...these simple bios are inspiring

I am doing an internship with a non-profit called Southern Sudan Humanitarian. I am helping by writing grants to try and get money to build a more permanent school in Akobo. I received these bios today from a few of the children currently in the Akobo school. They are simple and inspiring. Many of these people call themselves Latter-day Saints, although have not yet been baptized. If they can get an education, I think they will become the leaders, doctors, and pilots of Southern Sudan.

1.  NAME OF THE CHILD: Mary Nyanen Dengjock
GENDER: Female,
DOB: 15, Mar, 1994
Grade/Class, 4th
CHILD LIFE HISTORY: Mary Nyanen she is orphan. Both her parents dead, bombed by Gunship in 1999 in Akobo Nyanen has one Brother they lived with distance relatives she is the older than her brother she like music & watching TV she said that; when she grow up she will be musician southern Sudan,
FAVOURITE SUBJECT: English & Mathematics.

         

2. NAME OF THE CHILD: Bidit Gatkuoth Wan.

GENDER: Male

DOB:  1996                        

GRADE/CLASS: 4th

CHILD LIFE HISTORY: Bidit  Gatkuoth he is orphan, both his parents died in 2008 in Nyandit that was  war b/n Lou Nuer &  Murlee.  Bitdit he is lonely child from his mother & father, he lived to gather with his stapes mother, Bidit learn in this school since 2008;

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Mathematics

He said, when he will grow up, he shall be Medical doctor in Southern Sudan.

                                  

3. NAME OF THE CHILD: Nhial  Malual  Ngok

GENDER: Male

DOB: 13, April, 1997

GRADE: 2

CHILD LIFE HISTORY: Nhial Malual lives with his parents, he has two sisters & two brothers, five from his Mother he is the third child of his Mother, nhial loves the cycle ride; and also he is Engine operator

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Nhial likes Mathematics & Science; He said when I shall grow up I will be Engineer; we like him because he honestly

4. NAME OF THE CHILD: De-deng deng jock

GENDER: Male

DOB: April, 5, 2000

GRADE\CLASS: 3

CHILD HISTORY: De-deng  he is orphan in our school single parent dead he lives with his Mother  and sister in Akobo, his father dead in war 2002 b/n SPLA and NCP [National congress  party/Army.

De-deng he like swim & fishing in the river

HIS FAVORITE Subject: Science

He said that when he will grow up in future, he will be Medical Dr Southern Sudan.

5. NAME OF THE CHILD: Nyakecha Wour Pal

GENDER: Female

DOB: 11, Sept, 1999

GRADE/CLASS: 3

CHILD LIFE HISTORY: Nyakecha she is orphan in our School, both her parents died in war/n SPLA & NCP (ARAB) in Baliet 200, Nyakecha she is the first child of her parents.  she has two sisters & one brother they live in Akobo Bilkey payam  with their stape mother. Nyakecha liked to take care of her sisters & brother she cooked food early before school hours and fetching water from River.

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Science

She said that, when she will grow up I will be Nurturing mother to care for Children in southern Sudan.

6. NAME OF THE CHILD: Nyawour  Yein  Tharjiath

GENDER: Female,

DOB:   27, Mar, 1994

GRADE/CLASS: 4 

CHILD  HISTORY: Nyawour she learn in Orphanage School Akobo, her single parent dead Father dead in war 2008 b/n SPLA & NCP. she lives with her Mother, she has four sisters and two brothers she is the fifth child of her parents, nyawour like playing with valley ball, she is the leading of Games when our students played. She said when she grow up she will be a valley ball world cup winner to southern Sudanese,

FAVORITE SUBJECT: English, & history, she said that; I will be the public Communication, Southern Sudan.

7. NAME OF THE CHILD: Nyadol Gony Machot

GENDER: Female

DOB:  APRIL, 13, 1999

GRADE/CLASS, 2

CHILD HISTORY: Nyadol, is our student in orphanage school Akobo, she lives with her parents, with two brothers & three elders sisters

She likes to read maps of the world, and asked her teacher about the names of the cities and she like calculation of mathematics,

FAVORITESUBJECT: Mathematics & Geography she said that when she will grow up she will be the pilot in the Southern Sudan.

8. NAME OF THE CHILD: Nyajouk Wan Puk

GENDER: Female

DOB: 10, DEC, 1999

GRADE/CLASS: 1B

CHILD HISTORY: Nyajouk, she is our student in orphanage school Akobo, she is orphan both her parents dead in war in 2002 in Akobo has three elders sisters, and one brother, five souls in their family. they lived with their extended relatives

FAVORITE SUBJECT: English, she like looking the picture of newspapers said that when she grows up, she will be the spoke lady in Radio services ‘in Southern Sudan.

10. NAME OF THE CHILD: Tayien Kuach Rom

GENDER: Male

DOB: 1994

GRADE/CLASS: 4

CHILD HISTORY: Tayien is an orphan, both his parents dead since 1998 in Akobo, bombed by gunship, Tayien live as lonely child from his Mother, he lives with extended relatives, he like football playing and learn English, he used to write history when he has pencil and papers,

Tayien said that I will be President in southern Sudan when I shall grow up;

FAVOURITE SUBJECT: English & History.

