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!?

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Those Things To Do...

Everyone has a list. Things they want to do before they die. Things to do before they're married. Things to do before they are 30. This is one of my lists.. with no particular time line.. If it's bold - I've done it! (A big thank you to Cassie Taylor for the base list)

1. Started a blog - Right here!
2. Slept under the stars - Freshman interim at Waterford - Desert group
3. Played in a band - Capital
4. Visited Hawaii - Many times, I LOVE it.. How could you not?
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - Those tea cups killed me..
8. Climbed a mountain - I've actually climbed a few..
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo - WAY more than A solo.. many a times..
11. Bungee Jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Had food poisoning - In Paris...
16. Adopted a child
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables - raccoons in my backyard ate them..
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France -it's smaller than you'd think.. She's a celeb though.. the flash photography around her was outrageous.
20. Slept in an overnight train -......
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked - never have, probably never will
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill - ditto
24. Built a snow fort
25. Hugged a Goat
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or a sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. See Niagra Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - Germany.. LOVED it!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Learned a new language - French, Spanish, and a little Japanese..
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - Money does not satisfy
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - I even did the touristy photo.. yep..
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa - Hopefully this summer!!!!
45. Had your portrait painted
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Walked on a beach by moonlight
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive in movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Serve at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies -I've bought Girl Scout Cookies.. and eaten them.. Does that count??
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma -I've tried many times.. Sometimes I don't weigh enough and sometimes my blood levels are not normal enough..
65. Eat Swiss chocolate in Switzerland
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check -another never have hopefully never will.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - PINKEY!!! My pink bear..
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job -and again.. never have, hopefully never will..
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a motorcycle - probably never again!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - does catching and gutting a fish count? It was gross..
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Had your heart stop
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby - hopefully one day!
95. Swam in the Great Sale Lake - One day at crew, I decided to take of my shoes and jump out of the 8. The boat rocked and I was SUPER salty.. mmm
96. Seen the Alamo in person
97. Learned to windsurf
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day


Do you have a list?

Friday, February 13, 2009

Student Alumni Board



As I believe I mentioned in an earlier blog, I LOVE THE STUDENT ALUMNI BOARD! It is probably my favorite thing I've gotten involved with on campus. We work hard and we have a ton of fun doing it. SAB was a major contributor to my love for the Utes. (Not just football and basketball) Because SAB does so much for the students of the University of Utah, I can't help but love them. I serve them and love them. It's great!

Anyway! This year I get to be a vice-president of the board. Woo!
Well, the executive committee had our pictures taken before the meeting this week. Sick. Like ew, gross sick. Not sick like cool sick. Sick! The picture looks good - of everyone except me. I know girls whine all the time "oh i look fat", "oh I just look so gross in that picture!" Usually that drives me nuts and I'm like - 'oh stop digging for compliments' and I really say - 'oh you look fine!'. I am not digging. WOW I really look gross! I think some make-up should have been in order. But you know what!? (Despite this photo being in the spring issue of Continuum Magazine) I'll live!

If you are on SAB and reading this blog, I highly recommend applying for next years executive committee. Applications were sent out by Brynn on Wednesday and I believe they are due next Friday. If you are not on the Student Alumni Board - greatest thing on campus -you should apply for next years board! Applications will be released later this month and I will post a link on my blog. (Here..- because this is my blog I'll post the link here.. on my blog..)

ya..

So SAB rocks. Photo's don't always.. not so much.. But ya!

GO UTES!!!!