2014 Gates Annual Letter

So, I'm in a class on international economic development policy, and it's really been opening my eyes to poverty, humanitarian work, and development. Bill and Melinda Gates published this letter at the beginning of the year to dispel some "myths" about international development.
Here's one of my favorite points: "Creating societies where people enjoy basic health, relative prosperity, fundamental equality, and access to contraceptives is the only way to secure a sustainable world. We will build a better future for everyone by giving people the freedom and the power to build a better future for themselves and their families."

I'm no expert, but the way I see it, the more people are happier, higher educated, and productive, the more  likely they are to come up with great ideas that make our lives better like smart phone apps to tell you if it's dark outside, or poo pourri , or THIS! I know, right?

But seriously, with more people able to focus less on where they're going to find their next meal or if they can pay for meds to keep their kid from dying of diarrhea, people will be able to focus their energy on solving problems that are less urgent but important like: the debt crisis, pollution, terrorism, and why I can't seem to keep  my wonderfully curly hair from randomly turning into a giant ball of frizz. Because that's what people do, we solve problems with our miraculously developed large frontal lobes, and we're dang good at it!

I can't wait to see all of the amazing innovations that come about in the near future, and I know that the more people are educated and provided opportunities to do stuff like think creatively, the more economic pie will be available for everyone to get a bigger piece.

The world is an amazing place, and I'm privileged to be a part of it  in this day and age.

Here's a link to the rest of the letter. Please put aside any assumptions and political biases you may have towards Mr. Gates and evaluate it on the merit of the content.

Cheers,
Tonya

Events

Dear Sis. Johnson the Youngest,

Sounds like things are going good  in Louisiana. How's learning Spanish going? Don't worry about not being able to contribute a lot. Now you know how I felt my whole mission. It really makes you simplify your teaching down to the nuts and bolts of the gospel, which is what it should be anyway. 

I'm glad that you're finding more people to teach. A busy missionary's a happy missionary. 

This week wasn't that super interesting for me. Some highlights were going with Dallin to eat the most authentic tacos at this taco truck right by the tracks in Provo. It was amazing. A taco truck stuffed  in this wooden structure with some insulation and a tarp on the outside. The most delicious tacos I think I've ever had. 

I did a lot of stuff for school. I made a whole presentation about social capital and how it effects international development. I looked at this one study from Indonesia where a researcher discovered that villages that had more TV and radio channels had less social capital, meaning that they had fewer social groups and less participation in those social groups. 

I read another one about how social capital has increased in Burundi as a result of violence experienced by some communities in the civil war that raged there from 1993-2003. The study discovered that communities and individuals that had experienced higher levels of violence were more likely to be altruistic than those that hadn't. Most developmental economists consider civil wars to be steps backwards in terms of development, but sometimes horrible, traumatic events can lead people to be better. Unfortunately, the study didn't explain why, but I think it has something to do with hope, social capital, and that indomitable human spirit.  

Other than that, not much going on. Church was good. We learned about the creation. Always a plus. 

Your quote this week is from the doctor. It's from the "Waters of Mars" episode and is a good example of what can happen when you exercise unrighteous dominion or priestcraft. "But there are laws. There are laws of time. Once upon a time there were people in charge of those laws, but they died. They all died. Do you know who that leaves? Me! It's taken me all these years to realize the laws of time are mine, and they will obey me! We're not just fighting the Flood; we're fighting Time itself! And I'm gonna win!"

I  love you,

Tonya Johnson

What's Going on in Thailand?

I served my mission in Thailand and went back to do development work in the North. It's crazy, but I was here when PM Yingluck got elected. Here's a good summation of what's going on.

St. George and Awesomeness

Dear Sis. Johnson the Greatest,

I'm writing to you later than usual this week. That's because it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and I'm remembering all the awesome stuff he did by sleeping in and having fun.

Tragically, I did not get your  facebook  figured out before I came back to school. I give that assignment back to Dad, so ask him about it.