...mid-century modern is the way to go

Lately I've been a little obsessed with mid-century modern architecture and interior design. Here is one of my favorite houses:

Some of my favorite sites for mid-century furniture include:

hive

inmod

design within reach

and 

nood

How do you feel about mid-century modern design?

...I love Mandee, Nate, and Paul

I got to spend a few hours with Mandee and her two boys. We went on a small hike up a little canyon behind the Bountiful Temple. Paul was a little nervous to be hiking around in the slippery snow, but he followed Nate's lead and they were soon running around and throwing rocks in the river.

Paul

Nate

Mandee's grandpa was the city engineer for Bountiful and he built the road behind the temple. The road was put there for the temple and also to connect both sides of Bountiful. They had to build up the bank here above the stream in order to put the road in. 

What a handsome family, eh?

...let's visit Pim in Thailand

My very good friend from the MPA program, Pim, is leaving Thursday. She is going to Texas, Hawaii, and then on to her homeland of Thailand. She's one of the happiest, friendliest, and most adventurous people I know. It was fun to spend one more evening with her at Bombay House and reminisce about the good times we've had in graduate school. I will miss you Pim! But I'll see you someday soon in Thailand.

...touring was quite the adventure

Dave and I decided to get out and use our legs touring instead of sticking around Snowbird yesterday. We rode up the Gad 2 lift because there is a boot pack from the top that takes you out into some good backcountry. But as we were getting on the lift the sign read, "Gad 2 gate closed." Bummer.

We rode the lift anyway and instead traversed clear out around Tigers Tail. The traverse is kinda sketchy in parts with a narrow trail and some exposure. A "no fall zone" if you're not looking to break yourself. So it took us 1 1/2 hours to get to the area you can usually boot pack to in 10 minutes.

Then we were skinning along a steep ridge that is south facing; therefore, because we haven't had new snow in a week--crusty and icy. Super slow going. We got to the top of a ridge and decided to boot up it for a while. Dave popped off his ski, went to grab it, and...zoom! It went shooting down the slope we had just traversed up. Bummer #2.

We watched in horror as the ski kept going and going. It veered into a small tree, turned backwards, and went out of sight. I'm amazed that Dave didn't curse the whole time. Not that I've ever heard him curse. But if he was going to...now would be the appropriate time. We decided to both make our way down to where the ski had disappeared. It was nerve-racking for me because the slope was very steep and a sheet of crusty ice. Plus I had heard something in the nearby bushes that I was sure was a bear or mountain lion (I still have a vibrant imagination at the age of 27).

Luckily when the ski had turned backwards the hairs on the skins had slowed it down until it came to a stop in an open clearing. We decided we were over it and didn't want to make our way back up the slope to our goal of skiing the Birthday Chutes. So we headed down the canyon and the snow was all really crummy and hard to ski. I fell once and my ski went shooting off, but was quickly snagged by a tree. I rarely fall. Bummer #3.

I was super frustrated because my legs were so tired that I could barely ski and we had hiked a long way for no good turns. I kept just making a few turns and then stopping to take a rest as Dave waited for me. I wanted to sit down and cry.

On the way down I was surprised to see some snowshoers coming up the trail. I didn't know we were so close to the bottom! I've never been so happy to see snowshoers (usually I just view them as people who've chosen the lowest form of transportation).

We ended the day on a good note when we were quickly given a ride when hitchhiking, and Snowbird was giving out free warm cookies in the parking lot. Phew. We made it back with all our gear and no injuries. Dave promised me that from now on we're only hiking to places where we'll get some good turns on the way down. I've built enough character--I don't need to build any more.

...I'm not used to so many boys

Jenny and Keith came down for a couple days and I got to hang out with Drew and Neil for a while. We constructed a block castle, ate some lunch, and played hide n' seek. Neil's favorite toy was the ghost that is meant for the top of the castle. It glows in the dark green. He kept going in the bathroom, shutting the door, and turning out the light. They were very polite and always said, "Yes, please" and "No, thank you." 

My calling in church is with the cub scouts. I'm a leader over the Bears. After I hung out with Drew and Neil I went to our weakly meeting. We combined with another group, so there were about 10 boys ages 8 and 9. Whew! Boys are noisy and a lot of work! If Dave and I ever have boys, we are getting them lots of warm clothes...cause they're going to spend 90% of their waking hours outside!

...Happy New Year!

Mom and Dad planned a fun New Year's party for us. It included Gingerbread house making, dinner, games, the original True Grit, and a muzzle loader shoot off at midnight. Oh! You can't forget Michelle's donation to the party--super hot party hats. We played Catch Phrase, boys against girls, and the boys won. Dave of course rubbed it in by taking a picture of the winning score. Watch out boys--you won't win next time! 2011 is going to be a great year!