A clumsy walk up the hill

To Audrey from Dad

Hi Audrey,

More random thoughts. 

1-     I love the murals painted on the walls in the Ogden baptistry.  Might have been my favorite so far.  It makes it look like the font is sitting in the Weber River flowing toward and away from on both walls.  And the Weber River looks a lot like parts of the real Jordan River.

2-     You aren’t going to have any real time to have a temple prep class before you come home and then it’s a whirlwind of a week.  Mom and I were trying to remember if you’d taken any temple prep classes at all before you left.  We’re pretty sure you only took mission prep.  So we are going to be giving you some temple prep of our own over the few weeks you have left. 

3-     First temple prep item:  Many of the sections in the D&C were essentially a temple prep course for the early Saints from 1829 to 1836 when the Kirtland temple was dedicated.  Read D&C 97 and answer the question:  What purposes are given for having temples… a “place of” what?  (v.13), and then what are the promises of the temple to those who are pure in heart:?

4-     We drove home yesterday from Ogden and made it safe all the way to 100 East Hyde Park and the roughest part of the trip was the journey up our little dirt road to our house.  About didn’t make it.

5-     Mockingjay Part II and Alma 51 have a lot in common.

6-     Speaking of The Hunger Games- the movies are all really a lot better than the books.  That’s actually pretty rare.

7-     My clinic fish are swimming around acting all innocent like nothing ever happened.  Bunch of mafia mobsters.

8-     AJ is really into Downton Abby.  I think he started to get a bit emotional last night when a long anticipated wedding finally took place. 

9-     I just saw one of my urinary tract surgeries from last week.  Tough surgery that most GP’s won’t tackle and get referred to me.  And he’s doing awesome and feeling a lot better than he was.  I am amazing.

10-  Getting older is not for sissies.

😊

Keep on making the GVI Nepal Facebook page!

Love, Dad

Reply from Audrey to family 1/21/16

Dear people who raised me 

And my fellow offsprings 

I hope that the whole family didn't think that all I do here is nurse drunk women haha. 

Also I think the world of Jo so I hope they don't think anything bad of her, because I don't. She's so Christlike and she doesn't even know what that means. I'm giving her a Book of Mormon when this is over. 

Also I miss you guys and I was sad that I wasn't at the clue house. I decided that I am very grateful for that house and I got quite nostalgic that I won't be there next year either. It sounded like an adventure! Lots of sickness and sadness that I wasn't around lol. ;) jk glad you had fun. 

Gratitude is a funny thing. Once things are taken away from you, you're suddenly happy that you have them. But actually you don't have them because they are taken away from you... So it's just a hopeless circle that is really hard to win haha. But that's why it's humbling right? It's hard. 

When I came out here I was expecting to be humbled but not in the ways I have been. I mean yes I have been humbled in most of the ways you'd expect. But I've found myself rejoicing over the most unexpected things, like the fact that there's always change in the US. If you want to pay for a one dollar item with a ten dollar bill, no problem! Here it is hard. I am grateful that my siblings are sweet friends as well as family. I'm grateful that our brooms have long handles. I'm grateful that our government has a system of trash disposal. I'm grateful that everyone at home understands my accent, for hugs from mom, and for printers. Im grateful that no one swears in our house. 

I am grateful for the knowledge that families are always together. This has become so important to me lately. 

So today, the day that I'm BEGINNING this email haha, is January 20. Which means I've been gone 15 days, which means I'm halfway done with this. It also means I've been away from home longer than I ever have before. Actually that happened at day 7 lol but whatever. "If I take one more step, I'll be farther away then I ever have been from home." That was misquoted sorry Samwise. But January 20 also means that I have 3 months until my mission. 3 MONTHS. uhhh... ! It also means that in two days, Ryan, spencer and Ben will have been on missions for 6 months. My friends, the work is hastening! And it's hastening quickly so I've got to grab my knickers! #ahhhh 

By the way dad, right before I read your email, like RIGHT before I opened it, I was thinking of how I missed the temple and then I panicked because you're right and I indeed took zero temple prep. So... Yup. Blessings come to those who feed Nepali children porridge. 

Thank you! Keep them coming. I love D&C 97 mucho. 

I'm concerned though, I won't have been to church for 5 Sunday's, I think? And then I'll just enter the temple. Is that a bad thing? Like I feel ok but what do you think? I haven't defiled myself and don't plan to so... ;) 

But it was an eventful day. It was really interesting. I stayed up late drawing maps for the street kids so we could teach them about geography today. It went really well. I taught toddlers the alphabet and how to say butterfly along with putali. I made a kid do squats for talking in Nepali when he was supposed to use English (how I hate disciplining. I hate it but I have to do it). Somewhere in there, I went on a run outside of the city and into a little village around the lake. I tripped and face planted on some rock or something like an idiot and some women rode past me on a motorbike staring at dusty bloody ol' me. But dad! I saved your phone! Yayyyy. I sacrificed my knee instead. Don't need those really anyway. 

I ran up this little mountain and found a ginormous spider web and an equally ginormous spider... Eek. I'll send a picture. 

The view from where I stopped on the mountain made me think about a lot of things. It was quiet compared to the city where our house is, and also much greener. I just sat and looked and looked at the jungle book trees, the colorful square houses, the woman who was pointing at things with her dark skinned baby. The dust drifted just above the field below where another woman and her children put things in a straw basket. I thought, first, "I'm in Nepal." Second, I thought "I feel at home." 

It was kind of a first, here. I just felt very comfortable in that moment, all by myself, staring at foreign people and foreign spiders and foreign trees on foreign mountains. I don't know why nature does that to me but I seem to connect with myself and God better when I'm in it. I think it's so easy to be close to him when you're surrounded by his creations and you have a solid view of the sky. I know he's out there somewhere. 

