Freedom from Fear

It's one of the four freedoms expressed by President Roosevelt and while there have been numerous writings on it - whole books in fact, I have never really thought about it.  But for some reason that's what I was thinking as Russ and I went hiking on our little anniversary trip this weekend. 

Freedom from Fear.  This is it.

(See those caves up there, that's where we went)

 

I don't know what it was, but I was thinking how nice it was that we could just go out in nature and find a trail and feel perfectly safe hiking through the wilderness, passing people as we went and just being able to enjoy the beauty of it all.  That sounds simple, but this is not so in many of the countries I have been in.  And maybe it's because I was wearing my HELP International shirt (which someone actually stopped me to ask about, by the way), but I kept thinking about some of the horrible incidents that have happen on beautiful paths just like this one in places that aren't as safe as the US and how the last time I hiked like this is El Salvador, we had to hire an armed guard to go with us. How blessed we are and we take it for granted! 

 

The view, the clean air, getting exercise, being together - it was all wonderful.  What a great thing to be able enjoy this God's creations and to feel so blessed to live in this beautiful, safe country.

It was such a great way to spend time together!  Oh, and I love this man.  Happy 13th, babe!

More Turkeys

Corbin's "thankful turkey" he made at school:

I am thankful for . . . food. So we can live and not be hungry and so we can give it to other people and do the food drive and so we are helthy and so animals and plants can eat.

I am thankful for . . .earth because it is preety and because people help it and because it gives us foo and water and because it gives its really pretty and fun.  I LLLove earth.

I am thankful for . . . miss nelson because she is nice and fun.  she is awesome and cool.  she helps us learn and read and write and she lets college students come to her class.

I am thankful for . . . my dad because healways does his workout with me, he sometimes drops me off at school and sometimes helps me with addition, subtraction and times.

I am thankful for . . . my mom because she cooks for me. she drops me off at school. she does the dishes. She cleans the house. She helps me with my homework.

I am thankful for . . . water. so we can live and be helthy and so plants and animals can live and so we can swim in it and we can drink it and so we can paint.  I love it!

Cody's "thankful turkey" from school:

Family, Friends
Turkey, Ham
Pizza, Chips
Mom and Dad
World
Leaves, feathers, birds and clouds

We are grateful for so many things!

What We're Thankful For

We made our "Thankful Turkey" for family night on Monday.  Here's what the boys came up with:
Daddy
Snow
Earth
Family (Cousins, Bros, Daddy, Mommy)
Heavenly Father
Grandma
Jesus
Mom
Brothers
Food (Noodles, Fish, Garden)
God's Creations
School
Friends

I should preface this though with the fact that we did spend some time talking about having an "attitude of gratitude" and being grateful for the things that money cannot buy.  It was actually a great discussion and right during the middle of it, Cody wanted everyone to be quiet so he could pray and tell God thank you.  It was sweet.  And so far this week they have still remembered what we talked about and have been expressing great amounts of gratitude in their prayers.  Let's hope it sticks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be grateful you speak English

There are so many advantages to being able to speak English, especially in another country.  Some people criticize it as "westernization", but the truth is that the people of El Salvador want to learn English and it really will give them an advantage in the job market and in the future.  HELP taught English on four different levels this year.  We partner with the LDS Employment Center, whom we have worked with for many years.  They help us get the word out and graciously provide many other resources for us to use. 

Part of the advanced class this year is preparing them to continue teaching the English classes after HELP volunteers are gone.  Many of them know alot about English grammar, etc (maybe even more than me), and it will be dually beneficial for them to get up in front of others and speak and share their knowledge.  They are great kids and I have alot of confidence in them.  Hopefully we can make it a sustainable program before we leave for the summer.

The other English project we are doing is with another University that focuses on adult education.  There are many students there who are getting their major in English or are studying it as part of their program, but never get the chance to speak to native speakers.  Hence, we started "English Club" at the request of one of their directors.  We spend time talking, asking each other questions, playing games, anything to get them speaking English.  I think it is very beneficial and will boost their skills greatly.  The day I was there, we talked about The World Cup which had just started.  And although El Salvador was not in it, soccer is as huge there as it is in most Latin American countries and everyone had something to say about it.

This is my group playing a round of "Hot Potato" - whoever was stuck with the ball had to answer a question in English.  When one of us ended up with it, they thought it was fun to make us answer a question in Spanish.  It was really a great time and I think everyone was learning something.  I felt really good about this activity.  [The downside of the morning was that I totally got eaten by mosquitos because I mistakenly thought "Oh, I'll be indoors, I won't need repellant."  Apparently I forgot I was in El Salvador and that I need it ALL the time.]

