I'm going to the DR!

A few posts back, I mentioned that I was itching to get out of the country and was about to buy a plane ticket to the Dominican Republic, but decided I shouldn't go alone. But that didn't mean my desire to get out of Provo was gone. A week or so ago I was talking to my friend Shane and he said he might be going to the DR in November to interpret for a group called IASK (International Aid Serving Kids http://www.iask4kids.org/) It's a group of docs and dentists that go to the DR in the fall and Haiti in the Spring to give primary care to the kids there. So Shane and I found and awesome deal on flights and we're going! I can't wait! I'll keep you posted the trip.

VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 8

If you are from California or know anyone who is, please urge them to vote yes on proposition 8. The following clip helps us understand what the consequences will be if this bill doesn't pass. Please take the time to watch it.

Click here: Prop8

the big reach

I've had a lot of people ask me lately where my latest projects have taken me and I've sadly had to answer that I wasn't working on anything at the moment and I haven't been out of the country in over a year. The Charity Ball and Auction had a successful ending of over $20,000, but that was in March. I quit my job with Community Health Connect in August to take a full time position at the MTC so I no longer work with and advocate for the migrant seasonal farm workers. I've been itching to get involved in something, somewhere to continue work in public health/international development/humanitarian aid. I was going to take an internship in Mexico for the fall. I looked into an internship in Argentina with the United Nations researching and combating the exploitation of children throughout the country. I almost booked a flight to the Dominican Republic to go to orphanages there and work with AIDS patients, but realized I probably shouldn't go by myself. That's a lot of "was going to's" and "wanted to's" which sound great but if you never actually do any of your great intentions, what are you left with? Nothing. But I've finally found an awesome new project started by some pretty amazing people. It's called "the [big] reach" and right now we are working on getting treated mosquito nets to Africa to help fight malaria. It's a well thought out project with so much potential. Every question I had as far as effectiveness and implementation was answered. For every $3 donated we can get a pesticide treated mosquito net into a home and save lives. $3 to save lives is pretty incredible if you ask me! The goal right now is to raise enough money by next summer to send 18,000 nets to Uganda. Check out the blog and website at http://www.thebigreach.blogspot.com/ and http://www.thebigreach.org/.

I'll keep you posted on fundraising and events. Let me know if you want to get involved.

Good Birthday

I had a good birthday this year thanks to great friends and family. I started the day up at Timp Lodge in Sundance at a work retreat for the missionary department. There were some fantastic presentations! I got a great birthday surprise though when I ran into Jenilee Nebeker now Walker. We were in the MTC together years ago, but lost touch in the last few years. But she works for the missionary department in Salt Lake. So we had a great time catching up. After work we went out for birthday dinner with the roommies and close friends and then had a bunch of people over for cake and icecream. My roommates did such a great job!!! The great thing about birthdays though is that they seem to go on for at least a week. I got to go to lunch with Cindy and little JJ on Tuesday and then with Eric on Thursday. What a great brother! And next week is breakfast with Nicole. I have the best friends and family ever!

Cumpliaños

I thought it would be appropriate on my birthday to show me on my actual day of birth. If you notice in the picture I'm wanting to hear everyone tell me that I'm #1 and thinking "I can't hear you!" No, but really, parents should be the ones celebrated on birthdays so I wanted to thank my parents for giving me life. Their job was has been a lot harder than mine throughout the years...............all I've had to do is stay alive :), Thanks also to everyone for your birthday wishes. I love you all!

Congratulations Summer!

Summer and Steve got married last Friday and we are so happy for them! It was a perfect day and she was a beutiful bride! We love you Sum!

Roommies Picture

MTC

Sorry that it's been so long since my last post. Life has been crazy this past month. I was trying figure out what to do with my life. About 3 weeks ago I was trying to figure out where to live and where to work. My top options were a paid internship in Mexico or DC. I was pretty excited about both of those and even more excited to leave Provo. But then my training coordinator at the MTC told me about another full-time training coordinator position opening up and suggested I apply. I had some mixed feelings, that's for sure. I LOVE working at the MTC, but I'm a little tired of Provo. But I decided to apply anyway just to see. I ended up getting an interview and was hired the next day! It is such a blessing, and I have become more and more excited about it each day. The only down fall is that I need a new wardrobe. . . . . Anyone know of any cute long skirts for sale? :)

Mikee's Home!!

