'So in the world of today: 30 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
-Isis launched an attack in Kirkuk Iraq.
-Two Russian bombers were hovering over the English Channel.
-In the past five years the government has spent 140,000 on oil portraits.
-Obama vowed to reverse spending cuts from 2013.
-A Pakistani (Shiite) Mosque was bombed killing 56.
-5,000 pizzas were sent to the troops in Afghanistan by ‘pizzas for patriots’ to go with the superbowl.
-Russia has been adding lots of missiles to its arsenal.

'so in the world of today: 29 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-Isis is losing ground and men.
-One in five kids in the US are using some form of food assistance.
-A gun range in Arkansas has banned Muslims for five months now.

'So in the world of today: 28 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
-A Russian spy ring in the US was captured.
-The first lady did not wear a head scarf in Saudi Arabia, and shook hands with the new king.
-Italy issued 170 warrants for mob members.
-California declared E-cigarettes a health threat.

'So in the world of today: 27 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
-For its one remaining Japanese hostage Isis wants one of its people back.
-Isis was booted out of Kobani Syria by the Kurds.
-The Northeast US and Canada had some serious blizzards.
-Saudi Arabia began learning about fracking.
-Several civil rights leaders had their arrest records erased.
-Unemployment fell.
-Obama wants to regulate drone use for individual citizens.
-Delaware now has a Charles Darwin day.
-Radio waves from an unknown source out in space were discovered.

'Hi Beautiful!' by Sister Koroitamana

How are you? 

This week was a such a great long kind of short week. It was a little crazy I have to admit.We had an investigator named Eddie who we've been teaching and the Sisters previously have been teaching here since October. In the last weeks we've been talking a lot about his Baptism and helping him to prepare for it but he was always kind of shaky about it. We prayed a lot for Eddie. I came to love him so much as I prayed for him and the specific things he needed to progress. Then last week we finalized with him that his Baptism will be in the coming Sunday. As soon as we set that with him we began meeting with everyday and really trying to have members to every lesson we had with him. Through out the whole we both really felt Heavenly Father's hands leading and guiding us in our lives and in Eddie's life and this work. He really made it possible for us to meet Eddie with a member everyday even though Eddie lived almost an hour away and we had to pay for parking every day that we went. The members that came with us were exactly who and what Eddie needed to take this step. He used to be into Scientology and he has come so far. Last Sunday (Yesterday) at the LA Stake Center Eddie was Baptized! he looked sooo happy. He had invited his family and friends who were not members to come and upon seeing him all dressed up in white his Dad just said that Eddie looked soooo happy! His sweet Mom came up to us and just expressed all her love and gratitude for all that the Gospel has done for Eddie. As a mom she always wants to help Eddie be the best and she expressed how she loves the things that we teach him and how happy he is. Wow! I just love that! They were all sooo happy! We are currently trying to help our other investigator Everson now to prepare for Baptism as well. He is sooo sincere and just awesome! He is from Brazil and is here for work. Please pray for him:Last week we were in church and I was feeling little burdened down with just all the things that were going on in my mind, but as we walked in and sat down I just felt so peaceful and this feeling of love just came over me and just filled me up so much! I felt as though all my worries just melted away. Oh How grateful I was for church. 

I Love you!!!!

Sister Koroitamana

Are We Not All Beggars?

This is a quotation of the October 2014 general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"What a wonderful new element introduced into our general conference format. Bien hecho, Eduardo.
In what would be the most startling moment of His early ministry, Jesus stood up in His home synagogue in Nazareth and read these words prophesied by Isaiah and recorded in the Gospel of Luke: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and … set at liberty them that are bruised.”1
Thus the Savior made the first public announcement of His messianic ministry. But this verse also made clear that on the way to His ultimate atoning sacrifice and Resurrection, Jesus’s first and foremost messianic duty would be to bless the poor, including the poor in spirit.
From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus loved the impoverished and the disadvantaged in an extraordinary way. He was born into the home of two of them and grew up among many more of them. We don’t know all the details of His temporal life, but He once said, “Foxes have holes, and … birds … have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”2 Apparently the Creator of heaven and earth “and all things that in them are”3 was, at least in His adult life, homeless.
Down through history, poverty has been one of humankind’s greatest and most widespread challenges. Its obvious toll is usually physical, but the spiritual and emotional damage it can bring may be even more debilitating. In any case, the great Redeemer has issued no more persistent call than for us to join Him in lifting this burden from the people. As Jehovah, He said He would judge the house of Israel harshly because “the spoil of the [needy] is in your houses.”
“What mean ye,” He cried, “that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?”4
The writer of Proverbs would make the matter piercingly clear: “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker,” and “whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor … shall [also] cry himself, but shall not be heard.”5
In our day, the restored Church of Jesus Christ had not yet seen its first anniversary when the Lord commanded the members to “look to the poor and … needy, and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer.”6 Note the imperative tone of that passage—“they shall not suffer.” That is language God uses when He means business.
Given the monumental challenge of addressing inequity in the world, what can one man or woman do? The Master Himself offered an answer. When, prior to His betrayal and Crucifixion, Mary anointed Jesus’s head with an expensive burial ointment, Judas Iscariot protested this extravagance and “murmured against her.”7
Jesus said:
“Why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work. …
“She hath done what she could.”8
“She hath done what she could”! What a succinct formula! A journalist once questioned Mother Teresa of Calcutta about her hopeless task of rescuing the destitute in that city. He said that, statistically speaking, she was accomplishing absolutely nothing. This remarkable little woman shot back that her work was about love, not statistics. Notwithstanding the staggering number beyond her reach, she said she could keep the commandment to love God and her neighbor by serving those within her reach with whatever resources she had. “What we do is nothing but a drop in the ocean,” she would say on another occasion. “But if we didn’t do it, the ocean would be one drop less [than it is].”9 Soberly, the journalist concluded that Christianity is obviously not a statistical endeavor. He reasoned that if there would be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety and nine who need no repentance, then apparently God is not overly preoccupied with percentages.10
So how might we “do what we can”?
For one thing, we can, as King Benjamin taught, cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves. Perhaps some have created their own difficulties, but don’t the rest of us do exactly the same thing? Isn’t that why this compassionate ruler asks, “Are we not all beggars?”11 Don’t we all cry out for help and hope and answers to prayers? Don’t we all beg for forgiveness for mistakes we have made and troubles we have caused? Don’t we all implore that grace will compensate for our weaknesses, that mercy will triumph over justice at least in our case? Little wonder that King Benjamin says we obtain a remission of our sins by pleading to God, who compassionately responds, but we retain a remission of our sins by compassionately responding to the poor who plead to us.12
In addition to taking merciful action in their behalf, we should also pray for those in need. A group of Zoramites, considered by their fellow congregants to be “filthiness” and “dross”—those are scriptural words—were turned out of their houses of prayer “because of the coarseness of their [wearing] apparel.” They were, Mormon says, “poor as to things of the world; and also … poor in heart”13—two conditions that almost always go together. Missionary companions Alma and Amulek counter that reprehensible rejection of the shabbily dressed by telling them that whatever privileges others may deny them, they can always pray—in their fields and in their houses, in their families and in their hearts.14
But then, to this very group who had themselves been turned away, Amulek says, “After [you] have [prayed], if [you] turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if [you] have [it], to those who stand in need—I say unto you, … your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and [you] are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.”15 What a stunning reminder that rich or poor, we are to “do what we can” when others are in need.
Now, lest I be accused of proposing quixotic global social programs or of endorsing panhandling as a growth industry, I reassure you that my reverence for principles of industry, thrift, self-reliance, and ambition is as strong as that of any man or woman alive. We are always expected to help ourselves before we seek help from others. Furthermore, I don’t know exactly how each of you should fulfill your obligation to those who do not or cannot always help themselves. But I know that God knows, and He will help you and guide you in compassionate acts of discipleship if you are conscientiously wanting and praying and looking for ways to keep a commandment He has given us again and again.
You will recognize that I speak here of difficult societal needs that go well beyond members of the Church. Fortunately the Lord’s way of assisting our own is easier: all who are physically able are to observe the law of the fast. Isaiah wrote:
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? …
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him … ? [that thou] undo the heavy burdens, and … let the oppressed go free … ?”16
I bear witness of the miracles, both spiritual and temporal, that come to those who live the law of the fast. I bear witness of the miracles that have come to me. Truly, as Isaiah recorded, I have cried out in the fast more than once, and truly God has responded, “Here I am.”17 Cherish that sacred privilege at least monthly, and be as generous as circumstances permit in your fast offering and other humanitarian, educational, and missionary contributions. I promise that God will be generous to you, and those who find relief at your hand will call your name blessed forever. More than three-quarters of a million members of the Church were helped last year through fast offerings administered by devoted bishops and Relief Society presidents. That is a lot of grateful Latter-day Saints.
Brothers and sisters, such a sermon demands that I openly acknowledge the unearned, undeserved, unending blessings in my life, both temporal and spiritual. Like you, I have had to worry about finances on occasion, but I have never been poor, nor do I even know how the poor feel. Furthermore, I do not know all the reasons why the circumstances of birth, health, education, and economic opportunities vary so widely here in mortality, but when I see the want among so many, I do know that “there but for the grace of God go I.”18 I also know that although I may not be my brother’s keeper, I am my brother’s brother, and “because I have been given much, I too must give.”19
In that regard, I pay a personal tribute to President Thomas Spencer Monson. I have been blessed by an association with this man for 47 years now, and the image of him I will cherish until I die is of him flying home from then–economically devastated East Germany in his house slippers because he had given away not only his second suit and his extra shirts but the very shoes from off his feet. “How beautiful upon the mountains [and shuffling through an airline terminal] are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace.”20 More than any man I know, President Monson has “done all he could” for the widow and the fatherless, the poor and the oppressed.
In an 1831 revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord said the poor would one day see the kingdom of God coming to deliver them “in power and great glory.”21 May we help fulfill that prophecy by coming in the power and glory of our membership in the true Church of Jesus Christ to do what we can to deliver any we can from the poverty that holds them captive and destroys so many of their dreams, I pray in the merciful name of Jesus Christ, amen."

