My Remarks Following a Visit to the Local Salt Mine

On Monday I visited the Hutchinson Salt Mine with Luke and Mom.  Being so deep underground (twice the depth of the height of the Statue of Liberty) was disconcerting.  ‘Tis not hospitable for humans down there… had the ventilators quit working we would soon have died from lack of air.  I noticed a tangy smell/taste …

Haiti: Idyllic Isle with a Few Worrisome Woes

Travelling Again! So once again I’m travelling, to wit: in Haiti – with all that implies.  Upon arrival last Thursday I hit the ground running and have been until today, which is being used to catch up: doing laundry (by hand in a bucket, using laundry powder purchased in Indonesia), visiting locals at the guest …

Goals for this 10-Day Trip to Haiti

Today I’m heading off to Port-au Prince, Haiti.  Should be back next Friday. Goals for this trip include: Trying to find and meet with various children from the now-defunct Son of God orphanage to see how they are doing and encourage them in some way. Meet with two organizations that work with Street Kids (Child …

Around the World in 180 Days (wrap-up post, by request)

I remember more than one night lying in bed late, in the dark, except for a dull street-lamp filtering through cracks in my venetian blinds, feeling restless.  Getting up and going for long walks: padding round and round the nearby pond at my apartment with the spraying fountain in the middle.  This was about a …

A Connecticut Yankee in King Aloha’s Court

From Tokyo to Honolulu was a red-eye flight.  Only slept about an hour that night. The weirdest thing happened… I left Japan on Wednesday night and arrived in Hawaii on Wednesday morning!  Therefore, I was able to do what few people have ever done: live through a day twice.  My lifetime has been extended a …

I Thought I’d Seen it All, Until I Saw Japan

First: Language… Most the signs in Japan are not in English.  And their script is scary-looking.  See for yourself, here is the title of this post in Japanese: 私は日本を見るまで私は、私はそれをすべて見たと思った And the people don’t speak English either, hardly a one.  Even at the airport, nobody can barely say a word of English! even the customs guy…  …

Jakarta Ho! A Somewhat Sagacious Soliloquy.

I’m currently in the capital of Indonesia.  It feels oh-so Asian.  And fairly Muslim too, though I don’t find the locals here as intimidating as their compatriots in the Middle East. With over 10 million citizens, Jakarta is populous.  But Indonesia itself is populous: the 4th most country in the world (behind China, India, and …

Luxury

I’m back in Sentani.  Good ol’ civilization.  Even if it’s third world civilization.  Even if it’s “wild west” civilization.  Dave, who picked us up at the airport, told about how he got stuck in the middle of a local demonstration yesterday in Sentani, including having a guy in front of his vehicle wave a pistol …

From Venice, Much Thanks to Everyone for the Birthday Well-Wishes!

I’ve been receiving Happy Birthday notes throughout today via e-mail and Facebook – some short, some lengthy.  Just want to say, “Thank you!” to all for helping make this #29 special, even though I’m overseas. Was blessed to get to spend this birthday in Venice, Italy.  Had one full layover day here before heading onwards …

On the Move

Had an interesting experience the last two days… took a long trip via the back of a transport truck. Got on about 8am yesterday morning in Moyale and was dropped off 7am this morning in Isiolo. That’s a long time on the top of (and sleeping inside) the back of a truck! Here is a …

Hiking in the Footsteps of Jesus

After walking from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth up to Capernaum, I wonder if Jesus got blisters on his feet too? Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum, Bethsaida, are towns I walked through on my 70 km (~40 mile) stroll through the Galilee on what is known as the “Jesus Trail.”  In short, I hiked from Nazareth to Bethsaida …

Asylum Seekers in Levinsky Park, Tel-Aviv

Asylum seekers from Darfur, South Sudan, and Eritrea have found their way to Israel seeking a better life.  Many are staying in a park outside the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv. Yesterday I went to that park to help distribute food and talk with those who spoke English.  I’m planning to go several more …

8 Things You May Not Have Known About Israel

1. Toilets in Israel have two levers.  One for smaller duty flushes, and one for heavier duty flushes, I guess.  And I thought America had too many options. 2. Israel has the fourth largest Air Force in the world, after the United States, Russia, and China.  I see helicopters flying overhead all the time, including …

A Treatise on Baby Calves and their Tendencies

Today we received new baby calves.  They are about 3 days old.  One of them we got a few days ago was born too early and has problems with coordination (they all have problems with coordination, but this one has excessive problems). The good thing about new baby calves it they are very cute and …

Give Me Liberty… or… “We’ll Kill Ourselves” ??!

Masada is an ancient mountain fortress built by Herod the Great in the time before Christ.  It’s located up on a high, isolated plateau in the Judean desert.  Kind of like Israel’s version of Mancha Picchu (in Peru). For a quick history: During the Jewish revolt against the Romans (in AD 70’s), Masada was the …

Neve Shalom-More Historic Than the White House?

I was told of a 2 day Bible conference being held in Neve Shalom this weekend.  I’m planning on going, leaving tomorrow after work. Neve Shalom is a small community about 25km West of Jerusalem.  Do you know where Neve Shalom is?  Neither did I, but the history in the area is quite fascinating. Located …

December 23rd – Jerusalem, the Old City, the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Sepulcher

Friday after lunch two other volunteers and myself headed for Jerusalem.  After catching four different rides via hitch-hiking, we arrived (hitch-hiking is more common in Israel, they even have specially marked turn-out lanes to pickup hitch-hikers).  After arriving and checking into my hostel, the afternoon/evening/night was spent wandering around the Old City of Jerusalem.  Our …

When Was the Last Time You Went Road Tripping?

Summary of Last Three Weeks I’m just home from a three week Western America road trip.  I spent a week driving out to the coast, a week visiting my brother in Oregon, and a week driving back to Kansas.  On the trip I was up close to Canada and down to within several miles of …

DR Update and… Are There Benefits to Being Materially Poor?

I just snapped this picture.  It is the view out the double doors in my bedroom: I think it’s technically jungle around here, but it seems to me more like “jungly forest” if there is such a thing.  Oh, and I can see the ocean far better in real life than in the picture above.  …

Update from the Dominican Republic

Food, Food, Wonderful Food One of the difficult things about this trip has been not eating foods I’m used to.  For the first couple weeks in Haiti I ate lots of rice and beans.  Then when I got to Dominican Republic, a Latin American country, I expected burritos and enchiladas.  But turns out those are …

Bon Bagay! A Missionary Interview

“Haiti is known as a missionary graveyard.  The burnout rate here is high.”  I was talking with a long-term missionary about what he found most discouraging working in Haiti over the years.  He continued, “When the going gets rough, people often bail.  It’s discouraging to see fellow workers beat down and ‘run out of town.’  …

Quick Update From a Different World

Today is my 9th day in Carrefour, Haiti.  This is the first day I’ve had internet, and amazingly, on my laptop no less.  I’m on wi-fi in a small internet café now.  Creole music is blazing, it’s quite warm (i.e. blazing hot), and I’m sitting at a rustic table.  The internet is veeeery slow.  Like …

Tent City Story–Why So Much Disparity in Wealth?

I’m learning a short "missions" trip can really spin you around.  One day you’re marching along in everyday life and then – wham, you’re transported to another world.  A world where people don’t have the same privileges I do.  Where water and electricity are sporadic.  Where food and clean water are not a given.  Where …