entertaining Kurdish style

We've been told that it's rude to turn off your TV when a guest comes for a visit. Something about it makes him feel unwelcome?? Tonight we went for dinner to a Kurdish home in the mountains. When we arrived, there was some kind of music video station on and the women were wearing little to nothing. Everyone in the room was watching! It was kind of strange but it definitely kept there from being any silent moments since the music was so loud we could hardly hear one another talk. This was one of those homes where we sat on the floor, ate on the floor, etc. It was just a big empty room with 2 mats and a huge flat screen TV with naked women on it! When the meal was set before us on a plastic tablecloth we continued to watch MTV while we ate our rice & chicken. Then of course we had the tea with 1 inch of sugar in the bottom. I didn't stir mine one bit and it was still like syrup! This guy was an English student of Darrell's and speaks pretty good English but his wife doesn't speak a word, thus making things a little awkward. We really needed MTV to fill in the silent places:)
Funny how different cultures think about things; we'd think it pretty rude to keep the TV going at top volume with X-rated pictures on it while our guests have come to visit us. Here, guests would think it rude if we turned off our TV when they walked in. Just a different perspective!

Put to shame

Last week we held a 5-day training course here for leaders in the Iraqi Church. The 14 men and women came from 3 different cities in Iraq. Two teachers came from the US to give 2 courses. The students were full of excitement and anticipation as they began the course. I noticed one man with his arm in a sling and seemingly in a lot of pain. I asked about his story and this is what I was told: This guy has been a believer in Jesus for 2 years and has suffered terribly for his faith. Two days prior to coming for the course, he was beaten and his arm crushed by an AK-47. The doctors were unable to do anything with his arm because it was so badly injured. He lived on strong pain killers. He ran away from the village and arranged to meet the pastor on the highway to come to the course. I also found out that his group of 6/7 believers meets in a van because it would be extremely dangerous for them if they were known to be worshiping Jesus. In the nice weather they meet up on the mountain. It was moving to watch this man during worship time as he sang and praised Jesus with his one good arm uplifted. He was told that if he returned to his village he would be killed! While at the conference he received a phone call from his older brother who's in the gov't and he promised to come and settle things and warn the villagers not to bother him. I thought over and over about the price some people pay to follow Jesus. My faith doesn't really cost me anything; this man's faith costs him everything. I'm sure when he wakes up in the morning he often wonders if this will be his last day on earth. I can't say I've had that thought very often!!

Sacrificial love

Yesterday I went to the children's hospital to visit a friend whose baby is in the neonatal ward. This young girl just had a C-section 4 days ago but insists on sitting by her baby's bed all day long so that she can feed her when she awakens. The nurses are nowhere to be found; the mothers do all the care of their tiny premature babies. My friend's baby looked very good & I have high hopes that she will come home soon. The father was an English student and has become a good friend. In the incubator next to my friend's baby, there was a baby born at 7 months. His arms and legs were maybe 3/4" in diameter. He gasped for every breath as his mother sat by his side. I watched her as she expressed her own milk by hand into a little cup, then poured it into a syringe and gave it to her baby through a tiny tube running from his nose down into his stomach. She does this every 2 hours all day long. I have not been able to get this picture out of my mind; the unbelievable sacrifice that a mother is willing to give for her child. There are few things in life so powerful. I recently heard of God's love referred to as a mother's love and that took on a new meaning today as I was reminded of what lengths a mother is willing to go to in order to save her child.

Silly in Suli

The younger members of our team finally convinced these oldies to go to the amusement park with them after our Sat. night meeting. Usually we're just too tired and would rather go home and crash than go on silly rides & play cheesy games:) Last night we decided to join in the "fun" and a group of us headed for the park. I have to admit I was skeptical that I would enjoy it at all since I was so tired & had a sore back. But it turned out to be a crazy, fun, silly night of acting like kids; riding bumper cars, playing air hockey, basketball, boxing game, riding the Ferris wheel, etc. The best part was discovering a delicious black cherry popsicle that tasted so good on a very warm evening. Kirsten reminded me that it didn't take much to make me happy; just a cherry popsicle. I guess it is nice to revert to children once in awhile and enjoy the simple things of life. It was also very nice hanging out with 3 guys that we've come to love, one of them having already joined the family and another definitely on the road. As I've said before, there's just nothing to do in this city for fun so we have to make our own and we definitely did last night!

This and That

An overview of the last few weeks:
- 7 short term workers joined us & kept a very busy schedule of teaching both
children & adult classes, morning and evening
- occupation of the new LIFE center
- renovation of this center, with the help of 3 men from Salem, OR
- vacated our old, rented facility
- left for Jordan and our annual field retreat - great refreshment & relaxation
after a grueling summer
- visited our old stomping ground in Aqaba; good to see old friends
- a few days in Amman & then back home!
- this year we'll have 4 young people living with us and helping with teaching &
other aspects of ministry; 2 guys & 2 girls.
*I hope to post pictures soon of our new center all set up and ready to go

This summer has been a whirlwind of activity as we've been 10-11 people at all times in our home. Mostly it's been a blast and I've thoroughly enjoyed it all. In fact, last night as I was falling asleep (which comes very easy these days), my last thoughts were "I love the sound of young people talking and laughing in my living room". I can't wait for Christmas when it'll be my OWN children here!!
These days here in this country have been consumed with everything politics as they've geared up for the elections. Banners & posters are plastered everywhere, every conversation seems to center around what might or might not happen. There is tension in the air as people await the results of today's election. Thus far, we have not seen or heard of any trouble and we pray it stays that way.
Right now we have 3 men from Salem Church in Oregon who have come for 2 weeks to help finish up the work in our new LIFE Center. They are truly a gift from God and we don't know what we would have done without them! Darrell has seen true miracles happen as he's gone from office to office trying to get more electricity for the building & numerous other things that people said were impossible. (especially the speed with which he obtained important documents) Yesterday, with the help of some of our guys, our sign went up on our building and it was exciting. All the neighbors were on their balconies watching and passing cars slowed down to see what this building was going to be. From the main highway that circles the city, our sign can be seen clearly. What a location God gave us. We are overwhelmed and amazed at his goodness.

Happy 4th of July

Last night we had some friends over and had a fun night making homemade pizza & playing games. I'm so thankful for my big living room that can seat so many people.
Today is the 4th of July and just another dusty day in this part of the world. No grassy parks or backyard decks, no flags flying or patriotic songs sung, but we did have a party and made the most of our humble circumstances. We had grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, jello salad and apple pie. Can't get anymore American than that! (I did have to go to the butcher this morning and order the meat for the burgers. It was freshly killed and still hanging on the hoof)
The men took care of the grilling. I felt so bad for them out in that awful heat and dust. We're experiencing one of the worst dust storms since we've been here; our friends down south say they can hardly see their hand in front of their face. Our big generator also broke down today and Darrell spent half the afternoon working with the repairman trying to get it fixed. Then it was off to our Int'l Ch Fellowship and a pot luck dinner afterward. Another great evening with a large attendance and wonderful spirit. Made us forget all about our electricity woes & the thick dust covering everything (until we walked back outside!) God is good, all the time.