'How to Describe People When Writing a Book' with the Mormon YSA Writer's Support Group

"How do you include physical descriptions of your characters, especially the main ones, in a natural way? It seems forced to just like a bunch of stats: height, skin color, eye color..." - Ahsoka

Me
One way that I can think of describing characters without a bunch of adjective sentences is description by adverb sentences.

For example, instead of writing 'He has blue eyes', you can write 'The austere circumstance was relaxed and easily accepted by his azure pigmented glances.'

A writer can describe a scene of the person, rather than describe the person directly. You can also describe a person by dialogue. People love talking about themselves, and it is natural.

Natalie New:

What I've learned is that you add descriptions of your characters over time. Throughout the plot, drop things like, "His blue eyes brightened at her response," or "She pushed her wavy dark hair behind her ear." Don't drop everything on the reader all at once. Readers like to skim through the majority of books once they understand the plot line, and taking a whole paragraph to describe a character can be exhausting for the reader.

"Thanks for the info! That's what I've done so far - - sprinkling in details a bit at a time since I didn't know what else to do. Glad to know that technique is a viable one! Do you think it's it's important to have the details included early on, though? I'm kind of worried that I've waited too long to describe my characters, and that readers might already have their own picture of what the characters look like, so won't be happy if what I describe doesn't mesh with that." - Ahsoka

I feel bad since I'm the only one responding to this. Everyone is welcome to comment!
Ahsoka- Include descriptions of your characters consistently. In my current novel I only have 20 pages typed up out of the 400+ I've handwritten. In those 20 pages I have adequately described my characters in their more basic form. Your initial characters should be described a little bit when you first introduce them, and them maybe add more descriptions of them three pages later, or something along that line. And it's important to have your reader grow with the characters; that's what makes them so likable! Say you've already introduced your character; show your readers 35 pages later how this character is resourceful and observant in any given circumstance, or whatever their personality traits are!
I hope this is making sense.

Me:
Consistency makes sense to keep the imagination vivid and developing.

Bonus material:

Do you think that introducing many characters in the first chapter of a novel when they will not remain in the story for long will confuse the reader? Only one main character is planned to remain from the beginning chapters.
Malcolm
If I was the reader, I would have a hard time keeping track of a lot of different characters early on. Introducing so many people may also take the focus away from the main character who will continue on to the next chapter.
Fayeampah
It will depend on the style of the writer. But i feel there is nothing wrong with it... :)
Sam Orr
it depends. one of the things i like about Brandon Sanderson is each character seems real and is very distinct. As a result I never have a hard time remembering who's who and what they're up to. each character serves to help flesh out the world, and give me a better sense of what the setting is like, even when those characters only last as long as a few paragraphs.
Ahsoka:
I think it can really add to the story, and give a certain richness to it; the fact that even minor characters are noteworthy, and that you don't just focus on a few main characters to the utter neglect of others. My main concern would just be that you find ways to actually make them matter to your readers, and that they have to fit in naturally, and not feel like you're just forcing them in for no reason, like you're just dumping a bunch of random people in one room. :D And keep in mind, sometimes certain characters keep speaking to you, and some of the characters you introduce now may end up finding their way back into the story. (-:

'So in the world of today: 23 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
Salmon Bin Abdulaziz is the new king of Saudi Arabia.
Scientists successfully uploaded a worm’s brain to a Lego robot.
US union memberships hit record lows.
The Obama Administration announced that it would no longer sell personal information from Healthcare.gov.
A California rapper named Tiny Doo may face jail time due to unpopular rap lyrics.
Hundreds of Muslims in Sidney Australia assembled to protest Charlie Hebdo.

'so in the world of today: 22 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-The president, prime minister and cabinet of Yemen quit.
-6000 Isis soldiers were killed, including many of their leaders.
-Isis may have a foothold in Yemen.
-The Officer in charge at Guantanamo was removed.
-A pair of officers in New Jersey appear to have executed a man while surrendering.
-Obama refused to meet with the Israeli Prime Minister when he comes for a visit.
-A baker is being investigated for religious discrimination after refusing to make cakes that say ‘God hates gays’.

