Hong Kong

I like it here. We went to a movie last night and got out after midnight, the city was still as alive as it was at 7pm. It has quite a character about it. We're staying in a room the size of a queen size bed, not bad, not bad. Only a few days left.

It's hard to compete!

While you are all in Thailand, Egypt, Ghana, India, and who knows where else, I have chosen to spend my time in the thriving metropolis called Cedar Hills, Utah... ever heard of it?

While you are helping orphans learn how to read and write, Erin and I have been planting flowers and building rock walls in my back yard to get my house ready to sell.

While you are helping develop innovative and sustainable self-help solutions to the fight against chronic hunger and poverty, I've been watching expensive horses race around a track and rubbing elbows with women wearing hats that probably cost more than women in some countries make in a year.

All of this is enough to make me realize, there's someone in South America who will never have the opportunity to come to the BYU MBA program, but I did. So I should find a way to get out of Cedar Hills and give back to those who are less fortunate.

Thanks for the updates on your lives, as it's the only way I stay in touch with reality.

Miss you all!!!

More time with kids...

(after one of the trips to the internet cafe today)

(watching the soccer tournament at school last week...with about 4 kids on my lap)

(some of the girls in their room)

Today was a holiday...but I think I'm more exhausted today than I've been since coming.

Brother Johnson met with Frank and me this morning. I gave Frank a Book of Mormon last night, marked some scriptures. When he and I met this morning, he'd already done a lot of reading. We had a great discussion. He asked good questions, and I answered the best I could. Then Brother Johnson was ready to talk. We talked for a bit, then he gave Frank a blessing, then gave me a blessing. Amazing. Frank and I left, both of us in awe and feeling really blessed and humbled. I'm not sure how to describe.

It was a holiday today, so I thought I'd capitalize on the free time to take the kids to the internet cafe. We took 8 last week, and more wanted to go. I found out today that it's been almost a year since the kids have been out of the orphanage and into town. Big thanks to Casey for sponsoring their trips. So eventhough it was a holiday, Frank came with me so I didn't have to take the kids by myself. It was exhausting as it was, so I can't imagine doing it by myself--nice of Frank to give up his day off. We took 17 kids in 2 trips. This was their first time on the computer, so it was nonstop helping kids. They absolutely loved it, but it took all day, and all my energy. I loved when we got in the first taxi, all the kids were piled in the backseat. I looked in the rearview mirror, and they all had their heads bowed and one was saying a prayer, asking a blessing on the driver, and giving thanks for their opportunity to go to the cafe. It was just really cute.

I did spend a little time at the orphanage between trips. Emanuella (my fav) is upset and won't talk to me. I finally grabbed her, gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and told her I loved her. When I let go, she ran inside. She came back out about 2 minutes later drying her eyes with her dress. Yeah, that broke my heart. The only words I got out of her today were her saying that it was her last day. :( Can I bring her home? And her brother?

I'm not going to be ready to leave on Thursday. In fact, I'm really sad just thinking about it. There's so much more I want to do.

Paradise

We've just been kickin' it in paradise this past week. Seriously, it's great. We never know what time it is, we spend all of our time on the beach, in the water, or in a restaurant. You can walk anywhere within like 10 minutes, beach can be seen in almost every direction. It is unbelievable. The water is so warm and so clear. Nanette teaches us her synchronized swimming techniques after wh ich we see how far we can throw each other by standing on each other's shoulders and shooting up into the air. Granted most people do this kind of thing with their 8-year old children, but since we're on vacation this is allowed for us as well--even if it does turn heads.

We saw 3 sharks while scuba diving! Apparently they're not dangerous, but still, slightly alarming. We also saw a harlequin shrimp, which apparently people dive for years looking for. We saw two our first day! Our guide is the only one in the shop that knows where they are. When we were on the boat the other insturctors were asking him to show them and he was laughing and telling us there are like 6 people on the island that know how to find them, and they keep it a secret...and then he showed us. I don't know why he wasn't concerned that me and Mallorie would navigate our way back and share his secret :)

Scuba Diving!!

Computer?

After school, Frank and I took 6 of the older kids into town to the internet cafe. Little did I know it would be their first time on the computer. It was a ton of fun to be there with them and see them discover the wonderful world of google. :) They were really, really cute. They got really excited about it and were sad when their time ran out. Afterward, they were going off about how they wanted to know more and how they wish they had more of an opportunity to work on computers. Frank's response was that they needed to start praying for computers at New Life. I guarantee you those kids will get computers. When they pray for something, it happens. They have SUCH amazing faith.

Mehendi!

Maybe not as hardcore as living in the jungle and maybe not as relaxing as lying on the beach in Brazil, but there's nothing like a good bridal shower to remind you of your single status. It turns out that bridal showers are the same everywhere. Lots of food, lots of talking about dating and tattooing? Ok, well maybe that last part is just in India. Good times all around though!