Mexican Endeavor

February brought another Book of Mormon adventure as father, son(myself), and family friend David Reese, returned to supposed sight of first hill cumorah: hill vigia. Meeting each other in Los Angeles airport we continued on our to Mexico City, with connecting flight to Veracruz, and an hour long drive, thanks to Hertz, we found that we had traveled a considerable length into the past upon reaching destined Santiago Tuxtla. A quaint town nestled in a valley just off the gulf south of Veracruz, Santiago played home to the greatest of people; those who would gather to play instruments in the park nightly, to those who ran hill ward for their soccer team, and to those who's utmost concern was that of the well being of their family. Surprisingly our week long trip coincided with that of their annual festival of witches and witchcraft. To which many came not to practice or participate but more so out of curiosity and good food and dance. Their were nightly performances from a wide variety of sorts. One night the whole town gathered for local performers, and the resulting show resembled that of our roadshows. It was quite entertaining however. Youth came out in their best look and strolled the town nightly with or without the company of parents it didn't really matter. Friendly and curious people who definitely were not accustomed to seeing tourists or Americans strolling the town. Santiago's town square features the largest found Olmec head. Most famed sight near the little town is that of the waterfall used in Mel Gibson's Apocalypto. Its truly a wonder how much water is springs forth from this hill and all the surrounding areas. We came across a doctors house that had been built near a 30 foot deep ravine was cut into the ground by a spring. He had built pools and patios to accompany a good stretch of this spring where the water would flow and fall through his pools. He even built a suspension bridge to cross the ravine that would sway and scare any who dared cross it. After a day or two getting a good understanding of roads around the hill and road up to the hill we began closer studies and began asking locals what they knew about the hill. We would then go into detail about the history that we knew of the mountain and explain that is the reason why this hill is of interest to us. That two civilizations battled to the death here and only one walked away. We found a small town nestled high on the hill name El Mirador, which translates to The Lookout. They told us that on clear days you were able to see the ocean a good 30 40 miles off. Locals there knew of old Olmec ruins and waterfalls that few knew of or traveled to. So we made arrangements for them to guild us to such places. Whether it be through jest or superstition they told stories of weird creatures spotted on the mountain and of caves opening up to those passing by and even told of those that had lived there before and their deep connection and understanding with the heavens. They were a truly humble people. They cooked on wood flame ten feet from a gas stove because any meal tastes better on flame and the gas is their for emergencies only such as the wood being wet. We arranged to eat with them and learned the traditional way of making corn tortillas by hand. And a stack of 30 or so would easily be consumed every meal. Even by hand each tortilla came out to be about the same size. And the kitchen would be ran by three generations of cooks. Grandma and grand daughter side by side in the kitchen mean zero mistakes and knowledge is passed down the generations. Beautiful thing. In exploring the area we also came across a small village who had put common knowledge to us into sign form for all to learn as they went about daily chores or as they went to school or anywhere in the town. Signs that discouraged alcohol and tobacco while promoting good eating and exercise. Brush your teeth three times a day while others read wash your fruits and vegetables before you eat them. All home made and fashioned from wood and paint. We also found a cool spot on the side of the road that quickly became a favorite spot for finding bits and pieces of old pottery and obsidian. Upon review from experts some pieces were dated with 400 A.D., around the end of the Book of Mormon, and others at 1000 B.C., known as Olmec or better understood as Jaredite times. We were also led to an Olmec monolith about five or so feet tall that had fallen over through the years, but once stood with a face that looked into the sun. Good eats, good times had, good practice of spanish, and good to learn more about the Book of Mormon in its homeland. Tell next time good night.

