Man plays Dream theater song on his I-phone

This is not actually a new idea. The real keyboardist for Dream Theater plays this solo on his I-phone in concert.

Utah boy dies after dad buries him in bulldozer accident - Salt Lake Tribune

Utah boy dies after dad buries him in bulldozer accident - Salt Lake Tribune
Oh boy!!! This is terrible.

Vernal Express - Extreme weather plagues Basin

Vernal Express - Extreme weather plagues Basin

Lemonheads

This post is for Aaron. I know he likes the lemonheads and maybe he hasn't heard this.
http://www.thelemonheads.net/

morgan in bible school

Morgan went to bible school at the church down the street from us with her freind. I am not sure whether the lutheran church is just making things up but what she told us they taught her was strange. She said they talked about Laman. When I expressed doubt about this she said the angel Gabriel had come to samuel and told him to listen to his father Lemuel. Either Morgan needs to learn to pay attention better or the Lutheran church is teaching some strange stories.

The Bartholomews too

Dear Family and Friends, June 23, 2009

Elder B and I had a wonderful day today. We took three of our wonderful young adults from Nseleni to Balito for their patriarchal blessings. These young adults are also our YM and YW President and our Primary President. They are all 21 years of age. I think we have the first Single Adult Branch in the Durban Mission… JK – but this branch is so amazing. We have had many baptisms the past few months and they are all young adult age. It is wonderful to see them grow and strengthen this Branch. The Patriarch was so sweet. He lives in a beautiful area near the Ocean and was so kind and thoughtful to these three young people. He and his wife have never had the opportunity to have children, so they treat all the youth who come to them for blessings as if they were their own. We picked them up around 7:30 a.m. to be there by 9:00 a.m. We were then told to come back four hours later – which we did. The youth were so sweet and impressed with their experience. Tears flowed easily- and as we talked with the patriarch and our youth, I could tell it was a choice experience on both sides. Patriarch Jabba, has them write down their feelings immediately after the blessing. He said it isn’t just the words that make this experience, but the feelings you have as you are given the blessing. I liked that idea. They all three wrote their feelings and tucked them away to take home. We will be taking many to the Patriarch in the coming weeks.

He cannot come to our branches – we are too far away. So, we take our Branches to him. We can only take three at a time – so we have much work to do before we come home. In our one branch alone, we have over 12 recommends for blessings. It is a whole day experience – but it is well worth the time and effort.

During the past two weeks, we have had District Conference. President Mann came as our “Authority” and it was a wonderful two days. We had more people at this conference than any other that we have had since being here. There is always such a great spirit when the saints meet --- doesn’t matter where you live!! I find it funny that I absolutely can’t see color any more. As they come to the church, I am met with such love and I love them in return. They are great people with such giving hearts and strong faith. They struggle to make ends meet each day – but they relish in the simple beauties of life and especially in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They never hesitate to share their love and hugs with each person they greet at the meeting. Oh, how I am going to miss those hugs!! Watch out…when I come home I will want to hug every one. My mom was a hugger…I can remember her hugging and kissing everyone in the East Stratford Ward when Grandpa was Bishop. She would have fit in nicely here in Africa. Do you remember her kissing the Vietnamese?? Yep, she would have fit in here just fine.

With all the urgency to train and help these branches stand before we leave, there are many frustrating days. However, this past week was truly a miracle – We received a call two weeks ago Sunday telling us that the youth in Nseleni decided to do their own youth activity. We have been talking and talking with them about leading and taking charge of the YM/YW program. Like I said above, they are young in the gospel and young in age. We told them to come up with a program, decided on how much money they needed from the budget ( we have just barely received a budget) and let us know if there is anything we can do to help. They called back and asked us to bring games and help with the purchase (with the budget money) of Vienna’s (hot dogs), buns, chips and drink for 30 youth. We said that we could arrange that – so on Tuesday, we met with the youth for their first activity that they have totally put together themselves. There were 60 in attendance. They had printed programs outlining the talks and activities for this event. They had four speakers – who talked to a theme - a musical number and then the final speaker from the Branch President Vilane. I sat there with tears in my eyes realizing how far they had come. They are young – but will make amazing leaders of our church here in Africa. I know the day will come when many of these young people will be the Stake Presidents and Bishops of Richard’s Bay Stake. Who knows, maybe even a Temple President will be here. They turned the time over to Elder B and I for games. As I started to talk, I just cried. I expressed my love and gratitude for such great young people who are going forward to lead this little branch. I know Heavenly Father knows them and has sustained them in their lives. He has prepared them for the pioneering time here in Africa. I was so proud of them. They will continue to go forward now – teaching Young Women and Young Men – without the missionaries. Teaching Primary – without the missionaries. Teaching Relief Society – without the missionaries. They know that they can do it and they want to.

We are going forward trying to help all of the branches to stand and function in their assignments. There is much for them to learn – but they are so willing to do so. One of our newly baptized ladies from Esikhawini called the other day and told me she had been going door to door in her neighborhood teaching the gospel. She said I found a family that needs help. Help – is another word for money. Of course we went to see the family. It is a family of five children and a father. The mother abandoned the children several months ago and took all of the children’s birth certificates and ID numbers. That is significant in this country because if you have the birth certificates and ID #s you can get money from the government. I think it is R270 per child – about $30. For five children that would add up to $180.00 for a month. That is a considerable amount for these people to live on for a month. The father is out of work and is trying to care for these children. They have no clothes or food or means to send the children to school. This is a typical situation – you see much of this here. They live in a shack and have literally nothing. I don’t think I knew what having nothing was before coming on this mission. Even yesterday, we took food to a family in our branch and as we walked in the kitchen there was no stove, oven, table cupboard, or FOOD. There was a cement floor and a few small bags with a cup of beans and a few old potatoes. They have to cook outside – no electric burner. When I see these things – and I should be used to it by now – I always gulp and say a little prayer of gratitude for being able to assist these good people. I am so blessed. All of my family is so blessed. I hope we never forget what is of most value in our lives. There are two mothers in this home, one is 22 years old – she has a sister who is 24. Together they have four children. Their mother is a drinker and doesn’t contribute anything. I am trying to get them enrolled in school so they can provide for their children. The church will help them with the PEF programs as long as they are faithful. Even with their unbelievable circumstances, they only ask for assistance about every three months. They try as much as they can to do it on their own. In our little branch where there are so many that have so little – we only take maybe two food orders a month. I wonder what it is like at home.

