Chuckle... it is good for you.

This made me laugh.

High Voltage Has a Whole New Meaning

Last night our TV went on strike when the city power came on. I haven’t ever heard of someone going on strike for getting over-paid, but the TV was getting a little too much power, I guess, despite the multiple surge protectors. And the dissatisfaction among our household electronics seems to be catching.

Tonight during our International Fellowship meeting, our DVD player decided that it no longer desired to fulfill its assigned role. No, indeed, it wanted to be a fog machine! It would have been a fairly prolific fog machine, producing a curling white smoke that drooped off the entertainment center like the dry ice vapor. Having no use for such an appliance in our household, we had it taken outdoors where it continued to puff in solitude. After everyone had left, I went outside to see what it was up to. It wasn’t doing anything. So I told it that all would be forgiven if it would only return to its previous function. After much pleading, however, the only response given was the emitting of a strange brown goo. Do to its stubbornness it has been permanently moved to the outdoors where it will be shipped off to the dump, where all rebellious electronics belong.

Question...

So I decided that after 1 1/2 years of blogging on the same web page template I needed to make a change. At this point I am undecided--my sister doesn't like the fact that the picture has square corners while the frame is round. But I would like the opinion of any of my various readers on whether I should keep this, change it to something radically different, or just go back to the old and familiar. Blessings on you all around!

Ahh! It's the life!

Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake (from Hershey’s Classic Recipes © 2000)

2 c. sugar
1 ¾ c. all-purpose flour
¾ c. Hershey’s Cocoa or Hershey’s Dutch Processed Cocoa
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
1 ½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. milk
½ c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. boiling water
“Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Frosting (recipe follows)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans or one round 9x13 inch baking pan (then bake 35-40 minutes).

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large mixer bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 minutes. Stir in water. (Batter will be thin.) Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

4. Frost with “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Frosting
½ c. butter or margarine
2/3 c. Hershey’s Cocoa
3 c. powdered milk
1/3 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.

The English Language

I have had a hard time convincing my students that:

Fastly does not equal Quickly
Hardly does not means some that is firm or difficult.
Tasteful does not mean Tasty.

Picnic-mania!

This picture, although not of the best focal or artistic quality, I thought it accurately portrayed the ultimate chaos of the bus ride to a picnic site. Yes, this was taken on a bus! Here are some guys playing chess, obviously. I played 3 games of chess on one of our picnics.

Water is also a wonderful draw to the kids... It was so hard to get them out! But can you imagine swimming next to such a beautiful view!!

There are some things worth paying for...

Pitted Olives! You have no idea how excited I was to find pitted olives in the grocery store.

Here's a picture!!!

Ha! The key is posting pictures in the morning! This is a pic of our fruit and veggie stand!

Mental Gush...

It has been a long day. And I had some great photos I wanted to upload. But everyone else in the city is on the internet right now so my pictures can't go through. Today was an unusually long day--I spent half an hour at home in between 7:30 am and 10:30 pm. A friend of mind just lost her mother and found out over e-mail. And yet, as I sit here in the dim glow of my computer and a few candles, I know overwhelmingly that God has been good to me. Who cares if you have electricity if you have been amazed at seeing the family of God international, intercultural, crossing all boundaries of race, age, language, culture, even distance. And I am in awe. It is a beautiful thing to be in awe of God. I would unreservedly recommend it to everyone.

From Matthew 3

Matthew 3:8
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

In keeping with repentance… What does this mean?

The command is there: Produce Fruit. My first assumption was that the fruit is supposed to be good fruit. But perhaps that is what the “in keeping with repentance” is there for. Jesus does converse on both good and bad fruit. It could then be describing the kind of fruit that is produced. A repentant heart will not produce bad fruit. So this is saying that we should produce not just any fruit but Good fruit.

In addition, I know that if keep short accounts with God and confess my sins as soon as I commit them then I am more productive. Perhaps the application of this verse includes both aspects: goodness and productiveness.

More on picnics!

My city from the hillside.
Our guard... a funny one. Elaborate food--essential for any picnic.

We eat good...

It is an amazing thing, cooking. The variety, the possibilities are so endless. It is even possible to make great dishes in places that don't have all the ingredients you are used to. It is even possible without box mixes and no canned tomatoes. Amazing things are possible. We eat Chinese food, Brazilian food, Mexican food, American food, Italian, Greek, Kurdish, and Arabic food. Wow! And then we also have things like the "poma-orange" see bottom picture. They combined oranges and pomagranate... not to amazing gustatorial success...but interesting to look at.

Picnics!

The essence of Kurdish culture is the picnic. While I have multitudes of pictures about many kinds of picnics and all their fun, I believe the result is always pretty much the same... as seen below...

Matthew 2

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

What kind of faith must it have taken to see and child and worship him. I am pretty sure Joseph and Mary weren’t hanging out in a palace…it says house. Simeon and Anna in the temple had the same kind of faith so that when God showed them the child they responded openly. Not only were these wise men ready to display their faith, they had prepared for it and were ready for it. They brought gifts, albeit strange ones. As anyone who has studies Christmas much has heard about the meanings behind the three gifts. Gold is for kingship, incense is for priesthood, and myrrh is for burial. This is truly a unique combination and provides a basis for the whole of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus is our high priest, our king and king of the Jews, and he died. It is like Anna’s message to Mary—He will be great and a sword will pierce your own heart also. Greatness and lowness combined to be something greater than anyone had imagined.

