Naked Native

We're All A Bunch of Monkeys

2007-09-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

Moving to Ecuador

2007-09-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

This is a portion of a sponsor letter i wrote for my trip to Ecuador. With the help of my Grandma Jo, this letter has been sent off to over a 100 people, business, and churches. So far I have raised $1800.00!! Whoo hoo! If any of you out there have a thousand dollars laying around and you don't know what to do with it...I'll take it off your hands for free.

Well, I’m off on another adventure. This time I am on my way to South America. After spending some time here in Utah going to BYU, I have been feeling as if I am supposed to be doing much more with my life. I still have no idea what God has planned for me, but I plan on running through each door He opens at full speed with no questions asked. I have recently been accepted into a humanitarian volunteer organization that is sending me to Ecuador to work in orphanages. This opportunity is one that I can’t and won’t pass up. Reading comments from past volunteers describe this as a life changing experience. One person wrote, “You will change lives. You will be loved by children who have no else to love, and you will give love to those who would not get it otherwise. Your hearts will break and grow more than you thought possible.” I feel completely drawn to this program and I am ready and willing to be used as an instrument to show God’s love to these children.

Orphanage Support Services Organization (OSSO) is a nonprofit organization, providing service to 10-12 orphanages in Cuenca and Quito, Ecuador. OSSO sends volunteers to Cuenca and Quito for approximately three months to work with orphaned and abandoned children. Volunteers do everything from basic child care (such as changing diapers and feeding babies) to doing preschool activities and physical therapy. Most volunteers are college-age students who take a semester away from their studies to give service. These volunteers work very hard under very challenging conditions, and unless they are able to find sponsors, they pay all of their own expenses, the total cost currently being $2,665.00

Many of the orphanages OSSO serves in are run by Catholic nuns. While the nuns work very hard they receive little or no support from the local government to care for and feed each child. OSSO tries to help fill in the gaps by providing volunteers, educational materials, diapers, food, clothes, and by trying to improve the physical conditions in the orphanages.

I will be serving in Cuenca and will be there from November 15, 2007 to January 1, 2008.

Bubble Wrap

2007-09-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago, I heard the doorbell ring. Before I even had the chance to realize that it was the doorbell, my roommate (We'll call him Baldy) seriously was in a full on sprint to the door! Naturally, I start running in joyous glee too after him! HAHA We rounded the corner and there he was!!! Standing in all his glory and his countenance did shine brighter than the sun. Who was this shinny person??? The UPS Man!! He brought a box that was almost as big as me! As soon as I saw it I think I might have drooled a bit. Baldy turned into an animal and savagely sliced the box to shreds revealing the magic item! It was a freakin’ Vacuum! As soon as I saw it, the excitement died and those happy fluttering butterflies of anticipation that live in my stomach were digested. I walked back to my room to read. 30 minutes later, Baldy walks in with bags of bubble wrap and says, "I thought you might like this." People....I loved it. I spent about two hours popping each and every one of those bubbles!

I am a simple person. Just give me bubble wrap, sour candy, and Ice cubes and I'll be happy.

Please!!! Don't Make Me Go!

2007-09-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

I really don't want to go to work. Waaaaaaaaaaaa!

A Few Goals

2007-09-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

I want to be a better son, brother, friend, student, and disciple of God. I know I just can't wake up one day and be a better person, so this is going to take some time and some hard work.

***Becoming a Better Son***
-Try being as open as I can with them. I should be able to trust them more than anyone.
-Ask my dad for help and listen to what he has to say.
-I need to pray for them more.
-Tell them I love them more.
-Call them often just to check in.
-Try my best to obey with a loving and thankful attitude.

***Becoming a Better Brother***
-Always be there to talk with her.
-Remind her how much I love her.
-Do whatever I can to protect her.
-Pray for her often.
-Call her more just to see how her day went.
-Remember the things and dates that are important to her.
-Be an example to her, but never make her feel as if she is being judged, dumb, unimportant, or unloved.
-Be her best friend.

***Becoming a Better Friend***
-Make sure my friends know that they can always count on me to be their crutch if they need help.
-Do everything I can to spend time with them individually.
-Remind them that I am ALWAYS available to talk or help no matter the time.
-Pray for them individually.
-Be a better example with my words and actions.
-Stay in touch with them no matter the distance.
-Tell them all that I love them and that I am thankful for their friendship.

***Becoming a Better Student***
-Study Hard.
-Manage my time better so that I can study more.
-Be open to new ways of learning and experiment to find which method works best for me.
-Save money by not buying dumb things that will not help me in the future.
-Fill out as many scholarships as I can.
-Always look for opportunities to better myself.
-Get more sleep.
-Eat healthier and work out a bit.

***Becoming a Better Disciple of God***
-Spend more time with God.
-Try to read the Bible more.
-Finish reading the "Purpose Driven Life".
-Be more compassionate and help others whenever I can.
-Listen better and try to trust God more.
-Remember that God is in control of everything. I have no need to be afraid of everything.

Floss And My Ceiling

2007-09-13T23:48:00.000-07:00

Last week I bought some floss and it seriously tastes like gum. So, with that being said, I was just flossing and because it tastes so good I decided to chew it before I threw it away. After I chewed out all the flavor, I curled my tongue and aimed for the trash can. I gave a good blow, but...instead of flying 2 feet across the way to my trash can, it shot 6 feet up and hit the ceiling!! haha. I wonder how long it will stick there!! Any guesses?

National Geographic In My Backyard

2007-09-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

So I just walked outside to grab the mail and there was this cat sitting in the grass. It was a cute cat with a little white spot on its nose. I walked slower and called out, "Kitty Kitty Kitty!" It started meowing over and over. It didn't run away so I walked towards it and realized that it had caught a two foot snake! I picked up the wriggling snake to check it and there was a huge gash and a puncture wound on its side. I said goodbye to the snake and watched this cat eat it piece by piece. It was amazing. Even though I wanted to save the snake, it was still neat to watch.

Starting Over

2007-09-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

I deleted everything and I'm starting over! :)