Parents: The Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children

This is a quotation of a speech from the October 2014 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By Tad R. Callister
Sunday School General President

"Ben Carson said of himself, “I was the worst student in my whole fifth-grade class.” One day Ben took a math test with 30 problems. The student behind him corrected it and handed it back. The teacher, Mrs. Williamson, started calling each student’s name for the score. Finally, she got to Ben. Out of embarrassment, he mumbled the answer. Mrs. Williamson, thinking he had said “9,” replied that for Ben to score 9 out of 30 was a wonderful improvement. The student behind Ben then yelled out, “Not nine! … He got none … right.” Ben said he wanted to drop through the floor.
At the same time, Ben’s mother, Sonya, faced obstacles of her own. She was one of 24 children, had only a third-grade education, and could not read. She was married at age 13, was divorced, had two sons, and was raising them in the ghettos of Detroit. Nonetheless, she was fiercely self-reliant and had a firm belief that God would help her and her sons if they did their part.
One day a turning point came in her life and that of her sons. It dawned on her that successful people for whom she cleaned homes had libraries—they read. After work she went home and turned off the television that Ben and his brother were watching. She said in essence: You boys are watching too much television. From now on you can watch three programs a week. In your free time you will go to the library—read two books a week and give me a report.
The boys were shocked. Ben said he had never read a book in his entire life except when required to do so at school. They protested, they complained, they argued, but it was to no avail. Then Ben reflected, “She laid down the law. I didn’t like the rule, but her determination to see us improve changed the course of my life.”
And what a change it made. By the seventh grade he was at the top of his class. He went on to attend Yale University on a scholarship, then Johns Hopkins medical school, where at age 33 he became its chief of pediatric neurosurgery and a world-renowned surgeon. How was that possible? Largely because of a mother who, without many of the advantages of life, magnified her calling as a parent.1
The scriptures speak of the role of parents—that it is their duty to teach their children “the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost” (D&C 68:25).
As parents, we are to be the prime gospel teachers and examples for our children—not the bishop, the Sunday School, the Young Women or Young Men, but the parents. As their prime gospel teachers, we can teach them the power and reality of the Atonement—of their identity and divine destiny—and in so doing give them a rock foundation upon which to build. When all is said and done, the home is the ideal forum for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
About a year ago I was on assignment in Beirut, Lebanon. While there, I learned about a 12-year-old girl, Sarah. Her parents and two older siblings had converted to the Church in Romania but were then required to return to their homeland when Sarah was just 7 years of age. In their homeland there was no Church presence, no organized units, no Sunday School or Young Women program. After five years this family learned of a branch in Beirut and, just before I arrived, sent their 12-year-old daughter, Sarah, accompanied by older siblings, to be baptized. While there, I gave a devotional on the plan of salvation. With some frequency Sarah raised her hand and answered the questions.
After the meeting, and knowing of her almost nonexistent Church exposure, I approached her and asked, “Sarah, how did you know the answers to those questions?” She immediately replied, “My mother taught me.” They did not have the Church in their community, but they did have the gospel in their home. Her mother was her prime gospel teacher.
It was Enos who said, “The words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart” (Enos 1:3). There is no question who Enos’s prime gospel teacher was.
I remember my father stretched out by the fireplace, reading the scriptures and other good books, and I would stretch out by his side. I remember the cards he would keep in his shirt pocket with quotes of the scriptures and Shakespeare and new words that he would memorize and learn. I remember the gospel questions and discussions at the dinner table. I remember the many times my father took me to visit the elderly—how we would stop by to pick up ice cream for one or a chicken dinner for another or his final handshake with some money enclosed. I remember the good feeling and the desire to be like him.
I remember my mother, age 90 or so, cooking in her condominium kitchen and then exiting with a tray of food. I asked her where she was going. She replied, “Oh, I am taking some food to the elderly.” I thought to myself, “Mother, you are the elderly.” I can never express enough gratitude for my parents, who were my prime gospel teachers.
One of the most meaningful things we can do as parents is teach our children the power of prayer, not just the routine of prayer. When I was about 17 years of age, I was kneeling by my bed, saying my evening prayers. Unbeknown to me, my mother was standing in the doorway. When I finished, she said, “Tad, are you asking the Lord to help you find a good wife?”
Her question caught me totally off guard. That was the furthest thing from my mind. I was thinking about basketball and school. And so, I replied, “No,” to which she responded, “Well, you should, Son; it will be the most important decision you will ever make.” Those words sunk deep into my heart, and so for the next six years, I prayed that God would help me find a good wife. And, oh, how He answered that prayer.
As parents, we can teach our children to pray for things of eternal consequence—to pray for the strength to be morally clean in a very challenging world, to be obedient, and to have the courage to stand for the right.
No doubt most of our youth have their evening prayers, but perhaps many of them struggle with the habit of personal morning prayer. As parents, as their prime gospel teachers, we can correct this. Which parent in Book of Mormon times would have let their sons march out to the front of battle without a breastplate and shield and sword to protect them against the potentially mortal blows of the enemy? But how many of us let our children march out the front door each morning to the most dangerous of all battlefields, to face Satan and his myriad of temptations, without their spiritual breastplate and shield and sword that come from the protective power of prayer? The Lord said, “Pray always, … that you may conquer Satan” (D&C 10:5). As parents, we can help instill within our children the habit and power of morning prayer.
We can also teach our children to use their time wisely. On occasion, like Sonya Carson, we will need to put our foot lovingly but firmly down to restrict our children’s time with television and other electronic devices that in many cases are monopolizing their lives. Instead we may need to redirect their time into more productive gospel-oriented efforts. There may be some initial resistance, some complaining, but like Sonya Carson, we need to have the vision and the will to stick with it. One day our children will understand and appreciate what we have done. If we do not do this, who will?
We might all ask ourselves: do our children receive our best spiritual, intellectual, and creative efforts, or do they receive our leftover time and talents, after we have given our all to our Church calling or professional pursuits? In the life to come, I do not know if titles such as bishop or Relief Society president will survive, but I do know that the titles of husband and wife, father and mother, will continue and be revered, worlds without end. That is one reason it is so important to honor our responsibilities as parents here on earth so we can prepare for those even greater, but similar, responsibilities in the life to come.
As parents, we can proceed with the assurance God will never leave us alone. God never gives us a responsibility without offering divine aid—of that I can testify. May we in our divine role as parents, and in partnership with God, become the prime gospel teachers and examples for our children, I so pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

'so in the world of today: 20 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-Isis  threatened to kill a pair of Japanese hostages unless they got two hundred million dollars.
-Violent protests have led to churches being torched across the Muslim world.
-Ukraine says that Russia invaded them again. Russia says they didn't.
-Rebels in Yemen took the palace.
-Paris’s mayor wants to sue fox news for reporting on Paris’s no-go zones.
-Obama’s state of the union didn't mention Al Qaeda.
-According to the AP healthcare.gov is selling people's information to private advertisers.
-India’s tiger population is up 30%.