I want to thank all of the sweet calls, e-mails and letters for my Birthday. I hate having birthdays – but I love hearing from my family and friends. It is amazing to me that I won’t be here next year. It is becoming hard for both of us to think about leaving. I just pray that someone will have a soft heart and choose to come and replace us. There is no sacrifice to this mission. I suppose I could argue that I have had to leave my home and family, spend more money than we have, work until you are so tired you can’t see – but in return, the blessings are immeasurable!! We have had experiences that truly have blessed us and I hope my children as well. Well, I have talked too much again. I just want to express my love to each of you – we love you all and thank you for the great example you are to us in our lives.

Have a Happy Fourth. We have the fourth of July here also…. Ha,ha!!

Love,

Mom, Sis. B., Karen

update on the Smiths

Monday, June 22, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry for a one day delay in the weekly letter. We spent the weekend in meetings with our contacts in Merida, Yucatan and just returned to Mexico City a few hours ago. Merida is a short hour and 15 minute flight and much better access than a 14 hour drive.

Our trip to Merida was very productive and exciting. It was a first opportunity to train one of the new couples called to work with Young Single Adults. And, to tell you the truth, they could just as well have trained us they were so prepared. In fact, they have made plans for a mid-August Young Single Adult convention in Merida in which they expect 620 young people to attend. They have even developed their own web page with information about the convention. While the plans are for Young Single Adults in the Yucatan area, they have had inquiries from Young Single Adults in the North of Mexico asking if they can attend. As you will recall, Yucatan is about as far South as you can get in Mexico, right next to Guatemala. It shows you the power of the electronic age and how young people don’t miss a thing. Here is the URL if you want to take a look at the web page (www.jaspenisula.org)

The unique thing about the Excellence in Leadership for Youth convention in Merida will be its length. It will cover six days of activity and they will touch on one of the six workshops each day. They are expecting 1,800 kids to attend and it will be an outstanding event.

While in Merida we took advantage of visiting with a Sister missionary Dave knew about 48 years ago. She has raised three outstanding children, three boys and one girl, and currently lives with her daughter and son in law in Merida. Her husband passed away a few years ago and she has been an active church member all of her life. She didn’t remember Dave until we showed her a picture of what he looked like in 1961. Still as handsome as ever, but at that time he weighed about 125 pounds. It was a delightful visit.

We were also fortunate to be in Merida at the same time as our friend Tom Holliday from Nauvoo. We met Tom and his wife Bonnie last November when we took a little vacation trip to Cancun with Dale and Garna Mickelsen from Idaho Falls. Dale and Tom are in business together in Nauvoo where they operate a hotel. We had a great visit with Tom, but we sense we may have worn him out before Sunday was over with meetings and most everything in Spanish. Nonetheless, he was able to make an excellent contact with one of the church members who could help him with some other business plans he has here in Mexico. Funny how things work isn’t it.

We also enjoyed dinner in the home of Brother and Sister Sumano and their two children. We had a great afternoon of conversation and wonderful food. It is such a great experience to see how Mexico has changed over the past 45 years. Homes are much improved, people have taken advantage of educational opportunities, and the growth of the church together with the extraordinary opportunities to serve has been more than you can imagine. Brother Sumano for example is an industrial engineer and has worked for Ford here in Mexico. He currently has his own consulting business specializing in business operating systems and quality service. In addition, he and his wife have started a finger nail business. They have three stores in Merida and one in Cancun. Remarkable what they are doing to support their family and serve in the church.

We send a Father’s day wish to our sons and son’s in law, and thank them for being great fathers, husbands and special sons. It’s too bad old dad can’t be in town for a golf game, but we can at least put that on hold for another time.

This new week will provide us with the chance to visit some of our couples in the northern states of Mexico. We have not firmed up our exact plan yet, but we will put things together tomorrow and set out for another journey and we will report the results to you next week.

One last happening. The employees at the Area Office held a farewell fireside and luncheon for Elder’s Mickelsen and Grow and their wives on Thursday last week. It was a sad and happy event as we are all sorry to see these two great leaders leave Mexico after many years of service. In addition to the wonderful counsel given in the meeting, we all enjoyed the traditional Folkloric dance of Veracruz performed by Sister Mickelsen in her beautiful Veracruz dress. Some pictures of the event will be posted on the blog.

Our love to all, hope you have a great week.

Dave and Elaine

Grandma and Grandpa

Mom and Dad

Elder and Sister Smith

My heart update

Yesterday I got a report from dr wang concerning my heart condition. I was not prepared for what he said, which was that I do not have a heart problem. He said that my MRI showed that I have a strong normal heart. He also stated that the reports from my heart monitor showed that I was having real palpitations, shortness of breath etc. but that such was not being caused by a heart problem. He didn't know what my real problem is. He is sending a report to my doctor and so I have to start over in searching for an explanation. It could be that I have a lung problem, but it might also be something else.

Thanks for your interest and prayers. I appreciate your concern for me.

The main problem now is that I have to wait for another week to see my doctor and start the search for an explanation all over again.
Love, Dad