Gold Shops

I have always preferred silver jewelry to gold. But here, gold is a sign of wealth and status. And the gold that they have here is stunning! They make jewelry out of just gold with little cuts and surfaces that is amazing! Here is one part of the bazaar full of gold shops.

Google allows you to travel to Paris for nearly free!

Follow these directions.

1) Go to google.com
2) Click "Maps".
3) Click on "Get Directions".
4) Type in from New York, New York to Paris, France.
5) Check out step 23.

[Stolen from Stephanie's Facebook because of the hilarity of it all!]

A Camel and a Penguin...

This is a picture of a journal I just HAD to buy!

My Very Own Brown Chandelier... Thingy

It is hideous. And yet...

There is something strangely appealing... Sometimes.

And you can do things with it... like look out the window!

The most common things...

The Eskimos have dozens of words for snow. Kurds have dozens of words for “maybe”.

Check this out! See how many of the 192 countries in the UN you can guess in 10 minutes. Click the link below. I only got 67 and I am so ashamed of myself for my lack of being able to recall the names of countries off the top of my head...

http://andys.org.uk/countryquiz/

The sweet perfume of ....

So tomorrow is Newroz... or the Kurdish New Year... the streets are packed and instead of being a source of frustration it becomes a social event. Everyone is hanging out of their cars with video cameras. Anyway, it seems to be a tradition to make a fire as huge and as smoke producing as possible. Tires are the preffered option... phew!

It is Jilli Kurdi Time

I frighten myself sometimes.

I am still learning... wierd things.

So I have discovered that I have learned many things and that I have wierd conversations sometmes. Take the other day for example, we were sitting around the kitchen table talking about how many amps each different type of appliance requires. Coffee pots take a lot. Refrigerators are about an amp and a half. Splits (AC/Heaters)are hefty, while lights are just about nothing. The reason for this conversation is the never ending conversation about power: how much, when, and what to do with it. Recently many neighborhoods have been putting in group generators... do we want 10 amps or 15? And shortly after that there were rumors that the city was going to cut off power all together! Yikes... maybe they will be cutting down the amps instead... 10 per household? How will we run the coffee pot!? Or perhaps more importantly, how will we run the washing machine? Air Conditioning? Strange quesitons for a strange place. (This pic is of a new generator and a water tank, I think??)

My Odd World

Today they "patched" a part of the paved road with dirt.

No wonder the roads get terrible after it rains!

Istanbul Hotel

Better by Far

Oh, Father God, I’m dying—but wish instead I were dead,
Oh to be with thee, not crying, here on my lonely bed,
The silence is cold and it echoes the hollow hymn of pain.
Unfilled with the songs of the angels, oh to die would be gain!

That sorrow and sin be washed away—oh! Beauty to behold,
That crowns at my Lord’s feet will lay, a massive pile of gold.
But pearly gates and glittered roads are not what I want most
For next to my most gracious God these treasures cannot boast.

Of what worth are rubies when placed beside His bloody feet?
What will you pay for a diamond when dozens litter the street?
What value is there in a pearl when you are one in His eyes?
And sapphires haven’t a chance when matched with the heavenly skies.

When weariness and struggles shall be past and the battle done
How great the rest and how grand the feast, when the race is run.
When aching hearts and uncertain fears will all be laid to rest,
When upon that glorious day I will have passed the test.

But only by my Jesus’ blood, grace, and unstrained mercy
Have I this hope, this sure command, and I need not worry.
For in his life, he lived to prove God’s vast love and power.
And dying for me he drank that cup—such a bitter hour!

The greatest gift my Lord could give would be the greatest thing
That to this earth he gave himself although he was a king
That might and splendor could become a weak and tiny child
A mystery of love intense and full of something wild.

For one might die for a good man, but die for evil not.
But who would die for a traitor? We’d let our enemies rot!
But my Lord loved while I hated… and cared while I ignored!
He battled Death for my soul and fought with a two-edged sword.

And so I ache to be with Him, my lover, Lord, and life.
I yearn to leave the confines of this world that is so full of strife.
I wait for the day when the glimmers of heaven’ll be mine.
And crave the taste on my tongue of angelic songs divine.

I long for His words in my ears that I may truly hear,
And sweetness of his breath to smell whenever I draw near.
Then I breathe the perfumed pleasantness all so softly spiced
And so I am still reminded here that to live is Christ.

The Funny Things

My recent lack of postings has had many reasons. First of all, time seems to be absent, second, internet has been abseng. And finally, my typing has been limited due to tendonitis in my left hand. So, the following has been borrowed with permission from a 15 year old girl named Pauli whose family has joined us out here in the Middle East this semester. Be entertained... I was there when the following incident happened.

