Provo YSA 97th ward.

Last summer was the first time I wasn't as stressed about finding BYU housing. I was in California and after having served a mission wasn't too picky about what my apartment looked like. I had found a listing at the complex where I currently live, but it was purchased by the time I had called to ask about it. I then found a second listing and everything fell into place. I felt so directed to this place.

As girls have been moving in for the fall, I've made sure to tell them.

| GREATEST. WARD. EVER |

I have never stayed in a place so long or been in a ward for so long (other than my childhood home ward family of Polynesians—Long Beach 7th ward). This ward has that "home ward" feel and I guess living with the same roommates, in the same apartment helps with that too.

Usually when people at BYU are trying to sell their contracts they'll include in the listing, "great ward!" The thing is, people move in and out, so the atmosphere of the ward changes. What makes my ward SO wonderful is our loving bishopric. At the beginning of the school year our Stake President told us "make the bishop your best friend." 

Bishop Cardullo is this delightful Italian fashion designer. He lights up the room and has this ability to make you feel like you're his favorite person in the world. He wears cool socks and was even complimented on them from the pulpit one stake conference. He does Zumba every morning. I can literally say bishop's name and at least 5 people have some kind of personal connection to him. Everyone in our ward has received at least one personalized text message or phone call from him. & I can honestly say that he has become one of my best friends! :)

I was given a calling (a service assignment) that had me attending the Ward council. Every week I got to be a part of and witness how our bishopric received guidance and revelation on how to direct the ward, but most especially I got to see the love they have for everyone.

We have SO many people staying in the ward from last year.
Contracts listings  turned into lottery tickets because everyone wanted desperately to stay in our ward boundaries. There were multiple contract posts on our ward FB page, but also I got text messages from random people, and phone calls.

Our ward theme last year was Alma 7:23-24 :

"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works." 

& we were constantly counseled to
1. Qualify for, 2. Recognize, and 3. Act on spiritual promptings.

I feel so lucky/privileged to be able to stay in this ward yet another year! I'm excited to see how Heavenly Father directs the leaders of this ward and what kind of force for good we can evolve into.

^^My new Presidency ♥. Brittany Mecham-secretary; Amanda Wrigley-2nd Counselor, Me, and Lauren Christiansen 1st Counselor

^^ We didn't even plan to wear matching dresses, it just happened!

^^The Bishopric.

^^a friend of Kaede, Me, Kaede, and Bishop

I had the most sacred privilege of escorting Kaede, a sister in my relief society/my visiting teacher/dear friend, through the temple for her first time! :)