If you want to know more about HELP's work in teaching English, click here.

12th Day of Thanks&Giving - The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Ok, so I very rarely post about religion, and although the other Thanks&Giving days may not be in any particular order, but this one may possibly be the one that I am MOST grateful for. First of all, if by some strange chance, someone is reading this and does not know my religious affiliation (because you obviously do not know me) or if you are just curious, you can click here to find out what we believe. Because now is not the time for me to tell you all of what I believe or what guides my life, but WHY I am grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am grateful to know that

• if I lose a loved one, I will see them again and we will be together.
• when I pray, my Father in Heaven listens and answers me.
• my husband I are married and sealed together for eternity, not just this life.
• I have support in teaching my children values and principles that will help them lead a happy and productive life.
• I can have comfort and guidance in making it through life's trials.
• there is a purpose to this life.
• we have modern-day prophets to give us guidance and help answer life's tough questions.
• God will not ask me to do anything that is beyond my capabilities.
• because of Christ's sacrifice, I can be forgiven and know that the Lord does not expect me to be perfect. Because of His atonement, the areas where I am weak or lacking, he steps in and takes over.

I am grateful to have the Lord's hand in my life. I am grateful for church community and the acceptance that I feel amongst it's members. I am grateful to have experienced this unity in all parts of the world and to see people from all cultures and all walks of life believing and striving for the same thing. I am grateful that there are people who have given up years of their life to share this message and help others be converted unto Christ.

No stories, or links, or pictures to share today. I just hope that tomorrow we will all take the time to REALLY think about what we are MOST grateful for and Who we have to thank for all of those blessings.

11th Day of Thanks&Giving - Health

Just to clarify, no, this is not the same as being thankful for "Access to medical care". Colton has had a fever today, no other symptoms, just a raging fever, and it reminded me of an experience I had in Uganda. I haven't posted it yet, because there was just SO much about that day that I wanted to share and I didn't really know how to do it. It is impossible for me to categorize it as a certain type of day - it was new, awe-inspiring, humbling, funny, awkard, enlightening, amazing, educational, and . . . I can't quite describe the very part I want to tell you about. I am going to give you the shortened version of the day to give you the crux of what I want to highlight today:

A group of six of us traveled about 2 1/2 hrs out to a remote village on Lake Victoria to spend the day teaching and discussing needs. We had to hire a private taxi to take as out there, as there is no public transportation that goes anywhere near (probably because there are no real roads). We were welcomed with open arms - singing, food, grand introductions. They also took us for a ride in one of their fishing boats. The whole community had gathered to share the day with us and to hear what we came to teach. As they prepared the food, we were escorted on a brief walk through the village and to one of the two "schools" (pictured here). Though I REALLY want to tell more details about that visit, I will stick to the story. On our way, we were made aware of a very sick little boy who they thought was finally at the stage where he really should be taken to the clinic. We were glad that we were there and gladly used our phone to call our driver back. After visiting the school, we made our way back to the "community center" (benches under some huge shade trees) where we would eat and teach our classes. Before we began, one of the community leaders announced that our proceedings would be stopped because it seems that the little boy had just passed away. I was dumbfounded, I didn't know what to say or how to respond. Then from where we were, we could here the mother crying, wailing for her lost son. We were informed that the custom is for anyone of stature in the community to go in and to "say sorry" (in Lugandan, of course) to the mother. And they wanted us to go.

This is the hut, which I had taken a picture of on our first walk through the community, before I knew we would be returning to pay our condolences. As we arrived, of course the mother was still crying, and I was very apprehensive, to say the least. As I took the first step into the one-room, dirt-floored hut, I could no longer contain my emotion. I cried along with her and her mother for this little boy who was the same size as Colton, though probably older, laying on the dirt floor with ragged clothes and a scarf tied around his chin. I came out and wept some more. Malaria, as it turns out - totally and completely preventable.

I can spout off statistics all day long about the number of people living in poverty, the number of AIDS orphans, and the number of children that die every day from preventable diseases, but NEVER had I experienced it like this. Though I have seen poverty in many different countries and have worked with these people in all facets to improve their lives, I have never had it go straight through me like this dagger did. The sorrow I felt for this mother and still feel every time I think of this experience, is overwhelming. I cannot begin to describe all the feelings - I am sad for the lost life, angry that this has to happen, embarrased that I live so well comparatively and that at the same time it reminds me of what I have. I am so grateful.