So Saturday we went to the school for teacher-training. The teachers in the school have to go to a “once-a-month” teacher training session...1)because they are Kurdish, therefore English is their second language, it’s quite difficult to teach kids a language you barely know. 2) The public schools here deal with discipline and teaching completely differently. For example- ear pulling, screaming, anything like that. As for the teaching, one of the teachers had each of the 30 students stand in the corner of the room and read the same 2 paragraphs for the entire class time. They were taught that repition is the key. The session helped show them how to “really” teach.
One of the most interesting parts was the fire drill. Jeremiah made out a plan so they could have a fire-escape plan…which had never been thought through before. As a lot of you know there was a fire a few months ago in the school building in the middle of the night. Now- houses and buildings here just do not catch on fire. Every building in concrete. Nothing is there for it to actually catch onto. So a lot of the people think someone probably set the school on fire. So when Jeremiah came up and said, “We are going to have a fire drill” everyone’s first impression was, “We have an enemy…someone is going to set the school on fire” they all said it too. See, fire drills are un-heard of here. No one does them…like as I said, nothing catches on fire here, so why have a fire drill unless we had threats against the school. So it was funny trying to explain to them that no, we don’t have someone that is going to blow the school up!
So Jeremiah went over the things that they are suppose to do in a fire…the basics that you learn in kindergarten but they were never taught it. One of the things was, “Stay and hold the door open while all your kids get out of the class then follow them” one of the teachers said, “Honestly, if there is a fire…I’m going to leave my kids and get out of the school” my mom and I just looked at each other thinking, how can this teacher leave thirty 2nd graders and run out the door. My mom turned the teacher next to her and said, “Would she really do that??” and she said, “Of course, she is much more important than the children, she has a husband and a family”
It was an amazing opportunity for Jeremiah to open up in discussion. He was saying that this is exactly what’s wrong with this culture. This is why we don’t have electricity- this is why we have limited water- this is why there is trash all over the ground- and that they don’t clean up anything- this is why all the government officials stuff the money in their pockets. The only thing that anyone is concerned with in this culture is themselves. The teacher then went on to say, “I’m way more important than the kids”…this is what happens to everyone, they grow up thinking that they are more important than anyone else. That’s why there is a school in the first place. Believe it or not, but these kids have never ever been taught to clean up. Ever. Everyone just throws their trash out the window. So for the first time- these kids are being taught to pick up their trash. To clean up- to respect others- to help. It’s a completely new concept to them. What we are hoping is that these kids will be future leaders of Iraq.

Back Where I Belong

Well, I finally made it back out to the Middle East... haha. And I am truly happy to be here. Life jumped right back into being chaotic and confusing, but I have become accustomed to it. It is interesting watching a new lady who has just arrived with me... I realize how much I have grown over the past semester as I see her deal with the inconsistencies of life and everything technological or planned. It still surprises her.

As you can see from my last post (if it shows up for you... it seems some people have problems... I don't know) that I spent some time in Istanbul... that was because of some "political problems" in the place I was trying to get to. Again, I don't know why. These things are rarely explained. But, getting there was surely the most amazing part of the trip. I arrived in Istanbul with a total of $13.04. The Visa cost $20. Mmmmhhmmm. God did amazing work with that one.

Blessings to you all out in Blog world...

The Hagia Sophia

I spent some time in Istanbul on my way over this time... If it weren't for the fact that I wanted to be somewhere else and if it weren't for the incredibly annoying Turkish men I would have had a magnificent time there. But as it was, I only had just a good time. =)

Pictures of Germany

The Difference

There is a difference when you see news about a place that has become your home... Saddam is dead. That itself is not what is strange to me.... but I am so curious, I want to know what my friends think... what they are going through. I want to talk to my students. I am not sad that he is dead, but I am sad about the destructive hatred that lives and breeds in the hearts because of Saddam and against Saddam. I found a quote from a newspaper that summed up the attitude I have seen so many times from people there.

"It's like God asking you to choose between Heaven and Hell," said Thamer al-Musawi, 47, a slim, salt-and-pepper-haired barber in Baghdad's Karrada neighborhood, speaking before the execution. "If Saddam gets executed, you go to Hell. If he doesn't, you go to Heaven. I will choose Hell just so Saddam is executed."

How terrible it must be, to be so consumed by hate that you forget the value of heaven. But I suppose it also depends on if you believe in heaven at all.

Back at Home?

The word "home" has so many connotations of love, life, warmth, and belonging. I am now "home" in the sense of the word that I am in the States with my family in the house that I grew up in since I was 14. I am happy, secure, and Christmas is upon us.

I got a Christmas card from the family that I live with in the Middle East. It said that they couldn't wait until I "came back home" in January.

It was then that it struck me that I have begun making my home somewhere else and somewhere else for real. I have two homes. As much as this will terrify my mother as she reads it, it seems like a grand sort of accomplishment for someone who never having created "home" as somewhere other than her parents home. It is a step showing what I feel that I have begun to experience and operate in, this state called adulthood.

DR--A fifth grader

The Hilly Adventure

Ch. 1=The Gang.
Once there was a gang of people that were lost. There names were: Adam, Fisherman, Doctor Flingler, Jake, Nathan, John, Flicker, and Jessy. The always traveled night and day, but not even a single city was near. One day they got to Mt. Vegas, it was night and Jessy, Flicker and Nathan splited up and they went along. There were very scared. And In fact, very, very scared. Because they heard a very, very, scared sound. It was a n owl. Dr. Flicker and his gang walked along when they saw a thing rope. And ifyou looked down…you would have to fall 5,000,000 miles to get down. It was very deep.