Never really got around to it OK

Under construction

Well its 2008 but we are going to have a little look back to some recent good times last year. December started off with a week of work in somewhere down south. Some great sights and sounds coupled with some colder weather. Following that first week i took a drive out to California for some R&R at a friends beach house in bodega bay area. Incredibly nice sunsets, cold humid winds and a smell of rich air that takes me back to where i grew up. As always good times with the family and visiting friends. I might have the order off on which week was what, but December included a lot of driving. Whether it was for work traveling to southern Utah or driving back to California I believe i totaled about 4000 miles. All well worth it. So our family has a in-law year with christmas and an everyone home year for christmas. This year was the in-laws year, and yet we all managed to get together at home and enjoy old family home videos. Unbelievably good food. As well as a few needed presents that assist greatly to my work. My father has always been an example of giving and lent me good mountaineering shoes and jacket, with which he gave me strict instruction to give them scares. And scare them i have.

movie critics anonymous

First and for most i do not like the fact that movies are the number one distraction today and they take up a majority of any conversation. i can honestly say at least once a day i refer to a movie for knowledge or method of completing anything. i really do not like the attention we give to those that are really only acting and have who knows what problems in their own lives, or who really wants to know there problems. That being said i have a thing for movies that do inspire and provoke thought. Such as:

Dan in real life: i saw it with a few of the greatest people i know. They recommended it and said they would see it again in the theatre it was so good. From them its a high rating, like a real red ripe tomato. Commedic and entertaining. As most romantic commedies one feels like they can relate a little and dan in real life struck a cord on that note. Not that i have ever lost a wife before ... anyways.

Bee Movie: Hillarious. i felt like the guy people go home and complain about to friends and family, "oh, there was this laugher there right, just laughing at everything, i couldn't think of laughing cause this guy laughed for all of us" ... anyways. And the whole time your wondering whats the underlying theme here, save the bees, working hard is a good thing, or what are we doing to save our planet. i personally am more a fan of the later, and how attention to the smaller things makes a big difference. Or if cows could talk what would they say about the way they are treated. Its a laughing matter but its turning into a bigger issue. i know what your thinking, great another enviromentalist, but such is not the case. i work with a lot of green happy people and have been able to open up more about how i really have always felt about things. Especially about things they ill hear and then just think well that makes sense. i know what your thinking, oh good one... use movies to lure us into your soap box... but ill keep it brief. i just saw bee movie so its fresh on the mind and ive been meaning to do this blog for a while. Its just a few things we can do differently to cut back and work for the future planet of our kids... anyways. the movie does a great job of entertaining the adults while amusing the kids as well. its all a big marketing tool but this one worked on me and im happy about it.

Just a taste of two greats ive seen recently. But really how many more movies can they make?

Wit me ma an pa

November is upon us all, there is no escaping it. With falling leaves and long sleeves I find myself in California amongst the purest of company. Sunday night included a long drive home and an even longer time moving my parents furniture into their garage. Having recently talked on Sunday, i discovered their plans to move on Monday to a new home 30 hr down the hill. And devised a plan to surprise them. So late Monday morning, with the help of a good friend Tim, we finished our plan and crashed. Only to awake a moment later to dad showing up to move at 5 am. Boy was he surprised and the fun began. The move went incredibly well; like one of the old cartoons where they fold a circus up and put it in there pocket and when they get to where they are going they throw it into the air and it unfolds as it hits the ground. No really, it went that well. My mother might be a witch, and i am totally cool with that mom. She has powers. Being around parents has done a wonder on my spirits. Being reminded of the basics and from whence i came was the perfect thing to counter the fall time blues. With all the sickness going around there are a lot of not so happy campers out there, so remember the good times and push through the cold season is my advice. Well back to California, we had wonderful evenings going out to eat or staying in with a movie or just talking about stuff. I managed some time to visiting friends and played a game of croquet on an old golf course. I won. I am not bragging just saying what happened. Of course a trip to California is not complete without going to a single adult dance on Friday night. That was a blast. Really. Its the attitude you bring to the dance, and showing up for the last 30 minutes, so you can really shake a leg and not get too sweaty when they turn the lights back on, and a church dance is not the same without a trip to Denny's afterward. So Saturday came and I went on a bike ride wit me ma. Their new place is about a mile from a lovely lake known as lake Natoma and its headwaters border the famed Folsom prison. Circumnavigating the lake is a bike trail, about 13 miles of pine trees, old scraggly oaks, scenic views of the water, and this pungent sweet smell that has a tendency to remind me of fall time (its hard to put it to words the things that smell reminds me of because it reminds me of so much). I think the smell is the result of layers of pine needles and damp decomposing ground underneath. Odd combo i know but its a smell that puts you into a fairy tale, takes you to some scene on the Lord of the Rings. If i could summarize my childhood with a smell, that would be it. Anyway, lonely day riding bikes, and a good end to a visit to California. Drove back that night and am now experiencing cold again. Brrrr....