Many, many times, in the quiet of the night, or when my children are ill and listless like today - I hold them tight and think of how lucky I am to have them, that they are healthy, able to grow and develop without any sort of hinderance. I am so blessed!

Luke 12: 48 - "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

I have been given much, and I hope I can fulfill whatever calling God has in store for me.

I don't think I need to add anything more to this story, but just know that there are many, many organizations out there (click here for one example) that are fighting for life, battling preventable diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, polio, and HIV/AIDS. I happy to be a part of it.

10th Day of Thanks&Giving - My Home

Recent events (ie. horribly destructive natural disasters) have led me to be very thankful for this place I call home. I know that someday my time may come, but for now, I am grateful to feel secure and be warm and have my family near.

Click here to see how an organization called Oxfam International is responding right now to this:


Earthquake in Indonesia, Tsumani in Samoa, and a Typhoon that affected Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines

Are you feeling better about your situation yet?

7th Day of Thanks&Giving - Friends

What I've Learned from My Girlfriends
Author Unknown

Good times are even better when they're shared.
A good, long talk can cure anything.
Listening is just as important as talking.
Everyone needs someone with whom to share their secrets.
Laughter makes the world a happier place.
Sometimes you just need a shoulder to cry on.
Great minds think alike.
You are NEVER to old for slumber parties!
Girls just want to have fun!
It's important to make time to do "girl things".
An understanding friend is better than a therapist, and cheaper too!
Gems may be precious, but friendship is priceless!

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." -Author Unknown

I am so grateful for all of my friends and all the different roles they play in helping me through this thing called life. I always get these cheesy chain-emails about friends and sometimes I just delete them, but sometimes they hit the nail on the head, because friends do make life sweeter, the hard times more bearable and fill in the voids that we all experience at some point or another. So THANK YOU to all of my friends - for your support, your honesty, your compliments, your advice, your laughter, your listening ear, your patience, your service, your acceptance and your love.

The idea of "friends" is a universal concept. Women all over the world have and need these relationships. In certain settings it has become, literally, life-saving. There is a method of poverty alleviation, called microcredit, that has taken hold in developing countries that allows the very, very poor to borrow money through a system based on solidarity lending. Most of the recipients of microcredit are women living on less than a dollar a day, and because they lack collateral, steady employment or any sort of credit history, they generally cannot get a loan from a traditional bank. Microcredit is one of the few things that has revolutionized they way we help the poor and changed millions of lives. Money is given to and managed by "village banks" or "solidarity groups" and they are responsible to each other for repayment. All the women in the group become the "collateral" for each individual who has recieved a loan - if she can't repay it or can't make her payment that month, it is covered by the group.
It is obviously much more complicated than I can describe here, but it has revolutionized they way we are fighting poverty around the world. The founder of Grameen bank and the genius behind this concept, Muhammad Yunus, recently won a Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of work. Now there are hundreds of organizations that are involved in microcredit, microfinance, microlending, microentrepreneurship, etc - and they are doing AMAZING things. They are changing lives and breaking the cycle of generations of poverty and hopelessness.

Pause the music a minute and see for yourself how this can empower people.

Look at the pride in their eyes and the happiness in each of their faces!

6th Day of Thanks&Giving - Food

Yes, I love it. All kinds. My favorites: Mexican, Thai, Indian, and good old southern home cookin'. I think my brother and I were the only ones in elementary school that liked the fried okra - and rather than be embarrased for actually wanting to eat, I would use the ploy "dare me to eat this stuff?" Oh, and I love most things with chocolate. But before I get sidetracked, I am THANKFUL that I have enough, that I can choose what I eat, that I don't have to worry where my next meal is coming from, that my children are well nourished, that I don't have to put them to bed hungry, and that if by some small chance, I didn't have enough food - I have a huge network of support from which I could find something to eat.

Unless you've been raised in a bubble, you know that there are people all over the world (including our own country) that do not have enough food or clean water. This is just one organization that is doing a myriad of things in just one village to improve the outlook for those who live there. They are literally saving lives. Click here to be inspired and see what's happening for some of the world's poor. More on Village of Hope here.

4th Day of Thanks&Giving - Employment

Although at times we are cashing in our penny jar and I feel like we are scraping to get by, I am very grateful that in these economically tough times we have a job at all. By "we", "of course, I mean my husband. And although he doesn't like being gone as much as he is, I am thankful for both of his jobs. I am thankful that he likes, and sometimes loves, his job. I am thankful that he is able to work and provide for our family. I am thankful for the second family we have there. We are so blessed!