Ch. 2=The fall of Jake.
They all gathered up. Fisherman was very scared but he said that he would go first. He went very slowly. He was about to fall…but her quickly ran to the end. Then Jake said I will go. When he went there he ran. The rope rattled. He…(sigh) fell. So now they were four. They all quickly went to the other side. There they saw there other friends.

Ch. 3=Swimming on the Angel falls.
They all went while 5:30 am past. Jessy was crying for his brother. They all went on when they saw a man. He told them that 2 miles away was the fountain of Angel falls. 7:25 am in the fountain. Everyone could swim except for Jessy. All of them had to swim to the other side. Dr. Flinger put Jessy on his back and swam to the other side while 8:30 am past. When they got to the end, Nathan wasn’t there. They looked everywhere. At the end, Fisherman looked in the water. Then quickly Nathan popped out and laughed. So, 9:15 past and they went on walking.

Chapter 4: The friend of Jessy is found.
When they were walking, 10:50 am past. They walked and walked until…(I give you three guesses) They saw Jessy’s best friend, Rachel. She was crying. They were all staring at her. At last, Jessy rand and said hello. The both Kissed each other and Rachel put out a fire by branches and they sat down and Rachel told them a long story. It was about how she was lost. She said that they had ocme to a picnic here but they forgot her. 3:25 pm past and they got some water from the river and splashed it into the fire. It was very cold. 3:50 pm past and they walked on. Then… they saw a very big tree.

Chapter 5: Falling onto the trampoline
John was a strong boy. He was that on top of the tree was a big sweety house with candy and everything that is sweet. Like lollipops, candy sweety things, all types of colors. So John climbed up and they found a trampoline. So they quickly got it and put it beside the tree. He climbed and climbed and 12:00am past. 12:55 past and John got to the top. He looked in the house and it was full of sweeties. He went inside and filled his bags and socks with the sweeties. The he jumped down and he fell on the trampoline. 5:55 am past and now more sweets were left. They walked on and found a bit of an island.

Chapter 6: Back at home:
They all ran and ran. When they got there…everybody cheered and celebrated. The all went back home and lived happily ever after.

THE END

A Student's Perspective

The first time when my name was written was because I spoke Kurdish but it was not my fault because the teacher asked me a question in Kurdish and I answered her in Kurdish and you wrote my name. The second time my name was written because I wanted an eraiser so I told S-- to give me one but when she did you wrote my name. But I think that it was fair because you told us not to do these things and I did, because you told us not to do these things and I did because of these things you wrote my name with a beautiful and check with it.

If my student were leader in Iraq.

I decided to let one of my students write my blog post for today.

If I was the leader of Iraq I would had gave the people electricity and I will give enough patrol for the people. I will help the poor & sick. I will help my neighbors and free them of dictators. But their are things I want to do for my self. I want to have Hummer, a Dodge Viper, Ferrari and a Limozine that have everything in it. I want to have house that is 10 stories and 100 rooms and I will put a new code of laws that includes the laws that say there is no different between me and a peasant.

See my pictures!

My pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/abundantblessing
I just downloaded some new ones!

Grammar Nerd!

Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).

Are You Gooder at Grammar?
Make a Quiz

Where Am I?

This is a question I ask myself occassionally. One of my readers recently asked this. I am in Northern Iraq. It is safe here... so don't worry. But do pray for those who are fleeing out of the South and Central Iraq and those still living there. Things are pretty rough. Pray.

It made me cry.

Very few (if any) blog posts have ever made me cry. But this one did.
http://othergadarene.livejournal.com/24804.html

A Reminder

I was reminded of a poem by Anne Bradstreet by a dear young friend of mine. May you be affected.

"And when I could no longer look,

I blest His name that gave and took,

That laid my goods now in the dust.

Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just.

It was his own, it was not mine,

Far be it from me that I should repine."

The Things ILearn

There are so many things that are basic to living here that I have had to learn. I have learned how to turn on and off a generator, light and fill my own kerosene heater, and numerous other daily life sorts of things. Amazing how these types of things can be so foreign and then become so much a part of one's daily habits.

The Things I Do!

I accidentally wore my slippers to church today.

Oddity #29

Have you ever been greeted with "Hello. Mr. Bush."? I was today. He wasn't calling me Mr. Bush, just recognizing my nationality.

Oddity #28

I bought a hat today. It says in bold words across the top ADIDOS. Ahh... it made me laugh.

Oddity #27

My piece of advice... Don't complain about your roads. You have no idea how much it means to have roads that are actually engineered until you drive on roads that are a foot deep in water because no one thought about the fact that it rains buckets here in a matter of days. Secondly, I wish I had a picture of one of the roads I have driven on. It is actually frightening. Again, don't complain about potholes. Potholes are nothing. Comparing the roads here to the roads in the states is like comparing mountains to molehills... as the saying goes.

Oddity #26

I miss street lights. Well, I don't mean the pole and bulb part... we have plenty of those here. We just happen to be missing the electricity which creates the light part.

Oddity #25

If a girl serves tea to a guy and makes it extra extra sweet it means that she loves him.

October #24

If you get two spoons (by accident) in your piala (tea glass) then you will have two spouses, probably not at the same time, but it doesn't bode well for spouse number one. Thankfully, I haven't been cursed by this.

