"Never waste ANY rice"

Today we had a lovely relief society activity at the branch. I was sitting around a table getting to know the wonderful sisters. During our get to know you game, we drew the question out of the basket, “What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?” How would you answer that question?

One of the sisters, Yan Ping, said that the best piece of advice she ever got was from her mother, “Never waste ANY rice.” Growing up in China, they had been going through a famine and food was scarce, so they were taught to never waste rice. How grateful they were for EACH grain of rice.

Every day, we are each given so many opportunities and it is our job not to waste them, but to embrace them. (Boy that was cheesy) But for real! Life is like a bowl full of rice. (hehe) Do we let it sit there and let ourselves go hungry, or do we take advantage of each  little blessing that comes our way and eat it up? I am going to always think of Yan Ping, as I try my best to, “Never waste ANY rice.”

“Living in China is not just dipping your foot in the water, it’s full immersion.”

-Sister in the branch (I’m horrible for not remembering her name)

How true is that! I feel so blessed to be living here at such an amazing time. I am also so grateful for the awesome people that I have been able to spend the first month with and for the next 3 months I will get to spend with them. Oh, China. And your rice. I bet any of you that are reading this will never think of rice the same when you eat it.