January 13, 2015

     Well as expected Jesse and Naomi dominated Settlers of Catan. Over the weekend I was waiting to hear from my internship to know when they would like me to work, and they did not get to communicate with me until late the next week. My little brother's birthday was on Monday after New Years, and there was a momentum in my life to share a lot of time with him, since that birthday. I have been corresponding with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than a year about an internship with the building information modeling department of the church, which I had a continue because the industry is so slow that opportunities to learn management skills are going to be limited at RJ Enterprises. Over the next weekend, I caught up with, an old friend, Joanna Salas. We went out for lunch; had a wonton soup lunch with her and her mother; and watched the CES fireside, had our traditional dinner, and FHE on Sunday. That Sunday was special because a long lost friend came home. We got to catch up on Tuesday. I visited Jessica on Thursday and Friday. I am now in Utah, and I arrived yesterday, waiting to see if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would like me as an intern in their building information modeling department. 
     Jesse dominated the first game, and Naomi dominated the second game. I was in the position to settle where Naomi did, but I regretfully settled a fruitless port. It's an interesting game. On the last time I played with my family, I was so focused on a long term investment. I didn't consider that I could have won the turn before my father did. Again, I was investing in a port. Settlers of Catan is pretty fun. 
     After this weekend, Trevor became more of my focus on my stay at home, since Trevor turned 23 years old. We didn't have much of a birthday party. I hung out with him on his birthday at the mall, and bought him a big box full of Pokemon cards because he wanted to make a hardcore fairy deck with Dancie.  He has a lot of them now. He bought two more of the big boxes after I had. Over the next couple days, I built my own deck with his cards, and I beat him once. I like the Pokemon card game a lot more than Yugioh. It's a lot less liberal on styles to play. We celebrated Trevor's birthday as a family on Tuesday at a Chinese restaurant. It was average. I can't find the name of it on the internet. It's somewhat new. I hung out with Trevor a lot for the remainder of my stay at home. 
     I was also able to hang out with Joanna Salas. She just got back from her mission a few months ago. I wanted to catch up and check if she is fine, since she returned from her mission. Our friendship didn't lose a step over the last 20 months, since I did not see her. She is happy because her mother is now open to investigate the Gospel. Since she lives in Santa Cruz, I was able to take some pictures for Jessica to show her the city. I showed her a little of Soquel, Capitola, and Aptos before then. We hung out on Wednesday, and on Tuesday she hosted the missionaries for dinner. She planned to make Wonton Soup, and my family helped provide the ingredients a little. She said that it didn't come out as imagined on the next day when we hung out. The wontons exploded and some had a very intense garlic taste. My mother offered to host Joanna for lunch on Saturday to make Wonton soup again. That day was nice because Joanna's mother, Patty, came. We worked well together, and we had plenty wontons to go around. Joanna used to come for Family Home Evening on Sunday a lot, and dad knew that she always enjoyed it. I invited her over upon my father's request. 
     The CES fireside was the same day, and I was planning to watch it with Jessica. I didn't how it would work out, since Joanna was watching it with us. Trevor and Mom watched too. Jessica and I wanted to practice note taking, since she doesn't have much skills in it. It was really cool because I showed my example of note taking on a Google Document live, and she added her insights too. She of course was in Oregon. Our FHE was as great as usual. 
     That Sunday was special because a long lost friend popped up on Facebook. His name is Josh Van Ness. We were best friends in elementary school. I am not too sure what happened in middle school. I thought that he moved away like 15 years ago, but he lived in my hometown until after his junior year of high school, which is about 9 years ago. I hailed him up, and we went out to lunch to catch up. His life is a little rough. He already broke his back at a work site. Since he can't run, he has taken up cycling. He was baptized in the church, but no testimony remains in him. He never was active. I wish that I were home, and we can hang out. We catch up, and we didn't miss a step from our best friendship like Joanna. Cody Wentworth asked about him because he cares for him, since Josh posted on Facebook that we were hanging out. I don't think that his life will be changing much from our reunion, and I didn't expect it to. I wish that he will live up to his baptism covenant because the blessings of the Gospel are as true as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the only true and living church, for it is led by God himself. Josh and I were hoping to hang out once more before I left to see Jessica in Oregon, but he didn't follow through. 
     I left to Oregon Thursday morning. Jessica and I just relaxed somewhat on the first day together. I also wanted to develop a good relationship with each member of her family. I spoke to a very outgoing guy on the plane, who worked in the concrete business, so some of the first things that I noticed as a Design and Construction Management student is that the moisture of the climate probably helps the concrete not crack. I saw cracks in the sidewalk only on the dry section of the sidewalk near the building. I also enjoyed the thriving vines growing on the parking structure of the airport. Jessica came with her father to pick me up from the airport in Portland. It was a good thing that they came late because I forgot my tablet on the plane, and I was able to retrieve it without too much trouble. My introduction to John, Jessica's father, was good. I wouldn't ask questions to a specific person to see their unity. The father was somewhat more bold in nature compared to Jessica, so he spoke more, which I was didn't mind because I wanted an open good relationship with him. The conversations among us were open and pure without contention for the most part. I have one little experience that I will explain. The father seems to respect Jessica and I's relationship. He asked me how important Jessica's education was to me, expressing that Jessica worked hard to get to BYU Idaho. I think that she may have already graduated from Institute, and she worked shifts, starting at 5 o' clock in the morning. 
     Jasmine, Jessica's sister, are each other's best friend, so I didn't want to take anything way from that. The first thing that we did is practice cycling because Jessica never learned how to bicycle. She somewhat learned how to ride straight, but she didn't learn cycling all at once like when I taught Ranadi Koroitamana. We rested a little, reading Book of Jer3miah: Premonition and Skyped my little brother, introducing Jasmine to him; but it was hard for Trevor to hear us. After that, Jasmine, Jessica, and I went on a jog. We got home in a reasonable amount of time before dinner. We bought Chinese food at a grocery store, and enjoyed that. 
      After dinner we played some board games. They were Chinese checkers, which Jessica mentioned she played a lot before; mancala; and checkers. Jasmine almost cowarded away from playing Chinese checkers because she claimed that she is no good. Jessica was practicing strategies that I have never seen before, so I  sent some of my guys over to slow her down. Jessica was clearly better than Jasmine and I, for she nearly won way before us despite my effort to slow her down. I had another trick though because my goal was not to win, since Jasmine's confidence in games was little. I put one of my guys in Jessica's territory to stop her from winning, and Jasmine and I raced to fill our territory of our goal. Jasmine won for the first time ever. I wanted to build Jasmine up as much as I can when I was there, so after I won a game of mancala. Jessica and I cheered Jasmine on on a game of checkers. She totally lost her first game against her father, but somehow she was bombarding him in the second game. She almost made a bunch of grave mistakes, but we coached her through. Jasmine didn't lose one guy in the second game, winning a checkers game against her father for the first time. The father said that she didn't need my help after a while, but it seemed that I awaken Jasmine to greater thought processes in the game than I imagined. The next move that she took after I quit coaching her showed her exceptional boldness, for it was risky yet flawless, continually pushing her bombardment deeper into enemy territory, and they couldn't do anything about it. Jasmine's win was all her. I didn't lead the bombardment. I mainly coached her in saving her guys. I didn't see the conclusion of the game because I had to go sleep at a relative's house, but the father said that they didn't finish the game because he didn't have a chance. 

