You might wonder, “How on earth is a 6’6″ white American able to stroll into violent areas and not be harmed?” Well the truth is it can be dangerous, but we have taken precautions to mitigate the chances.  Our key to safety and learning about each neighborhood and the youth inside it is by being with the right people when we walk in.  The Y.U.T.E. program connects us with CEOs (Community Engagement Officers) within each community who are responsible for recruiting, tracking, and working with the youth engaged in the program.  There would be no way that we could walk through these communities if we didn’t have the contacts that we do.

Reina Gould meeting with a group of women in Tivoli

The reason Tivoli jumps to the top of the list of violent areas is because it is the most recent in the local’s mind.  It was just over a year ago that the “Don” of Tivoli Gardens, Michael Christopher “Dudus” Coke, had surrendered himself to be extradited to the U.S. after over 70 people had been killed while protecting him, pursuing him, or being a bystander in the process.  The locals considered him a hero and a godfather providing food, money, and protection; but the government considered Dudus a thug and drug dealer who had warrants out for his arrest in U.S.

As it was described to us by some locals, the neighborhood literally became a war zone.  The community fought for Dudus, oftentimes to their death, being killed by local police and military ordered to capture him.  The military was shocked with the preparation and ammunition of the locals.  The Gleaner newspaper of Jamaica reported…

“Areas that should have been secured in minutes took us hours to secure as the thugs, armed with high-powered weapons, responded with a ferocity that I have never seen before…One boy with an AK (AK-47 assault rifle) kept the helicopter man busy for almost an hour before a sniper get him”

Tivoli was more somber than Denham Town, which we had walked the day before.  People were a little more skeptical of us and what we were doing but thankfully we had the youth who’d vouch for our cause.  One woman told us that her whole store had been raided by police and she hasn’t had the money to restart; she believes if Dudus was around that wouldn’t have happend.  The locals lost a leader and a father, they are still in mourning.

One older man, who seemed to be the ‘Don’ of the corner, waved with authority for me to come over and inquired about why I had a camera.  After explaining my purpose he said I should go see their chicken coops and maybe we could help them get more chickens to raise.  Jason and I were the only two from our team and were wandering around with two youth but we started to get separated because so many people were talking to us.  Next thing you know, I was walking down the side of some exposed storm drain with walls on both sides, being escorted by two guys I had just met.  After 100 yards we arrived to a large hole in the wall that revealed Lizard Town on the other side.

I trusted the guys I was with, but I had a hard time trusting the environment I was stepping into.  However it wasn’t long before my heart of caution became a heart of compassion for these people.  It was just over a year ago when many had died, true, but there are also hundreds of thousands who were affected by the raids and have to live with what is left of their homes, businesses, and lives.

The young man who brought us into this area showed us where he lived and cared for the chickens. He also told us about how he was captured during the raids and tied up while he watched his friends be killed and similarly tied down.  Even today, “because Dudus isn’t around,” there are murders every day due to small altercations.  This young man spoke emotionally about Dudus and it was apparent that he was still a believer in him.

As the sun begins to set each night, military and police roll in with their full body armor and and heavy artillery.  This is the current solution to keep the peace in the neighborhood, and even then it is not always peaceful.

This post isn’t meant to be political or subjective but to merely show the perspective of those who often aren’t able to share beyond their community.  This experience is exactly why we do what we do, to gain a deeper understanding of the community we are meant to impact regardless of politics, religion, race, turf lines or otherwise.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE: Not every person we interact with is a potential client or future business owner, but some are definitely inspiring.  The children in this neighborhood managed to maintain a positive, often sassy, attitude despite all of their setbacks.  I believe it is our purpose to employ the youth, not only because it creates jobs, but because it instills confidence.  The youth are the future of Tivoli and Kingston at large, they need to know and feel their self-worth.  That is why we are here.

I’m taking a hiatus from my recap of SE Asia to share my current experiences as I am working in the impoverished and oftentimes the more “dangerous” neighborhoods of Kingston, Jamaica.