Then it was Richard's birthday. Richard is an older Australian man who says witty things. We went to this place with a live band, and everyone knows I sing because I've been teaching some of the kids a song, so they kept asking me to get up and sing a song. I told Bibek (the Nepali dude who dances) that if he could get them to let me use their guitar, I would sing. Guess what happened? I played a beautiful guitar on a cool stage in front of the volunteers and some people from Nepal. It was fun but I'm sick so it wasn't my best. But still fun and a lot of people videoed so hopefully I'll get a hold of that sometime. 

Mom:

Oh you guys are so kind. That was cool of you to say because I've been trying REALLY hard to be positive here and sometimes it's difficult. I've definitely had many negative moments. I need to write Makk a letter soon. Wow I'm bad at writing anyone but you guys and Ryan haha. 

I'm laughing picturing teesh with her mouth of curdly cracker tomatoes. Whatever it was hahaha. Keep eating weird stuff please. Ah man tomato soup sounds good! I want to take some recipes home with me because the food here is actually so so good. They feed us a TON. It's a problem. 

Hahahaha! Those pictures were hysterical! What kind of game is that hahaha. 

My weekend plans are paragliding and hiking so don't worry about it for now because I have enough money. But next weekend we might go trekking and that's gonna be a little more (not sure how much yet, maybe around $200) and I haven't bought my $120 plane ticket home yet so yeah.. Just stick some Benny's in my account and I'll be enslaved to you when I come home... 

Thank you. Love you. 

You can access my account yes? You don't have my card but you have my account info in that folder I made for you. 

I haven't gotten time to watch that video but thank you. :) I will. 

Dad: 

Once again I miss the temple. I wanna go to the Ogden temple soon. I wish there were a Nepal temple!!! It would be so gorgeous... 

Hahaha why was the road to our house dangerous? Did you hit a peach tree?

I don't know what to say about hunger games and alma 51. Maybe I'll read that chapter and then I'll have something but for now.. Cool! 😎

I liked the movies so much. Haven't seen part one yet. 

The fish. I'm pretty sure I told everyone in my house that story haha. What a lot of munted creatures. 

Dad you ARE amazing! Truly incredible! My goodness gracious. I can't believe your urinary tract skills or computer hacking skills or pie making skills. 

Ps I want pie. 

Getting cooler isn't for sissies either 🤓 

AJ: I hear you're emotional over downton abbey. I'm proud. Please give me a plot line. 

Yes I know a kid from Ecuador! He's quiet but he's very nice. Smokes always and swears always but we have a good time. Uh... I don't know what part of Quito. I'll ask. He loves meat and talks about verde. 

Ian: make me a summary of school and girls and social life and bucket hats and video games. Ready go! 

I miss wrestling with you. Never thought I'd say that. 

Teesh: wow girl what face expressions you make. Keep eating ice cream for me. 

Frosty: I want to buy you one of the toys here that are way popular- they are these tops that they spin fast with a string and you can do cool tricks. Tell me what you think of that. 

I have to tell you guys- mostly mom and dad 

Thank you! THANK YOU for letting me do this. I don't know how to express my appreciation but you guys are brave to let me do this and I know it wasn't an attractive thought in a lot of ways, but I am learning so much and that's the second best gift ever, next to being your daughter. :) 

Have a happy time. I sent pics over whatsapp and ill explain them someday. 

Share with whomever you think wants this. 

Namaste! 

Dad's wisdom

From Audrey

To Dad,

There's a shelf at our house where people just leave books. I found one called "the 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared." For some reason it made me think of you haha I guess I thought you might have read it or you would like it. 

I think you would like it here. Have you been to Asia? I don't remember. The mountains are beautiful and you would be so happy hiking around in them. Although it's been really hazy while I'm here and I haven't even seen  the Himalayas. I don't believe in them they don't really exist. 

Anyway I just miss you. Like I'm wonderful and happy but I miss talking to you and playing settlers with everyone. Can you give me some advice? How do I obtain a stronger assertive personality? I mean I've made a lot of friends but I feel kind of shy sometimes here.  

Reply from Dad to Audrey

Hey there Namaste mi hija charmant 😊  That is a very multicultural introduction no? 

I’m glad you think of me when you see books.  Many books are among my very best friends.  Sharidean Flint right now is making me hurry through a Dickens classic though and I don’t like being rushed through my dessert.  I do hope that if I ever get to be 100 which is any day now I don’t climb out of a window and disappear… haha.  Here’s one review of that book about the 100 year old man that I found:  “Good fun if you’re looking for light entertaining nonsense with a history lesson thrown in at various stages along the way.” 

I think of you all the time, wondering what you’re doing every day and every hour and if you’re always with the people in your group or ever alone and feeling content or feeling lonely or feeling amazed at all the wonder and sadness and humanity you’re immersed in right now.    Having your phone here helps with thinking of you often.  I set Stockton Huskinson apart as a missionary last night and his family made terrible fun of me with a flowery phone case.  It’s an interesting piece of antique technology your phone is and it seems to be missing you.  It does odd things now and then and I am pretty sure it’s protesting being away from you.  It’s like that movie about the boy doll, it might actually be a living thing- Right now it’s new trick is that about half of the texts that are meant for me are showing up on Alicia’s phone so every night after work I have to come home and check her phone to see who texted me that day.

Mom and I got an email from Pam Tew tonight, wasn’t she an awesome YW leader?  You might be talking about her someday like mom talks about Sister Bowering.  She emailed us tonight asking us to be presenters in their stake relief society women’s conference next month talking on the topic:  “Navigating the Dating Terrain.”  How about that?  We both think you would be better qualified to talk to the YSA women about that than we are.  We’re too old and feeble.

I have been to far western Asia, in the summer of 1993 I lived in Israel for 2 months and we had short trips to the Sinai peninsula which is technically the northeast corner of Africa and to Amman, Jordan.   Amman was the least safe place I felt at of everywhere we went and I really only remember staying one or maybe two nights in a hotel there and not going anywhere at all in the city.  We played repeated vicious games of spoons over and over (by that time we all knew each other really well, it was at the end of the two months) and I remember getting thrown off of a bed and knocked to the floor at one point.  Probably everyone in rooms around us thought we were a bunch of terrorists.   Come to think of it I might have been safer wandering the streets of Amman all night instead of spoons with BYU students. 

