Last class of the semester

For the last four months I have had the privilege of teaching an amazing group of young adults every Tuesday at the Institute.  I was assigned to teach in Spanish of course the class gospel and provident living to the University students in Santo Domingo. They range between ages 18 to 30 but older people are also welcome to come if they want to.  Anytime I teach this class, I think of my own nephew Alex who lives in El Salvador. He is in this age group and how I wished somehow he was part of my class. These young adults have become like nephews and nieces to me. I have watched them change and mature even during those four months we have spent together.
We have talked about a multitude of topics during the semester, both spiritual in topic as well as temporal. We have laughed together and cried together. I have seen them blossom from not knowing much about our Church since the majority of them are investigators to understanding so much of the gospel of Jesus Christ since the base of everything we teach centers on Him. I am so proud of these young adults and I love every one of them very much. Today was my last class to teach as my time teaching this particular class has come to an end and I am now going to be teaching a different class. It was an emotional day today to say the least. I will miss having all that time with those sweet young people…they are amazing…

Endings are always hard. Letting go of something you care about is hard. But endings are also necessary as they allow for new beginnings to occur. If nothing ever came to an end then nothing new could ever begin. That is what we must remind ourselves of whenever we have to deal with something we love coming to an end as knowing that will help to see us through….

Here is a great poem about the people that come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown

When I  was asked to teach an Institute class I was very surprised because Institute teachers are as perfect as they come. I don't even know anyone who teaches Institute who is divorced so for the past four months, given the fact that I am so thankful for this opportunity given to me,  I went every Tuesday and produced the best possible setting for learning and by doing so I discovered how much I love to teach young adults.