Good Life and Good Love

"Be persuaded, timid soul," writes Archbishop Fenelon, in his SPIRITUAL LETTERS TO WOMEN, "that He has loved you too much to cease loving you."

--taken from a daily mailing by Elizabeth Elliot

Oddity #23 (I think....)

They have thought of a wonderful way to bring air freshener into rooms here. The facial tissues are all strongly scented. Unfortunately they didn't think about the fact that you hold these perfumed papers up to your nose. It is a little overwhelming. *cough, choke...*

Odd... just really odd... a funny odd though...

This is odd, beyond odd, and really has nothing to do with being in the Middle East.

http://www.filmcow.com/charlietheunicorn...

Many thanks to Rachel... who first plagued me with Charlie the Unicorn...


P.S. A funeral was held yesterday for the rabbit. It is doubted that eating the wall was the cause of death, as it was discovered that he has been doing that for some time. I wish I had the eloquence to write an obituary, but alas, I do not.

Oddity #22

My oddity of the day doesn't really have anything to do with being in Iraq.

The rabbit here is eating the plaster of the wall near where he likes to sit. We don't know why. Do you?

Oddity #21

At first I wondered why there were so many tractors in the city. Then I saw some of the roads... now I know. SMILE!

Oddity #20

We changed for daylight savings on October 1st. So now it is only 10 hours difference between me and my family instead of 11.

Oddity #19

Wierd things are going on all the time... really... just after a while they all become normal. Like the fact that women can buy a headscarf to match their underwear in the bazaar. Other wierd things come from turning over a product and finding that it wasn't made in China or the U.S.A. It was made in Iran, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates. Some things like people going on vacation to Turkey is wierd. Oddities come when you find that this language doesn't have a word for something you want to say or that you are laughed at even when you manage to say something correctly. But lest you get the idea that life here is only strange and not also sweet, perhaps I will begin posting some of the things that make life here sooo sweet.

Oddity #18

There is an electrical outlet in my shower. Need I say more?

What I write when I don't know what to write...

I have lots and lots of random thoughts. Unfortunately I can't think of anything right now. I went shopping today. There was a sign that said "A lucky for your baby" on the wall. That is fairly par for the course. There were some wallets with wierd words on them. Yeah, there you go. Sorry.

Refining, Molding, Pruning

But Thou art making me, I thank Thee, sire.
What Thou hast done and doest Thou knows't well.
And I will help Thee; gently in Thy fire
I will lie burning; on Thy potter's wheel
I will whirl patient, though my brain should reel.
Thy grace shall be enough the grief to quell,
And growing strength perfect through weakness dire.
--George MacDonald

Oddity #17

Imagine buying your pant size to not only accomodate your own waistline but also your handgun.

Elizabeth Elliot

Lord, break the chains that hold me to myself; free me to be your happy slave--that is, to be the happy foot-washer of anyone today who needs his feet washed, his supper cooked, his faults overlooked, his work commended, his failure forgiven, his griefs consoled, or his button sewed on. Let me not imagine that my love for You is very great if I am unwilling to do for a human being something very small.

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet

Oddity #16

Oddity #15

You know how kids in the States will say jinx when people say something at the same time and then the kid who didn't say it first has to be quiet until someone says his name. Well, here, girls cut way past all that sort of mundane life and just get to the important parts of life. Instead of saying jinx, they tug the hair near the face and whoever tugs first will have a more handsome husband. Yeah, talk about serious from the start! At this rate however, my husband, if I ever have one, is doomed to be ugly unless I can catch on and start tugging whenever I get the opportunity.

Oddity #14

The average lunch is Pringles and Fanta.

Things that I suddenly understand better.

Do you know how in the Bible it talks about people putting up little stacks of rocks to be a memorial? Well, strangely enough, little stacks of rocks really do make you ask "What are those there for?" Those passages in Isaiah where it talks about desert and dust... they are really real. Shepherds live in huts out in the middle of nowhere... kind of like Abraham and all that.

Oddity #13

Get your very own! They are all the rave!

Burqa Barbie Backpack!!!

Oddity #12

Sometimes it is not worth trying to come up with explanations for things, but other things call out for a reason to have existed. The only thing I can think might have happened here is some guy who wanted to make ketchup bought a honey factory and instead of changing the machine from making honey bears to making ketchup bottles he just filled the machine with red plastic and filled the red plastic bears with ketchup. Thus resulting in ketchup being sold on the shelves in bottles that look strangely like honey bear bottles. How else could you explain? What do bears and ketchup have to do with each other?

Oddity #11

I have mentioned the fake brands a couple of times now. Most of the time the advertising is great and the product is less than great. Sometimes, however, you never try the product because the advertising is perhaps rather unappealing. Such is the case when looking down the aisle with the toothpaste. Where normally you would see brands like "Crest", you see the the word "CRUST" in bold toothy letters. Like I would put that on my teeth!

Oddity #10

There are so many brands of candy here that are fakes of good brands in the U.S. For example XLY is a candy meant to be like MandM's. It has a similar packaging, colors, just the candy isn't the same. Same thing with Twimax... same lettering, color of package as Twix. Even a similar name... and yet, kind of gross. There are more brands of terrible "Twix-style" candy here than I ever knew existed.

Oddity #9

The most common wall decoration is soccer ball prints. I was once in an office/cubicle about 5ft by 5ft and there were soccer ball prints on the walls.