I am sure I would love to see what you are seeing.  And while you may not believe in the Himalayas, you are actually in them.  The highest part is to your north, but you are in the southern edge of them.  Haha.  So go find a Himalaya Toshi station and see if there’s a pub!  I read a book called Seven Years in Tibet one time that made me fascinated with the city of Lhasa, I wonder if you ever hear about it there.  You’re not that far away.  The book took place when the Dalai Lama was a boy and still living there.

Your question on developing a stronger assertive personality was an interesting question.  There must be a reason you felt to ask me that-  I have known a lot of people with very strong, assertive personalities and they aren’t always pleasant people to be around.  Some people are so full of opinions and self confidence that they can’t see past the end of their own nose.  However, I have a feeling you’re talking about something very different. 

Elder Maxwell gave a talk called “Endure it Well” and toward the end of it he said this:

“You and I see in those who “endure it well” a quiet, peaceful majesty, an unspoken, inner awareness that, like Paul, they have “kept the faith.” And they know it, though they do not speak of it.”

I imagine you’re speaking of this ‘quiet, peaceful majesty’ or ‘unspoken, inner awareness’ that radiates from someone who has it but they are not likely to talk about it.  Grandpa Pincock is one who I think really has that.  I have admired him for the past almost 22 years as I have watched him wear that majesty, but never direct attention to it.  Even when he was so sick in the hospital after the esophageal tear 4+ years ago, he still had it even then.  Most truly great people let their actions and their achievements speak for themselves, they do not advertise them.  To walk humbly is not to be self demoralizing nor is it to be self congratulating.  It is something far greater and often misunderstood that is very content with self but looks to the wellbeing of others first.  It brings great courage and also great compassion.  There is a confidence that comes but it is not the kind of loud confidence you see in people like Scarlett O’Hara or Dr. Leo Marvin.  It is much more subtle, a confidence which listens more than talks and usually takes sufficient time to know its own mind and heart.  But it is a confidence which goes beyond the moment, which appreciates eternity in the balance.  (not the type of confidence you saw in your dear father the day of missing the plane in Georgia😊  when you suggested we sing an hymnnnn) 

My dear Audrey, you already have what you seek far more than you probably realize.  It’s part of your “magnetic” personality- people are attracted to you and drawn to you because they feel better about themselves when they are with you.  That does not limit by the way to the peers of your same age.  It is fully effective across language, age, and cultural barriers.  If you are true to who you are and what you know, I guarantee those in your group now will come to feel your deep, quiet, majestic confidence in time.  And with consistent good choices and experience, that confidence will grow stronger and stronger. 

I love you and miss you- and I am proud of you for who you are and are becoming.

Love, Dad

Reply from Audrey to Dad

Hola mon Papi-ji 

Me gusta tapeikko lettre to me. 

Translation: thank you for emailing me haha. Your writing makes me feel like you're sitting right next to me and that makes me feel happy. 😁 you will write a book someday, won't you? About me obviously. I mean what else is there to write about. 

Don't let Sheridean tell you what to do! You eat that dickens dessert any way you want, you hear?

I've been reading that book a little and it is my friend. :) I can't say it's my best friend but it is doing good things for my soul so it's a close friend. But I'm only on page 16 or something, and Alan (the 100 year old man) has stolen a suitcase from a violent Hippie but can't unlock it. Oh no! 

Your thoughts on what I'm doing and feeling are pretty accurate. I feel a lot of emotions every day and every hour. It's a never ending blur of HAPPY SAD MAD ANNOYED REALLY EXCITED HAPPY IN AWE AGAIN LONELY FED UP SAD SCARED HAPPY CONFUSED

The humanity. 

the negative emotions can get really really negative. But the positive ones are like x20 in happiness and come more often than the bad ones. I have found a love for this place that goes kind of deep. Despite the dirt and the constant hawking of loogies and the people that try to sell you everything, I love it. 

Stockton! He's a good kid. I hope he is well. 

Hahaha my phone and I have an unbreakable bond. It's probably my horcrux and that's why it's rebelling against you. If you're not careful it might attack your or something. Your phone is much speedier, however, and I'm becoming good pals with it also. Thanks for letting me bring it.  

Ps it takes a real man to use his daughters flowery phone case. 

Hahaha! You guys have had some interesting adventures in the dating terrain. I think you're very qualified! Just talk about ping pong (or whiff whaff, as the English call it). 

Himalayan toshi station 😂😂😂 that made me laugh so Freaking hard. I think I'll go look for one, I need to stock up on power converters.

Hey thanks mucho for the thoughts on confidence and quiet majesty. I've been thinking about that a lot this week since you sent it, and analyzing myself and the people I'm with. I have found myself in some situations where I've felt very uncomfortable and since you sent that, it's been really easy to know what to do without having to care what anyone thinks of me. I've learned that 

a) being alone is better than being without the spirit 

b) people are more accepting than I assume, and will usually be that way if you own your integrity

c) the word of wisdom is so so important 

d) it's ok to be quiet 

e) everyone, EVERYONE regardless of race or status or attitude is a child of God whether or not they believe it. 

And lots of other things. Thinking of grandpa Pincock makes me happy. 

I have been reading in Matthew 15 and I can't quite understand Christ's interaction with the woman of Canaan. In verse 26 where he says "it is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs." I don't get what he was trying to teach. Help? 

Thank you for supporting me and being my dad. I sometimes cry because I feel so grateful for you. I love you as much as annakin loved padme 

Scratch that. I love you as much as electricity loves metal poles. 

Haha ok sorry 

Have a happy Sunday :) 

Ps the dog's name is Kali and she lives at our house but no one knows what kind of dog she is. What does she look like to you? 