Time flys when you work in the wilderness

Another week has been completed in the outback of Utah. Started the week with three students and a staff that has never done T-camp. So I was supposed to be the expert this week??? We had about ten miles tell we made it to our camp and were considering a possible mountain summit on the way in to camp. It was a straight ten miles no hills, just flat open plains to our final destination. One girl had just twisted her ankle pretty bad while the other has breathing problems, which made things slow going. We made it about three miles into the trip before setting up for the evening. It was loud due to a crazy amount of wind, the tarp would flap us awake throughout the night. The next day we hiked the other 7 and arrived at T-camp in time to gather fire wood and eat a warm meal before retiring. A cold quiet night ensued the kind of quiet that brings snow and when the sun hit we found an inch on the ground. I made a snowman and we spent the next two days in the tipi doing teachings and warming up by the fire. Good times. After it warmed up and we made it outside for some teachings and a little hike to the top of the hill near camp. The students refer to that day as the most productive. Im forgetting to mention that I have been struggling to become the expert on T-camp teachings during the week. Reading ahead and then teaching as the day goes on. Around Monday I receive a new staff that has done T-camp once before and just got engaged so she wasn't that into anything other than talking about that. Which is totally understandable and expected. And again i became the expert. I doubt the kids ever took notice to the sloppiness with which we worked that week having nothing to compare it with. Great kids and a great week. Wednesday they all left the program and went on to boarding schools. AND FINAllY the good news out of all this, is that work is having me rewrite the T-camp book which teachings and everything. Im excited its a big responsibility and I am happily enthused to accept it. Lot of research to be had in the next couple of days.

24 I think

Work started again on Thursday and I tried hard for news not to get out about my birthday. I dont know why we do that but I never want it to be a big deal. This week turned out to be a rather tough one, though. Whether or not it was building up so i enjoyed my birthday or whether i made it difficult due to the fact that i didnt really want to be there, there is no telling. Probably both. We dealt with two mountain ranges, an accumulative full day of rain, a night of sleet and snow, a 7 mile in the dark hike, and long semi slept nights. We did a feedback gathering with the kids and they said i was being really abrupt and quick in responding to them, without even listening to their side of the story. An eyeopening moment for me. The week felt like I just went through the motions and did not really get through to the kids. So we get to our camp, consisting of a Tipi and individual shelters for the students, around twelve at night. Waking up we find a layer of frost on the ground and set out to build a fire and work on teachings with the students. Having lost track of the world around us we felt like Tuesday was the 26th of September and celebrated my birthday as if it was. They brought out a nice chocolate cake with my name spelled on it and the five of us devoured it excitedly. Wednesday happens and we take the kids to the office to go home. While there i turn my cell phone back on to find the date reading the 26th. Huh, i thought to myself, thats funny. Back to Tuesday, the students of course wanting to know how old i am to which i commonly reply "how old do you think i am?". Maybe the physical drain of the week cut off my brain, im not sure, but i was convinced that i had just turned 25. A little saddened by the fact it never felt right saying it, yet it went on all day. Only later in the afternoon was i empowered in the discovery that the years add up to 24. So a day early I gained a year of my life back, as if i had traveled over a time zone barrier, and it was nice. Thank you family for your calls and singing and love and support. I am fortunate to be 24 and excited for the experiences and challenges of this next year.

