don't just read blogs, write them.

Once again, it comes to this.

Blogging repentance.

I have never been good at blogging. Let's be real. Just take a little look at my past record of blogging.

Pitiful.

Slightly Humorous.

(P.S. I re-read my past posts, and I found an unsightly error. There is a post from Fiji that ends in "Mothe!" Ummm...it actually should be "Moce!". The -c- is just pronounced with a -th- sound. ERKWARD. Let's just pretend that didn't happen.)

Anyway, it is time for re-resolutions. This re-resolution comes after much thought, pondering, and prayer. 

And it starts a little over a month ago when I deleted my Facebook account. 

Deleting my Facebook wasn't a whimsical, in-the-moment decision. I contemplated, denied, accepted, pondered, and resolved before actually going through with it. I don't really feel like I need to explain why I did it; I think you have all felt the same thing I was feeling. Tired of the mindless wandering through newsfeeds and friends, tired of the posts that I didn't want to see, tired of the re-postings and re-re-postings of articles, tired of the rants that I didn't really want to read, tired of the rude comments, tired of feeling creepy because you know everything about that one girl from high school.

I was just tired of it.

I tried deleting friends, I really did. 

You know how lots of people delete friends they don't really know anymore, so they don't see posts that they don't really want to see?

I gave it a good shot. I deleted over 300 peeps.

But I still have almost 900 friends.

Not because I am, like, so popular. 

Not because I initiate adding friends.

But because I was born in 1991.

During my high school years, Facebook was AWESOME. Seriously. You added anyone who added you, you posted tons of pictures, you loved looking through everyone's pictures, you liked everything, you actually wrote comments that were meaningful, you posted on people's walls, you got comments from people more than just your closest peeps or your far out friends. 

You didn't have Twitter.

You didn't have Instragram.

You didn't have Mine-whatever, Candy Crush Something, or Angry/Flappy/Happy Birds.

Heck, you didn't even have texting.

You only had Facebook.

Thus, 5-7 years later, I still have a million friends. And guess what? I still like the people I deleted. (If I knew them...) I JUST AM TIRED OF BEING CREEPY BECAUSE I KNOW THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE I NEVER SEE ANYMORE.

I would just rather ask them about their lives in person. That's all.

And you know what? There are a lot of other, more important things to think about than what that one kid from middle school had for breakfast and what he thought about the last political movement.

Like, for instance, how to love that one kid in your class or how to make someone's day.

I'm not saying Facebook is bad. I actually still really like Facebook. I like keeping in touch with people. I like liking pictures. I like seeing posts. I like uplifting video posts. 

I just felt it wearing on my spirit.

And so I deleted it.

And, thus, by disconnecting myself, I actually connected myself. I connected myself to reality. I connected myself to the people I love. I connected myself to productivity. 

I connected myself to my OWN thoughts and my OWN opinions and my OWN feelings, instead of being blasted with a post or re-post about someone else's. I connected myself to spiritual sensitivity. I connected myself to BOOKS! I connected myself to hobbies.

Dude! I am so CONNECTED! 

I sure feel connected. 

 Do I sometimes wish I could go on Facebook for quick peek? Sure.

Did I check Preston's Facebook when James and Michelle posted pictures from their engagement? Sure.

Is my Facebook gone forever? Nope.

It is just gone until my spirit tells me it's okay. It's gone until I have solidified my new commitments. It's gone until I figure out my goals and my life. It's gone permanently temporarily. And I love it.

I have thought a lot about social media in this little decision; it isn't bad. It can just be misused, like so many things of this world. In my pondering, I have made some statements that express my feelings about social media consumption:

Don't just read blogs, write them.

Don't judge someone's virtual self, love their real self.

There are just two of them so far. But I think they are kind of catchy. 

And I figured I better start with my hypocritical self.

So. Here is MY OWN blog post. About my own social media consumption.

Will anyone read this post?

I have no idea. But guess what? When you disconnect yourself from some things, like social media obsession, you connect yourself with other things, like your own opinions.

