Friday, March 27, 2009

Africa!!!



Hey guys! I have to post an Africa shout-out/call-out. I need YOUR help! This contains bits and pieces of my sponsorship letter. I don't however, have all of your addresses so here is all the info you would need:

As most of you know, I am addicted to service and have felt called to Africa for quite some time now.  I have been doing extensive community service since my senior trip after hight school: building with Habitat for Humanity for a week in New Mexico. Well... I have upped- the-antie! I have recently made the exciting decision to go on a mission trip with members of my church and through an organization called Children's HopeChest (CHC) to do mission work and community service in Swaziland, Africa!!!

Children's HopeChest is a global leader and innovator in orphan care ministry. Since 1944, CHC has helped bring children out of the isolation of orphanhood and into the joy and warmth of family programs. CHC reaches thousands of orphans through its orphanage sponsorship program and other follow-up outreaches.  My church, Capital Church, sponsors a Care Point in Swaziland, Africa called Mkhombokati. (Crazy word.. I know!) This Care Point provides, in some cases, the only food available to about 100 children, most of whom are orphans. This summer I want to join 14 other members of Capital and go to Mkhombokati to service the children and the community. Swaziland is a tin, land-locked country bordered by South Africa and Mozambique (see map!). It also has the auspicious title of having the highest AIDS infection per capita worldwide. The average Swazi will live to be 30 years old, the result of which is an entire generation of orphans. I feel this is where God is leading me to serve. I have an intense desire to help children and what better way to do so than to serve them on this mission!

My team will be based out of the Mkhombokati Care Point. I will be gone from June 25- July 7. Throughout the trip I will be busy ministering through spending time teaching and executing projects with the children as well as supporting the Discipleship Team, Field Missionaries and the few Swazi adults who take on the difficult task of providing basic needs for the children. The total cost of the trip is $3,500, which includes all expenses: airfare, accommodations, food and training. 

I cannot accomplish this task alone, so please join me with your prayers and any financial support you can manage. Every little bit helps so whatever you can do is greatly appreciated!!!!! Even just a prayer will go a long way :)

The deadline for me to be fully funded is May 5. If you would like to make any size donation (even $.25!) and pay with a check, please make all checks payable to Capital Church. In order for you to receive a tax deduction foryour donation, do not write my name on the check and simply include a slip of paper that says "This is for McKenzie Newton's Swaziland Trip". Please mail all donations to Capital Church - 1010 East 700 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102. If you have any questions PLEASE let me know!

Thank you so much for your consideration, support and prayers!! 
 

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Grand Cayman Part 2


The rest of the trip was absolutely fantastic!! We continued to eat really great food, rode jet skis, went horseback riding on the beach and made the best sand castle ever!! 



We had soooooooooo much fun!! We're all having Cayman withdrawals and missing the beach and sunshine desperately. So, in order to cope... we've decided to go back next year!! YAY!!

We Love The Grand Cayman!!


Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Living in a Post Card!

Well I have been in the Grand Cayman four days now and it has been an absolute dream... So far the week has included an aromatherapy massage, snorkeling x3, jet skiing, a snorkeling-jet-skiing-SAFARI (yep, it's true), and swimming with sting rays!! (all apart from the great food of course!) It has been wild!






I've been trying to read my book, Jane Austin's "Emma", with little success. The waves keep calling and I keep answering. No wonder homework isn't beating out the Jane Austin novel if Jane Austin can't even hold a top spot! Look at that crystal clear water!! It's just too beautiful... 


I'll be posting more pictures soon, but until then, here is a glimpse of paradise!



Saturday, March 7, 2009

Join the MUSS!!




Well! It's that time of year again! Football MUSS sign-ups!!! 

After such a fantastic season how could you NOT want to sign up for the Football MUSS this year?! Sign-ups started last night at 9p.m. so if you haven't done so already REGISTER FOR THE MUSS!!


It's $30 per person (U Students only!) and $90 for a guest (not necessarily a U student). This includes SEASON TICKETS, an awesome t-shirt, and FREE FOOD at the MUSS tailgates before every game! Pretty sweet deal.. 

To sign up go to www.alumni.utah.edu/muss   The Alumni Association is so good to us :)


GO UTES!!!!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The Year of Friday the 13ths...

The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia. Friday the 13th is when the thirteenth day in a month falls on a Friday, which superstition holds that is a day of good or bad luck. In the Gregorian Calendar this day occurs about once a year.

I think there are more Friday the 13ths this year than ever.. It just keeps happening!
There was one in February... One in March.. ok so maybe there have only been two.. There's one coming in November though!!

According to folklore, the "Friday the 13th" superstitions started in the 19th century. I think it started with some Italians who thought everything about 13 was unlucky.. maybe.. It's also possible the superstition came from the event of the arrest (on Friday the 13th) of the legendary Knights Templar.. dun dun dun!!!

There is also superstition that having 13 people eat at a dinner table will result in the death of one of the diners.. hmmm..

It is said that more accidents happen on Friday the 13ths than any other Friday.. but another report says that It is one of the safest because everyone is so careful and takes extra precautions to avoid any Friday the 13th bad luck. (Some people don't even leave their house!) All I know is Friday the 13th is coming!!! What will you do!?