I am on assignment with Fairbourne Consulting, a consulting firm focused on business innovation for developing markets.  I am here with Jason Fairbourne and four other fantastic researchers/consultants who have come together on the same premise: Design businesses to create employment for the youth in inner-city Kingston.  One of the primary components to our process is stepping away from the desk, and stepping into the everyday lives of the people we aim to impact.  This is exactly why I accepted to work with Fairbourne and crew on this project, because we are collecting primary data and experiences from individuals and learning their story.  Reservations about going to Kingston?…There were maybe a few recommendations to consider…

“I’ve been to Kingston. Be careful man!”  ”Our bus driver told us to NEVER go to Kingston. He said if you wanna see it, stop at the city limits look in and leave immediately.”  ”Ghetto.”  ”When you hear gun shots, hit the ground and don’t get up until they stop.”

With that input in mind, I still said yes and afterward read a U.S. State Department advisory, “Violence and shootings occur regularly in certain areas of Kingston… avoid traveling into high-threat areas including, but not limited to, Mountain View, Trench Town, Tivoli Gardens…” of which all are encompassed in our project.  Luckily we knew we had our client (YUTE) and their contacts to get into the community and we trusted they had our safety in mind.

Participant of the YUTE program

Through the YUTE (Youth Upliftment Through Employment) program we have already entered two neighborhoods of Kingston that outsiders, especially foreigners, would rarely, if ever, enter.  Every community here has a history, a political party it supports, and needs that aren’t met.  We have been holding focus groups and community meetings to better understand what those needs/wants are to begin designing businesses to those ends.

Jason talking with the youth of Denham Town

We have spent hours with the youth discussing their dreams, needs, skills, ideas, and being toured around their neighborhood, through their streets and welcomed into their homes.  It has been a unique and humbling experience.

Talking with local laborer in Denham Town

Omar Bailey was one of the most impressive youth we spoke with in Denham Town.  During our discussion he was really vocal about starting a business and as we walked through the streets he would point out the different business owners and made sure we’d talk to them. He even had “starting a business” books and asked Jason to look over his business plan he was writing.

Omar's light reading

The most intimate part of the walk was when Omar let us in his home to meet his two siblings and mom.

Omar and his family

His mom was beautiful and showed us the different products she sold from her home; the most popular products were bag juice (a packet of flavored sugar water that you bite off the corner to drink) and individual cigarettes.  Both products were purchased in larger bulk at retail price and she would profit from selling smaller amounts at marked up prices. And thats the way most people get by, they hustle.  Buy something here and sell it there to marginally benefit from the difference.  In addition to her perseverance, Omar’s mom also had integrity.  While in their home, Jason sat down on their couch and his brand new iPhone 4S fell out of his pocket with him realizing it, 5 minutes later Omar’s sister ran down the street and returned his phone.

Some say that Kingston is rough, but it still has plenty of diamonds.

Next highlighted area is Tivoli where a little over a year ago this neighborhood was bombed by police and soldiers.

Bullet holes made by 50 caliber rifles

This is the beginning of the end… of our time in Bali.  We have been home for two months but I never really summed up the way we spent our last two weeks before coming home.  Between finishing work and needing to get home for a family reunion, Katie and I capitalized on already being in Asia and having two weeks of free time by planning a whirlwind trip through the highlights of SE Asia.

Our thesis was to visit places that might not be the same if we visited again later in life, often characterized by dramatic increases in population, reliance on technology, western medicine, commercialization, and perhaps a dilution of tradition overtime.

So we began our journey bidding adieu to Bali with one final sunrise and settling down for the night in the markets of Chiang Mai, Thailand.  In between that time we made a stopover in Phuket and decided instead of waiting 4 hours in an airport we should take a taxi to the closest beach and welcome ourselves to Thailand with a token meal of Pad Thai and Mango Salad.  It was divine! And perhaps the best pad thai we had our whole time in Thailand.

The view was fantastic and we counted ourselves lucky to have some sunshine during the rainy season… but within minutes of sitting on the first row of tables shoreside, we scrambled inland under protected tables to avoid the strong sideways wind and rain.  As we ate our food, our noodles literally were flying off the fork.  Yet even as the clouds rolled in and we were rained on, we couldn’t help but love the view.

