W-A-B-A

I'm liking my job, it's fun doing so much with Dutch and getting a taste of German too. We reached our 2nd quarter goals so they took us to see Transformers last Monday. That's a pretty good movie. So is the 5th Harry Potter movie. Tons of us went to the midnight showing even though we all had to be up early the next morning. We all went to different theaters and then had a after-the-movie get together in the T of Park Place and talked about it. Our theater was really fun, everybody and their mom dressed up. People were having wizard duels and everything. I dressed up too, kind of. I bought a Harry Potter tie the week before so I wore that, and P-dub tried her best to draw the scar on my head...ha. I did a pretty sweet parallel parking job at the theater, but it still doesn't compare with the one I did at the wax slides in Omaha before I went to Uganda. There was only a space the size of a fist on both sides of the car between the two other cars. Bret still talks about.

A bunch of us went camping last weekend. I can't remember the last time I've been camping. It's definitely been way too long. After everyone was quiet I just laid there looking at the stars, the tall trees, the moon slowly moving across the sky, feeling that cool breeze, and listening to the trees, birds, and falls in the background. Nature is one big spiritual experience...all the time. The next morning Troy, P-dub, P-trip (Lora), and I hiked all the way up to the top of Mt. Timp. I was wanting to do it since I was in Uganda and was ready to do it by myself, but luckily they came and made it tons of fun. Challenges are awesome. We need good challenges that rough us up a bit every now and then. I love the feeling of accomplishment and seeing results. It was great being at the top and seeing everything. It was Lora's first ever hike. She'd hiked the Y before but Timp is not the Y. There were several really cool parts of the hike, but by far the best two were all the wild flowers along the trail and sliding down the glacier. There were wildflowers of every color. We were always amazed how the mountain just got more beautiful the higher we got. I don't remember the flowers from the first time I hiked Timp about 6 years ago. I also think there was a lot more snow than the first time, probably cause last time we went in August. It was a rush coming down sliding down the glacier, wearing shorts, snow getting everywhere. The first drop was so intense, no one could control their speed at all, we went so fast. It hurt a lot too from the cold snow and rocks sticking out. I'll have to try to put a video on here sometime, it's pretty sweet.

Oh the games...I love them. Sometimes ya hate em, but someday ya know you'll miss em.

We started a Sunday dinner group where we find recipes online and make em on Sundays. I'll be gone the next two Sundays but after that we're going to do Indian, African, and Mong meals...mmmmmm.

Faria is getting baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy cow, it's about time. Of course it hasn't happened yet, but he emailed me and told me August 15th. We found Faria in my second city, Heerenveen. Actually he found us. He had been taught in Portugal but then went back to Angola and really missed the Gospel. We were in a refugee camp one day and he started running toward us asking us to teach him. So we taught him, but he had so many difficulties with the Gospel, coming to Church, everything. He came to Church when I was in Leeuwarden, we had a great talk about everything, so hopefully he'll finally do it. I love that guy.

College would have been so boring without my roommates. Of course I would have probably gotten better grades from having gotten so much more sleep, but I love just chillin and chattin til 3 in the morning. Those have definitely been some of the funnest times too. In the fall we're going to install Skype on Alan's computer so I can still participate when they have those Soviet meetings.

An amazing quote from Elder Scott:

Your peace of mind, your assurance of answers to vexing problems, your ultimate joy depend upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Remember an unfailing, continual, ever-present source of peace and comfort is available to you. It is the certainty that your Father in Heaven loves you no matter what your circumstance, no matter what winds of trial, turmoil, or tribulation whirl about you. That certainty will never change. Your ability to access that support depends on the strength of your faith in Him and in His certain willingness to bless you.

Pictures:

This was in Gulu, we went to Noah's Ark, a place where orphans and street kids spend the night. It was funny cause the electricity was out and it was really dark out so we couldn't see each other, and then we took this picture and we could see what each other looked like. Kids there are fascinated with white skin, look at the kid touching my hand.

Albert, from Ghana and Cynthia, from China. A couple I taught . They are going to the Temple in October. I've never seen anyone who knows the scriptures like he does.

When you graduate in Holland, they put out a Dutch flag and your backpack.

Haha, this guy is awesome. One of my first days there he stopped me and asked if I like Liverpool. It took awhile to figure out what he meant, but he told me all about the Liverpool football team and made me a fan. I'd always go by his store and we'd chat. He's a funny guy.

Playing werewolves in our house. Those were some of the funnest games I've ever played.

K, I know what you're thinking...a little odd, right. NO! That's the thing, it's not odd! It's not odd, at least after being there a month and seeing that guys always hold each other's hand. It's just what friends do there. Rarely did I see couples holding hands. But it became so normal to me. It was weird the first time holding hands and walking with a guy, but it just became part of life.

Me and some Crane School kids. Ok, so Captain Frank is in the front, Honorable Moses is to my right side and Honorable Nsifa is in front, and Farhad (I forgot what he wants to become) is to my left side. Really cool kids, lots of fun with them.

We played Twister for FHE with Sis. Hasifa's family.

Sis. Hasifa and her school children. You can't tell, but they're all dancing to Calipso. I'm not sure if it's African, or Ugandan, but everybody can dance Calipso. I should bust out my Calipso moves sometime.