Reply from  Dad 1/17/16

Hello Audrey,

Matthew 15 is a great image to talk about.  Truly one of my favorites, probably because I love dogs- why else would I have chosen my profession…

The Master Teacher was obviously trying to teach something through an image.  So first, to truly understand what he is saying, get the image in your head that he uses:  A dog begging at the table.  Think of how you personally feel when a dog begs at the table.  It probably matters how you feel if the dog is sassy and demanding and obese from already getting too many twinkies or whether it is skinny and lonely and sincerely friendly.  Whatever you imagine, it’s the basic image of the story to keep in mind.

There are laws and promises given to certain groups of people- it has always been that way.  During this time, the promises given to the covenant people of Israel was that they were to be the first in being taught the gospel and enjoying its blessings.  This woman with the daughter possessed of a devil was not of covenant Israel, she was a Caananite, or a Gentile and therefore generally not eligible for the blessings at that time.  Peter receives the revelation in Acts 10 that the gospel is then to go forth to all the world, Jew or Gentile… and then after the Restoration it was prophesied that the last shall be first and the first shall be last- in part meaning that the Gentiles would the first in the latter days, and the Jews would be last- so anyway there is the background for the Savior delaying the miracle to the Gentile woman for a bit.  It’s the principle of promises and blessings given to certain groups of people. 

SO here we have a Gentile woman asking for a miracle.  And she is persistent.  And she has great faith in the Savior.  And she gets compared to a dog (Hebrew: Kunarion: literally, little dog, a household dog, a pet—not a stray or a wild dog) and the woman takes the metaphor to include a table and crumbs.  She demonstrates persistence, and faith.  And even though not of covenant Israel, she qualifies for a miracle.  Many principles here at work- one of which is the promises made to groups of people, but an overriding principle seems to be the faith and sincerity of an individual.  And another principle has to be mentioned here in between:  that there are some principles which can override others. 

It was obviously a test of faith for a mother, to see if she really qualified for an exception, and she did.  Her story is a great story- since mercy is the principle underlying an exception.  And when we all face a day of judgment, we all hope we find mercy as an underlying principle.

So back to the image of the dog, persistently begging at the table.  Sometimes you might give in and sometimes you might not.  Probably depending on what behavior you want to reinforce.  You don’t want to reinforce a demanding attitude, but you do want to reinforce true loyalty and faithfulness.  The Savior’s reward to that woman I think reinforces that He wants all of us to imitate her in a way- to ask for blessings sincerely and with faith and persistence, even when you may feel ignored at first and turned away next, don’t stop asking for what is right.  Often times a desired and righteous blessing will eventually come.

Sorry so long and detailed, but since you have no Gospel Doctrine or Mission prep right now, maybe that can be a little compensation this Sunday night.

Last night mom and I drove back home so we could both be at a bunch of meetings today.  We set apart a new high priests group leadership in the 3^rd ward today and Riley Cook gave his farewell talk today in the 1^st ward.  We also had our quarterly family search library board meeting which sounds about as bad as it is, but they need to happen and they happen every 3 months and I have been asked to oversee them.  And mom went to BYC and combined YW and all of it was awesome in our ward apparently.  And she started a migraine last night but she’s better now.  So we’re driving right now back to the Clue House and I’m typing this in the passenger seat.  Grandma and Grandpa Pincock have a new calling- ward missionaries..  and Grandma is better now from her cold she had.  How is your cold by the way?  Hopefully going away.  Driving last night through the canyon was really bad, but today it’s much much better.  Funniest moment of the white elephant party last night:  Aaron putting on leopard tights which were borderline pornographic and prancing around.  Brad was playing with us via Skype since Adam was diagnosed with mono yesterday and had to go home.  AJ ended up opening a “man bun” which is like a wig but just of a man bun only that you somehow pin to your head and it sent Cristy in to a Grandma Pincock hysteric fit.  We played a horrible game of Catan just for you yesterday with the biggest board we’ve ever attempted and my mistake was making us play to 20 points.  We found out that is a really bad idea.  So when you come home we’ll just play regular and it will be great.  If I can get anyone to ever play with me again after that game.  Mom actually made it to 19 points before we quit since her getting her last point would have taken another hour of playing.  The Odgen temple was awesome yesterday for baptisms.  We might just make that a part of Clue House tradition.  The temple is literally 7 minutes away and all we’re doing is sitting around in our pajamas being non productive anyway.  Well, thanks for your awesome email.  I got it early this morning when I got up frustrated with some little detail to do with my board meeting today and it was so perfect to read it right then.  I also had the music to one of the temple films in my head this morning and now every time I see that film I will probably think of that morning and your email that made my day.

Love you,

Dad

Drunken stupors

Thanks for all the emails. I'm trying to reply to the random stuff but I can't remember all of it so here's just a bit from me for now. In the meantime don't kill any fish and be taking pics of all the white elephants that were funny. :) and play the piano when you get home. It's lonely. 

Last night, a few of the volunteers went out to see if there was a pub (tribute to Alan). There was one. Actually there was a few, and they got REALLY drunk. A few of the other volunteers and I actually met up with them at the Irish bar and I got to experience being with some very tipsy people. It was kind of funny and don't worry we were just sitting and talking, nothing rowdy. I would have left if it was bad. Then I left with some of them and got to the house and just sat for a bit. Jo went up to our room and I followed like 10 minutes after, where I found her sitting on her bed just weeping. So many tears. She couldn't even tell me what was wrong. I am not sure that she even knew herself, but in any case, she was quite incoherent. So I sighed and got her some tissues but in the process of me being in the bathroom, she wandered back outside and sat down with the other people out there and I heard a lot of "jo what's the matter? Jo?" Of course she couldn't answer so I walked out there and asked her if she would like to go to sleep now, then she nodded and took my hand and i helped her stumble up the stairs again. She kept saying "thank you, thank you" through her tears and wanted to hug me every two steps haha. I had no idea what the heck was going on in her brain but all I could think was 

"why would anyone ever do this to themselves?"