     The next day we went to Multnomah Falls. Jessica's mother, Mercedes came home late from work last night, but she joined the four of us on our hike. By the way, when the mother came home, the family opened up and enjoyed the gifts that my parents gave them. My father baked oatmeal raisin cookies, and my mother gave them a table cloth. The Ledesma family ate so many of the cookies that They could keep up with the cookie monster from Sesame Street. The mother prepared and filled an entire cooler with food for the trip, and she distributed it individually, when we arrived. The hike up to the top of the falls was only a mile, but it was basically straight up hill. The time together was good, for the time together was balanced with private and family time. I was able to talk with Jessica about her effort to get an education that her father pointed out, and that I will support her in her educational decisions. We took many pictures, and I will post them. A snack that has become a favorite of the Ledesma family is what I gave Jessica on our first time running together at BYU Idaho. It is seaweed, and the father asked who's idea was it to bring it to the hiking trip. No one wanted to claim it because it was all of ours except perhaps Jasmine's and the father's. 
     When we were coming home, we decided to go watch a movie at the theaters because the Ledesma family has a good tradition of watching good contemporary films. We watched the 'Imitation Game.' It was a very good film, but of course it had to have gay propaganda in it. I didn't let it bother me. The story was very interesting. After the film, Jasmine was surprised that I asked her what she thought about the film, and she spoke about the gay issue. We spoke about it all the way home, but when Jasmine asked what I thought about the film. I said that the history impressed me. I never heard of the enimga, and cracking it's cryptography each day by a first computer each day, and using statistical analysis of stopping the attacks, which would not alarm Hitler, paved the way to ending World War two. 
     Here is the story of contention that I have to tell you about. I apologized to Jessica in my last letter for it; although, she gratefully always overlooks these things. 
"One thing that I learned about equality from visiting you is that yielding to each other's requests cultivates trust and respect. People usually only ask small things from each other. For example, you asked Jasmine to call your mother to double check if she will not be attending dinner. I agreed with Jasmine, assuming that she was not going to come, since she only set up four dishes. I learned that you prefer communication over assumption, which I sustain. I felt bad for creating a contentious situation, when you asked her "Why don't you call her?" I egged on her opposition to your request, saying "Tell her why you don't want to call her." I was surprised that her reply was a lie, saying that her phone was charging, when she had it. I was grateful that your dad came in, showing us the cryptographs to change the situation. As you can see, I am very sensitive and observant. I apologize for making a contentious situation. I will try my best to never support contention, division, and pride again. If one does what another asks, there is appreciation cultivated; therefore, the other will most likely do want the one requests, creating a fruitful, productive, and humble relationship. One has to keep humble though not to dominate another's life. In familial situations, one should hearken to each other's requests to fauster unity and humility, for no one should dominate the family life, if everyone would hearken to each other."
     My flight to Utah left Saturday at 9 in the morning. Jessica wished that I could leave in the afternoon, but the solumn morning was perfect for an intimate moment where she rested her head on my shoulder on the drive to the airport. The feel that this gesture shows great love. I told Jessica that a bishop admired me for always laying my head on my father's shoulder during sacrament, and John the Beloved is another example of this ultimate display of love at the last supper. 
     Life is slow at Utah somewhat. I like the freedom to do my will, for I can write in my journal and other things without the distractions of my immediate family. I worked on a scholarship application yesterday, and I have been developing fruitful good friendships at a gold mine that I found of Twitter for YSA bloggers. One sister is not a member, but I have developed a close relationship with her. I want her to witness and understand the love of God and the saints more from the Mormon YSA Blog Spot. She commented on an article that I shared, and I can instantly tell a open humility to God. I just want to serve her, for she loves to write as does all of the other bloggers of the Mormon YSA Blog Spot. I invited her to write for the blog spot, being the first nonmember that I ever invited to write with us. She wants to be a successful writer, and I thought that a writer's support group would be great for the Mormon YSA Blog Spot. This is where everyone in the blog spot can share there love to one another, seeking to improve the composition skills of all the participants therein. It basically depends on her because her passion and enthusiasm is key for the writer's support group to set the example of vision and participation for the forum. 
     Other than working on a scholarship application yesterday, I prepared for my interview for today with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Building Information Modeling department. I had the interview this morning at 9, and I was described as well qualified; however, I felt rusty talking about the program of REVIT. I got the news this afternoon via email that I was not chosen for the internship position due to lack of experience. 

'So in the world of today: 19 January 2015' by Sam Orr

 So in the world of today:
-Boko Harem kidnapped 80 people in Northern Cameroon
-Both sides in the Yemen Civil War agreed to a ceasefire.
-Isis freed 250 Yezidis, mostly the elderly and small children. The rest they enslaved or killed.
-Muslims and Jews in Europe are on high alert.
-The Pope wants to stop global warming.
-Hundreds in Iran arrived at the French embassy to protest Charle Hobdo.

Mary Joy Sansait, I'm from in Philippines..

Hello everyone my name is Mary Joy Sansait, I'm from in Philippines.. I'm a member of the CHURCH OF JESUS OF LATTER DAY SAINTS I'm thankful to join this group... I'm 21 years old my calling is Ward missionary.. I do love doing the lords work... because I believe the most important things to do in this earth is to preach the Gospel... I know this blog will help us to be more friendly to all member through out world... I know this blog will help us to be more active in the true church.....

Keep safe my dear brothers and sister's
Always remember Angeles are waiting to crown us with blessings so stay worthy...

<3<3<3

'Best Gift That I Received Since 2005' from Mary Sanait

One of best gift that I received since 2005 live the book...
I know the book of Mormon is true...

You want to know if It's true??? Read it cover to cover

'So in the world of today: 16 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
-Dozens of terror suspects were arrested across Europe.
-The pope encouraged respect for different faiths.
-Anger over Charlie Hebdo cartoons led to protests around the world. Some have turned violent. Some protesters burnt churches in Niger.
-Obama issued an executive order for additonal police equipment.

'So in the world of today: 15 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

So in the world of today:
-Black Lives Matter activists made an appearance in Boston.
-15,000 French websites were hacked in the last week.
-Mexican birth certificates can now be obtained in the US.
-Some military families have begun to retreat from the internet for their own safety.
-A CNN poll found that 28% of Americans oppose the keystones pipeline.

'so in the world of today: 14 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-A court in BC Canada banned a polygamous group from using the name Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
-The ‘Muhammad cover’ issue of Charlie Hobdo sold out in minutes.
-Al Qaeda is taking responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo shootings.
-Austria is letting gay couples adopt.
-A US journalist is being held prisoner in Iran.
-A report found that the DHS has no strategy for dealing with cyber-attacks.
-Chinese authorities rescued 37 infants from traffickers.
-China banned Burquas.

Sam Orr, Our News Reporter

Hi everybody! My name is Sam. I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm from Park City in Utah, and i'm currently a student at BYU Idaho. My passions include poetry, books, history, art and exercise to name just a few. I also enjoy staying on top of current events and helping my friends stay on top as well. Here's to you my friends.

Blog Posts

'so in the world of today: 13 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

'so in the world of today: 9 Jan 2014' by Sam Orr

'so in the world of today: 8 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

"so in the world of today: 2 Jan 2015" by Sam Orr

"so in the world of today: Dec 30, 2014" by Sam Orr

"so in the world of today: 23 Dec 2014" by Sam Orr

"So in the world of today: 20 Dec 2014" by Sam Orr

"so in the world of today, 19 Dec 2014" by Sam Orr

'so in the world of today: 13 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-Many Muslims and Mosques in France have been threatened.
-France is joining the fight against Isis.
-Security at us airports will increase.
-The wealth of our Washington representatives has increased 43% in recent years.
-Facebook will begin sending out alerts to users to help find kidnapped children.
-A judge is declaring a mistrial for a former cop who killed a black man.
-The US promised Ukraine 2 billion if it continues to reform.
-The Charlie Hebdo magazine put a Muhammad cartoon on this week’s cover. Many media sources refuse to show it.

'Telling the Truth' by Lesego Mholo

I'd rather be hurt by you telling me the truth than lies. Keep deceiving people and think they don't know. One day it will catch up with you. The truth hurts when its contrary to what your made to believe. In one way or another lies always catch up with us, our consciousness doesn't let us lie for too long. Lying affects trust and loyalty in a relationship when your lied to you feel like you no longer belong you feel inadequate, telling the truth solidifies a relationship bond, and it might signify love or care; furthermore, telling the truth to me it tells that your emotionally mature. The truth makes me feel secure.

Sometimes we give our hearts to people, and they think we are stupid for that we end up depending on them for loyalty. Truth is the only way two people can survive in a relationship and mutual understanding but reassurance and trust are the only things that might keep the relationship functioning. Dishonesty is the beginning of a fading relationship and for some what reason that we think lying is a form of protection for our loved ones but little do we know that we are destroying our belonging. Telling the truth on its own shows a form of respect and love. The biggest coward in the world is a man or woman who awakens one's love with no in tension of loving them.

'so in the world of today: 12 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-The twitter and youtube accounts for a us military base were hacked.
Millions gathered in France to show resistance to terrorism, including 40 world leaders and representatives.
-Obama has been criticized for not making an appearance at the French rally or sending a representative. He admitted that it was a mistake.
-Isis released a video calling for the death of police officers.
-A pair of officers in Arizona are being charged with the murder of a homeless man.
-Boko Harem killed 2000 people in Nigeria.
-Cuba released 53 political prisoners.
-Large protests were held in Germany some against the growing Islam influence in Europe, and some to show support for Islamic people in Europe.
-2% of the counties in the US have fully recovered from the great recession.

'he will always protect us' from Mary Sanait

My dear LDS Single Friends,
I have been inviting the original bloggers of the official website of this Facebook page to commemorate and rejuvenate the blog's one year anniversary by continuing to blog. Many have said that they will begin writing again. Mary Sanait is one that participated before by sharing memes. Here is one that she shared with you today. Thank you for your faith Mary.

She said "That's really true he will always protect us.... Thank you for this blog: )"

'so in the world of today: 9 Jan 2014' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
France introduced new regulations to keep its youth from running off to join ISIS.
In France there were two hostage situations related to the cartoonist shooters.
Obama announced an upcoming executive order to have the government help pay for home purchases.
Obama said he wanted to pay for community college for everyone using federal money.
Unemployment is down to 5.6
The government announced that the affordable care act would significantly complicate tax forms.
Russia is Banning cross-dressers from driving.
Maithripala Sirisena was elected Sri Lankan president.
Mexican drug cartel members have begun eating human hearts.
A man was arrested in NYC for trying to kill an officer.

'so in the world of today: 8 Jan 2015' by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
Political Cartoonists around the world are rallying behind their slain colleagues.
A blogger in Saudi Arabia was publicly flogged.
Someone bombed a NAACP building in Colorado springs.
A store in Ohio is closing because of its ties to an Ebola survivor.

"What did I do wrong?" by Isidro Zapata

Why when we love
Someone & then it
Falls apart why is our
First reaction is
What did I do wrong?
We blame ourself before
We come to understand we fell in love with a Myth & the
Self destruction goes on
In our own head
Why is that our First Reaction?
Is it because we became
Drunk in Love & fail to
See the other Persons faults
Before it was to late
That the other person
Was just a Myth in our own mind
And the Real Person
That we fell in love with
Was never who they pertend
To be
And we were unable to
Uncover the Myth & see the Real Person
As time moves on & learn
From our mistakes do
We become less open to others
Because we let a Myth
Kill what God gave us
The Perfect gift
To be able to Love
Do we become cold
& to guarded to show
Others God's Perfect Gift
He gave to all of us
Their are Millions of Myths
Out in the world
&
A few truths
But just because we are
Fooled by a Myth maybe
More then once
Should we allow a Myth
To ruin what is
True & A Perfect Gift
God Gave Us
The Gift to
Love another
This coming holiday
Show others
Family, Freinds & who ever else
That you still have
The Perfect Gift to
Love

December 20, 2014

     These past two weeks have been so intense that I did not start writing this journal entry until a couple days ago. My fifth semester at BYUI has ended, and I am grateful that God blessed me that I passed three of my four classes. During the week before finals, the two classes that I had with Brother Harker, which were mechanical systems and electrical systems, pulled out a bunch of unforeseen assignments, and I had to give up on my accounting class, realizing that I could not pass it, since I failed the second to last exam. I was so busy that I had to pull my second all nighter of my Brigham Young University - Idaho career. My grades may have been higher if I neglected social activities, but I give a priority to family and friends especially Jessica. We gave each other as much time to each other as reasonably possible. We saw the Hobbit movie; and a neighborhood's Christmas lights, which were synchronized with songs that they set up as a radio station. We also attended a Christmas party that our friends put together. Mom invited me to attend my home ward, and I continued my friendship with a man named Russell. I told Jessica that when I was befriending him that people around me would try to bail me out of the situations where we would be talking because he has mental conditions that makes him think differently than most people. I am currently on a bus to work with him from his invitation. At the Ocean YSA Branch later that Sunday, I was invited to teach Sunday school, since Trevor is the Sunday School President. It was nice to teach again; although, my preparation was distracted, since people from the ward wanted to catch up with me. I also organized the track and field association's presidency. They are solid. I am unsure  what they were able to accomplish so far, but I was not able to accomplish my agenda before the semester ended, since I hoped to get the shirts of both of the teams approved and printing for people before they left for the winter, but the school did not approve the designs. I can't think of much more that happened; other than, I toured both the electrical and mechanical systems of the iCenter of the BYUI. Today is now the 29th of December, and I now have to add my Christmas break to the list of things to write about. I finally got around to contacting my internship administrators to see when they would like me to come up on Saturday night. That day was a little slow, but I was able to accomplish the critical things that I planned to do like enroll in my class for the winter and pay my bills. I was unable to get around to prepare for Christmas until the day before because at church on my first day back in Santa Cruz, California in a while, catching up with people, an old friend named Russell. I don't know how to pronounce his last name. It is like Detrick or something like that. He is working for a sister that home taught my family, and I worked with him on Monday and Tuesday. When I finally got around to deciding my gifts for my family and Jessica's family, thinking of gifts for my family was easy, and I used more creativity for the Christmas gifts for the Ledesma family. On Christmas Eve, we went caroling to the usual friends, but we visited that sister that home taught us, which we have not before, and she got emotional. Trevor is really into Yugioh, and I played with him and his friends. I decided that I don't like to play Yugioh because the community spends so much money on the cards.

     During the semester, I was worrying that I might fail out of school because I asked a friend if my classes this semester is a fluke how hard it is. He said that it will remain as hard that it is now. It will probably get harder. I told Jesse Kaupert that my mother failed out of nursing school twice. I can easily just not have the ability to make it through school, but I just worked as hard and smart as I can. I trusted that God will provide the way for me to pass my classes because he inspired me to be an architect.

     I was hoping to pass all of my classes. My methods and materials class of construction management was so easy. It felt like all the work for the entire semester was put into the take-home final. I got a couple Bs on my accounting tests, and it was bring up my grade to a state that I could possibly pass the class, but I failed the second to last test. I saw that it was possible to get a C in the class with my grades in my accounting class, if I did the extra credit for the class and got a 100% on the final; however, I saw that Brother Harker, who taught two of my classes, was pulling a bunch of assignments out of nowhere. For example, he was sitting on an assignment because most people failed it, and he let everyone do it over. He did the same thing with a heating and cooling demand assignment. My construction classes had so many expectations that I could not give any time to try to catch up with my accounting class. I had to stay up all night to complete the take-home final for my Methods and Materials class on the Sunday before finals week. I didn't have any time for accounting; insomuch that, I quit attending the class. On the Friday before finals week and crunch time, I quit attending accounting class to complete a wiring assignment to show Brother Harker that I can wire all the circuits that he showed the class.

     In previous semesters there were a special schedule made to make all the finals fit because the finals were oftentimes longer than the usual length of the class. There was no final schedule given to me this past semester, so I was a little confused. It was a surprise that we met at the usual times, and we had our finals. I was told what the finals were and what to review, and I did prepare, but I was amiss of the time and days of my finals. After a week of assignments popping out at me, I had to deal with finals popping out at uncertain dates, and I did fine on them. On my electrical systems final, I was required to wire several circuits from new angles. I am grateful for Chris Welton for being my tutor because he taught me the theory so well that I got 100% on all my wiring tests including the final. There were three parts to all three of my construction management classes' finals. There were a crazy long take-home final part for both of my electrical and mechanical systems classes. That took me many hours to complete. I basically worked on my mechanical systems take-home final for two whole days straight for Thursday and Friday, and I was supposed to make sure that my apartment was clean for white glove check on Friday. Trevor Sweat, the same friend that drove me up to Rexburg from Heber City, drove me to Provo, Utah because I wanted to leave my luggage in Heber City, since my winter internship is going to be there. Trevor Sweat was uncertain if he wanted to go home on Friday or Saturday, but I was flexible. As I was working on my take-home on Friday, I realized that my time to prepare and do my necessary things to leave came. I asked my apartment managers how the storage system works, and when I returned to my apartment, I received a message from Trevor that he was planning to leave in about thirty minutes. I had not done any packing or anything. It is good that I am a very simple person. I basically packed all my stuff in my luggage and my storage spot in about 80 minutes; plus, Jesse had me store his property too. Trevor came late, and I finished just in time. I still needed to complete my take-home final while we were on the road to Provo. Early in the semester, I put my computer on a high contrast mode, which made it easier on the eyes to see at night, and it was good that I did that on the trip to Provo, since it was dark. I did complete the final, and we had to stop at a Burger King to fill out the multiple choice test with its WiFi. I am grateful to have gotten an 80% on that effort.

     The Hobbit movie was not directed the same way as the previous J. R. R. Tolkien book films. I do not like it. 80 percent of it was violence and destruction. I would give it a 5 out of 10 probably less. It is so bad that I don't want to give too much thought to the score that I would give the movie. I did not like how they were saying that this insane Orc army was coming, but the dwarfs were mowing them down like they were not even an army; plus, basic physics does not apply to Legolas. It was ignored like it was a low budget film. I could tell other people's low opinions of it, but I don't think that it is worth it.

     Over the past few weeks or so, we were planning to go to Pizza Pie Café. Paige can eat a lot of pizza. She ate like 26 slices, and she is planning to set the record with thirty the next time that she goes. She had a roommate join us, and I don’t know how she never hung out with us until basically the very last day of school. As we stood in line for the pizza for the first time, I suggested to Rachel that we go see the neighborhood that synchronizes with a radio station. Rachel was excited about it because she claimed to be one of the most enthusiastic of Santa's elves. My friend told me the location of it through Facebook.

     This friend made me sandwiches at the Crossroads for BYU-Idaho for at least a year. Her name is Cadison Shurtliff. She decided to quit a couple weeks before the semester. She has basically made me the same sandwich every day for maybe 3 semesters. I don't know how long, but she got emotional, saying good bye and making my sandwich for the last time.

     Paige is a master driver, and she found the neighborhood with the light show easily. We did not have room for me to sit with everyone, and Jessica joined me in the back of Paige’s station wagon. When we arrive, we were checking all the radio stations to see which one matched. One of the houses did not match the actual show, and we were confused at first. It was not just one house that had a light show synced with the radio station. I recall that it was three of them. When we approached these three houses, they had a sign that told us what radio station to listen to. Everyone was excited, when we found the actual station that it was synced to. There were about four songs that the radio station played over and over, so it must have been a private radio system. Jesse thought that it would be so cool if one of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s songs were part of the program, and we got so excited that one was. The show was more amazing than we thought that it would be. It was good that the producers of the show had the radio sequence only have for four songs to keep the audience captivated for only about fifteen minutes.

     My flight was the next day on Saturday. We stayed the night at a family friend's house of Jesse. It was chill to actually wake up to no assignments to complete. It was interesting to sit in on the conversation of Jesse and her family friend's mother, catching up because I knew everyone that they were talking about. When we arrived at the airport, it was a little slow, and we arrived a little early. Jesse and I bought tickets at different times, and we were unable to buy tickets next to each other, but I sat next to him anyways.

     When I sat next to him, he warned me of the duty that I just sat in. It is the emergency exit operator. We joked that we should add this to our resume. We made sure that we were trained, and they trained us on our duties in like 10 seconds twice. We saw the guy putting our luggage on the conveyor belt up to the plane. Since we had been trained and had the duty of emergency operator, we felt that we had an in to get the job of putting the luggage on the line. We wanted the job to get ripped. Jesse joked that it would be extra effective because the weights vary. We joked that we should invent machines that would change the weight each time that you lift it. Since the weight of an object can change just by putting them further apart, we joked that it would be funny to hang out with a friend at the gym; then, when the machine would expand, it would push the guy leaning against the machine across the room. We just had a super long series of silly jokes like that.

     The next day after arriving home was Sunday. Mom wanted Trevor and I to attend their sacrament meeting because there was going to be a bell choir. I don't know how, but we arrive late, missing the bell choir. We left with plenty of time. After Sacrament I sat and spoke to Russel to catch up with him, and I was surprised that he sounded more sane than before. He said the his doctors have figured out his medicine needs. He said that he has been working for Filis Forsyth, and he needed help to take the concrete that he taken from the floor of the bathroom to the dump. I took the opportunity to work, and this decision did not give me much time to prepare for Christmas. I wrote a letter to Jessica's family explaining why I was late in sending my gift package to them. I will copy and paste now a quotation of the letter because I wrote of my experience as a Christmas message. Jessica's father didn't know what to make of the letter, and I agree. It was an awkward two days.

