Power Lines, Gold Shops, and Satellite Dishes

Leaving...

In less than a week I will be in Greece. Wow... never thought I would make it to Greece. But when you live halfway around the world, you have to stop SOMEWHERE. So, stopping in Greece for a few days de-toxing for re-entry into the States sounded good and actually one of the cheaper options (Olimpic Airlines has some good deals through Dubai!). Being a Classics Minor in college, visiting the Acropolis is an amazingly exciting experience beyond any of my expectations. Then on to some de-briefing in the States and finally back home in the Northwest. It will be a long haul but then I get to spend almost 10 weeks with my family!!! I will have reliable internet, so I might post more... but I will have less to say since my main occupations this summer will be driving my post-op sister around (and having to learn to drive stick shift... yes, I know...), learning Kurdish vocabulary, and exercising (because I have become rather rotund during my time indoors in the Middle East). Those don't provide much entertainment, however. I may have become enough used to this "foreign" culture that American culture could be entertaining... you never know. If any of you nebulous readers have any specific questions (especially anything about Islam, the Middle East, or Christianity) that you would like me to post about... ask... I might be able to answer them...I might not.

The First Fruits

This is the first fruit from our kumquat tree. It was really really good! You know the funny thing about the word "kumquat" is that although I knew it was a fruit and if you had asked me what it was I might have thought I knew... but when I saw these for the first time, I had no clue what they were. Although I have grown up having learned the word "kumquat" and even knew how it was spelled, I had never known what it really was. Now I know... they are a small citrusy flavored fruit with very large seeds in the middle.

Smelly Update...

Yesterday's pungent adventure gave me a paranoid sleep where I was up at 1:00 am sniffing about our house. As of this morning, the house smelled fresh and airy. There is not a hint of the stomach turning smell from yesterday. I came home this afternoon. Entering the house, we checked the air in the rooms... still no smell. We never found the source of the odor. But, for the time being, it seems to be gone. Praise God for this blessing... Pray that it never returns.

Pungency...

It is Tuesday morning. I am sitting in my car in our carport typing because everything that needs done, needs done in the house, and I very well might throw up if I have to go back in there. We awoke this morning to a smell my house-mate declared “pungent”. In addition, this happened on the very day where we were going to clean and prepare our house for our departure. The smell we thought was coming from Autumn’s room. But then we traced it to behind the ceiling tiles in the living room. We still can’t find it. It smells soooo bad. We pulled half the stuff out of the room into the hallway. We opened and sniffed cupboards till we were blue in the face. It stinks. That is all I can say.

Eventually, we gave up. The house is aired out and mostly only the living room smells. We still have no idea what to do about it. We had half our team over for a good part of the day scoping out the stink. Pray for this situation. I don’t want to wake up to that smell in the morning.

This is a picture of our living room: Today we cleaned it out, took up the rug, swept and washed the floor, as well as rearranging some for the family that is coming back soon to live here. Then they will be stuck with the smell problem. I am soo sorry.

In the Middle of the Afternoon

Try to put this image in your head...

A man buying cigarettes wearing his polka dot pajamas.

Go figure.

The Celebrity Life

You know, there are some things about being a foreigner that I think have given me a little clue about what some celbrities in the United States go through. As a little background, I will let you know that I am a blonde in a city full of dark brown/black haired people. I stick out like a sore thumb. And the people here are naturally starers... as in they stare at everyone, but at me more.

The number of double takes or triple takes me and my American housemate get when we walk down the street can be downright hysterical. Today I was approached by a guy who was handing out a local English newspaper. One lady we met in an office one day actually stopped to call her husband at work to say that she was in a room with two foreigners. Then she and other ladies proceeded to evaluate every aspect of our persons. Everyone smiles and gives us preferential treatment. I think we park to go to the grocery store in a parking lot reserved for people who are going somewhere else, but the guards just look at us, get flustered and wave us in. I have gotten my picture taken with strangers in the bazaar. So have some of my other American colleagues. Every shop owner practically neglects his other customers to help us find whatever we need. All this is entertaining most of the time, at least when I am right with God. The staring does get on my nerves especially. I am just waiting for the day when I actually cause a car crash.

This isn't to say that I am drop-dead gorgeous. I am fairly normal looking in America. Here it sometimes feels like I should be in a freak show. But this is the life. And I have to admit I like being able to park in a nice place.

A Rare Sunrise View

ACTS 28:31

Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God

and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Roads... I have no idea how they got this way!

On a recent road trip....

We have new friends... ew...

There has been this eerie munching noise in our cupboard for months! It gradually grew louder and more frequent as time wore on. We all imagined some large creature with pincers. Finally, it sounded like it was on the very edge. One of my housemates pressed on the plastic laminate and found that it felt hollow underneath. Uh, oh! Desiring to know the extent of the damage she peeled off the pale green plastic. We found this whole system of holes with a very fine sawdust. In addition we found one small red-brown beetle, about 2 mm in length. There is still munching. My housemate tried drowning them, but that didn't work. Next she tried putting boiling water down the holes. We haven't heard from them since, but that was only a few hours ago. We would rather not be a zoo...

And the cat came back...

I forgot to mention it, but according to all your predictions, the cats did come back. They "fell" (we still don't know how) down the hole into our house. Once the momma wandered around for a bit and then took them away. The second time we went on the offensive and lured one out (with bread) and caught it in a bucket. The one we got was the grouchy one! This picture of him may look sweet, but don't be fooled! I think the poor thing was terrorized because they haven't been back for a week now.