Home Sweet Home

Visiting home and California is best done with the company of those you love. Sierra Eli and Wes accompanied the traveling sections of the trip. We were fortunate to visit Grandma Stout and the Wrights one of the days. As well as Family home evening with Tuellers of all generations. A day with friends and a visit to the singles ward followed by croquet played a great part in making the trip awesome. But best of all was when Mom and Dad returned from Michigan. We were able to see mom at work and visit with a great many old friends from childhood. Placerville never changes and is such a small town. Enjoyable dinners and visits to the bakery as well. No car troubles, kids did great both ways and i made it back in time for work on thursday.

Outback Therapeutic Expeditions

So I got a job that i love and i think it loves me back. Outback therapeutic expeditions is wilderness program for troubled youth between the ages of 13 to 17. We hike an hour or so west of Lehi in the desert. Juniper trees and sage plants run mainstream over the hills. Good thing to cause without them we probably would not eat. The juniper provides good fire wood and the sage is an important part in starting the fire. As staff we trade off with a group of kids every week and the kids are lucky enough to stay out there from 8 to 10 weeks. 4 weeks at the least. We make our own backpacks out of wood and leather. No the most comfortable things but they do the trick. So with a tarp some clothes and a bunch of dried food we make our way across the desert 4 miles a day. Set up camp and work on making different things and the kids have a bunch of curriculum books to work on as well as therapy assignments. The students meet with the therapists once a week as well as with the group several times during the week. We often discuss the history of their being at the camp and work on creating a vision of a better future with them. We use a lot of aboriginal theories and methods in our teaching. Beautiful sunsets and amazing star gazing all the time. I love it. I have worked with four different groups over an 8 week span and each one is unique and a bundle of good memories. Thursdays we go out to the field after meetings at the office and its been a great feeling arriving at work so far. Just a lot of really good people i work with. The kids are awesome though, very intelligent and very funny, just having some directional difficulties. And every thursday when we come back from the field it is a little difficult saying good bye. I love it.

Havasu Falls

Ten mile hike in. We started around 6 or 7 and walked into the night. Scary passage with dogs and crazy crackling old ladies sitting on the ground as we made our way through the Indian village. Camped near a river and woke up in paradise. One more thing, a dog which we later named Max started to follow us from the parking lot and stayed with us all the way to the camp grounds. Woke up in paradise. Green green plants light teal river and red 500 foot walls, yeah its a beautiful place. First day we spent exploring Havasu falls. Climbing the ladder behind it and jumping in under the fall of the water. There is a good sized ledge to climb up on behind the falls and it is there that you find water falling up. The water drips off the rocks and the wind blows them up. Its a sight worth seeing. Then we made our way up to Navajo falls. What a thing to see. You hike through these trees and run smack into a clearing made by a pond with a cascade of falls filling it. One section is like a cave with all sorts of water flowing out of the rocks or over the top of the rocks and just everywhere. Also a cave with a ledge to sit on under the falling water. And best yet is the trail off to one side where you climb up the waterfall and then kind of repel down the front of the bigger fall tell your standing on the edge of a 30 foot jump with water falling all around you. Two deep breaths and you go. Awesome. After Navajo we made our way down to moony falls. A two hundred foot falls into a large pool. The climb down is pretty straight down and sketchy. There we swam over and climbed up fairly close to the falls and jumped in. The force of the water coming off the falls pushes you immediately to shore. Just awesome. And for close to camp fun we were within earshot of two rope swings. All this fun came with a price. We slept very well that night. I carried in a watermelon that was quickly devoured by the group after cooling off in the river all day. The next day we set off on a four mile hike downstream to another set of falls called beaver falls. Spent some quality time on a rope swing on the way down. Max by the way has been with us the whole time. Beautiful hike. Lush valleys, again that dark green contrasting with red rock is a sight to see. A lot like navajo again but a little smaller. Definitely worth the hike. Max made it all the way down, even when he couldnt make it up the ridge he would swim or something to make it back. So we fed him a lot when we got back. Took a little napy and packed up for the hike out. Again starting around 8 or so we didnt get to the cars till about 2 in the morning. All delirious and happy we started the drive home, which turned out to be a whole different story in itself.