 It was sad to see this composed and beautiful lady that I've come to respect so much lose all mental control to where she couldn't put her feet in her sleeping bag (I had to help her find it) and the saddest part is how much she was looking forward to going out and just getting stoned. Losing all control. All of these good wonderful people just get pumped about going out and spending a hundred dollars on brain killers ahhg it makes me feel frustrated. And they don't even remember it. 

Ok sorry that's my rant. 

On that note, all else is well. :) this week is gonna be pretty busy every day with projects and then we are going hiking and paragliding this weekend!! Whoop yeah! So I'll let you know how that goes and I'll send pictures. :) 

The days seem to drag on and yet they fly by. I feel like I'm just getting the hang of things but that I have so little time. Ah well, c'est la vie. 

I'm excited to go to Tahiti. Cultures are cool. 

I love our culture a whole lot. I've been feeling so grateful for so many things. Tonight I washed my hair in hot water because my friend lent me a kettle. It was a tender mercy. :) 

I also got to study my scriptures for a long time and it was so happy. I don't know how people are even happy without those things haha they must be faking it. 

I also bought peanut butter and found Apples and bananas so pretty much = the best lunch time of my life. 

I also was sad because I thought I had no church music available to me, but then I was like "duh I have dads phone" and voila! Spiritual upliftement! So thanks dad I'll never hate on your music taste again. 

We went to an authentic yoga class today and it was mucho wonderful. I've never had such an intense yoga session but my body feels great. Go Nepali women! Namaste!! 

I love the people I'm with. Mostly. Haha really I do love them a lot and we have a good Time but there's so so many mixed personalities and cultures and yeah. 

It all works out. 

Mom I am now listening to "a child's love" and there's a lump in my throat the size of your big toe. 

Hee hee. 😵🤘🏼 love you bunches. Have fun in Utah. 

Reply from Mom: 1/19/16

 My Nansy,

Good grief!  I can’t believe what a drunken spectacle you survived.  We all read your letter at the clue house.  There was a lot of conversation about the blessings of the word of wisdom and a lot of opinions about why people  would do that to themselves and look so forward to it.  The immediate thing that came to my mind was when I was having migraines a lot more often and trying many things to prevent them.  It was quite easy for me to stop sugar because when I was really tempted, I would think about what a migraine felt like and then suddenly, the temptation was gone.  I didn’t want the consequence.  Maybe a hangover is just not bad enough to stop the desire, but it seems like it would be.  I’m curious if there were any apologies to you the next day or embarrassment about it.

Last night we read your letter again for family night and talked a little more about the experience you’re having.  Dad said that you have the gift of being an optimist.  Then shortly after, I read Makayla’s last letter and saw what the polar opposite is like.  Her mom wrote a note at the bottom pleading with anyone willing, to write her a handwritten letter and encourage her to stick with it, be happier, try harder, believe in herself etc….  I know that you are probably having an equal amount of hard things happening.  Yet, you choose to give more of your focus to the good things.  You are going to be an amazing missionary on so many levels but especially because of that one to get you through when other things are not working out so well.

Right now Teesh is sitting across from me eating what looks like tomato flavored crackers mashed in a bowl with a few drops of curdled milky water on it. (Dad’s special recipe).  I looked up and her mouth was wide open, chuck full and she was yelling.  Apparantly it was a little hot and she put quite a large amount in her trap before realizing it.  It was a gross scene but I can’t stop laughing at her. 

Today she and I are going to the crepery with the Jacobsen’s.  Teesh is the only one out of school today for a teacher prep of some kind. 

I was lame at the clue house with taking pictures.  It’s too dark in there and the one’s I took didn’t turn out that well.  So, I’m just sending one of Corinne in the beautiful dress, Teesh with part of her ‘Erkle’ game, and Teesh right now playing with the “what am I” game.  Weird but funny!  We played the stupidest game of Settlers ever so don’t be sad you missed it.  I think dad already told you about it though. 

I need to go so I’ll write more later.  We love and miss you!  Get a good nights sleep.

Hi there today this is teesh interrupting moms letter  because I feel like it

(I guess that’s all you’re getting right now from her.

~Mom

Ps—I need details about your weekend plans

Stolen heart

From Audrey to Family

If only you could see the amount of uncleanliness in the houses and places here. I walked into a scary shop one time that smelled like my room that time a mouse died. People don't really wash their hands much and if they do nobody has soap. Keep cleaning the dog poop mom sorry theo does that.. I'll clean it when I get home. And Don't worry I use hand sanitizer a whole lot. ;) 

Hey I've been here like ten days you know? :) weird. Two more of those to go. 

So with childcare we go to three different places Monday through Thursday: the street boys home, male patan (like a nursery for 3-5 year olds), and conversation club (a club to help kids be better at school and English). 

It kind of breaks my heart already that I have to leave these kids. Technically this info is kind of classified so don't like spread it all over the  us or something. But the boys at the home for street boys took my heart and it's staying here. These kids all ran away from their homes for some reason or another, really scary family situations or no finances or whatever. But they are the most happy, funny, and loving little dudes. We aren't really supposed to pick favorites but I def have mine... Abhishek is very small, like 4 or 5, and he always wants me to color with him and hold his hand. He's really good at the ABC's. Man is another boy (yeah his name is Man) and he reminds me of isaac because the other kids will be playing with a ball and he's totally content to be in a corner fixing this spinning top that's his favorite toy. He just spins it and spins it and fixes it and fixes it and he's so happy and focused. Also really funny when he talks to you. There's a boy named Khadke who's 12 and reminds me of teesh. He loves me hahaha and I love him, the little cheeky bloke (I've started using a lot of Australian and English expressions so pardon me). He loves to rough house and tell jokes and grab people's faces. I taught him how to braid my hair (they love my hair because it's blonde and long). One time I was laughing at him and he stared at me for a while, then said, "I like your smile. You always smile."

I don't think these kids get smiled at enough. 

Something important I've learned: Kids just want to be listened to no matter what situation they're in. If you give them your attention and ACTUALLY care, they will trust you. I've realized that you guys are such good parents because you never butt in if I have something to say and it's always been that way. You've never been overruling or uninterested. 

