Mountains Beyond Mountains

It's odd how long it's taken me to get through Tracy Kidder's book, Mountains Beyond Mountains since generally, books that fill me up with a cornucopia of emotions easily override every other activity in my life.

I'm tempted to think it's taken me so long because I often juxtaposed myself with the book's subject, Dr. Paul Farmer. I need to stop. I mean, the man's title is "Partner to the Poor," I don't stand a chance! In addition, this man is one of the most Christ-like examples of selfless service and REAL, grass-roots, international development (not the "here, take some money" way but development the way King Benjamin in Mosiah 4 would do it) And get this, he's clever, funny, and comes from an under-privileged family.  

I'm in love and ashamed. I'm ashamed becauseI have had experiences that taught me much about the world and Christ and love and poverty and inequality. And look at the way I live my life. So I resolve to do better! 

I can't even begin to tell you how great I think this man is. 

Here are some great quotes that made my heart jump:

Speaking of political correctness: "It's a very well-crafted tool to distract us. A very self-centered activity. Clean up your own vocabulary so you can show everybody you have the social capital of having been in circles where these things are talked about on a regular basis." - Jim Kim, PIH Co-founder

Speaking of appearance: The goofiness of radicals thinking they have to dress in Guatemalan peasant clothes. The poor don't want you to look like them. They want you to dress in a suit and go get them food and water. Comma." (Paul uses "comma" the way you and I use "Idiot")

"It should be enough to humbly serve the poor." -Paul Farmer

Initiation Rites

Ben and I have now been wed for lo these past three months! Though we've both been working and going to school (some work more, some school more), there has been opportunity enough to take part in the rites of passage required of newlyweds. 

Internet, I introduce you to Number 5's bathroom.

 

 

Ceremony #1: The De-Molding of a Bathroom.

 Really, the problem lies beyond the limits of this picture, above the shower to be specific. Mold, of the blue-green variety,  grows like we feed it well-balanced meals, three times a day on our bathroom walls AND around our windows. It is the worst thing in my life. So I called landlord Jorgen and explained how I had cleaned it once and did not want to do it again.  He dispatched the handy-man and within a week our bathroom had been cleaned with moldicide and re-painted with high-end paint. Not that cheap stuff you see now-a-days. It looks so clean and nice now! Handy Manny even increased the number of light bulbs in our bathroom by 400%! What a guy. 

To be honest, I cannot think of all of the other really clever things I was going to fill this blog post with. So for now, enjoy this post and dream of wonderful posts to come!