Letter Home: Mornings

     In the mornings I go out to the deck and jump around for exercise. The air is cool. Because the deck is small, I do the following: knee lifts, lunges, and jumping. Because it is getting chilly in the mornings I wear a funky warm hat and a purple sweater.
     I can see the red sun rising a little to my east. Below is the parking lot for the apartment and a narrow road. I see a schoolgirl pass on a cruiser-like bike. And maybe 2 other men bike by. 

     Sometimes I smell fish cooking from one of the 3 houses to my right. A man comes out from an apartment to my left, sits down, and reads some papers as he smokes. That does not smell good.

     I can hear washing machines and sounds of sizzling (cooking). Washing machines here are very loud. They spin the clothing very fast to get out as much water as possible so that when they hang to dry they dry faster. 

LDS Church History

THE MORMON BATTALION

http://californiapioneer.org/historic-events/mormon-battalion

The artist of this painting, George Ottinger married into one of Sister Breksa's ancestor's family and traveled with his wife's family during the exodus to Utah.  

Another of George Ottinger's paintings is of the driving of the golden spike at Promotory Point, Utah - Another one of Sister Breksa's ancestors, Abraham Hunsaker, was at that event and was a member of the Mormon Battalion.

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“In June of 1846, there were approximately 15,000 Latter-day Saints strung out across Iowa in about a half dozen makeshift encampments. They had been forced to leave their comfortable homes in the city they had built, Nauvoo, Illinois. They had endured a tragic exodus across Iowa. Many had died of starvation, exposure, and disease during the cold winter and wet springtime. They had no homes, no property, and no clothing except what they carried in their wagons or wore upon their backs. By crossing the Mississippi River, these pioneers had left the United States, and were moving west to a destination they knew not, where they hoped to live in peace.” 

(http://californiapioneer.org/historic-events/mormon-battalion)

Church leader Brigham Young sought a solution for the Saint’s dire financial problems. He sent a messenger to President Polk with a proposal. The Saints would ‘fortify and defend the West.' With the start of the Mexican-American War, President Polk responded with the offer to form a Mormon battalion of 500 men.

President Young agreed. 500 men volunteered. While they did not participate in a battle, the battalion completed the longest military march in US history. 

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LDS Teachings

lds.org

"The Savior's suffering in Gethsemane and His agony on the cross redeem us from sin by satisfying the demands that justice has upon us. He extends mercy and pardons those who repent. The Atonement also satisfies the debt justice owes to us by healing and compensating us for any suffering we innocently endure."

—D. Todd Christofferson, "Redemption"

Japan: Traditional Theatre

The three kanji that 
make up kabuki mean 

song, dance, and skill. 

(Cultures of he World: Japan, 2002)

http://japanese.about.com/library/blhiraculture6.htm

wikipedia

Watch the video below for examples of kabuki, explanation of the history and techniques of this unique performing art.

Japan: Kabuki Theatre

Wrong Roads