And you don't really care what anyone else thinks or if they read your blog post.

remember that one time...

so. remember that one time when I used to blog?

oh wait. it only lasted two months and five posts.

so, 16 glorious months later...not much has changed.

except:

I changed my major.

I lived in a log cabin.

I got a new job.

I married my best friend.

I got Call Me Maybe as my ringtone.

not too shabby.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...I might attempt blogging again. I think it might be fun.

I mean, it's no-shave november.

what better time to make a new month resolution?

Holy smokes! Time sure flies!

Sorry it has taken so long to get a new post up, but...I've just been living Fiji time! aka...whenever it happens, it happens...

Right now I am looking out a window of a cafe at Jack's, a bus stand, a hot bread shop, and a BSP atm...typical Fiji town.  Except I'm in Suva! (Suva is the capital of Fiji and about 6 hours via bus from our homebase of Ba.  It is the biggest city by far...it's almost like America.)  Anyway, that is the reason I am able to blog...I have fast internet!

What am I doing in Suva?  Well, a little group of us came for the weekend to go to the temple and now I am staying an extra weekish to work on stuff in Deaf schools!  I went to the Hilton School for the Deaf today and hung out in the classroom with 2 boys and the teacher and learned and learned.  At the Hilton school, they teach more of a Signed English approach so it definitely different from what I am used to but I'm trying to pick it up.

Projects:  We have a ton of projects going on but some of my favorites to work on:
1. PRISM - This is a health screening program where we go out to villages and communities and help the nurses and Dr. Animesh.  The nurses are my favorite to talk to - they are like my grandmothers.  Dr. Animesh and the team from America are way rad too...they give up their time to come help the people of Fiji and they are all so awesome!  It is also a real inside look at the village life.
2. Ministry of Health - Basically...I love playing with kids. And with the Ministry (of Magic), we go to the schools and teach or give them pills and stuff.  ALL THE KIDS HERE ARE ADORABLE.  I am seriously considering taking them all home to me.  Last Friday we did school gardens in a couple schools and it was sooo fun!  At Tagore Memorial, I got a free concert by about 25 kids singing "baby" and "never say never" by Justin Bieber. Greatest thing I have ever heard in my life.  They knew every single word.  They put Provo apartment dance parties to shame.  :)
3. Darcee and I are starting a fitness/nutrition class project...we have our lesson plans outline and they start next week! 
4. Zac and I are researching for a BYU social venture called 2 foot prosthetics to see if we can set up a prosthetics clinic! It is really a need because there are so many amputees from diabetes and the only place for prosthetics is in Suva and it cost $800...which no has.
5. Zac and I are also working with a counseling service called Lifeline...a couple weeks ago we went to a youth rally in a village in the interior (aka middle of the island...aka wayyy awesome and green and in the mountains and remote) with Tima to do an outreach...we met lots and lots of awesome people and they sang beautiful songs and drank kava for 6 hours...haha. we didn't partake in that little party. :)

anyway, i have less than 5 minutes left...more to come later!

BULA!

Basically...I love Fiji.

Here goes a little description of my adventures thus far...
THE PLANE RIDE WAS LONG.  I left Boise at 5:40, flew to SLC and met my friend Alyssa, flew to LAX, waited in lines, found the International section of the airport, waited in more lines, got to our gate, waited in line, and then sat in an airplane seat for the best 11 hours of my life.  Luckily, we were running away from the sun so it was dark the whole ride and we could sleep...very comfortably. :)  I sat next to a very nice Indian couple native to Fiji who were going back for a wedding and they had all sorts of tips for me. (Side note: About 40% of Fiji's population is Indian so we get to learn 2 cultures! Namaste, aunty.)

Anyway, we got to Fiji Saturday morning at 6:30 (Side note: Fiji is 16 hours ahead so just think 1 day ahead and subtract 6 hours) and it was probably the longest day of my life. :) We were exhausted from the night flight, and we just jumped into Fiji life...Okay so I'm running out of my Internet time so I will just summarize...