Kids can also be downright brats. They give you this sweet angel face, tricking you into liking them and the next second they are biting someone or stealing all the toys. ALL of them. Grr. How do you teach this thing called "sharing?" It's also hard because I speak like 5 words of Nepali. Oh well. They just like animal sounds anyway. :)   

I've been thinking about comfort things. I seem to have a standard comfort box with all of my comfort items in it- clothes (sweats), showers (hot), people (you and other Mormons), music (Spotify), food (soup cake chocolate), places (home), etc. I have left that box behind and I'm still trying to find all the things in it but obviously they are back in the box where I left it. If that makes sense. Anyway, I'm filling up a new box for myself here and I quite like it, I hope to be able to fill up many comfort boxes in the span of my lifetime. 

I thought I would be healthy here but actually they feed us SO MUCH and I of course eat it all. It's all carbs also. Not many fruits and veggies safe to eat... I'm trying hard to keep off the "dhal baat belly" as they call it 😂. There's lots of places to exercise properly here and stuff but I don't know my way around well. I know I'll get lost if i try and go anywhere haha. 

I'm glad hawking loogies in public is considered ill mannered at home because walking down the streets, that is a constant noise I hear every day. It makes me cringe a little. 

I tripped on a root the other day and I laughed so hard. I guess I was in one of those moods that nobody really understands completely ya feel? 

I taught all the volunteers scum and now they won't stop playing it. 

Haha Everyone's here for different time frames. People kind of come and go every two weeks or so. I still like all of them a lot! There's more people than I explained in the first. Now there's even more Australians haha. I'm constantly having all sorts of culture, language, and geography lessons. Tess is AJ's age and she's super cool. She's very inviting and considerate but also quirky. Danette and Richard are a couple who love the luxury life, are really hilarious, and eat at a place called "sweet memories" every night. Danette kicks trash at scum. They are both a little overweight and take taxis everywhere but it doesn't stop them from bungee jumping. Also danette is a lot taller than richard so bishop and sis Mann aren't alone in the world after all. :) don't tell them I said that.

They still think I'm weird for my abstinence from everything but I've actually had quite a few really good opportunities to share what I believe. I don't know if I'm teaching it very well when we talk about it.. Most people want to ask about really deep concepts and I have a hard time explaining them but I usually just end up laying out part of the plan of salvation haha. Anyway, it's cool because I've never had people around me who don't actually know what a Mormon is. Nobody here does. 

Haha I'm so happy you like January now. Although the end of January party you used to have was always fun. What board games did you buy? I am so so excited to come home and play settlers with you guys. For some reason I just like NEED to play settlers of freaking catan. I'm gonna start having dreams about it or something. 

What's happening in downton abbey? 

Haha Jo is wonderful. She's very emotionally level which is good for me. And she is so flipping uplifting and just... Real. She doesn't pretend to be anything she's not and she always always has something kind to say to people, but also has this witty sense of humor (also a little inappropriate). 

She has asked me a lot about the church. I think she just asks because she knows I'm really invested in it, but it's been so nice to have her to talk to. She told me tonight right before bed that she feels like if she takes just one thing away from this experience, she wants to take away her friendship with me. And I don't know why she'd say that because I'm rather cranky in the mornings, I don't clean up the floor very well, and I can't hear what She's saying sometimes (she talks a ton but always mumbles a little and you know me, unfocused as it is). But it occurred to me that although she may look at them as coincidences, I have seen miracles that brought us together at this time. I think I'm meant to know her for a reason. 

Tomorrow I'm waking up at 4:45 am to see some monks chant. Cheers. 

Getting to know Nepal

1/8/16  From mom to Audrey

My Nunsuch Jaba Butt,  (goodness, I love when people make fun of themselves)

I miss you yelling things like, “If one more person insults me today I will …………”

I think it’s great that you’ve been muttering “Thank Ipthar!”  This is probably a more appropriate expression of frustration than “This is so pubis!”

The above type of humor is always hilarious to me.  Along with “Okinawa”  I wonder what a comedian would call this type of humor?

White elephant gifts are fun to shop for.  Sometimes they’re more funny in the store than when you get them home though.  AJ and I went to DI and “cased the joint” for them.  DI is my favorite store in January because everyone, including me, is getting rid of all stupid space-fillers at home.  I go stand by all the “crazy’s” who storm the carts as they come out, wait for them to finish being crazy, then I wait for the dust to settle and see what’s left.  I’ll send you pics of our white elephants and you can vote on your faves.

AJ  follows me around and says “Are you ready?” every 30 seconds instead of every 10.  He’s matured a lot in the shopping department.

I’m picturing you being with a bunch of GVI treehugging volunteers.  I don’t know why I’m assuming that.

My shower has gross mold everywhere and last night I had a rare burst of energy and I’m using an ingenious idea that I came up with myself to remove the caulk and start over.  It’s called a drill/spinning wire wheel/hate cleaning the shower/maniac method.  I think it might work and not take me 3 days this time.

I love seeing pics of you in Nepal!

Google earth shows me that you’re at the base of a lot of amazing mountains.  I’m picturing Ouray but maybe the mountains are not quite that close.  There’s also a really pretty lake close to you.  Do you know about that?

Love ya tons!

Moethar Von Shnootz (I’m not sure if you know that is my full nickname given to me by Teesh)  I love it!

        1/10/16  From Mom to Audrey

So--my random thoughts of the moment are...................

That musli looks like barf but I will believe you and I personally would love to try it.  You are my best fellow food critic and I'm sure I'd agree with you that it tastes wonderful.

Somehow, and I don't know how, --Dad and I are having a Hunger Games marathon and then going to the theater to see the last one.  I'm enjoying them a lot and so excited to see the last one.  We're all going for family night.