The beach was called Nai Yang Beach and it  was fairly quiet and many buildings seemed newer.  It was only when we were leaving from lunch that we passed by an eery sight, remnants of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

I was inspired by the determination of the local people to continue to work and be so generous to us as visitors to their country.  Sidenote: It was only after living in Indonesia that I realized how most of the victims from the tsunami were from Indonesia (130,000 of the total 184,000 confirmed).  Personally, I always thought Thailand was hit the hardest in terms of fatalities but they ranked fourth with a confirmed 5,395 deaths.  It was all tragic, but I realized that sometimes what the media emphasizes causes another affected area to be less attended too.

After that humbling moment, we returned to the airport and boarded our second airplane to Chiang Mai.  We arrived at night around 10:30 and made a quick stop to drop off our bags and then headed to the old city to catch the last bit of the weekend market.  Some products were unique and others were “same same, but different” as you would find in any asian market (thanks to China factories).  Our favorite item and dinner from the market was a banana pancake wrapped in a crepe and smothered with condensed milk and chocolate sauce.  It was divine and took off the ‘traveler’s edge’.

Street food is an irrefutable signal that you are in a place filled with adventure, and this was just an appetizer for our next two weeks! Stay tuned each day to see how our next day of travel went!

Meeting room for Sacrament and Sunday School transformed from a music school room

I’ve created this post to help anyone find the LDS church in Bali.  It was quite a journey for Katie and I to get here our first week.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Bali is very small and recently established.  It is currently being held in a classroom of a Music School in Jimbaran.  I write about our first time attending in this blog post.  Below are some directions and images to explain where the members meet.  Please share with anyone that is traveling to Bali or interested in attending a church service.

Directions:

Coming from Kuta/Denpasar/Northern Bali: drive south on the bypass until you reach the intersection with KFC and McDonalds in Jimbaran.  This will be your third stoplight after going through the Roundabout near Kuta.  Turn right at the KFC stoplight and travel for 500 meters before veering left onto a side road.  Take the side road another 250 meters and take your first left.  Travel that road for 500 meters and at the first intersection will be the Era Jimbaran Music Academy.  Park inside the covered area and you will be welcomed warmly!  Please contact me at mitchdumke@gmail.com for more help or contact the local second counselor (speaks English), Poli at lopo78@gmail.com or call him at +(62) 81210664200. Also Branch President Heru can be reached at +(62) 8311828700.

Click here for a Google Map Link

As most our friends and family were celebrating liberty in the land of the free, Katie and I have spent the last few days celebrating the 4^th and the 6^th in Bali.

The 4^th was celebrated in Ubud with newly made friends Josh and Lindsey Wise and their two lovely kids Jasper and Mirabelle.  We didn’t have a barbeque as hamburgers are quite different here and the Wise family is vegetarian, which really is no problem at all because of the endless options for fresh produce.  Instead we had homemade mashed potatoes, sweet corn, mie goreng (fried noodles) and fresh veggies to dip into Katie’s homemade guac (it was superb).  The night was filled with a beautiful balcony sunset, chatting and playing a game invented by Mirabelle, which seemed a variation of musical chairs.  The Wise family is a very tight nit family who did yoga, played music and drank young coconut juice together.   Just Lovely!

The next day included renting bikes for the remainder of our stay and exploring Serangan Island near Sanur.  The Island is considered an example of everything that can wrong in Bali.  The previous President’s son decided to develop the island and tripled the size of it with landfill but then the whole thing fell apart during the Asia financial crisis.  It is now a refuge and hatchery for turtles and inhabited by the locals who have been there for centuries.

The bike ride reminded us of Kanab smells (cattle) and Montana dirt roads, except we had a beautiful sunset lighting our way.  I feel I should carry my large camera gear everywhere I go, but this is the first trip where every amazing image I am able to enjoy it in real-time with the most important person I would want to share it with anyway.  The point-shoot managed well though.

