You see, in Provo there are many students. So many, in fact, that sometimes I forget that I'm not actually one of them! And the classic get-to-know-you question sure to come up within minutes of any conversation is "So, are you in school? Are you working?"
No, I'm not studying right now. I'm working though! Whew, at least I got one of those two answers down!
The truth is, I am still trying to figure out exactly why I'm in Utah as well...
Let me explain.
Coming home from Ecuador was the best of times and the worst of times ;) I decided to linger in Las Vegas with my family until I figured out exactly where to go next. Once I realized that travel therapy is what I wanted to do, my bishop convinced me that I needed to stay around longer before travelling the states haha. So, I accepted an awesome calling in my ward and stayed. 9 months longer as a matter of fact! ...And then I got comfortably settled
My full-time job was excellent with a company I enjoyed working with. My calling led me to establish relationships with some really great great people. I was able to be home with my family. The temple accepted me into doing some work with them there....It was AWESOME.
But I worked Tuesday through Saturday, with no PTO. Which means I hadn't been able to see my sister (who had moved to Utah) in several months. And I missed her. Weird how that happens, eh? One day, the department head asked if I would be willing to work the following Monday.
...Sure! ...I could commit to that. With no questions asked, I went without realizing that going Monday meant that I would have Saturday off! I immediately spoke with a friend in my ward who traveled nearly every weekend to Utah. Carpoooooool.
Our plans were to go together, then she would let me borrow her car since she wouldn't need it the whole weekend. Perfect. Except...when we arrived late Friday night, she gave me a strange look and decided it would be best if she kept her car. I only wanted to borrow it if she was absolutely sure she was okay with the idea anyway. But, I admit, I was a little bummed that not having a car meant I wouldn't be able to see a good friend in SLC that Sunday.
That's okay! I went with another gal to her ward in Provo...SUCH a good Sunday. To see my sister, her boyfriend, my friends. It was fabulous.
At the end of her ward meetings, the bishop came up to me and shook my hand. New face = makes sense. He introduced himself...
"I am Bishop Smith."
"Hi, I'm Tiffany from Las Vegas. I'm just visiting with Marissa today."
...then, without giving anyone else a chance to let the conversation develop, I looked bishop straight in the face and asked,
"What's your profession?"
0_0......???....0_0...?
Who asks that?!! Well, I did. It was a thought that crept into my mind and out my mouth before I even had a chance to put a filter on it or pinpoint where it came from.
Interestingly enough, he responded with, "I am a recruiter for physical therapy."
Oh really?? I mentioned to him that I am a COTA.
"A COTA? Not many people know what that is."
--"Yeah, usually they ask me if it's my last name. haha"
"As a matter of fact, we currently have a COTA position open in our Orem facility and are actively seeking applicants."
I raised my eyebrows. Weird...considering that people (including my own parents) have been nudging the idea of moving to Utah at me more during that time than ever.
"Send me your resume and I will see what I can do."
I didn't need to, but I figured what the hay. It would be an opportunity worth keeping open anyway. So I did.
Monday back in Vegas, I planned to do some personal chores, when I got a text from work.
"Tiffany, I know it's late notice but would you be able to come in today? We are short a few therapists."
I would be late, but sure. I went.
Guess what...Saturday off again!!! Unheard of. Two Saturdays in a row? This never happens.
So I went with my friend again to Utah. teeheehee
After forgetting about the resume situation and not hearing from recruiter Bishop Smith, I was surprised when he called me just as I arrived at Bianca's house to start the trip north.
"Tiffany, I receive your resume and it looks good. Now, how serious are you about moving to Utah?"
As nonchalantly as possible, "If the opportunity presented itself, I would move."
I could hear the wheels turning in Bishop Smith's head....until I spoke up and said, "Just so you are aware, I am actually on my way to Utah again this weekend."
Surprised, he replied, "You are?? Oh! Well let me talk to Lori and see if she is available to interview you this Saturday."
And she was. And I did. And it was all unique timing, wasn't it? Besides that, I had another good weekend with my sister and some of my buddies.
When I spoke with Bianca on the drive home, we both agreed that the fact that she felt I shouldn't have her car -- wasn't that she didn't trust me with it because she was completely fine with me borrowing the car the second time -- but that she was following an impression. Had she not, I wouldn't have had this experience which ended up being the catalyst to me actually considering moving to Utah. Too many strange things happened one right after the other prompting me in the direction of moving to Utah to not notice or consider it.
For two weeks after that, I half-heartedly looked into the option of going up. Is it something I could really see happening?...Well, not at first. Still, I did start talking to people about their experiences living there, places to live, the environment, the culture. My Dad and I even researched some apartments online when we had spare minutes of time. Yet, I hadn't made any moves yet.
One Monday, my day off of course, I figured if this was something I was going to do or not -- I needed to know! So I took 20 minutes to sit down with my laptop and do some searching. I only had 20 minutes before I needed to leave the house, and I knew that.
Craigslist!!! I hadn't thought to check there before! ...I had never even used Craigslist in my life until then. So, I checked.
On the second page, I noticed a cute little apartment (with a beautiful price compared to a lot of others). I felt courageous and texted the girl -- Madi.
"Hi Madi! I saw the apt contract for sale on craigslist & am interested in finding out more about it. Please contact me at this number! Thanks, Tiffany"
"Hi Tiffany! Let me know whatever questions you have about the contract. Also I will be home later today and can send pictures if you would like!"
*she sent me pictures later that night. I was at the park at the time, so I put the phone away and took a better look when I got home that night.*
In one of the pictures, I noticed a lamination of the Guayaquil, Ecuador LDS temple on her wall. Anything Ecuadorian perks my ears right up; I just had to ask about it
I'll let the rest speak for itself...:
WHHHHHAAAAT?? ...I'll keep going:
(At the moment I thought she was moving out because she was getting married haha. Come to find it was just someone being funny on her craigslist ad.) She asked if I was planning on going to BYU..:
I spoke with my bishop about it, and he brought up the story about when Gideon asked God for a sign, and God answered two times in a row SO clearly that it couldn't be misunderstood (Judges 6:36-40). When Bishop finished his story, I threw both my hands up into the air and basically said, "Fine. I get the point" And made up my mind in that moment that I could stop pretending that I didn't know it was what I needed to do.
Sometimes, things don't need to make sense logically to know it's right. I've had too many experiences confirming to me that when God says so, you should do it...even if you don't know why or didn't necessarily see it coming.
Faith is a quality I've been able to rub shoulders with quite a bit throughout my life, and I am so grateful for it. Without faith, I wouldn't have been able to make it through middle or high school, or go by myself on a trip to Hawaii, or serve an LDS mission to Ecuador, and so much more entwined in all of that.
So, even though I don't know exactly why I am here, I know I am here for a reason: my Heavenly Father asked me to come. Maybe at some point I'll know why...maybe I won't.
But you know, being in Provo these past 3 months has been pretty unique. And I believe even more that following the Spirit always leads to some pretty great stories.
