الجمال النقي

Fun, and maybe unknown, fact: I love the Islamic religion.  I think it is absolutely beautiful.  (Of course, we're taking away the extremism here, which is the same I would hope for anyone looking at any group with extremes; e.g., polygamists.)  And along with that comes a deep love and admiration of Arabic.  It is also absolutely beautiful.  (Dad found this out last week when we went to Deseret Book and I came across Arabic copies of everything.)

With that being said, I needed to dedicate an entire post to a trip we took to a mosque on Friday.  I just have way too many pictures to fit in with my weekend-digest post, so . . . yeah.  

AND, at sunset we climbed the minaret and looked out over the entire city and listened to the call to prayer. 

So that was my lovely Friday night.  I'll write more about how the rest of Uganda has been tomorrow.

أنا أحبك

day one

Well, if dad can be happy about anything about this adventure, it can be that I slept approximately 30.37 hours from my departure until this morning.  So basically I slept any time I wasn't eating or moving from one seat to another  (add in some chat time with my neighbors on the plane...we all became great friends).  The stop in Amsterdam made me lose a bit of focus because it was......well . . . .

. . . .obviously wonderful.  {They sold tulips in the airport....tulips.}  And it was just . . . very European.  It made me want to take a small detour and spend time biking around the Netherlands.  

Anyway, we made it here late last night, unpacked a few things, and went right to bed.  Heard some dog fights and rainstorms through the night.  I woke up to the sound of children singing.....turns out we live right next to a school.

And then, I walked out onto our balcony and read....

After that, some exercising, and a shower {accidentally only brought conditioner}, we went out to get groceries and wander around . . .

Came back, read some more, ate dinner, read more, etc.  So a really relaxed day, but we'll be getting to work tomorrow.  Oh, and it's not as hot as I imagined, so that's good.  But, it will be a process trying to figure out what to eat.  All of my essentials (i.e., milk, cereal, spinach, apples, ice cream) are kinda off-limits/unavailable/expensive here so...that will be fun.  But honestly, I don't really mind.  Just as long as I can eat just enough to function, I'll be fine.

Love you lots.  No need to worry, everything is good here.  {Oh and the children are darling.}

Off again . . . again.

{If you are new to this blog, go here and here for some background.}

So.  When I was heading to D.C., I decided that it was probably going to be my last adventure before graduating/starting work.  I had never experienced a true summer in Provo before, and I just wanted to relax and enjoy one last normal summer before starting up "real life" (as they sometimes call it).  You know, read books by the pool, go on fun trips, eat popsicles, run through the sprinklers, barbecue, camp. . . . that all sounds nice, right?

But then, about mid-way through my time at D.C., I found myself on BYU's study abroad website.  I don't know how it happened!  {Okay, yes I do.  One of my good friends was talking about his fun summer plans abroad and I decided to just peruse and just see if there wasn't something I could do.} I couldn't help it.  And I found a program in Uganda.  And it looked great.  And I could afford it.  And then three of my friends in D.C. told me they did that same program and that it was wonderful.  And so I applied. {Much to my parents' chagrin.}  And now I am heading to Africa for the next 7 weeks.

Now, that explanation makes this all sound a little whimsical and flighty.  Which it is definitely not.  Let me try and restate this: What I am doing for the next 7 weeks is fulfilling one of my longest, biggest dreams.  Top of the bucket list.  Something I have felt inexplicably drawn to since the age of 12.  {And when I say inexplicably, I mean it.  I have never been able to adequately articulate my feelings attached to this, so just know that when I say I'm drawn, this magnetism is stronger than a McKean boy to a deep-fried candy bar.}  Initially my plans were to just go do whatever humanitarian work I could help with.  But then, in October 2010, I read about an amazing man named Muhammad Yunus {I got to meet him in March!!} and his creation of the Grameen Bank.  I finally saw a way that I could use my skills to help individuals in Africa.  I immediately started searching for ways to go and work with microfinance in Africa.  For two years I searched for programs/internships that would work, but the right opportunity never arose and other opportunities got in the way.  {Albeit, they were wonderful opportunities that I would not trade for the world.}   

So finally, this last November as I was sitting in my small kitchen in D.C. late at night, I decided that I needed to seize this opportunity in Uganda.  I understood that I was taking a big risk by not doing an internship, in order to secure a job, right before I graduated . . . but it didn't matter.  My mind was set.  Nothing was going to deter me, not even vague, alluring promises from my father of a future trip to Africa together.  I prayed about it, and it felt right.  So here I am.

