Learning Portuguese

Once again I am neglecting my online activities, but I would say that now I have a good reason. I got my mission call the night before the night before Christmas... Justin is going to BRAZIL! The only catch is I don't report for half a year and it turns out the Brazil might be the mission with THE MOST paper work and crazy shots that you have to get. On the other hand I have some more time to spend with my family, making money, and learning the language.
Since I'm fairly well versed in Spanish already, I figured learning Portuguese wouldn't be too bad. Portuguese is basically Spanish except that it's totally not. On paper it may look incredibly similar and many of the words and grammar are similar, but my major stumbling block is that whereas spanish spelling is phonetic, Portuguese is a little like French in that you may spell a word 'Joe' and it comes out your mouth 'Sasquatch.' Nevertheless, I accept this challenge. Forward I go into the land of the mission-called and look forward to this time of immersing mysself deeper into churchy foreign goodness.

Somewhere to be From

Recall those boisterous moments,
the many that come before quill inks parchment
just after an artist has stepped
out of the motions of life.
His mind's eye newly woken
is blurredly rolling
in search of inspiration.
The stream of everyday
looks mashed in waves crashing passed
the gentle
but somewhat hasty current of memory.
And so he waits
curving lines upon letters
to sift the stars among the sand.
Cleaning crusty excess from what might be a gem,
an aurora of mental possibility
finally filed down to a more narrow channel
still not perfect but definitely more manageable,
clear crystal reveals a blank landscape
his quiet place inside
which, lacking all else,
is a place to begin.

Just a Beggar

I was just reading in Mosiah where King Benjamin reminds his people that we are commanded to impart freely of our substance one to another. If someone asks us for something we give it to them; we don't question whether they deserve it or who's fault it is that they are in such a predicament. From the perspective of Christ's atonement and our Father's mercy we stand no more deserving than the next guy. The only questions I should probably ask myself is "Will this help?" or "What could I do that would help more?."**

While reflecting on this inspired counsel, I wonder could I live in such a way that I am willing to give freely, faithful in the promise that the needs of myself and my family will be provided for? As a full-tithe paying member of the church I have such a promise, and when the Lord has provided for my needs I am very much accountable for the needs of others. As to deciding how and whom to give to, my dad once told me about a man who approached him for money while he was sitting in his car. My dad, thinking of the probability that he would waste or misuse the money on drinks or drugs or any number of things, declined. Then the man asked again, if somewhat irreverently, "In the name of Jesus give me some money." With that, my dad handed him the cash he asked for. He later related to me that regardless if the money was used for evil or wasted purposes, there was no way that my father could be frowned upon for fulfilling a request made in the Lord's name. In the same spirit, I think it is a better policy to give freely until constrained by the spirit than to withhold our means until explicitly told to give.


**slightly irrelevant aside: When I see a guy holding an "Anything Helps" sign on the corner, I've always wanted to stop and give him one of my sets of juggling balls. It only takes 3 hours to learn how to juggle and it changes "that bum always begging for money outside of Food Maxx" into "That dude you always see juggling on the corner, gee he's getting pretty good, I always tell my kid to drop a dollar in his hat when we walk by." My brother and I have often collected donations even by accident while we were just practicing while waiting for our ride to show up. If we had no job and time to sit by a sign, that is precisely what we would and have in a sense done.

Alone with Bear

Uneasy eyes
float along after me
a small pile of fuzziness
relaxed on red lace.
Comfortable. Concentrating. Cute
to a casual observer.
But I know glass eyes
are cold.
Wild paws are not
made for cuddling.
If only I could move
but I daren't.
In his watchful glare
I cannot sleep.



Happy Halloween!

R.I.P.

October 20th, 2010

The poor, bruised and beaten Work Shoes Of Justin were laid to rest ceremoniously into a garbage can after more than a year of dedicated service and abuse. A Photograph is not included due to the sad state of the bodies' appearance-- we would prefer that they were remembered as they were in their better days... On a lighter note, new work shoes have been purchased ($37!!! At PayLESS???) and today have begun their courageous crusade of walking, running, and stepping in strange new gross things 8+ hours a day.


I heard today the coolest Remix of Pixar's UP- If you click on the title of this post, you will be directed to a blog featuring the video. In my opinion a work of art worth appreciating.

I love jumping.

Often it takes a running start,
a little preparation of which I am all too fond,
but the jumping is definitely there.
Over hills, into holes,
through rings and clouds
of interesting people
that’s where I’ve found my favorite past times
memories bottled up
then drunk in reflection
now a whole new part of this self.
To jump is to love
oneself and everything around.
And when I happen to land
in a bit of mud
something sharper
harder than expected
that’s when I appreciate.
The colors of soil
swirled into a fluid marble
reflecting
the grandness of things still greater than myself
and the miraculous ability of one soul
to stand, recover,
rebuild the broken, severed, and burned bits
into a much better jumper.

Blogging: From the Voice of the Prophets

Because I was working I missed the Priesthood Session of General Conference, so now I am going back and watching the recording online in my own personal "makeup session." I was very surprised to hear in the very first talk by Elder Russel M. Nelson very specific divine direction to us as Latter-Day Saints in the Blogging Community. I'm not a terribly active or involved member of this community, nevertheless I thought it important that I include such instruction in my humble journal. I probalby included a little more than is actually necessary, but it's all just too good and I highlighted the section I'm referring to:



"Scripture tells us that “there are many yet on the earth … who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” Isn’t that your opportunity? You can become their own disciple of discovery!

Now in this day of the Internet, there are new and exciting ways you can do missionary work. You can invite friends and neighbors to visit the new mormon.org Web site. If you have blogs and online social networks, you could link your sites to mormon.org. And there you can create your own personal profile. Each profile includes an expression of belief, an experience, and a testimony. Because this is a new feature, most of these profiles are available in English. Profiles in other languages will follow.

These profiles can have a profound influence for good. Two months ago a young man named Zac—a freshman in college—saw an ad for mormon.org on television in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He connected with the Web site and was intrigued by the profiles of Church members. At our Web site he found the link that informed him where he could attend church. The next Sunday, dressed in a white shirt and tie, he attended church, was introduced to members of the ward, and enjoyed all three hours of meetings. He was invited to a member’s home for dinner, followed by his first missionary lesson. In less than two weeks, he was baptized and confirmed as a member of the Church. Welcome, Zac! (He is listening.)

Each exemplary follower of Jesus Christ can become an effective member missionary. Members and full-time missionaries may walk arm in arm in bringing the blessings of the gospel to cherished friends and neighbors. Many of them are of Israel, now being gathered as promised. This is all part of the preparation for the Second Coming of the Lord. He wants each of us truly to be an example of the believers.

I know that God lives. Jesus is the Christ. This is His Church. The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith is its translator and the prophet of this last dispensation. President Thomas S. Monson is God’s prophet today. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I'm still not very well attuned to the operations of this site, but I think I've linked mormon.org to the title of this post, and I will see if I can make it a more obvious part of my page. I did a little poking around myself on the mormon.org site and checked out the section including member profiles. It's awesome! There are personal experiences, conversion stories, and all kinds of encouraging testimonies and information just sitting there user-friendly with photos attached. I'm going to have to start to put my own profile together and encourage others to do so. There is so much evil out there on the web and I'm glad to find a little of what is holy as well. So to all you bloggers out there: Remember You Are A Missionary!

Justin David