Point of fact, you didn't teach me how  to lead climb. I knew how to lead climb  before I started climbing with you. I don't think we ever lead climbed together,  actually. However,  I do owe to you my renewed interest in climbing post-mission. A fact that I thank you greatly for.

That's cool that you're looking for Spanish speakers in your area. I'm sure  that you'll  find lots of people to teach. How's your Spanish  coming?  All those years  of high school Spanish starting to pay off, eh?

Tips  for learning a language:

1. Read the Book of Mormon in that language. Read aloud  to work on pronunciation.
2. Speak it as much as possible.  Since  your companions are Spanish  speakers, speak with them. *Note of caution: if  you really need to communicate something important, though, use English.  Also,  you  will  get tired of trying to speak  Spanish, so don't fell bad about speaking English with them.
   
3. Pray. A lot.
4. Make flash cards. Carry them around with you.
5. Carry a little notebook around with you in which you can write  down the words you hear but don't understand. People will like it  when you do this because  then they'll feel like they're participating in your language learning and that you really care about what they're saying. 

Let  me know if those help.

Good  job on using the area book. That's crazy that your have five of them. Sounds like you're doing exactly what you need to do to be an awesome missionary, and I'm sure  that the Lord will reward you awesomely.

When is transfers? I feel like your chances of staying in Lake Charles are a a lot  smaller  this time,  but then again,  your  third could be  called to Brazil at any moment....

Things I did this week.  Well, it was a pretty regular school  week until  Friday when we went to St. George. My friend,Ammon, and I had been planning a climbing trip to  St. George for  the  long weekend. Luiza, Ammon, Daniel, Kevin, Tyler and I all piled into the twinkie. All six of  us. Just like when we were kids.


We drove  down and listened to music, talked,  and had a great time. We were staying with  Tyler's grandparents who are retirees  in Hurricane. They  had a super nice house and they were out-of-town for the  weekend, so it  was  super nice of them to let us use it.


We spent the  night there, and I tried  to get everyone up early to  go climbing the next morning. It was like herding  cats. Now, I know how Mom felt trying to get us all  out the door in the morning. 

We finally left at 10:00  and drove over to  Snow Canyon State Park  where we climbed the rest of the day. We used my new rope and your rope. We set up a total  of  three routes. With six  people, it took a while  to send everyone up all  the routes. I led  two, one was a 5.9  and the other  a 5.10a-c. Ammon led  the other one.


The place was beautiful. I love  southern Utah and St. George in particular. I attached pictures as evidence.

So, climbing was awesome! All the gear worked great and everyone felt super hard core, and no one got hurt. All plusses. Also, the weather was perfect. 65 and sunny. We didn't want to come back to cold, smoggy Provo.

Sunday we went to a YSA ward in St. George  where all the Dixie State College students go. We were only able to stay  for sacrament meeting because Tyler's grandparents came home early, so  we  had  to run home to clean up the house, which we might have left a mess...

We  finished cleaning  right as they  walked  in. They were super nice folks with this  tiny Yorkie named Biff. Seriously, this dog was smaller than the neighbor's dog, Jasmine. Wish I'd gotten a picture for you.

We chatted for a bit and then went for a walk back over  by the State Park. It was again beautiful. I love the contrast between the light blue sky  and the  orange-red  rocks.  The desert flora makes it interesting too.


Then we went back  to  Tyler's house, and Ammon cooked everyone an amazing dinner as thanks for letting us use their house.

Then we drove home, and now it's Monday morning and I'm writing this to  you. 


Your quote this week is from the guide book that Daniel bought for me in St. George  about the city, "As a base of operations in the war  against gravity, the city of St.  George makes an admirable headquarters," also, "The  landscape of southwestern Utah is a geological stew. Take a few million years of detritus accretion, add some precipitate, and metamorphose on low for three eons. Fold, wrinkle, then fault, and top with several lacolithic orogenies and serve....  In layman's  terms  this means you  can't swing  cat  without hitting some type of climbable  rock. Previously swung cats  may  be adopted at the city animal shelter."

