Doha helps you get a clue

Tonight for mutual we played a live version of CLUE. (I got the idea from http://www.jennysmith.net but changed the details to fit our group.) The premise of the game was that Bishop Tibbitts had been kidnapped and we had to find out who did it, where and with what. Considering all the issues I was having with getting everything ready today--it turned out really well. I would recommend it for any of you in YM or YW.

While the game was going, I had a good chat with Lena Paul--she is the mom of one of my Laurels. I really like and respect their family--they are a great balance of righteous and fun. This is really a great ward. Even though it doesn't always function "as it should," there is a lot of love and a great spirit because everyone is away from "home" and is struggling financially, emotionally, or spiritually. We become a family because we need each other.

Lena and I were talking about how moving to Doha has one of two outcomes for most people. Either 1) It is really hard and challenging and you grow and become stronger or 2) It is really hard and challenging and your life falls apart. Almost everyone goes through what people refer to as the "Doha Dumps." These are different for everyone, but the outcome is the same--it forces you to face the weaknesses that exist in yourself and in your relationships with others. When you are living at home and within your comfort zone, you can hide or ignore these weaknesses more easily. When you are faced with the challenges of living here, you really find out what you are made of. Hopefully this creates an opportunity to really grow in understanding and strength. However, it can be a pretty scary staring in that mirror. It has been a rough year for Jon and me, but it has been a really good one too. I can't imagine what our life would have been like if we hadn't moved here--but I also can't image what life HERE would have been like without our ward for support. I will be ready to move home, but it is going to be really hard for me to leave this ward.

Chasing the setting sun

Tonight I was listening to an old podcast of Science Friday on NPR. They were talking about a comet that was visible in the northern hemisphere in early January. The scientist was explaining how the comet was visible for just 30 minutes before sunset. The setting of the comet coincided with the setting of the sun and he described it as a race between the two to the horizon. As I pictured this comet stretching, racing towards the horizon--trying to get just a little more distance in before the lights went out--I thought to myself: I am the comet. If life were the evening sky and all my goals and responsibilities the setting sun . . . I am the comet. Like a rabbit with its racing carrot, I feel like I am always running to catch up to that which is just beyond my reach. I keep saying that next week or next month or the next phase of my life will be better . . . but it never is. The details change, but the story is the same. I can't help but wonder: Is this just how life works? Or am I just incompetent?

Oday and Sudir

These are the "guards" of our compound--Oday and Sudir. They are from Nepal. They have wives and children at home, but could not find work to support them there. They send money home each month and will be able to go visit them every two years. In one picture, Oday wanted to pose doing his work which--since we got a electronic gate opener--consists of pushing the button on the remote. Notice their stylish Utah T-shirts.

David took this picture of Charly-dog peeking under the gate.