The Book Meme

Just as a disclaimer, this task was incredibly hard for me. I have read too many books. [Tagged by Nathan at A Jolly Company... see blog links at right]

1. One book that changed your life:
Elsie Dinsmore [as a child I was deeply convicted of my own lack of attention to my attitude]

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
The Marquis' Secret by George MacDonald [the amazing second half to "The Fisherman's Lady]

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
A dictionary into English of whatever language the people there spoke.

4. One book that made you laugh:
The Princess Bride [the movie is marvelously funny, the book is hysterically fantastic]

5. One book that made you cry:
Learning to Call Them Sisters by [?]

6. One book that you wish had been written:
How to Run a School in a Foreign Country and Foreign Culture

7. One book that you wish had never been written:
1984 by George Orwell

8. One book you’re currently reading [again]:
Passion and Purity by Elizabeth Elliot

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
The biography of George Muller

I am tagging: Mom, Jen (Tum-tum Tree), Katie, Nan, and Laurel

Words of Wisdom to All Girls

guys tend to impress in the first couple months of a relationship...after that their true colors show and I saw his true colors--Ami (a girl who would advise watching the guy first to learn his true colors)

Oddity #8

Cleanliness of toilets is not directly proportional to the extravagance of the toilet embellishment.

Oddity #7

I was reading a phrase book today and came across the word for "jeans". The translation was spelled this way "Kawboy". When pronounced it comes out just like "Cowboy". Yes, yes. I laughed too!

Oddity #6

Electricians (or ordinary people, such as the case may be), in their ingenuity, have built their wiring to multitask as a shade canopy.

Oddity #5

Somehow, the Google on my computer has decided that I must be from Germany now that I am no longer in the U.S. This decision has not benefited Google, as I can no longer read their advertisements.

Oddity #4

We all know the wonderful warm sensation of putting on clothes right out of the dryer. Imagine that same sensation when you put them on right out of your closet.

Oddity #3

Steaming up a shower is nothing new for most people... The water is hot and evaporates into the air... But have you ever fogged up your bathroom by taking a cold shower? That was a new one!

Oddity #2

Lanes are optional. Strangely, this is effective.

Oddity #1

They sweep rugs here. This method is ineffective.

See My Pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abundantblessing/

Blessed be the Name

I have always loved the song called "Blessed be the Name." I heard it during some key experiences. But we sang it last night and it suddenly had new meaning. Below are the lyrics. Read it thinking literally, not figuratively. The desert place and where the sun is shining are kind of the same place. Not having really experienced the extraordinarily sunny desert until now, that connection has been made clear to me. And yes, God is in the bright desert and his name is blessed.

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Great Things He Hath Done

Some days are more learning days than others. Today, was one of those. I was reminded that God is doing a great and mighty work here, through what He has asked me to do. People may look at my life and marvel at the faith I have. I am willing to go half way around the world if God asks me, and He has. And yet, I still struggle, even knowing this is what He asks, if He is willing to get me there or keep me there. The lack of provision is the issue, the doubt, the fear. Why am I so afraid? I have seen God provide hundreds of times throughout my life. Why do I now doubt? And God proves himself to me in my doubt as I receive the hard earned scrimped and saved money of one of my former students, as my sixth grade teacher blesses me from her meager earnings, as a family I knew many years ago suddenly contacts me out of the blue, as the mother of my father’s dead childhood friend gives to me in his honor, as a family new to my church enthusiastically showers me with kindness and generosity, as a single mother scrapes up monthly the last coins in her purse, as my friend gifts me on her wedding day, as a college girl who barely knows me and who is saving for tuition promises her support, as teachers and friends surround me with what little extra they have and are the hilarious and cheerful givers that God loves. Why do I doubt? How can this be? It ought not be so! Forgive my unbelief! And we wonder why when the Jews saw the miracles of Jesus they did not fall as his feet and cry out in wonder and belief. He did not do what they wanted. And yet the miracles were still there. Even so, for us all, the miracles are there, and just because it isn’t what we want or what we expected, we think it doesn’t matter. But it does matter just in the way that Jesus’ miracles mattered. They proclaim His glory and His person. Do not let us forget to praise Him and believe Him—Great things He hath done.

O Happy Day!

So, after my recent tirades about less than gentlemanly guys, I have to tell of what happened the last couple of days. It was a great day. After spending Friday decorating, arranging flowers, and singing hymns, as well as numerous other details, Saturday morning dawned to a crepe breakfast. Then, progressing into late morning, foot soaks and nail polish were brought out, and I enjoyed pampering my dear friend Marian, the bride. After a good lunch and an hour nap while Marian went to get her hair done and have lunch with her recently married and truly amazing sister. Two-thirty in the afternoon and curling irons, hairspray, bobby-pins, and pearls were all pulled out and spread among girls. By four thirty we wer all standing out in a fantastically beautiful public garden, rotating in the sun until we were able to move to the shade. Then, faces aching with truly happy smiles, we stood in lines, in pairs, and in groups to be photographed. Rushing back to the church at six thirty, we scarfed food prepared by another lady from church, and then praying (during which I nearly cried), we lined up to walk out, one by one. As Marian's father gave his youngest daughter away, he looked like he was going to cry. Once again, I felt the lump rise in my throat and my eyes filled with tears. I did not allow them to spill over. Marian sang "Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine" with her whole heart. Her vows were beautiful and the guy is truly wonderful. They balance each other so well. He is attentive, hard working, and a great leader. He has a heart for God, and he loves my friend so much. I loved seeing him watch her every time they were around each other. During her photos, he stood and watched her with a smile on his face that was truly a blessing to see. So, some stories do have happy endings.