When I say "scraping by", we all know that I am not out in the trees trying to collect food for my kids, but unfortunately, there are many people around the world for whom that is a reality. I am grateful for all the organizations out there that are working to help others provide for their own well-being. The following story is from Heifer International (they do amazing things!):

For decades, the Akha tribes of northern Thailand relied on one method of survival: Constant migration throughout the region necessitated by the slash-and-burn technique of farming. Then everything changed.

New government policies included tribe members' forced settlement. It didn't take long for them to find that the only farming method they'd known quickly depleted what little land they had. The notorious dry season only made things worse, and soon the youth of the villages were leaving home to find work that too often involved prostitution and lead to drug addiction. Meanwhile, those left behind still had to eat.

Mrs. Nakha remembers that their food and income "…came only from what we found in the forest." And although it was illegal, "We were forced to collect charcoal [for cooking] in the middle of the night. We didn't even use a flashlight to guide us, only lighted matches, so that we wouldn't get caught." During the daylight hours, "We were idle and isolated ourselves from each other." Forming a village community seemed impossible.

In 1999, Heifer International's Thailand program began working with these families, teaching them how to plant kitchen gardens and care for the water buffalo, cattle, pigs and poultry Heifer provided. The villagers learned how to use biogas for their fuel. Ten neighboring villages even banded together to plant almost 50,000 trees in a one-hundred hectare area where water springs are located. Now, this new forest absorbs rain water and supplies it to the villages during the dry season.

"Today we can establish ourselves as a community," said Amui Wazu. "And Heifer has introduced us to the kitchen gardens, which have been our savior. We have vegetables year-round!" "Since Heifer International [came], we are always busy with our animals and our kitchen gardens," Mrs. Nakha added. "We do not need to go elsewhere for our food, because everything for our survival is here."

To read more Heifer success stories, click here.

Count Your Many Blessings

I love this story of gratitude that President Eyring shared once in a talk:

When our children were very small, I started to write down a few things about what happened every day. Let me tell you how that got started. I came home late from a Church assignment. It was after dark. My father-in-law, who lived near us, surprised me as I walked toward the front door of my house. He was carrying a load of pipes over his shoulder, walking very fast and dressed in his work clothes. I knew that he had been building a system to pump water from a stream below us up to our property.

He smiled, spoke softly, and then rushed past me into the darkness to go on with his work. I took a few steps toward the house, thinking of what he was doing for us, and just as I got to the door, I heard in my mind (not in my own voice) these words: "I'm not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down."

I went inside. I didn't go to bed. Although I was tired, I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family. Grandpa didn't have to do what he was doing for us. He could have had someone else do it or not have done it at all. But he was serving us, his family, in the way covenant disciples of Jesus Christ always do. I knew that was true. And so I wrote it down, so that my children could have the memory someday when they would need it.

I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: "Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?" As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance - even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened.

The years have gone by. My boys are grown men. And now and then one of them will surprise me by saying, "Dad, I was reading in my copy of the journal about when . . . " and then he will tell me about how reading of what happened long ago helped him notice something God had done in his day.

My point is to urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God's kindness. It will build our testimonies. You may not keep a journal. You may not share whatever record you keep with those you love and serve. But you and they will be blessed as you remember what the Lord has done. You remember that song we sometimes sing: "Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

1st Day of Thanks&Giving - Access to Medical Care

And so begins The 12 Days of Thanksgiving . . . as we countdown the days until our one day a year of allowed supreme gluttony, I will join the many others who have been posting all the things they are thankful for. Also, since this time of year seems to remind us to give, I will share stories of people giving to those in need to make you even more grateful (hopefully) for the all the blessings we may sometimes take for granted.

I am thankful for the great medical care that is availiable to us in this country. Aside from whatever Obama or and politicians decide, there is no doubt in my mind that I am blessed just to be in this country. I am thankful that when my child is sick, I can take them to the doctor, they will be given medication that will, usually, be covered by my insurance, and I can bring them back to their nice cozy home where they will recover. I am thankful that we can recieve vaccinations for diseases that should have been irradicated long ago, but are still killing children in the developing world. (maybe one day I will get through my tears enough to post my story about my experience with malaria this summer in Uganda). I am thankful for emergency care and the comfort I have to know that I can dial three numbers and someone will rush to my aid without question. Mostly, I am SO thankful that when I am pregnant and when I deliver my children, or have them surgically removed, that I have access to a clean hospital and to educated medical personnel that I can trust.

