About Me

After serving in the United States Air Force, I traveled the world for two years to serve nonprofits and visit over fifteen countries on four continents. Now I run my own business. Check out my website and see how my business can serve you www.modernarksolutions.com

Sunday, 13 February 2011

Stop 58 - Redistributing the Bread Without the Revolution (Kansas City)
















When someone tells you their garage is filled with more bread than a small army could eat, what is to be done? Rather than shrug my shoulders and hope some other generic person finds an answer, I was struck by the arrow of an unexpected solution.

Recently, an important friend from Burma began leading a church in Kansas City for a nomadic group of refugees who finally found a home. In ancient days, the Karen wandered through south Asia and happened to loose their ancient book along the way. After finally finding a home in what is now called Myamar, the hapless nomads were swept into the wildfires of a modern Holecaust. One group left the war on the weak to find themselves in the ice strewn neighborhoods of Kansas City, Kansas. Now the refugees must once again build something beautiful from the ashes of injustice.

With a close friend facing such immense need, I set out to find how my little could help a lot. My mission began with a trunk full of bread, a few winter clothes, and a native Karen shirt. After seeing such beautiful families, I realized the bread was only a side item to a more important entrĂ©e. More valuable than any carbohydrate, I returned home with the treasure of friendship's love. Having gone to give somehow I received. May God bless the Karen!

Thursday, 11 November 2010

Stop 57 - Back in Blue (Peoria, IL)

Soaring into blue yet yonder
Taking respite's delight in wonder
Remember men who led
Even cried, died, and bled
Defending a simple thought
That liberty cannot be bought
Property, thought and life for all
Even if your strength be small
On morrow's light look up high
And remember the treasure for which men die

Happy Veteran's Day from a new Airmen based in Peoria!


Monday, 6 September 2010

Stop 56 - In and Out of California

Looking at a tourist guide for Northern California can leave one with more options than a Walmart Cereal aisle. What spoke the loudest from all the options clamoring for my short trip's attention? Well, food of course! 

Pulling into California's infamous chain, we ordered from the secret menu where the vegetarian items are hidden. Chomping on cheese and potatoes seemed a fitting way to say, "I love my country"

Along with eating, my patriotic gratitude included joining a public fast. The Call Sacramento was designed to gather many thousand youth (yes I am still young) and place them in the hot sun for an agenda of loud music, louder prayer, and silent sieges. Why would someone bake like a California Raisin on a perfectly good Saturday? Rather than read gloomy headlines in hopeless despair, I hope to write the news with the pen of prayer. 

My sincere belief is that a good Father would not help His children clean up a mess without their permission. Against the menacing statistics of rampant child slavery (otherwise called prostitution) in Northern California, thousands Called desperately for freedom to shine forth. Did anyone hear the prayers? Shortly after the prayers went up, the following headline came down the news wires

Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Stop - 55 The Islands

Departing from the great and relatively massive continent for an island chain with fewer people than some suburbs. Inward expectations were filled with images of cloistered living in a land bubble floating atop a giant ocean.   Although paradise seems to be a secondary definition for an island, my childhood stomping grounds of the Midwest were a far cry from a country whose appearance is somewhat dot-like on a world map.

Entering the Bahamas melted away my mist of erroneous predictions as a sun on a foggy beach. Warm smiles, generous hosts, amazing friends, and easy going lifestyles gave me an immediate love for the Bahamas. My enormously generous hosts immediately sent waves of exotic fruit and exquisite local dishes into my plate. Who knew mac and cheese could be spice enhanced into a local delight worthy of many tourist filled restaurants.

Close partnership with the United States failed to hide many clear cultural distinctions. When opening a National Exam Study Book, the Ten Commandments appear on page two without a famous actor in a long gray beard. Even more shocking, the small nation opens the doors of freedom with an absence of rules, laws and taxes to 'protect' every area of life from librty. Local newspapers even carry editorials on subjects last  culturally debated by the United States in the 1950's.

After the double shock of culture and hospitality, my hope is two return to the Bahamas for a second helping of pleasant surprises and true friends.

Sunday, 13 June 2010

Stop 54 - Douglas, Wyoming















While driving cross country on a personal retreat from the daily grind, I stumbled upon a wonder of a legendary kind. The Jackalope seen above stands larger than a small car. From myths of farmers long ago, the rabbit with antlers emerges as a small Wyoming town's claim to fame. Embalmed in legend by the town's statue, the animal further appears on bridges, legislation, and hunting licences.

Although the Jackaplope remains a gullibility trap for tourist and urbanites alike, do some legends hold seeds of truth behind the thin veil of lore?

Monday, 29 March 2010

Stop 53 - Peoria, IL

"If it plays in Peoria" was an old adage about my current town of residence. As a testing ground for media, a show's performance in Peoria was considered an indicator of how well the entertainment would be received by the rest of the country.

Moving to the quiet urban island in an ocean of farms unearthed some surprising treasure. Driving during rush hour (or the small city's lack of traffic hour) incidents of chivalry abounded with drivers continually slowing down to let others be first. In addition, the city contains a wealth of effective charities bringing quantifiable change to poverty's chains. (see South Side Mission) The crowning jewel came when I was able to play a friendly game of catch and chat with neighbors on a warm spring day.

Hopefully, Peoria's reputation as a barometer will also prove true with the concept of a friendly community.

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Stop 52 - A Little Vilage in Thailand














Before blooming, a budded flowers beauty hides under a soft shell. In rural northern Thailand our volunteer team visited a speck of a village surrounded by walls of majestic mountains. Many families suffered from cyclical poverty, broken families and grieved hearts. Rather than accept the visible problems, our team searched for the hidden treasure buried inside. Using an international language called love our words consisted of clearing weeds from a playground, serving host families, teaching English, and harvesting garlic. A few drops of sweat (see picture) watered the flowers and locals began to bloom with hope and smiles. By the end of the trip, we were laughing over bowls of Thai soup (eaten in a common bowl using hands with balls of sticky rice as utensils) and enjoying life's simple masterpiece.

What beauty did the master gardener place deep inside of your garden?