CURRENT MISSION

To alleviate poverty. I am working to design systems, processes, businesses, models, inventions, and pragmatic solutions to alleviate poverty and help those who struggle.

I also hope to visit every LDS Temple in the world.

ABOUT ME

I am married to Niki.
Our daughter is Zipporah.

I am the 9th child of the 14 children.

I am a custom builder. I specialize in high-end custom homes with Insulated Concrete Form(ICF) construction. [Basically giant Styrofoam blocks stacked then filled with concrete.]

I have a desire to learn basically everything. One of the reasons I wish to travel is because when I was about 14 I was told something to the effect that 'people go to college and on average change their major seven times, then graduate and fulfill an occupation that doesn't even utilize their major'! I was appalled! What a broken system I thought! The reason people change so much is because they haven't a clue of the possibilities! I made a vow to know what I wanted to do in life; to be proactive to life, rather than reactive to it. The plan then evolved over the years and has come to what I term my 'Escapade across the Country'. My idea was(and is) to travel the country and find local tradesmen and shadow what they do for a living, survey them on the details, and find out what I want to do for a living! (Then go to school when I'm good and ready!)(Having gotten married recently, I'm planning the best way to do this still...most likely after I finish my engineering degree and doing it in short bursts)

The plan further developed to include important religious matters to me, namely visiting the Temples (places of particular sacredness in my religion), and Church History locations.

I further plan on obtaining the experience and data of all of it and publish several books to not only enlighten, but to inspire, encourage, and teach others how to do similar ventures. Both in ways of recreational activity and gainful employment.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe every person has had experiences that have shaped them into who they are. I believe these have been formulated in such a way that in at least one way everyone can at least learn one thing from someone else. I believe education takes place through interaction more than classrooms.

I live to learn, grow, and help others in that pursuit at well.

I feel that there is a reason for everything, nothing a coincidence, and that as we seek to help others, and lose ourselves in their benefit, we ourselves, will be happier than if we focused on ourself to begin with!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am up to be anything anyone needs really...because living for yourself is lame.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted a few and been hosted several times thus far. It's everything I hoped for and more! I love CouchSurfing! I love meeting new people!

Interests

Learning! Teaching! Nature! Working with my hands! Art! Anything that combines any of those is pretty well up my ally. I like to do physically demanding activities. I like learning new talents. Unicycle! I dream of learning the basics of everything from blacksmithing to facial reconstruction surgery; then going back and learning the in-depth on everything I just learned the basics on! To be a 'King of all Trades' instead of being just a 'Jack'. I also am a fabulous baker (mostly desserts...)!

• arts
• books
• architecture
• education
• cooking
• desserts
• baking
• aviation
• traveling
• painting
• scuba diving
• bungee jumping
• skydiving
• agriculture
• teaching
• engineering
• history
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite movie is Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast', and movies similar to that I usually enjoy.

As far as music goes, I enjoy good music! As Mozart quoted,"Music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music."€ As such I love music that uplifts, edifies, builds, strengthens, and empowers. Yanni, Enya, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Hadin, Pachelbel, and Rachmoninov are a few examples. I also am a hopeless romantic if there ever was one, as such I love music for slow dancing and reminiscing in the thought of true love. Songs by Chicago and similar make me smile in that regard, and I enjoy them. Country music is well-known by me fairly well also, mostly due to the fact that it's usually lively, and often of a romantic/relationship standpoint! (I told you, I'm really a big sap...)

As far as books go..I'm really a terrible reader. I learned how to read on my mission I think, because I've only read a grand total of about 6 books prior to that. I love The Holy Bible, The Book of Mormon, Jesus the Christ, True to the Faith, and am currently reading The House of the Lord. I like non-fiction religious works mostly, a source that is infinite in depth, and that intrigues me.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've unicycled down Barr Trail of Pike's Peak. (of the 13 mile trail I walked down the first mile [which is just rocks..] then unicycled the next 10 miles or so before my brakes [legs] gave out and I had to walk the last two(2) miles on foot :(, sadly)

(and more recently...I've been to 43 LDS Temples thus far)

Teach, Learn, Share

I know how to build a house from the ground up. I've done everything from foundation to final touches save excavation, full plumbing and full electrical (but I know repairs and advanced basics on both due to remodeling projects). Basically everything else I've done and am comfortable doing without assistance or aid. Those few tasks will be learned soon though, count on that!

I can teach pretty much anything kids learn from K-12th, I was decent in school, so algebra issues? Try me!

I would like to learn particularly: blacksmithing, custom jewelry making, ship building (the old fashioned Mayflower type), architecture and construction thereof, painting (all mediums), sculpture, botany, horticulture, agriculture, how to live off the land completely (from animals to energy), textiles, computers (I'm near illiterate in this field as of yet), Amish lifestyle [for their maintaining the usage of truly amazing technologies at home; (namely) jams, jellies, cheeses, butters, fabrics, furniture, and the horse and buggy], aeronautics, SCUBA diving, hang-gliding, para gliding, skydiving, bungee-jumping...you get the picture, and I'd like to learn about relationships too [how they form, are strengthened or hindered and made most fulfilling]. (And that's just the beginning off the top of my head...)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Great conversation, some cooking (especially if I'm with my wife), and new information on technologies and plans in the construction/ self sustaining world. I can also share baked goodies. (And teach basic baking fundamentals from sugar tempering basics for candies and fudge, to knowing when a cookie is done baking so they don't burn...I can't stand burned cookies...)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United States

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