Moscow, Idaho Shooting

Pray for my home town if you think of it. There was a shooting, 3 are dead. In a town of 20,000 that is pretty shocking to everyone. Somehow, it doesn't surprise me too much. Maybe living in a country where at least 100 people are shot or bombed every day has made me less shocked at the evil of people's hearts. I am sad for their families and friends, but suffering has so many benefits; it is in God's hands. You can find more online. There is still no known motive (at least that I have found yet) and still some in the hospital. Pray that God's glory would shine out in this.

I have fallen in love!

One of my classes is having their final test tommorraow. I will have to say goodbye and release them to a summer of bad influences (like rap and MTV). I pray for them.

One of these things is not like the other...

A list... now you have to do it too!

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. I saw this one another blog and it made me laugh. Laughter is good medicine, right?

1. Your Detective Name (favorite color and favorite animal)
Yellow Dog

2. Your Soap Opera Name (Your middle name and the street you live on)
Christine Ashty

3. Your Star Wars Name (The first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Mcgco

4. Your Superhero Name (Your 2nd favorite color and favorite drink)
Purple Lemonade (ewww…)

5. Your Iraqi Name (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your mom’s maiden name, 3rd letter of your dad’s middle name, 1st letter of a sibling’s first name, and last letter of your mom’s middle name)
Oghelle (I haven’t ever met anyone with this weird of name!)

6. Your Witness Protection Name (Parents’ middle names)
Marie Allen

7. Your Goth Name (”Black” and the name of one of your pets)
Black Freckles (ick)

Meow...

This is where Kitten 1 and Kitten 2 were in residence. And yes, the drop was long; and yes, it echoed loudly! We have no idea how Kitten 2 managed to make the same mistake as Kitten 1 and fall through today... Momma Cat should know better... but more clues on Kitten 2's personality came later...

Since my last post, but a few hours ago, there have been several new developements. First of all, thanks for all of you that prayed... God was good to us. The momma cat returned (despite the fright she received two nights ago from my shrieking roommates) and climbed down the stairs proceeding to retrieve kitten number 1.

I wasn't using a flash on my camera for fear that the momma kitten would be scared and run off leaving kitten 1 on the stairs. Now what? Kitten 2 was out of the hole behind our shower and was now wandering around and crying IN the shower.

This one was considerable nicer than the first one and I caught it easily with a potholder (just in case it was diseased and scratching). Then I proceeded to carry it upstairs to the balcony. We brought the tuna up and it ate a little in between howling. Finally, I saw a shadow move out of the corner of my eye. It was the momma cat, back for Kitten 2. It was here that we discoved why Kitten 2 fell down the hole. Kitten 2 is a rebellious kitten... Despite the whining, Kitten 2 (whom one of my fellow teamates suggested we name Draino) wanted nothing to do with Momma Cat. Kitten 2 ran into the house! What? NO! Not there! So I ran in and did the only thing I could... I grabbed Kitten 2 and put it back outside. Momma Cat was eating the tuna. Then, does Kitten 2 run to missing mom with glee? No, where did it go... back into the house... there was a hole in the screen. Catching Kitten 2 (again!) we returned him to the balcony. Firmly standing in front of the hole in the screen, my housemate chased Kitten 2 back towards Momma Cat, who by this time had finished the tuna. After she picked up the kitten in her mouth, it was a simple leap and a bound over the wall and off to wherever they live. Ahh... no more kittens... at least until one of them falls down the hole again.

Kitten update..

So I peeked into our hole today... "Hey, one kitten is eating!" I thought. Wait, One kitten? As in one of two? Yep. I don't know how it happened. We had one kitten yesterday, and now we have two kittens. Praise God, they are eating the tuna... So they won't starve to death. But the momma cat is having a very hard time on the roof and it is all very sad. Please continue to pray for a solution... God is going to have to provide one...

Thanks!

Prayer needed...

We have a kitten... not that we wanted it... not that we can do anything with it... we didn't ask for it... it fell through our house... and now is in a hole. It cries. We cannot get it to come out. The mother cries from the roof. Pray that it will be okay.

I would show you pics... but I can't upload them right now... plus it might make you cry.

I was tagged!!!

I was so lovingly tagged by Nic,

Here's the "rules" of this meme: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

My seven random facts...

1. I live in the Middle East. That feels fairly random for a start, despite the fact that most of you know that already.

2. I have, on more than one occasion been the only blonde person in an airplane. This of course is a side affect of random fact number 1.

3. I like to cook... In fact, the more I cook, and the more things I learn how to make (over here especially), the more I like to cook. In our house we have cooked food from America, Italy, Greece, Brazil, Arabic food, Kurdish food, Korea, China, and other concoctions of no place in particular.

4. I once arrived in Istanbul with a total of $13.04. The visa cost $20.00. Yes I realize that was stupid. But at the same time there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for it which I will not bore you with at the moment.

5. I do not like rap and have spent considerable time trying to convince my 6th graders that gangsters should not be their roll models.

6. Dogs regularly pee when they greet me. I have been told that it has to do something with submissive behavior. I have no idea why I am such a scary person.

7. I like toe rings.

I now tag...

Laurel at Why Think in Secret
Thainamu
Nathan at a Jolly Company
Katie (Ibid)
Lydia
Jessa
Pauli

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?
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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?