Giving young women lessons has become one of my favorite things to do.  I'm no longer nervous or over prepared.   I just love expressing all of my opinions as if they are gospel truth.  The amazing thing is that 14 and 15 year old girls actually believe that I know what I'm talking about.  Today I shared my same testimony from last week, my Blanding theory--that we have beautiful things all around us that maybe we're not even seeing because they're right in front of us.  I told them how we are in each other's circle of influence.  Are we getting from each other what Heavenly Father intended when he put us together 10 months ago.

When Alicia, Isaac and I went to play racquetball, we took a break and went down the hall to see if your exec. pic was up.  It was.  What a great picture!   I also looked at a lot of them closely and found quite a few people that I know.  Jolynn Blotter and her twin were on exec together, Brother Erickson, Sheri Egbert, a few others that I don't remember.  It was fun to look at. 

Ian changed all of our pictures in LDS tools.  Dad looks like he's in a coffin, mine is just ridiculous, Ian is asleep with his mouth open, Teesh is yawning, and Isaac is sneezing.  When dad saw his, his reaction was perfect.  "Mario Durrant--stake president.  Just great!"

There's a facebook page of GVI Nepal.  I'm hoping pics of you start appearing soon.  I can't wait to see what you're up to. 

It's Sunday and we miss you.  I've been waiting for you to walk in the door all day.

Love,

Schnootz

Randoms 

1/11/2016  Reply from Audrey:

Here's the scoop 

I'm not sure what I've already told you or not but here I'll say this all. :) 

My fellow volunteers and staff members are very nice people. I like them all a lot although I don't know most of them very well yet. You're not too far off with the tree hugger thing haha. 

Gwynfor (Gwyn) is from Wales and like 50 something. He is this little spry man who is pretty quiet but oh my heck I love him so much. I can't get enough of his accent so I talk to him every chance I get. He is super sweet and never swears. He always giggles at funny stuff and eats apple pie. He hightails it up mountains like he is a goat on a pogo stick like every day and wears this cozy black sweater. 

Joe is kind of the staff boss and he is a 22 year old from England. He reminds me of Peter pevensie and he's pretty funny. 

Shuby is like 30 and from Australia. He's basically what you'd expect an Australian to be like, all laughing and friendly. He has an eyebrow ring and some earrings. I like him because he talks a ton and he has a lot of love for everyone and everything. 

Danica is the English girl who reminds me of Hannah Tewes with her bright red hair, exuberance, strangeness, and cleavage. She says a lot of funny things but also a lot of profanity and vulgarity. She also has a need for coffee and cigarettes every other three seconds. I like her a lot though and we have had some long chats about almost everything. Mostly my religion actually, she's very interested. And hasn't had a very easy life. I'm hoping she will read the Book of Mormon because she loves literature and religion haha. 

There's a few other girls from Australia I met today and they are both very sweet. 

Seb is also from Australia and in charge of childcare so he's kind of my boss. He is super laid back and works so hard for these kids, you can really tell he loves them a ton. I think he's 25 or something... 

Nicolas is the 18 year old from Quito. He's a hard book to read but when you get him talking he's very funny and nice. I decided That he communicates more through mannerisms than words. He loves loves loves to smoke. It's constant. We talk about Ecuador a lot and he loves it. He is really smart and his English is amazing. 

Jo is the 45 year old English lady that I room with and had that dream about and I am just eternally grateful that she is here. We are both on the same project and we clicked really quick. I've been very surprised with her youthful nature and attitude, she's not someone I would have guessed to be in her 40's (sorry sorry it's not to be taken offensively), but it's almost like she has like a 25 year old brain. Last night we had a really long heart to heart and wow I just love her. She told me I have a confidence about me that surprised her and so shoutout to dad for telling me to act more confident than I feel because that's what I've been doing haha. But yeah haha we have planned to do some hikes together and hang out all the time, she's definitely my bestie on this trip so far. I never thought I'd have a best friend who was my parents age besides you guys (my parents). And you are my besties. ;) 

So far I have been humbled sufficiently with cold showers and squat toilets. and been made so grateful for what I have. The government here is very corrupted and the culture makes it very difficult for people to succeed if they are not born into successful families. There's a cast system and from the time you are born you have a specific cast which you will never be able to change. You have to marry within the cast or be "cast out," and certain casts cannot have certain careers and such... Also everyone is expected to be entirely dependent on their families for basically all life. Chet, the man who taught us some Nepali and took us on a culture tour, has a son who's 18 and I was talking to him. He told me that he is only allowed to work in the shops here (there's infinite shops all over every roads everywhere. That's how they make their money- tourists who want to buy souvenirs) but it's only lawful to pay shop employees his age 50,000 rupees per month. Which is like $50 ish dollars in usd. Per month! And that's working 9 hours a day!! There's no government support or insurance or Gah. It just makes me want to bash someone's head in.

Anyway that's my political rant that I never thought I would make. I love the USA. 

Our senses of humor are so strange. If I ever find people who think the same things are funny that I do I know we will be buddies. It's rare that people laugh at thank ipthar though Hahahaha 😂 you just have to be there. 

Peoples mannerisms are important. Nepali people have lovely mannerisms and I'm constantly fascinated. They always walk around with these graceful steps and always bend their arms at a certain angle when they are not using them when they talk to you. But they always use them when they talk to you. It's really fun to just watch them talk, they love to. 

Oh my heck the children here are so cute. 

Hahahah the white elephants were winners. I showed them to Jo and Nicolas and we laughed hardest at the little scary haired alien dudes Hahahaha. Wow where do you find such a thing after the di crazy people rush? Why didn't the crazy people want them? 

I don't know why but every time I read your little shower shpeel I giggle so much. I just keep picturing you with an electric toothbrush and cleaner and your crazy eyes attacking the walls of your shower. Well done. How did that go anyway? :) are you done? 

Silly mom. The place I'm at is called lakeside. The lake is right there hahaha. And of course I know your full name given you by our one and only Teeshy Dunkers. 

Addictions make me sad. I've never been around this many people who just absolutely have to have three coffees a and a pack of cigarettes and a beer each day. It's making me feel ridiculous and scared for how much money they spend on this crap that's not going to make them happier but they obviously think it will. 

