Thanksgiving feast

We celebrated our Thanksgiving on Friday since that is the day off here and we had other things planned for Thursday. We had our big dinner at the LIFE center. For people who are used to mostly rice & beans, the spread of strange foods was overwhelming for some. We told them not to take too much because we didn't want any of the precious ingredients wasted! It was a joyous celebration as we remembered God's blessings in our lives by singing songs of thanks and also reading verses from the Bible. After pie and games everyone went their separate ways. I think a good time was had by all.

A village adventure

Our entire team was invited by a friend to spend a day and night in his village called "Red Garden". The village is only 30 minutes from our city but it might as well be hours away. It was very primitive and remote, as if we were in another world. We sat around the walls of a large room on the carpet, drinking numerous cups of sweet tea, one ear on the TV that was playing in the room and the other trying to catch a few Kurdish words that I knew. We had several miscommunications throughout our time there, some of them embarrassing. Oh the joys of being in the language-learning mode again after 25 years! After sitting on the floor for what seemed like an eternity, we all went on a beautiful hike through the village and surrounding areas. Our shoes were caked with an inch of mud & leaves but it was so nice to be out in nature, soaking in the smell of wet leaves and freshly cut wood. It reminded us of what Fall smells like in America. The village is surrounded by springs of water and many beautiful trees. Soon after arriving back at the house, we were served a lovely meal of rice and beans and chicken (on the floor, of course). I'm telling you, it's hard sitting cross-legged on the floor for hours. My back was not enjoying that! After dinner we sat for another several hours on the floor, talking, drinking more tea, watching Prison Break on TV. At one point they brought out bowls of nuts and seeds and put a plastic cloth down in the middle of the floor. Everyone cracked their nuts and seeds and spit the shells in the middle of the floor on the plastic. It was a funny sound to hear 25 people all eating seeds & spitting shells. Bedtime brought its own challenges as we spread our thin mattresses & blankets and bundled up in warm clothes to survive the village night. With 3-inch gaps around the windows and doors, it was pretty cold. Just as well though as the fumes from the kerosene heater would have killed us otherwise. The family divided us up into 2 rooms and we later found out that they all slept on the kitchen floor! How sad. We awoke at 7AM to the sounds of loud talking (well, the LOUD call to prayer woke most much earlier) and decided we'd better get up since we were sleeping on the living room floor. Shortly after we were served a delicious breakfast of freshly baked mountain bread with cream and honey. The honey was from their own bees in the village. The women had been up early baking the bread on a wood fire. And of course more tea! We said our good-byes and were on our way home by 8AM. What a wonderful, generous family they were and how they honored us with what they had. Yes, it was primitive and uncomfortable at times but still an honor to be in the "Red Garden" and perhaps shed a little light there in that dark place.

A grief observed

I have just returned from 10 days in the States for my sister-in-law's memorial service. I would not have traded that precious family time for anything and was so glad I decided to go home at the last minute. Questions about death & heaven dominated most conversations as we all processed the passing of dear Jennie. We wished we could help bear some of the pain my brother was experiencing but realized that the path of deep grief is one that has to be walked alone and although painful, is somehow sacred. It is all he has left of Jennie. We will all be called at some time in our life to bear more than we think we can bear but He has promised never to leave us and he will help us to stand when we think we're going to collapse. I watched in awe as my brother grieved his most beautiful bride of 21 years; it was a picture of someone with deep faith in God who stood like a rock and praised Him in the midst of his grief. All through the day, he would break out in loud songs of praise. His faith was not shaken. I know there will be dark days ahead; I've been through the stages of grief before. But how awesome to observe the grief of a believer in Christ; it is not like the grief of others who have no hope.
At this time of year, I can't help but remember the death of my dear friend, Bonnie. It will be 6 years on November 21st. That was a dark period in my life and I still have so many questions about her senseless murder. Who are the souls who will be in heaven because of Bonnie's witness? As I think a lot about death these days, I have one enduring question that comes to mind many times a day..."Am I living my life as if this was my last day on earth?" Life is so short and none of us is promised tomorrow. I want to be found faithful when He calls me home.
Sorry this is a bit heavy, but these are heavy days. Hopefully my next blog will be more cheery!