Wednesday was the beginning of Bali’s largest holiday Galungan, which lasts for 10 days.  The Balinese go back to the home of their ancestors for the celebration and put out a Penjor or what I like to think is their version of a Christmas tree.  It is a single bamboo branch that stretches over 30 feet and is adorned with young coconut leaves and other fine fabrics.  Each one is unique and often houses offerings at the base and placed to the right of every home’s entrance.

Thursday was surprise for us as it is a holiday and everyone has the day off so in Sanur what does that mean? FLY YOUR KITES! And make ‘em big!  Katie texted me on my way home from work and told be to come to the beach and the place was covered with kites the size of cars and even buses!  Everyone was out enjoying the ocean, sunshine and good eats.  Katie and I discovered our new favorite treat, barbequed corn over a fanned fire, especially when a weathered women is doing the fanning.  Everyone lines up at random, grabs a cob when they are ready, throws her 5,000 Rupiah ($0.58) and then smothers it with butter and pedas (hot sauce) from giant tubs.

It truly felt like their Christmas/holiday time.  Katie and I felt like the only foreigners there and everyone was so happy.  Everyday I am here I find myself driving to a work a little slower, walking with Katie at her pace instead of mine and overall just being grateful to be experiencing more of the simple life.  Life is bagus (good).

Its difficult to blog frequently when we have intermittent access to Internet, and we couldn’t be happier about it.

Katie and I are trying to squeeze every last experience out of Bali and the surrounding areas while we are here; so this past week has been jam packed with motorbike rides, scuba diving, beaches and a shipwreck.

As I began each day going to work, Katie would head off to scuba diving classes in Nusa Dua, the southern end of the island.  It was three days of classes, dives and tests and at the end of it she came out a PADI certified diver! She had already been on two dives before being certified and the instructor said he had never had a better student.  After her Tuesday class we decided to explore more of the beach in Sanur.

It is a magical place to watch the night come across the sky.  Each evening the tide drops six or so feet, which wouldn’t be much in some places, but here it uncovers nearly a quarter-mile of seabed garnished with sand crabs, starfish and sand drawings formed by the outgoing tide.  As the last rays of sun hit our back, we watched fishermen going out and coming in from fishing near the reef another quarter-mile out.  To our serendipitous surprise the fishermen were backlit by a full moon that had emerged from the horizon, it was beautiful!

Thursday evening I left work and met Katie in Kuta.  Aside from being on the opposite side of the island, it was also a near polar opposite experience.  I had to make my way through rush hour traffic and the hustle and bustle of Kuta and when we met, it was on the beach with thousands of others dotting the near-flat shore reflecting the evening sun.  Considering how much beach time we’ve had since our wedding, I’m pretty sure our favorite past-time has become Frisbee, and Katie is a natural!  I think we are somewhat of a spectacle to Asians, who watch two-lanky bule (boo-lay – white foreigner) throw themselves around a beach. Not to mention I am constantly reminded that I married a celebrity when every Asian wants to get a photo with Katie and her bean-pole hubby.  To curb our hunger we stepped away from Asian fare and opted for Pizza Hut!  We’ve decided that we enjoy American food more when it is in a foreign country; they are cleaner, nicer and more affordable.

Friday I met Katie near her certification school and we paid a visit to some new found church friends who just recently moved to Bali as well.  The Hunters are a great family that live in the Aston Hotel in Nusa Dua where Robert is the General Manager and his wife and son enjoy the amenities.  It is a beautiful location and considered a swankier part of the island with a chain of higher end hotels dotting the peninsula.  We drove home through a lot of traffic and I perfected my weaving skills on the motor-bike; it is amazing how much faster you can get through road jams if you are on a bike.  It was nearly a 50 minute white-knuckle drive so we stopped halfway through at a surf shop.  I noticed the shop right when we arrived in Bali because between all the local warungs (food shops) and artisan stands filled with wood and stone carvings will be massive outlets or stores filled with Rip Curl, Volcom, Globe, Hurley and any other action sport brand you can think of.  It may seem odd at first, but really surfing has been an integral part of exposing Bali to the world and creating the tourism industry on the island.  We went to bed early on Friday because we had early morning plans to explore a WWII ship 70 feet under the sea!

