Diana Leaney López Ruano

Whilst discussing things with my friend who recently moved to California she stated,   "I don't miss Utah ,  I miss the people in Utah."   That is what makes home a home ,  the people.  If I could have brought my family and close friends to ZhuZhou,  I wouldn't have much of a reason to return to Utah,  except maybe the sunsets. :)  I know what it is like to leave home.  I know what it is like to open the door to an empty apartment and silence.  I know what it is like to miss people,  to miss the companionship of someone that loves you and you love them.  That has been my favorite part about being able to walk into my mother's home these past few months;  opening the door and falling to the ground in an overly dramatic death scene because Bryan just shot me down with a fake weapon,  or Bella telling me that she missed me,  or Steven just walking by and giving me a one-armed hug with food in the other hand before heading downstairs to his man cave.  I don't

Today I am so thankful .  I am so thankful for today! I am thankful for friends that care enough to actually care.  I am thankful for phone calls and hugs.  I am thankful for words of comfort and the fact that so many people have faith in me,  hoping that I will do my best as a missionary. I can be a great missionary.  I will  be a dedicated missionary.  I just have to get there.  I have to get to the point where I am physically in  the MTC because right now it is hard.  Daily,  new things pop up.  New challenges appear and old challenges come back to hang out together again. To survive these next nineteen days will be a challenge,  yet I have to have faith that it will all be okay.  I should be freaking out,  it is SO CLOSE,  the moment when I will leave my family and friends for a year and a half.  Oh my goodness.  OH MY GOODNESS. 19 DAYS Its intense and intimidating and nail-biting-hair-pulling-pillow-screaming scary ,  yet I feel peace.  I feel peace because I rece

I had been updating my  Mormon Profile  this morning and was thinking about how different things can be in just a years time.  This was written before I turned 21 in China:   About Me I'm just another 20 year old who is just trying to find my place in this world. I work, learn, play, and grow.  I may be searching for where I am going,  but I do know where I have been, and I know who I am.  My name is Diana Linay Lopez Ruano. I'm half Mexican and half Guatemalan, born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I'm the second of 8 siblings and yes, I am a "Mormon", a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Family. Friends. Religion. These I treasure above all else, even more so now that I am away from home. Very far as I am currently an English Teacher in ZhuZhou City, Hunan Province, China. A land where people smoke next to me in the elevator and stare at me because I'm a Wàiguó rén, a foreigner. A place where I'm almost alone in m

Can't necessarily say that I like my Father.  Bit sad,  but true.  Years of arguments and broken promises have led to empty conversations and uncomfortable silences.  The only time that I actually missed  my father while in China was when I wanted a priesthood blessing. I needed one.  I needed the reassurance from Heavenly Father that can only come through the direct line of authority each priesthood holder has.  I missed it.  So much. Oh,  to have the priesthood in my life...  I would have given anything .  I missed white shirts and ties.  I missed taking the sacrament.  I missed having the priesthood in my home and the blessings that come with one that holds the power of God here on earth. Power.  I see my friends now,  worthy priesthood holders that are an example to all.  How easy it is here in Utah to see the famous 'garment line' and know,  just know that the particular individual is following what Heavenly Father needs them to do;  staying worthy and s

Irina and I are quite different.  Every decision we make,  every thought we have,  every outfit we put together,  is sure to be the polar opposite than that of the other's.  Growing up with my older sister as my twin for 12 years,  I discovered that there are different kinds of people and there is nothing wrong with that.  For example,  numbers are not for me.  I hate numbers,  with a passion.  Anything to do with formulas and calculators and graphs and ewwwwwwww.  Memorizing?  Gross.  Chemistry?  Forget it.  For a long time,  I thought this made me dumb.  I thought,  "I can't spell out words off the top of my head like Tita can,  she is so much smarter than I am." I struggled with the fact that I was the "dumb sister".  Of course I had good grades,  but how was it possible that she could enjoy learning about molecules and bacteria when all I could do was stare out of the window and doodle in my notebook?  It didn't make sense.  Did it make me slow,