Again, Life is Never Dull

I don't know what it is about hanging out with my old roomie N. She and I always have the strangest experiences. Tonight as we were standing near our cars and chatting downtown we had an encounter with some most likely drunk fellows. They yelled from across the street something along the lines of "You ladies having a cat fight, do you wanna hang out with some bar dogs tonight?" Fortunately they were far enough away and drunk enough not to hear our response which was again laughter due to shock. I actually had to sit down on the concrete. Things like this I would say are a rare thing except this is the second time in a couple of weeks. My friend N. is very stunning, but they were so far away. I have no respect for guys who are willing to take any girl, any where, any time. Even if they think she is pretty, that is no indication of whether she has any worth in any other category. I am afraid that the last several months have given me some pretty weak views of guys as a whole. They play with my friends' hearts, they stir up divisions, they are as waves tossed upon the shore... I have remained safe but nearly every girl I know has been hurt by a guy recently. I knowI ought not generalize about guys; it isn't fair. But sometimes that is the way it is.

A Wierd Way to Have Fun

I had a great time playing with this this neat website which I stole from Jolly Company's blog. Although the faces that came up for me varied wide and far, pretty and strange, famous and not-so-famous, old and young. Only two names came up more than once in a variety of pictures of myself. My conclusion was that I must not look like any celebrities because I didn't look much like any of the people that they thought I must look like. Shiri Appleby and Rachel Bilson were two of the highest ranking. It was amazing that I could resemble over twenty-five women and that none of them look like me at all, especially since I am a blonde. There were also several men whom I also do not resemble at all that were in the list, including Prince Harry of England. Astonishing. But still terribly amusing.

Life in Bridesmaidville...

Today I went shopping. It has been the third time I have been shopping this week, every time for necessities for my upcoming trip or the wedding I will be in this Saturday. I really dislike shopping, it is so exhausting and very little is accomplished. But I suppose that the trips have not really been in vain. I was able to get all the needed items. And the bride (my friend) will be getting some pampering from a couple of us girls.

It is so hard and yet so wonderful that my dear friend is getting married in a matter of days. She and I were inseparable from sixth grade all through till graduation. And she still was (and is) one of the first people I would tell when anything happened in my life. And now she will spend the rest of her life with this guy who, although I am sure he is wonderful, is almost completely unknown to me. Perhaps all my childhood fears of her finding a friend she likes more than me has finally been realized. Although these thoughts are there, I really am so very happy for her. Everything I have learned about the guy just seems perfect for her. God knows what he is doing.

On Fear, Of Which God Has Blessed Me With Very Little of At the Moment

I never have thought of myself as one of those with a penchant for fear. As a child I never remember feeling terrified from bad dreams, although I had them. Somehow I never woke with fear, only sadness sometimes. I was never afraid of people coming after me or of monsters under the bed. All this being said, I have always been one of the most cautious people I know. I never wanted to try anything dangerous and rarely stuck myself in positions of public view. I was generally shy, although I would speak when spoken to. I usually was the one to caution people when they were in the path to get themselves hurt. I don't ever remember thinking it was fear, but more like rationality. And now, as I venture to do something that most people I talk to say that they would be terrified to do, I wonder. I am not afraid in any way. The knowledge of the struggles I will face does cause some preparation on my part. I know that although not a fearful person, I am not brave. And thus I attribute my current peace to the strength of God.


We wake in the early dark and find ourselves the targets of many fiery darts of fear. We may think we are on guard, and suddenly a dart comes at us from an unexpected angle. We can't cover all the possibilities. We dodge and duck, but some of the fears get to us--unless we take refuge in the Lord. The psalmist calls Him "my encircling shield, my glory." No need to stare into the darkness, allowing our imaginations to torment us with the "what ifs"--"Now I can lie down and go to sleep and then awake, for the Lord has hold of me" (Ps 3:3,5 JB). [Elisabeth Eliot]

Small Town Idaho.

I am often asked what people do in small towns. Most of the time I haven't the foggiest idea. I don't ever remember being bored or feeling like there is nothing to do in town. We don't have tons of plays, movies, clubs, etc. But we manage just fine. But as an example of what we do in small towns, I will let you know about what I did yesterday evening. First of all, my sister (R), brother (L) and I went to go pick up my other brother (A) to go play tennis. My sister has played tennis twice and each of my brothers has played once. I think I had played once a long time ago. Anyway, my brother (A) didn't really want to come so somehow it ended up be a water fight between all of us and my brother's roomates. Then, soaking wet, we went and played tennis very badly. After that, I learned to drive my sister's stick-shift car in the Kibbie Dome parking lot. It was a good evening. We went home feeling sticky, hot, tired, and yet, Happy.

Dares?

