasa. Oh how grateful I am for that. I am so grateful that I can start again and be clean.

Most of the Tabula Rasa are mad out of clay or wax. When you write into them, it stays there after the clay has hardened. In my mind the memories of my past mistakes are like these hardened tablets on a shelf. They remind me to not make those mistakes again. When I repent and follow Jesus Christ, I am given a new tablet to start over, to make this tablet better than the one before it. I am so grateful for the chance to start over and I am so grateful for a Savior that has given be that chance. Because of Him, I can be better. 

13 - Thanksgiving Reunion

            Thanksgiving has been one of my favorite holidays. You can visit with family, watch some football, and get stuffed like a turkey with turkey. After two years, this past Thanksgiving I was able to go up to Idaho Falls and be with my family. Three years ago I took my roommates with me up for Thanksgiving because they were not able to go back to their homes for Thanksgiving. One of them was from China and it would have been a really long trip back home so I just invited them to my place. It was a blast having them there.

The one from China, not yet a member of the Church, thought that Mormons only ate steak and green jello w/carrots. He was sad to find out that it wasn’t true. But with turkey, stuffing, and green bean casserole (his new favorite), we ate to our hearts content.

One day we took my Grandpa’s four-wheeler and his sled out for a ride. We had forgotten snow clothes back at our apartment in Provo but that didn’t stop us from going out in below freezing temperatures. Afterwards we came in and had some good hot chocolate and watched played a board game with the family.  It was such a great thanksgiving.

            Now three years later, I invited them back with me to Idaho again for Thanksgiving. A lot had changed since then. Two of us had gone on missions. I was engaged, the one from China was dating a girl from back home, and the other one was waiting for a girl to get back from her mission. Besides our relationships status. We had all changed a lot spiritually and we were more mature. We didn’t take the sled out this year because there was no snow but it was good to have them back. Able to relive some memories and able to share our new stories. If we are all still here. We’ll have to plan on doing it again next year. 

12 - An Easy Way to get Paid

           Being a college student can get pretty expensive. Even after scholarships and grants, there still can be a lot of school that you need to pay for. Things like books, rent, loans, gas, car payment, fees, tuition, and most importantly food. At the beginning of the semester, I had just gotten back from serving my mission and I had only $4000 or so in the bank. Where tuition this year after my scholarship was $2250 a semester, I did not have enough money at all to pay for school. But I was lucky and I was able to find a job here on campus. Probably not the job that I would have liked but it pays well and it doesn’t conflict with my school schedule.

            Now I have enough income to help me out through the rest of the year and I am able to pay for things that I need. But even then it would be fun to have a little extra cash to do some fun stuff or even just to have a little bit of security cash. So to make a little extra I decided to donate Plasma.

My experience donating plasma has be good to me so far. When you donate, the take the blood from your veins, run it through a centrifuge, separate the plasma from your blood, and return the rest of it back into your veins. It’s simple, safe, and painless. You get compensated for your time. Plus, you are helping save the lives of other people. You can donate up to twice a week and can make up to about $220 each month. It really is a nice and easy way to make a little bit of extra cash. As long as you’re not afraid of needles. I would recommend it to anyone. 

11 - The Beard Code

          There has been a lot of talk recently about beards at BYU. The New York Times even did an article on it. A lot of students are complaining that BYU is restricting them on what they can and cannot do with their facial hair. Students when they come to BYU sign an Honor Code and commit to live by it. The Honor Code includes staying away from alcohol, tobacco, illegal substances, sexual misconduct, and maintain the standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It also includes a dress and grooming standard. All of BYU students generally follow these standards but so many are hung up on the beard problem.

Concerning facial hair, the honor code says, “If worn, moustaches should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or below the corners of the mouth. Men are expected to be clean-shaven; beards are not acceptable.” For myself, this statement doesn’t bother me but to others being “expected to be clean-shaven” is a little too far for them. These standards were given to BYU by its Board of Trustees which includes the First Presidency and three members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. These are leaders that we sustain as Prophet, Seers, and Revelators. They are who we believe are called by God to lead His Church.  If they feel that it is the best of interest for BYU students to not have beards, I am absolutely fine with that and so should every student at this campus.

Beards are something that is so menial. Our time here at BYU is short compared to the rest of our lives. If we are required not to have a beard, that is okay. We could always grow one after we are done. We may not completely understand why this is a rule but I believe that it is for our best interest. 

10 - The Electronics Arms Race

Just like the Arms Race of the Cold War. Another is happening in my apartment. Actually, it is happening around the world. It is not a race for weapons or who has the biggest guns but it is a race to beat the other side. This race is for the best, newest, and biggest electronics that you can have.

I believe it all started when one of my roommates bought a new projector and screen off of ksl.com. It was a pretty good deal. It has been used multiple times. But ever since then my other roommates have been buying iPads, looking into a new desktops, getting new headphones, and trying to out due the other roommate. I, on the other hand, just sit back and watch. I wouldn’t mind getting a new iPad, a new computer, or even the new Wii-U. But I do not have the money for it. I think that my roommates are crazy spending hundreds of dollars on electronics like they were buying a snack from the snack machine.

             All in all, I let them have their little war. To me, I would never spend that kind of money right now as a college student. But it is fun to watch them go at it. Even though I think their crazy. I think tonight I’ll watch a movie on the projector. Oh the joys of others spending. 

9 - Snowball?

You’ve probably been wondering for a while now ‘what’s with the title of his blog’ or ‘who names there blog A Snowball by Any Other Name is Still a Snowball.’ Today your curiosity is now being relieved of its torture, while I tell you about the torturous days of my childhood. (I was not really tortured).

            It all started when I was little. Ever since I was born I have had a full head of blonde hair. Today it is still blonde but darker than it used to be. I was a “toe-head.” My hair was so white that my uncle would always say that if you through me into a snow drift and only the top of my head was showing you still wouldn’t be able to see me. From that day he gave me the nickname “snowball.”

            With reference to the line from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the title of my blog explains how I fell about myself. If you take some snow and form it in your hands you can make a snowball. No matter if it is small or big, rough or smooth a snowball is still a snowball.  I lot of things have happen in my life. I have some rough edges and some smooth ones. I use to be small but now I’m pretty big. But in the end I am still me, Trevin Allan Lasley.