Tulamben.  When people say it, its difficult to repeat because it means nothing to westerners and no idea what it means.  But to divers and locals it is the resting place of the U.S.S. Liberty.  During WWII the ship was struck by a Japanese torpedo and began to sink.  In desperation the captain managed to drive the boat ashore and evacuate the crew.  For over 20 years the ship rested on the shore and at the foothills of an active volcano until one morning the volcano erupted and pushed the ship back into the sea.  For the past 40+ years it has been a estuary for sea-life and spectacle for divers.   We approached it from the beach and swam only 100 meters over black rocks contrasted by neon blue fish before we reached a large school of silver fish acting as the gatekeepers to this tabernacle of metal and life.

The clarity was prime to capture the vivid and ornate coral that attached itself to any open space and the fish adorned it all.

After the dive we watched in amazement as 60+ year-old women carried two tanks at a time back to the dive shop and finished the day in Tulamben with fresh fish and banana juice right on the ocean front.  We then had a couple hour drive through rice paddies and mountains to reflect on all the things we saw.

Since we have been married, Katie has been on 7 open-water dives and I’ve accompanied her on 2 of them.  Tulamben was her first certified dive, and it might have also been her best.  Well done darling!

Low tide fishermen photos taken with Canon Mark IV.  All others taken with Canon S95 with Underwater Housing

The church members are amazing here.  For the past 16 years there have been only 3 members meeting regularly and after a few more members moved into the area, the Bali Branch was established at the beginning of this year.  And just this past month the first Stake in Jakarta was established.  Indonesia is 85% Muslim with the remainder a mosaic of Hinduism (Bali), Christianity and Animism.  In total there were 35 attending the branch that day and I’d say half were visitors.  We met in a classroom that was probably 15 feet wide and 25 feet long and we had to constantly shuffle around to make more room and allow the sacrament to be passed around.  The meeting went back and forth between English and Indonesian; luckily we had two American girls that served missions in Indonesia and translated for us.

Takeaway: People are tied together by the desire to be happy.

After church the two girls invited us to travel north with them and Polimon (one of the original LDS members in Bali).  So we crammed in Poli’s compact car and started driving.  Honestly Katie and I had no idea where we were and where we were going, but it was beautiful.  The longer we drove, the higher the elevation and narrower the road became.  We finally stopped to enjoy the view and took some pics in Jatiluwih, a gorgeous village surrounded by terraced rice patties.  Its currently harvest season and most the fields we drove through were red rice, which is much taller when ready.  Local village-women lined the side of the road bringing in their harvest and the smell of burned fields passed through our car.

We then headed to the coast to enjoy the temple of Tanah Lot.  During high tide, parts of the temple are completely surround by ocean and at low tide you can venture out to the tide pools and view the temple through their reflections.  It was quite crowded with visitors but still a beautiful place to visit on sunday.  If we can’t make to our temple, we might as well enjoy theirs.

We finally neared home around 8 at night and made one last stop at Poli’s friends motor bike shop to pick up some food.  The literally had a shade tent outside their shop with burning coals to barbeque chicken and serve with rice.  To date it is the best chicken we have had in Bali and best of all, its up the street from our house!

It was a glorious weekend for us to relax and explore a lot of the island.  We topped it off one more day on Monday, visiting the hustling surf town of Kuta and enjoyed the beach, markets and warung food. When we tell anyone where we went over three days (Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Jatiluwih, Talah Lot and Kuta) they say, “well you’ve done it all!”  Which isn’t true at all, but it is a great start.  I love traveling, exploring and living with Katie and being in such a beautiful part of the world.  Its important to enjoy the world around us, but we also need to preserve it.  Be cognitive of the world around you, where your food comes from and how your decisions today may affect your world tomorrow.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Bali is very small and recently established.  It is currently being held in a classroom of a Music School in Jimabaran.  Below are some directions and images to explain where the members meet.

