my least favorite month of the year!

I have no idea why the people in this country claim to love Ramadan more than any other month of the year. i absolutely despise it. There, I said it. The entire country is turned upside down and nothing works as it should. It's a guessing game to figure out what time things open and what time they close. One thing's for sure, get out early and return to your house before 2PM. By then, everyone is getting out of work and the traffic is horrific and everyone's on nerve's edge because it's 100 degrees+ and no one can drink. I tried to go to the electric company today and there were 100 numbers ahead of me and the place was so packed you couldn't move. I decided to try another day. Today we needed to deliver 4 refrigerators, 3 stoves and an air conditioner to our team members homes. While we were waiting for the truck to arrive, Darrell walked to a nearby shop and bought ice cream cones. He discreetly brought them home and we sat on the bed eating them with sweat pouring down our faces. We were quite a sight:) Also during this month, you cannot find a coffee shop or restaurant open during the day. Those that do open down in the tourist area, have a sheet up in the window so no one can see in. Whereas our friends say during this month all the good spirits are released on earth, I rather think by the rotten attitudes and flaring tempers all around that it is the evil spirits that are running around rampant. Most foreigners get out of the country during this month. We have closed down the Family Place for 3 weeks and people basically hunker down in their houses and sleep or just sit still so they don't get hot and thirsty since they aren't allowed to drink all day. Ironically, it's the poor woman of the house who is shopping for the evening feast in the morning and then cooking it all afternoon. But if you try to commiserate with anyone about how difficult it is, they will swear that it is the most wonderful month of the year. Granted, the night life is supposedly electrifying and magical but nothing even begins until 10PM and by then, I am headed to my comfortable bed. I promise myself that I will go out for at least one evening of Ramadan fun before it's all over. All I can say is I can't wait until life gets back to normal, if there is such a thing in this part of the world!

The month in Switzerland is a distant memory. I'm so happy to have my master's behind me and not have that hanging over my head morning, noon and night. I definitely felt the Lord's help in a big way throughout the whole time of studying. I was way out of my comfort zone, studying education and administration! But I made it through and learned a lot and actually did very well. 3/4 of the way through my time in Switzerland, I received the devastating news that my nephew, Josiah Pierce Bubna, had died suddenly, just 5 weeks before he was to be married. I was paralyzed with grief and knew that I could not stay there while everyone else was in Chicago for the funeral. I desperately wanted to go and be with my sister and her family. I checked on tickets and decided no matter what, I was going, even if it meant throwing the whole master's out the window. I talked to my professors and they were full of compassion and told me to go. (and I was still able to finish all my work and graduate on time) I have experienced some deep grief in my life but nothing comes close to this. Not only my own grief but most of all the thought of the grief beyond description that my sister and brother-in-law are going through. I wish so badly that I could bear some of it for them but as my sister says, they have to walk this road alone and it is desperately lonely and painful. It's a comfort to know that even though no human can help to ease the pain, Jesus is walking the road with them and they will make it through this dark tunnel somehow with his help. Thank you to many of you who have prayed and continue to do so. It's the only thing anyone can do. Words are hollow and meaningless. May God give me grace to live each day as if it were my last. He is worthy and nothing else is.