Do guys dare other guys to ask out random girls? That is the only reason I can fathom for what happened today in the coffee shop. Me and my friend Naomi were just standing in the lobby talking and a guy came and stood near us. We kept talking, he looked around. Then Naomi gave him her quizzical look and asked him something, maybe if he needed something... Anyway, his response was that we were beautiful girls and would one of us like to go to a movie tonight. We both said um... and No. We don't date for recreation or spend time with guys we don't know. But after he left we couldn't help but bursting into laughter. That was soooo random. Naomi and I joke that life is never dull for us, especially when we are together. It was reminiscent of Big Dan the Meat Man, a door to door salesman whose main goal in life was certainly not the steaks and cuts of beef he purported to sell. Fascinating. True, true, Life is never dull.

Farewell Nashville!

Hey Everyone! Today I am flying back home to Nashville today. I will be there around three weeks before heading out. I will be in my dear dear friend's wedding the 8th of July. I will spend time visiting people, having people visit me, continuing my Kurdish language study, and trying to raise funds for my trip. My time here has been great and I have learned so much. I am so excited about what I get to be a part of and what I have seen God doing here and overseas. Hallelujah!

Pictures!!!

Enigma--Can YOU solve the Riddle?

'Twas whispered in Heaven, 'twas uttered in Hell,
And echo caught softly the sound as it fell;
In the confines of earth 'twas permitted to rest,
And the depth of the ocean its presence confessed;
'Twas seen in the lightning, 'twas heard in the thunder,
'Twill be found in the spheres when they're riven asunder;
'Twas given to man with his earliest breath,
It assists at his birth and attends him in death,
Presides o'er his happiness, honour, and health,
'Tis the prop of his house and the end of his wealth;
It begins every hope, every wish it must bound,
With the husbandman toils, and with monarchs is crowned;
In the heaps of the miser 'tis hoarded with care,
But is sure to be lost in the prodigal heir;
Without it the soldier and sailor may roam,
But woe to the wretch who expels it from home;
In the whispers of conscience it there will be found,
Nor e'er in the whirlwind of passion be drowned;
It softens the heart, and though deaf to the ear,
It will make it acutely and instantly hear;
But in shades let it rest, like an elegant flower,
Oh! breathe on it softly, it dies in an hour.

This girl is one of the students I worked with today while their mothers learned English.

A Couple of Jokes

Taken from A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts by Christiane Bird

Kurdish joke: “After an election, the Americans are very slow, they take twenty-four hours to count the votes. The British are better; they take only four hours. But the Arabs are the best—they know the results before the election!”

Another Kurdish joke: “God pushed the Kurdish people out of heaven and into hell because they were making too much noise with their dancing. But Satan didn’t like the noise either, so he sent the Kurds to purgatory. Passing by one day, God noticed that things were suspiciously quiet. What’s happening? Why isn’t anyone dancing? He asked a young boy. Oh, everyone is too busy to be dancing! the boy said. They are all out smuggling people between heaven and hell.”

I have found that the Kurds are known for their smuggling capabilities. In fact it is merely a matter of price for what level of exit you might want. I spoke with a man who had been smuggled out of Kurdistan the other day. Strange eh?

Life

I have a wonderful host family that I am staying with that is a little more Northern (they only air condition their house to 78 degrees instead of 68). They make unsweetened tea for the grandmother. The grandmother also has alzheimers and in some ways my time in Nashville has felt like an extended version of my conversation with her:

"Where are you from?"
"Idaho"
"You are a long way from home then!"
"Yep"
"I hope you like us."
"I have had a good time so far."
"Where are you from?"
"Idaho"
"Oh, you are a long way from home then."
"Yep"
...........

But this is similar to what I get all the time as I constantly meet new people. Potatoes are also generously scattered amongst the words and phrases of the conversations. Idaho is more than potatoes, you know.

From June 2nd

Yesterday, deplaning into Nashville, Tennessee, I entered the world of sweet tea and spray butter (actually anything butter). These things do exist in my hometown but here they reign supreme. I certainly will have to watch what I eat here. I have only had three meals here but I already feel like my innards are congealing. Don’t get me wrong, the food has been great, I just can’t keep up with it. I was pleased to find last night that my generous hostess had forgotten to butter the broccoli before she had set it on the table. I had seen peas buttered for dinner once, but broccoli is taking it too far.

Another fascinating experience was that the youngest boy in the family, who is affectionately called “Boo” by his older siblings, asked me, “Do ya have video games in yer country?” Obviously understanding the importance of video games I was more surprised by the political implications of his question. I don’t watch the news very often but I think I would have known if Idaho had suddenly decided to secede from the Union. Boo’s question had some merit I suppose as it had been precipitated by a string of questions from his family through out the last two days about various stores that we do NOT have in the Northwest. I think as a six year old it must seem to him like only people in foreign countries don’t have Kroger, White Castle, and nearly a dozen other staples of the Nashville community.

Another adventure was linked to Boo’s most recent accomplishment: learning to read. This of course allowed him to begin reading what I was typing over my shoulder. Thus I began typing just for him and typed all sorts of silliness about him and then he really wanted me to send it to my parents. I don’t think they would really care but in summary Boo has two ears, two feet, blonde hair, blue eyes, and he really likes to read, but more than that he likes to pretend his is a black ninja.

That pretty much takes care of it.

C.S. Lewis

Writer and Philosopher C.S. Lewis comments on Christ's claim to have been God:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a mad man or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."