Directions:

Coming from Kuta/Denpasar/Northern Bali: drive south on the bypass until you reach the intersection with KFC and McDonalds in Jimbaran.  This will be your third stoplight after going through the Roundabout near Kuta.  Turn right at the KFC stoplight and travel for 500 meters before veering left onto a side road.  Take the side road another 250 meters and take your first left.  Travel that road for 500 meters and at the first intersection will be the Era Jimbaran Music Academy.  Park inside the covered area and you will be welcomed warmly!  Please contact me at mitchdumke@gmail.com for more help or contact the local second counselor (speaks English), Polimon at lopo78@gmail.com or call him at +(62) 81210664200. Also Branch President Heru can be reached at +(62) 8311828700.

We landed in Bali last Wednesday and had a few days of settling in and getting to know our city, Sanur. We became bonafide locals when we had phones in our hands and were traveling down the road on a motorbike. However, we were quickly reminded of our rookie status when going through the small roundabout by our apartment. As Mitch was turning to the right he also accelerated and we went up and over the curb, nearly hitting three local women and sending my legs out the sides of the bike. I was able to hold on through it all by digging my fingers into Mitch’s waist. The whole thing seemed like a scene out of a movie and we both wish we could watch it again from the view of a passerby.

When Saturday came we weren’t sure what the day would hold but we knew we wanted to explore a different part of the island. We decided to explore the Southwest shore and traveled to the beach area called Uluwatu. This area is known for great surf as well as a nearby temple that is perched on the cliffs and looks out into the Indian Ocean. The surf was going off and we stayed for hours enjoying a drink, meeting locals and tourists, and exploring the nooks and crannies. From above the swells seem unaccessible but there is a small opening between the cliffs with steep stairs allowing entrance to a 20 foot wide, sandy beach that is constantly pounded by channeled crashing waves.

We made our way back up the stairs quickly gaining over 1,000 feet and took a quick taxi to the Uluwatu Temple.  The Hindu temple is placed on the highest sea cliffs in Bali and known for two things: The view and the monkeys!  Everyone warned us to remove our glasses and loose items so the aggressive monkeys wouldn’t steal them (honestly it was quite the business for locals who would get paid to recover the stolen items, those Balinese are hustlers).  After battling monkeys and tourists we headed back north to enjoy a well reviewed dinner in Jimbaran.

When we arrived at 4pm there was no one on the beach and we thought maybe the it would be a slow night; but as the sun lowered closer to the horizon, dinner tables would appear like gophers and just before sunset the crescent shaped beach came alive with music, dances and freshly cooked seafood we hand selected.  The beach consists of 24 restaurants that are nearly identical in price and appearance but vary with service.  We went to Aroma’s and after some negotiating we had a feast of prawns, calimari, rice, veggies, fruit and young coconut water with a front row view to our first Bali sunset!

Eating at Aroma's on Jimbalan Beach, Bali

The day was full of stunning views and friendly people but the most memorable and humbling thing was to take a moment and think, “I am in Bali with my beautiful bride!”  We are so blessed to be here and it is going to be an incredible experience.  I am working hard, but we are playing harder.

My dear friend and fellow photographer Garrett Smith died Sunday afternoon after incurring irrecoverable injuries in an avalanche Saturday afternoon.  My friendship with Garrett began with photography and is is sustained by passion.  I remember so vividly him contacting me after my photography internship in D.C., his text read, “What’s your schedule this coming week? I would love to come check your shots out and hear the stories.” I of course was “busy” and it took 3 or 4 more calls before I actually made time to sit down and chat, how glad I am that I did.  In that meeting including Nate Sorensen and Nick Spurlock, I suggested we start a group where talk about world events, “philosophize” and share our skill and love of photography.  From that meeting came PhotoMasons.