A week and a half ago my baby brother came home from his mission to the Mexico City East Mission. 

We were so excited to have him home, even though he probably thought we had forgotten about him. His plane came in 45 minutes early so only my dad and one brother were there when he first came down the stairs. But we all made it eventually. Sorry Mike. We're glad you're home! Sorry we were late. 

Actually, sorry your plane landed so early. And sorry they lost your luggage. Sorry you have to share a room with Eric for the summer. And sorry Tim took you to "The Dark Knight" two days after you got home. We really do love you!

HAVASUPAI

A couple weeks ago I spent an amazing weekend at Havasupai Falls. If you have never been, you've got to go. My first time there was right after I graduated from high school, but I hadn't been back since. 

Havasupai is an Indian reservation down in the Grand Canyon with amazing falls and turquoise pools. It really is an oasis in the middle of nowhere. After a 10 hour drive, we arrived at the top and geared up for a mile and a half of switchbacks, then 8 and a half more into the falls. I don't know if you've been to Arizona this time of year, but it's hot. We started the switchbacks, hoping the sun would set soon, but I thought I was going to die of heat exhaustion. 

When we got to the bottom, we were finally out of the sun, so the rest of the hike was fine. It is the most amazing feeling after 10 miles of dry dirt to all of a sudden hit a majestic fall in the middle of nowhere. We stopped for pictures then made our way down to the campsite and set up for the weekend. The next couple days were spent hiking, swimming, rope-swinging, and jumping.

Since we were camping over a Sunday, we decided to go back up to the village for church. There is a tiny branch there at a small home/meeting house where a senior missionary couple live. Each Sunday they helicopter in 2 people from neighboring wards to speak. So at 10:00 we started the 2 and half miles up to church. The problem was, by this time it was already almost 100 degrees and there was very little shade. The sun burned and I can't remember the last time I was that hot.













So an hour later with mild symptoms of heat-exhaustion, I arrived at church. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Maybe it was because it had taken so much from me physically to get there, but I just remember walking in and seeing everyone dirty and sweaty but peaceful. As we sang the hymn for the sacrament, I couldn't help but understand just a tiny bit better the suffering that occurred so that we could all be clean. I'll never forget that Sunday.

I definately recommend Bolivia

We have had a great last two days. Yesterday we did the most intense part of our study. We did a sensory panel where each child was interviewed while tasting the cookies. They had 6 questions for 5 different cookies, each with a different level of calcium. After we gathered the data, it showed that there was no significant difference in the cookies, meaning that even the highest level of calcium we used wasn`t detected. That`s great news. 






























Today we brought cookies with the highest level of calcium but this time made with the three different grains and they put them in order from what they liked the most to least. 

That`s all the data we need to know so tomorrow we are going to give them hygiene kits as gifts for helping us. After the school yesterday we went shopping. For those of you in Guatemala with me last year, just think Antigua. It was fun. 



















The people of Bolivia are so great. I`ve been amazed at how well mannered they are. I haven`t had one person yell ¨rubia¨ at 
me, they don`t yell ¨gringos,¨ and I feel safe. Bartering here is also done so kindly. People just say, ¨do you think you could lower the price for me a little?¨ and they do. It`s great. Such great people. 































Today after the school we went to lake Titicaca. It was so beautiful! You should all come see it. It`s been cold (the other night it snowed in El Alto and everything higher) but the sun was out today so the cold was tolerable. 

We just got back from a book fair. It was amazing! So many books everywhere. Tomorrow we are going to the ruins of Tiuanacu. Then to the airport. I feel like I have been here for weeks. I think because the days are so long. But also because we have been so immersed here. 



















There are the four of us and five Bolivianos so we learn so much

from them. It has been such a great experience.