{This is a video someone from the program took last year.}

Some of you may be wondering exactly what I will be doing.  Research.  Research on microfinance and what incentives can be used to teach people how to save their money.  But beyond that, I will be getting my first exposure to the developing world; I will be getting a look at what is really going on.  I do not intend for this to be a one-time thing.  As I have taken classes for my international development minor, I have only gained a greater desire to make a difference in the lives of those who lack opportunity.  To teach a man to fish.  And I could go on and on, but I'm starting to realize how wordy this post is getting.

We'll just close with this.  I am leaving.  And I am excited beyond belief.  And if you would like to keep up with how things are going, just follow along on here.  

In Mark

"With men that trust in riches, it is impossible; but not impossible with men who trust in God and leave all for my sake, for with such all things are possible."

I left my heart...

Well, we have turned in for the night and are planning to get to bed early{ish} so that we can get going early in the morning.  (Emma and I are hoping to fit in a run before that though, we'll see how it goes.)  But here is a recap of our weekend as your requested:

Friday.  After a long night of driving, we pulled into the Bay area around 8:00 a.m.  So beautiful.  (Just a heads up, I'll probably say that many times in this post.)   After unloading, stretching, and having some breakfast, we hopped back in the car and went to Half Moon Bay.  Bethany, Maddie, and I just walked down the shore for [who knows how long] and just marveled at the grandeur/beauty/depth/magnificence.  It was the quintessential beach day--sun shining, sand, waves, light breeze, seagulls, a bit of fog...just perfect.  After the walk we returned to find Emma playing with the waves [like a little kid] and had lunch and took a nap.

After the beach, we walked around the small downtown area, got some cokes, looked through bookstores, etc. [all of my favorite things, basically.]  On our way back home we stopped by a flower nursery--which I added to my list of dream jobs--and then went home for pizza, ice cream, and movies.

Saturday.  We started off our day in Chinatown, where everyone ate lunch (minus me, because of lack of ability to communicate my allergies with enough confidence that I would survive).  After, we walked down to the Transamerica building and then along the waterfront.  (We did get stopped and dragged into some weird story-telling thing at the Scientology building, but we left after about 10 minutes.)  Once we made it to Pier 39 I got some fish and chips and we watched the sea lions.

Next stop was Ghirardelli Square.  [Thank goodness.]  Warm brownie, vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate syrup.......my absolute favorite.  Ah.  I wish I could eat that every day.  But then I would get fat.  [I think we all know what one of my wishes would be were I to find a genie's bottle.]  Afterward we went to Lombard street, wandered around, and then went back down to the Wharf for dinner at Nick's. 

     

Sunday.  After a few struggles/mishaps finding a Sacrament meeting, we went to Emma's friend's house for brunch (eggs, brie, bread, fruit, hot chocolate).  We spent the rest of the day driving around to various tourist sites and gawking [maybe not the best word choice, but w.] at the architecture.  Oh my.  I love the architecture here.  Haight-Ashbury, Alamo Square/Painted Ladies, Presidio (I think my favorite), Golden Gate, Palace of Fine Arts.  We ended our time in San Fran at the Crepe House on Nob Hill and sitting through long long lines of traffic.

So there ya go!  We will be safe tomorrow as we head back.  Our plan is to stop in Reno for lunch at In-n-Out--enough motivation to get safely through the pass.  I'm going to go write Stevie now.  Love you.

home for the holidays

My final stop in D.C.: the White House.  A perfect way to say goodbye.

Also, just a little something for you to listen to for the next 9 hours.  Pick whichever version you like best: