A plane, a Team, and Gravity

The sky is perfectly clear and and the air still as we watch the painted black and gold plane climb, circling higher and higher above the small crowd of people standing at the edge of a huge drop zone at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The people attending are close friends and family of the newly inducted members of the U.S. Army parachute team- "The Golden Knights". The plane, barely visible makes the third of its precise 3 minute 15 second passes as a small stream of white smoke appears from the plane. Murmurs race through the crowd and fingers point upward. The source of the smoke drifts slowly behind the plane and it becomes obvious that this is Rachel, free-falling with a smoke canister strapped to her heal. At the precise moment the smoke appeared, the P.A. system began playing loudly the song, "I'm Proud to be an American". Mom gazed upward at her plummeting daughter with her hands over her mouth, her eyes wet, repeating to herself, "not this song". From thirteen thousand feet away, I could feel the same sense of ultimate satisfaction and pride beaming from my sister as she continued her free-fall at over one hundred twenty miles per hour toward the earth, her smile visible from over two miles away. Her parachute opened at what appeared to be the last second and she glided and spun gracefully, and as the smoke from her heel painted beautiful pink swirls in the sky, she made her way to a perfect pin-point landing on a large red "x" placed on the field for the jumpers to aim for. She walked solemnly and proudly to the narrator's podium, shooting a glance and grin at mom and I as she walked. She then proceeded to narrate the 15 minute presentation verbatim and without written aid. The show was inspiring, but as I watched her fall, it made me realize once again that Rachel will always make me pale in my attempt at a life of true thrill and satisfaction. What can possibly tie you down when your job requires you to be thirteen thousand feet above the ground?

Cannot Be Hid

In 1998, after more than 25 years of war ravaged the country of Mozambique, two South African missionaries ventured across the border into a land that had never before been trodden by bearers of the True Gospel. A small branch was organized in the capital city, Maputo. Not long after, another branch was organized in a suburb called Matola, situated just to the south of Maputo. In the year 2000, a 16 year-old girl was walking home as she passed a house with a sign on the front, "A igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Ultimos Dias". She had never seen or heard of this church before. Hearing the sound of young people coming from inside, she decided to find out what it was all about. A youth Family Home Evening activity was in full swing and she introduced herself to the missionaries, two americans. There was a video playing on a small television. She was intrigued by the video and continued to watch. Her heart skipped as the video showed an enormous, beautiful edifice, similar to a castle. The building was rectangular, with three huge spires at either end. At the top of one of the spires stood a golden statue playing a trumpet. She had no idea where the building was, but was overcome with a desire to become more familiar with its meaning. When the activity was over, she quickly approached the missionaries and said, "that building, I will go to it and I will see it, and be married in it." The missionaries found it humorous, and in an attempt to bring her back to reality, explained that the building is in America, Salt Lake City, the other side of the world. A place where few, if any Mozambicans have ever travelled. She took pride in being called crazy, and for setting such a lofty goal. In that same year she was baptized and became one of the strongest members of the church in Mozambique.

Eight years later (three days ago), I passed through the gates onto Temple Square, at the side of this same young girl, now 24 years old, who could hardly contain herself from excitement. She had finally arrived to see this same beautiful building she had seen in a church video so many years before. As she approached the temple, she could do nothing but gaze straight up at its enormity. With tears in her eyes, she reached out and touched the roughly chiseled granite. As she stood there touching the granite, I could feel the presence and the happiness of those who sacrificed so much to give us this wonderful temple. It has effected literally millions of lives. It had been calling to this young girl since the day she saw its picture, and now she was finally there. I could only stand by and imagine the immense gratitude this young girl must have felt to finally have arrived here. I think we should be more grateful for having The Lord's House so close to us.

Unbelievable

I thought alot about where I was a year ago on the Fourth of July. Sitting on a log with a few of my friends on a hill above town, waiting for the long anticipated Ketchikan firework show to begin. They never lit them off. We had an amazing session of freestyle couch jumping that was very well documented. Although we were disappointed by the anticlimactic evening without fireworks, that was one of the most memorable 4ths ever, spent with some of my closest friends. This year, I was blessed with the opportunity to come home once again after three years of absence, and join my family in the traditional festivities of the 4th of July. I had to, howerever, do something to remind myself of where I was a year ago. And here it is- Sobe bombs. Thanks Marc and Bronx.

New Addiction

For the first time in my life, after numerous tries, I finally pulled myself out of the water onto a wakeboard. It felt strangely natural and came to me very quickly. I now understand first-hand the ravings I have heard from so many of my friends and I say they are all understated. I am in love with wakeboarding, even though I am far from experienced enough to call myself a "wakeboarder". I will be one by the end of the summer.

Fuel like a champion

"If you want to win, you gotta fuel like a champion!"
-Dwight Schrute, The Office

Memories

Find it

As the semester ends, time flings us all into yet another scorching work-and-play filled summer. Although I expect this summer to be very rewarding, it doesn't bring as much anticipation as the last two summers. I've come to understand that we all are on a never-ending search for happiness. I've thought alot about times when I have been really happy in the past. When I look at this picture, I get a surging sensation of freedom and happiness. Being completely free and alone, for three days of hopping the islands of Southeast Alaska, I came to a city that I have longed to return to ever since I set foot there. The city of Petersburg, Alaska. A small town at the foot of the massive Stakine Mountain Range. The Devil's Thumb rises 10,000 feet above the town and dwarfs the many small fishing boats that dot the harbor. No matter how mundane or redundant every day life can be, I always look back to the adventure and freedom that I felt in Alaska.