"Dear Ledesma Family,

Hi. I am Alex Hicken, and I am grateful that Jessica and I have been led to date steadily. For this reason, I am writing you this holiday season. As you may tell by the personal letters for each of you, I love writing. I write letters for Jessica each week even when we live only a couple blocks away. I am sorry that my gifts for you will be late. They are coming in the mail late because I believe in the counsel of Christ in 3 Nephi 12:41 "Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." I say this because I was given an opportunity to work with a man Monday and Tuesday, who fights for his sanity with prescription medicine, for he turns into a very weird person without them. He gave me two days of work and great experience; although, the work that I was paid for was only a small part of the first day. I believe that the second day was him, seeking a closer friendship with me, since I am one of a few friendly people to him. When I was working with him, I had a revelation as he was teaching me skills of self-reliance.

     It felt very fatherly to serve each other. He was teaching me skills, and we were fixing his car together. My family has a cartoon of how Christ was born and raised. I think of a scene of Joseph teaching Jesus carpentry. Since I thought that the man was treating me as his relationship with his father, I asked him whether he worked with his father like this. He said no. He is so used to repairing everything on his own that working together was natural. Although his father's relationship was not like that for him, it felt fatherly to me to teach someone of less experience how to work, sharing your wisdom with them. I love learning the nature of how parents can be, and the special relationships that they have to their children, looking forward to applying this to my life. This is my Christmas story for you learning from Joseph, raising the Christ child.

     I don't expect that you will read the letters to each individual directly after this first one. I don't want to dominate your Christmas. You can read each personal letter privately at a later time. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Alexander Hicken"

     I arrived late to the first day of work because my parents misspoke telling me that I had a dentist appointment. Russell got easily frustrated especially on the first day. He just jumped into doing the work, which was to replace his bumper. For some reason, he felt that using power tools were more effective than manual man strength tools. We had to take apart some bolts to put in some spacers, so it can fit better on the car. In his frustration, working without much thought, he broke two or three wrenches with the strength of the power tools. We figured out how to get the bolts of the bumper only after breaking a bunch of tools. I never imagined this experience in my entire life. We could not fit the spacers after all because his destructive work ethic stripped the final bolt. Rus claimed that he had a very high IQ, and I believed it because he figured out how to get the new bumper on.

     His high IQ was evident in his self-reliant personality. He figures out everything without education or instruction. He was unable to graduate with a degree. I was surprised that I could relate to him well. One lame thing which indicated that I could not relate to his high IQ is when he was driving me home. I was just reminding him of the exit which was most convenient to get to my house. I did not expect him to remember where I lived because he only been to my house like once a couple years ago, and I did not give him my address again. He accused me of backseat driving and hassled me about that. Going down 41st Avenue, I asked him if he was going to move over a couple lanes, so he could turn without mistake. He again hassled me, and he was surprised that I did not remind him where to take the last turn to get to my road.

     Russell asked if I would like to help him work on his truck on Tuesday, and I consented. He said that it would let it be more convenient for me to receive my payment. The second day moved quickly, for we were planning to fix the bumper and put some lights under the tailgate. When we got the tailgate off the truck, after fixing the handle, Rus thought that it would be fun to repaint the tailgate, so it can match the car better and look nice. We did this, and it took a long time sanding it. I wanted to leave early in the afternoon, but this new project forced me to stay until after 5 PM, since it takes a while for the paint to dry. I wanted to leave after lunch, and he provided me lunch; however, he turned on a film that should have been the conclusion of a show that he has been watching, which he invited me to join him. I felt manipulated. Even after we finish getting his car put back together, he wanted me to help him take off a flat tire from his trailer. I was not as anxiously engaged to help because how I felt, and he pointed out that I was not as helpful as before. A family standard of mine is to be home by 6, and I knew that if I continued to work with him; I would not get home on time. He wanted me to help him put his tools a way after. I decided at 5:30 that I was going to run home, so I left. I got home a little before 6, and Rus left a message on my phone saying that he finished putting away his tools about 6, assuming that I had not made it home yet. I obviously did not need his generous ride home, which he offered. He, defying my trust, made me think of his ability to do unspeakable things.

     The hardest person to shop for was Jessica's sister, Jasmine, because I had no clue of her interests. I know that she likes to play on the computer a lot and she likes a pop artist, but I forgot his name. That is basically all that I know about her; other than, education is very hard for her. It took me about 2 hours to decide on a gift for her. Gifts for everyone else was simple after a little thought and exercise of creativity. I purchased a new plant for Jessica to take care of and her favorite snack that I shared together the first time that we worked out together, which was dried sea weed. Trevor is really into Yugioh, so I got a gift certificate for him to the place that he hangs out a lot at.

 An interesting thing is that he spend all of the money on that account on me to build a deck. I will now explain my opinion of Yugioh.

     Yugioh is a game that demands a lot of knowledge and money. The culture of communities from what I saw are very generous and friendly, but the generosity takes the spending of hundreds of dollars. I would expect that one needs to reciprocate the generosity to be taken into the fellowship well. Trevor bought me cards to make a good deck, and it was good enough that I can beat him practically every time. He said that he would have to buy more cards to make a better deck. It is not fun to beat Trevor over and over. Do you see the perpetual spending of money? It's a very expensive hobby. I don't want to waste my time and brain on a game.

     My friendship with Jessica is going well. We keep current with each other like we did before by having meals together, but we talk over the phone or Skype with each other every day. We share pictures of each other's lifes with each other to learn more about our home lifes.

My middle school is named after this beach. It is called New Brighton. 

This beach is famous for a boat that is made out of concrete. 

     I really like the situation that was proposed by Brother Stutz. He explained a vision of purchasing the T-shirts. It is by personal order at the T-shirt press at the BYUI bookstore. I really like this because it is not the conventional way that business is organized. Usually many shirts are ordered and manufactured on expected or guesstimated count. This vision of selling shirts does not even require the funds of my sport of Track and Field. The logos of the shirts have not been solidified. I am still waiting for that; then, I will inform everyone interested in the shirts that they are available to be printed.

     The last thing that I have for you is a video that I made from a fun PowerPoint that I made explaining the heating and cooling process of the university and the iCenter.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as enjoyed the variety of humour and fun that I put into the presentation.

     I have been basically working on writing this journal entry this whole week. The time has slowed down a lot this week. Staying up late makes me wake up late and nap in the day. I want to get into a routine of going to sleep early tonight. I wanted to make sure that I caught up on my journal before I move on to other things. I am waiting for my internship administrators to tell me, when I should come up. They told me that they would tell me Monday, but it is Friday today. Trevor and I bought my parents Settlers of Catan for Christmas, and it took us a while to get to play a game. We have played two nights in a row, and I have won both times. The way was basically the same both times, but Jesse Kaupert are coming tomorrow to play a game with his brother and Naomi hopefully. I expect that they will dominate.

"so in the world of today: 2 Jan 2015" by Sam Orr

so in the world of today:
-North and South Korea say they are considering talks.
-To get more Middle Eastern buyers, Harper Collins created a series of maps that exclude Israel entirely.
-20 states will raise the minimum wage
-The CDC is declaring a flu epidemic.
-A sex offender in Idaho was released years after conviction, because his prosecutor quoted ‘Dixie’ in closing arguments (the man is Black).