Thank heavens for the gospel haha. 

Sorry oll reply and send more later. 

I love y'all :) this is incredible and I want you to know that it's been worth every penny so far. 

male company-no problemo

The majority of this book will be copied letters from Audrey to home.  Sometimes letters from home will be here too.

From Mom to Audrey

Nunsuch,

So, I just read a letter from Dawn Y. and she said that she and Sam write little letters to each other that they call “Randoms” and just put their random thoughts in them.  I love this idea for you and me.

So here’s mine:

Nepal is really on the other side of the world (I just studied our globe).  I still don’t know where Abu Dhabi is but I’ll figure it out. 

It’s hard to sleep really well when one of your kids is on the other side of the world

I also have a memory of eating eggplant lasagna on my flight to Europe.  It must be a gourmet airline food.

I was talking to Lorrie Pitkin about her holiday festivities.  They said that they slept over at some friends and she said it was a fun party until too much alcohol was consumed and then it became ugly.  She abandoned everyone and went to bed.  I told her that I’ve no personal experience with alcohol’s effects but I believe it makes people really synthetically happy or for- real mean.  She agreed and said that she’s done with those friends. I wish her husband would let her find out more about the gospel.  I think you’ll run into a lot of this there. 

When men offer to buy you a drink, that’s gentile language for “I’m asking you on a date and your cute and I’ll see how far I can get with you.”  Be careful!

My Nansy was a really cute little girl with a really cute run, grandpa’s right—it goes too fast, also lots of memories of awkward 11 yr. old sassiness and eating way too much junk foods, and then realizing your gifts with people and watching that talent become huge.  Your wings are way too expansive to sit behind college desks.  I’m so happy that you’re doing something about that.

Theo is dumb—he eats bloody dead animals outside and he poops inside when nobody lets him out.  This time it smelled like dead rotten fish and it put me in such a bad mood that dad cleaned it up.  Now my entire collection of Christmas candles is burning in this house.

Love and miss ya,

Mom

Reply:  From Audrey

Dear shnooters 

Here's (some of) my random thoughts. 

Greetings from pokhara. I am here and alive. I don't know how many times I muttered "thank ipthar" under my breath to do it, but it happened. :) 

The inflatable pillow and rise of the guardians saved my life so thank you very much. :) 

Your email made me cry again 

It's strange that I'm on the other side of the world but I feel like the same exact person. For some reason I guess I assumed that traveling so far magically makes people more... Something. Haha but I keep thinking about what you guys are doing and then I'm like "oh, they are sleeping probably." 

Sleep well because I sure did last night 😏

Hahahaha I talked to a girl on my little baby flight here and she says eggplant is very common in Nepal! I wonder where all airline food comes from. 

Hahahaha mom I'm not going to drink anything. I promise. These guys won't deceive me with their gentle language. I've become really good at detecting the smell of alcohol already and I'm grossed out. Ew. Everyone asks me if i drink, too! I think you are right. 

I wish Lorrie would just tell him to stuff it and come to church with us. I love her. 

This is gonna sound way conceited. But White girls must be really attractive to boys here because all of them talk to me or smile at me or just stare at me. Idk maybe they do this to all females, but I took a little walk on the street and (and this happened more than once) these boys just stopped right before I passed them and one of them said, grinning,"namaste." The other one said "you are so beautiful." I said "haha thank you."

 I'm really killin it here in the flirtations department. 

The attention is doing good things for my thirsty soul 😏 don't worry though, I'm still not going to drink or

do anything... Undignified. 

 But also, I think that's just how the culture is here and let me tell you, I LOVE it. I ate breakfast at this beautiful top floor restaurant in my hotel and a few boys working there were about my age, and SO polite. I couldn't go one minute without one of them asking me "miss, you like more papaya?" (Which is so yummy here. It's gross in the US) Or "do you like to have an omelette?" They stood around and just chatted forever with me. I asked one of them about th taxi service there and the next thing I knew, he was calling a taxi for me and reserved it. A random old woman Saw me taking pictures of the lake and she said "you are beautiful. I want a picture with you." Hahaha I thought "I think I'm gonna like it here." I have been shown such kindness and respect here from people that know fully well I have NO clue what's happening. I stick out  like a sore thumb. If you look sad, someone will come bow to you and say in their lovely accent, "I can sit by you?" If you look lost, they will say "you need help?" People who don't know you and have no reason to help you at all. It makes me have so much hope in humanity. 

          Sidenote: I think Americans should start bowing to each other because it's so classy and it indicates humility and respect. I love that about this place so very much. I love bowing when I say thank you. 

I'm sitting on a balcony at this hotel looking at this beautiful smelly city. There are these random men below me sitting by a fire and chanting what sounds like "baha" over and over again. It's really funny. 

You are a much better writer than you think. I don't  think good writing is about vocabulary and finesse, it is about making an impact, and you write very simply but it stays in my brain forever. I believe it's what dad calls an "Emily?" Haha. 

Wings are made to fly but you have to have someone teach you the courage to hop out of the nest. Thank you for believing in me. 

My college desk-crammed wings are feeling some beautiful new breezes here in pokhara. :)

Tell theo he's gonna be a bloody dead animal if he doesn't stop right now. Sorry about my rapscallion dog. 

Coming here by myself really confirmed what dad said in his blessing about never truly being alone. There were quite a few hopeless times on the way here that I felt like I literally had no where to turn to. I felt so sad and lost and I missed you guys. But every time that happened, I remembered that blessing and Prayed so hard. Then it was the same feeling I get as when someone comes and sits next to me and just rubs my back, they don't have to say anything. I know that the Holy Ghost is an actual and real person, and God loves us so much. 

Omni 1: 26 has brought me a lot of comfort too. Our souls are gifts from God but if we give them back, they will be made better. Truly coming to Christ means to let yourself go. 

Namaste, 

-Nunsuch Jabba butt