Garrett was so passionate about this group and truly improving each other’s abilities.  He said I should be the President of PhotoMasons but in reality he was the foundation and the captain.  I have found myself committed to more school and work than photography in the past year, of which I am somewhat ashamed, however he was always supportive of what I was doing (except school, as he would say, “life is your university”) and he encouraged me to keep shooting.  Even when we hadn’t met for over 6 months, he sent a Christmas Day text, “Mason brothers, Merry Christmas today.  Keep up the search for light.”  He found the light and strived each day to share that with everyone he came in contact with.

I was asked to present to a group of high school students about working in the photography industry.  I sought input from fellow photographers, Garrett’s included.  This was his response.

1. What area of photography do you specialize in?

Outdoor commercial photography

2. Did you always want to be a photographer? At what age? If not, what did you want to be?

No, I wanted to be a vet as a young person. When I was 17 I started flying falcons as part my love for animals with falconry. During the beginning of flying falcons I was tremendously inspired by the beauty and one of my falconry mentors suggested that I purchase a small digital camera. From this time I became fascinated with the art of capturing life as it occurs. To capture the beauty of the world around me has become more and more important and fulfilling.

3. What do you love about your work life? What are its challenges?

What drives me every single day is the opportunity to be and improve as a communicator, creator, and curator. This is my challenge as well, to find opportunities to carryout these three main motivators while creating income from them and in support of them.

4. What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing photography as a profession?

The art and business of photography is evolving rapidly now and is in need of truly passionate individuals who are willing to adapt using both new and old technology from within and without of the photo industry. The greatest challenge of being in the creative industry is to maintain a business, all of the difficulty of handling accounting, marketing, editing can weigh on the creative flow. I believe that combination of passion and vocation is the true measure of success. In deciding to pursue the creative industry, create a long term plan that focuses on whatever industry you are passionate about and pursue it tirelessly. This passion and effort will pay off in the end after time and effort.

Garrett succeeded in balancing passion and vocation to support his lifestyle and beautiful bride.  I was blessed to photograph his wedding (which he originally didn’t want any photography) and to see the joy that comes from finding your true love.  I have never seen the two so happy and Garrett knew he scored huge.  My last communication with Garrett was a few weeks ago when he found out I was engaged.

Balls to the walls, congrats.  Katie just informed.  Brother, I’m very very happy for you and think you scored mega huge!

Garrett, I love you man.  Thank you for your friendship, counsel, support, passion, love for life and capturing the moments within it.  Enjoy shooting with your new lens and capturing the moments from on high.

His funeral service will be held Friday morning in Salt Lake.  Click here for details.

In hearing the news of Garrett, a fellow PhotoMason Nate Sorensen, sent his feelings through a letter addressed to Garrett.

Dear Garrett,

I miss you bro. We sure had a good run at it didn’t we? I don’t remember who connected our lives together, but I’d sure like to thank them because I can’t imagine my life without having known you.

How could I forget your tall-long stature and your epic long hair? Your very image was as genuine as gold.

Your smile said it all… Joy!

For life, for each day, for every moment.

I thank God for allowing us to share those joyful moments.

Your eyes saw it all.

Through your photography we can see the beautiful simplicities of life, and the thrills of each adventure it gives us. The lense may have captured the light, and the image may have been printed on the finest of paper, but it all started in your eye.

Your eye was single, and filled with light.

Your eye saw in me, and all others, godly potential and beauty.

Your heart did it all.

It opened up to let the Saviour in, then shut and locked the door so that He could dwell with you.

It drove your body, thoughts, actions, and your very being as you went about the world spreading kindness, laughter, love, and joy.

Your hands… big enough to clasp the both of mine, and a handshake that was more than a courtesy, but an act of love.

Hands that worked, and molded clay. I brought you my-self, and you made me better. You sculpted me, shaped me, and made me better, and I could never repay you.

Your feet.. took you there. From Guatemala to Israel, to the tops of the mountains, you used them well, and they blessed the world.

You walked with me, even over the sharpest of rocks.

You walked, you endured, and you did it all with a smile.

Your voice… Filled with love and laughter.

Spoke only positive words, words that lifted, and never brought down.

Comforted the sick and weary, and caused change.