Medical services in a developing country are far from adequate. Most of us are ignorant to the complications that can come from going through childbirth in unfathomable circumstances of poverty. Have you heard of fistula? While it sounds selfish to say that I am glad this is no longer a problem in the United States, I am also glad to know that someone is changing women's lives in countries that aren't so lucky. You need to watch this (at least part one).

If you want to see more, check out this documentary A Walk to Beautiful.

Why is there a "V" today?

This morning Corbin checked his lunch menu as he does everyday to see if he likes what they are having at school, or if he needs to bring lunch from home; then he asked "Why is there a big "V" on today?" I remembered today was Veteran's Day and he said "Oh yeah, we're singing to all the army guys today". I asked him if he knew what Veteran's Day was all about . . . "uh, no, not really". So I gave him the short version. Tonight we will talk more about what it means and why we are so blessed to have people that are willing to serve.

I will tell him about his Grandma, who recently passed away, and his Grandpa who served in World War II.

I will tell him of Colton's namesake, his great-grandpa, who left this earth the day Colton was born, and who also served with pride in the U.S. Army during World War II.

If we were in Denver, I would take my children to Fort Logan Cemetary and show them, along with their family members, all the people who have given their lives in service of this great country.

We will talk about our neighbor who recently returned from Afghanistan, and his friends' dad who is gone to training in preparation for their move overseas. Sometimes I think that I have it hard since my husband is only home a few nights a week, or a few days a month - but then I think about all the military wives who have sacrificed so much more (click here for a great article entitled "Lessons from a Military Wife").

For years I was apathetic and mostly ignorant about those who serve and fight for our country, but as I learn more, read more, and talk with people more about it, I have come to have a different and more sympathetic outlook. I have so much respect and gratitude for those who serve in whatever capacity - policeman, firefighters, military, coast guard, etc. Thank you for your selflessness!

I am thankful

So my sister and some others have been doing this cool blog posting thing where they post something they are thankful for everyday for the month of November. I thought it was a totally cool idea, and although I have many things to be thankful for, I had to be real with myself - I knew I would not be posting everyday and I would constantly be playing catch up and it would just cause me more stress. And obviously, as you can tell from my total lack of blog updates lately, that it has just been one of those months and I am just wondering when it all slows down. But, I am thankful for so many things - so I thought I would share a few with you on this quiet Thanksgiving night.

First off I am very thankful for my boys. They make me smile, laugh, and cry daily, they push me to be a better person. I love them!

I am also thankful that I have the ability and the means to take care of them. Many, many times when I am up at night rocking a baby, holding my boy waiting for the tylenol to kick in, or sitting in a steamy bathroom with one of them trying to avoid another asthma attack - I think about all the mothers and children I have worked with in other countries. I have it so easy! How would it be to have this sick, crying child and live in a one room hut, with no water, no medicine, none of the things we take for granted. My husband has a job and I get to stay home and care for my kids. When they get really sick, we can take them to our doctor, the insta-care, or if all else fails we can go to the ER. I am so thankful for these things!

Guatemalan girl helping her mother sell crops at the market

Going along those same lines, I am thankful for my home and the comforts I have. I have seen so many with less and sometimes I feel ashamed at the things I think I "need". But I do love my home, I love my yard, I love my neighborhood, I love that we live on a cul-de-sac, I love Corbin's school. I am so blessed!

working on a two room house in El Salvador

the shelter it was to replace

I am thankful for this country, for the rights we have, for our government (yes, I said that I am thankful for our government), and for what the future holds. For anyone who has ever lived or spent time outside of the US, you know how much we have to be grateful for. This is starting to sound like diatribe on how our country is so much better than others and that we have so much more. Maybe it is just the way I think about things. I am grateful for all these things and I think sometimes it takes seeing the other side to make us realize what we have.

For example, sleep, I would love to put in here that I am thankful for a good night's sleep - but it has been a long time since I have even gotten a decent night's sleep, but now when I do get it, I know I will be very, very grateful. And in an effort to get closer to achieving that ever sought after sleep, I am going to simply list a few more things that I am grateful for (more for my benefit than yours, but I hope you will read them and feel the same).

I am thankful for:

• my husband
• my sister (and the rest of my family, of course)
• my parents
• my friends - new and old
• my in-laws
• modern conveniences (dishwasher, vacuum, telephone, online-everything, washer/dryer, etc, etc.)
• education
• opportunities to serve
• working with people I can learn from
• people who are willing to work in low-paying, under-appreciated jobs (teachers, garbage men, etc.)
• ability to stay connected with friends and family (I guess that goes along with internet, etc)
• music and people who share it
• hot baths
• food storage
• I think I could keep going forever . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!