I love you!

Tonya

Some silhouette shots of me cleaning the top of the route as the sun set.

Daniel, Kevin and I. Pretty  indicative of our  personalities.

Leading the last route.

I love these awesome people!

Epic  reach to the anchor!

Let's be honest, you spend  a great portion of your time  trying to figure out  where  to go.

"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." - Madeleine L’Engle

I like this a lot. She was one of my favorite authors growing up, and now when I go back and read her books, I get a whole different meaning from them. A book that is accessible on many levels like that is a work of art. 

1960's Batgirl PSA Equal pay

Holy Act of Congress, Batman! Learning about wage gaps in HR class. It's pretty interesting,  but this was my favorite part.

First Week of Class and Other Things...

Dear Sis Johnson the Wettest,

I hear from Mom that it's been raining a lot in Houston, which I'm not sure if that translates into a lot of rain in LA, but I'm going to assume that you're pretty wet. Don't worry, I remember my mission we considered ourselves lucky to go one day without getting completely drenched in the rainy season. 

It's awesome that you're finding more people to teach! Going through the ward roster is brilliant. I don't think I ever served in a branch that had a roster. That would have been nice. Also, try the area book for former investigators. You'd be surprised. 

So, I think it's awesome that you're comps with my team mate, Jessica Maughan's greenie. You should say hi to her from Jess and from me. 

We had an awesome CES fireside tonight from Elder Tad R. Callister. I think you get to look at those because you totally should. He said a lot of things that made the Restoration really clear and I think would be perfect for a missionary. 

Things that happened this week. Well, school started. That was a big one. I flew in Monday morning, dropped my stuff at my apartment and went straight to class. I'm taking Statistics, Public  Finance, Public Budgeting,  Economics of International  Development, Human Resources, Chinese 102, and History of China since 1200. 22 credit  hours again. Dang Fellowship! Givin' me all da moneys and makin' me take all da classes. 

Anyway, that should make for an interesting semester. I had to read 60 pages for my budgeting class this weekend. Not like novel pages, like text  book pages. It took me about 3 hours. It was all about government budgeting like: fiscal vs. monetary policy, the fiscal gap, sources  of revenue, and the financial crisis. It shows  you how much of a nerd I am that I actually found it all really interesting. It was just way too much information for me to process and remember. 

Other things that happened this weekend: I taught  all my climbing buddies how to lead climb because we're going climbing in St. George this weekend, and I realized that I was the only one  who knew how to sport climb.... Well,  now they know too!

Saturday we went snowshoeing at Stewart Falls above Sundance. It was a perfect snowshoeing day, and we had the most epic snow ball fight. My friend, Nathan, takes amazing pictures, and documented it. I think it's the most beautifully photographed snowball fight I've ever seen. I'll attach pics. 

Today was a great church day. I had a bunch of people over for dinner including our cousin, Dalllin! It was great to have a little bit of a family dinner. Just think, this time next year, you'll be here too! 

 

So, that was my life this week. Pretty awesome. 

Your quote this week is from the great Doctor himself. It's from the Blink episode,  which is  one of my favorite. " People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but, actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly... timey-wimey... stuff."

I love you!

Tonya

Christmas and Stuff

Dear Sis. Johnson the Bestest!!

Oh my goodness! I can’t believe that we got to talk to you on Christmas! Your face was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on a computer screen (and that includes Tom Hiddleston dancing (Thanks, Shannon!)). Your voice was the most melodic thing I’ve ever heard coming from computer speakers (and that includes J.K. Rowling announcing that she is writing the screenplay for a Harry Potter prequel. Yes! That’s happening!) 

Needless to say, it was great to talk to you. Make sure to thank the member that helped you for us. I’d like to think that there’s some universal missionary karma system where every time I help the missionaries here, something nice happens to you in Louisiana. Hopefully, the reverse isn’t true, though, because if it is Grandma really needs to apologize for kicking you out of your housing. (The missionaries no longer live with her.)