It was indeed your voice that spoke to me, a young struggling missionary:

“Elder, if your companion is not on fire, drag him through the streets until he IS on fire. Thrust in your gnarly sickle!“

Those words have changed me, supported me, and brought salvation to many.

You, and everything about you my dear brother, will I miss!!! as I finish my mortal journey. But I will carry it with me, I will. Until we meet again, and yes, we will meet again!

God Speed Brother!

Elder Nate Sorensen“

My letter may not reach Garrets hands, but my prayers of gratitude will. As Garret would do, and would have us do, may we go about this week doing good, spreading light, and living each day, to our potential.

I love you all,

Elder Sorensen

One year ago today I was driving my way back from a week of surfing in Southern California with a renewed outlook on life; two weeks later I “nutted up” and asked Katie Bunting on a last minute double date (with great encouragement from Jake and Danielle Larsen) and had a glorious time.  We saw each other in a new light: out of high school, post-mission and open for love.  A few weeks later our dating really began after a forward text from the Allen brothers.

“Fire@the Allens @9pm. Spotlight on Mitch Dumke for being the tenth krew member to take out Katie Bunting. Congrats to Katie for being the most sought after babe on the market.  Special thanks goes to Andy, Balli, Taft, Will, Lowder, Gilson, T-cool, Corey and Dick for making this all possible. See you there!”

With that, I suggested we go together and show them how legit we were (little did we know how legit we really were together).  Since then it has been the sunshine and rainbows as well as rainy days (literally our whole Cali trip over Christmas was raining), with each day loving each other more and more for the strengths and weaknesses we each have and how we make each other better.

Our time in Kanab over President’s Day weekend reinforced that we loved every moment with each other and wanted this to last forever; so we didn’t waste anytime and stopped by State St. and 7200 S. on the way home, thats right…The Shane Co!  With a few ideas in mind, the ball was now in my court.  I had a sample image of a ring I’d like but didn’t think it existed, but as fate would have it, the last Jeweler I went, Morgan Jewelers to knew exactly which ring it was.  Put down a payment and three days after deciding to get married, the ring was paid for, talk with the dad done and dress nearly bought.

THE PROPOSAL

I picked up the ring this past Thursday and had pomp and circumstance plans to surprise her and propose on Saturday, but instead we were both surprised.  Driving home from work on Friday, I called Katie and we were trying to figure out our plans for the evening (Breanne and Brandon bailed on the double date…seriously, thanks).  She suggested a hike to enjoy the gorgeous weather, I shot it down because I had work to finish…lame.  After hanging up the phone I realized this was the perfect opportunity to surprise her.  I called Patrick and said, “Hey pal, I’m proposing to Katie tonight, can I get this to you later?”  He wisely permitted such activities (kinda painted him in a corner, thanks Pat).  Called Katie and the hike was on!

Directly up from 2100 S. there is a perfect triangular point I have really wanted to hike, and I always tell Katie about it.  We made our way up a quasi-trail made for deer and found a spectacular view at the top, including 5 herd of Elk!

There are five lines of Elk where the snowy hillside meets the dry side

We took a few pictures, and attempted a billion jumping ones with minimal success.  I pretended to turn off the camera but instead turned it to video and hit record. I gave her a note I had written earlier with a small paper folded in the envelope, as she opened the paper I set my intentions from stun to kill and moved to one knee and asked, “Will you marry me?”  Her response, “Miiiitch…..Yessss!!!!”  Lots of hugging and kissing ensued and then we enjoyed watching the night approach and city begin to come aglow.

We enjoyed it perhaps a little too long and had to bush-whack our way down the hillside but finally made it down.  We changed and then ate my personally favorite new spot, Frida Bistro.  The food is fantastic and every meal is made with precision and purpose.  Thanks to Frida Bistro for the great food, environment and flan on the house!

I’m not sure who looked at her ring more during dinner, me or Katie.  Needless to say we were encompassed with love and great feelings and can’t wait, but will, for MAY 12th!!!  Thanks to everyone who has played a role in mine and Katie’s life.  We acknowledge daily how we couldn’t have dated or met at a better time in each other’s lives and have been prepared for this time together.