Reasons why I love Fiji:
1. The buses.  They are my favorite!  Most are open air with no windows so you get an awesome breeze and you get to stick your head out and look at everything!  Fiji is gorgeous...the green mountains, sky, palm trees...we aren't close to a beach but who needs it? :)  Plus, you get to wave to all the people who live right off the road!  Or you can talk to the people you are sitting next to and learn all about their life or new Fijian/Hindi words.
2. The first couple of days we did some mapping out of the towns we will be frequenting and then we started working in villages and going to the NGO's we are working with.  And guess what?? At one of the NGO's, Friend Fiji, they have some deaf people working there!  They are teaching me Fijian Sign Language and hopefully I will be able to contact the school the girls went to and help out there!  So far I only know the alphabet and the basics, but they are good teachers!  (Side note: In FSL, the sign for "what" is the ASL sign for "where" and the FSL sign for "where" is the ASL sign for "what") Also, this deaf lady at the market randomly found me and knew that I knew ASL and gave me her information...I'm still trying to figure out how she knew I signed.
3. All of the volunteers are very good friends now...especially since all 20 of us live in a house a little bigger than a Liberty Square apartment...haha.  But seriously, we are having a blast!  We like to come home and just chill and talk and play games...Stefka and Zac kill me at California Speed.
4. I can buy 3 pineapple for $1.
5. I learned how to handwash my clothes.
6. On our day off today, Kevin and I went to the beach! Not really a white sandy one, but a beach complete with a sweet mangrove river we explored nonetheless!

Anywayyy...I love it!  Also, we don't have a PO Box yet, so if you want to contact me, email me!

Mothe!

HELP International

HELP International...it's changing lives.
(if you can't see the video...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Tr9HuCHVg)

GARAGE SALE!

HUMANITARIAN HELP

GARAGE SALE!

Saturday, April 30

8-1:00

3493 Riva Ridge Way

CREATING DREAMS, ONE ITEM AT A TIME

How you can help:

1. Have unwanted or unused items laying around your house and garage? Donate them to the garage sale!  All profits will go to HELP International–FIJI.  Drop them off at 3493 Riva Ridge Way or we will come pick them up on Friday afternoon. Text or call Mallory at 860-5647 to arrange!

2. Come to the garage sale and find some killer bargains!

3. No items to donate?  Please consider dropping by a check on Saturday to support Mallory’s efforts in fundraising for the people of Fiji.

Bula, Bula, Bula!

I'M GOING TO FIJI!!!

Here's the story of how it began...

Once upon a time there lived a little gal,

She loved lots of things, this girl named Mal.

She loved laughing and joking, helping and working,

Skiing and running, dancing and jerking.

She loved learning and school and dreaming dreams.

She dreamed of places to go and doing great things.

As a little girl, she dreamed of BYU,

And guess what, guys? Her dream came true!

And what a dream it turned out to be,

A happier place, she never did see.

She felt so lucky, blessed, happy, and right.

Surrounded by friends and learning and light.

But now what she had been dreaming for so long,

Was here and reality, her dream was gone.

So what do you do when your dream comes true?

You go find another one and dream anew!

So this little girl set her sights high,

She decided she wanted to try and fly.

She wanted to travel and help those in need,

She wanted to make a difference through kindly deed!

So she searched and thought and asked around,

Until finally, at last, her new dream was found!

HELP International was created to empower,

Fighting poverty, developing programs, hour by hour,

They help many countries, from Uganda to Belize,

But Mallory chose Fiji so she wouldn't freeze.

Making gardens and stoves, or working in a school,

Or helping at a hospital, it would be so cool!

HELP International was highly recommended,

She felt so right, her search had ended.

With her new dream in sight, she took it and ran.

Working hard and saving and making a plan.



(This has been my laptop background for the past year...except I will be working, not laying in a hammock. :D)



She put up reminders of her new goal,

She wanted to dedicate her heart and soul.

She attended trainings and met new friends.

It was becoming so real, not just pretend!

On the fifth of May, year two-zero-one-one,

Mallory will be off to the Land of the Sun.

There she will work and help and love,

Fulfilling all that she has dreamed of.

Sacrificing money and talent and time,

But gaining more than expressed through this rhyme.

Learning of service, culture, and dreams,

Is worth more than anything else, it seems.