I can’t believe you’ve already  been out long enough for it to be Christmas. Sometimes I think of you doing missionary things like planning, teaching, knocking doors, and going to trainings, and it makes me really happy. Also, it makes me feel old, and I can’t believe that you’re old enough to do all those missionary things. Weird.

It looks like you’re doing really well, and I hope you continued to have a marvelous Christmas. We missed you here about 3.8 x 10500. Something like that…. Did you get my package? If you haven’t I don’t want to give away what’s in it except to say that it is awesome! I think that the scriptures that go with it are 2 Nephi 31: 20 and 2 Nephi 32:3. Anyway, it reminded me of  you, and I hope you like it.

 

 We just ate your jambalaya mix for lunch. We put sausage and chicken in it. It was delicious. I put generous amounts of the “Slap You’ Mama” and “Punch your Daddy” seasoning on it too just to give it a little more punch and slap. Let me tell you, I got season slapped so hard that my Mama flinched and my Daddy winced. I can see why you like that Cajun cooking. You should send more, or I guess we could figure out where to get it here. Thanks for sending it!  

 

Christmas here was great! We did all the normal things: Christmas Eve dinner here on the racklett (with Dad and Troy complaining about how long it took to cook the food), Christmas stories after dinner where everyone took part in reading (Shannon did a 2 1/2 minute abridged version of “The Polar Express” that made everyone laugh. No idea  how they got that back  into a 2-hour movie. Oh yeah, they did the same thing “The Hobbit” did and added about 10 more plot lines.), then we watched a Christmas movie (with “Christmas” being loosely defined as we actually watched “City of Bones” which was mediocre but had some attractive  men with cool accents, so it could be forgiven major faults like character development.) 

 

Christmas day was great. We had a big breakfast, opened presents, went to Grandma’s, opened more presents, played a game, watched “Despicable Me 2,” which can also be loosely defined as a Christmas movie because it is about people who might celebrate Christmas one day. This movie is totes going on your to-watch list. It is on the sillier side of hilarious and features a ginger who yells “Lipstick Taser!!” several times throughout the movie. 

 

Other than Christmas, it’s been a pretty chill week. I’ve been to about a million doctor appointments. I got blood drawn on Friday, and the phlebotomist managed to give me a huge bruise on my arm. I attached a picture, but just know that it looked a million times worse yesterday. Makes me look like an incompetent drug addict. 

Shannon and I went climbing at City Rock on Monday. She was impressed with how awesome I’ve gotten, but let’s be honest, who isn’t? Just kidding! But really… 

I was impressed at how strong she is and how willing to face her fear. There was one point, though where I sent her up the chimney route and she got freaked out 3/4 of the way up because  not only was it high, but the walls also kind of close in on you the higher you go. Acrophobia and claustrophobia attack at the same time!

I got new climbing shoes for Christmas. They are as aggressive as a threatened badger, which as anyone familiar at all with badgers  can tell you, is pretty dang aggressive. I now understand why people complain about painful climbing shoes.

They’re remodeling City Rock. They’ve completely re-done the bouldering area and are expanding the upstairs. I think they’re trying to put routes on every single surface possible, which I’m OK with. 

How was the rest of your Christmas? How’s the trio going? Have you found cool people to teach? Fill me in on the missionary sitch. 

OH! I started watching Dr. Who and I might be a little obsessed. I started with the reboot and the 9th doctor,  but I’m already  on the 10th. It is awesome!

Your quote this week is from Alfred Tennyson’s poem Ulysses. In this poem, an old Ulysses is reminiscing about good times and adventures past and bemoaning the onslaught of death and old age. I just liked this one line because I thought it pertained to missionary work, ”I am a part of all that I have met.” Everyone you meet on your missionary will become a part of you and you of them. I think that’s the best part of being a missionary, except baptisms, of course. 

 

I  love you,

Tonya