Easter!!

What a neat experience to be able to spend such a special day at “The River”. There were several youth that went “swimming”. I feel so privileged to be apart of this. We were also about to watch the sun rise and sing to Him!!! What a wonderful day!!!

Spice Market

I was in the local market (aka the souq) and had always wanted to get a picture of the spices. I think they are beautiful and the smell is so strong…I wish you guys could smell all the spices, like a scratch and stiff sticker. At least you can see the picture. Enjoy!

Water sports on "The River"

Our leader’s daughter was having a water sports competition. We decided to join. The only thing was that it was 51 C which is about 124 F. What a better thing to do than be on the water on a day that is that HOT!! First, we started out sitting with the parents on top of a hill. Then, we decided that we want to be in on the action. We were able to go on the boat that all the judges were on. They then offered us to participate in all the fun. One of my roommates actually was involved in one of the kayaking competitions. Some of the boys thought that it would be fun to capsize her kayak. She handled it really well…even swam in a skirt. I tried rowing for the first time in my life and it is hard than one thinks. Eventually, I had three kids in my boat trying to help me to stop just going in circles. What a fun day and a great way to beat the heat!!!

80's Night!!!

The waiting started to get to us, so we decided to keep ourselves entertained. (We do have work that we do…it isn’t all fun and games over here.) One of my roommates has decided to have a themed party for every person on our team to keep us entertained for a long time. (We have also had a baking party and a soccer party…there are pictures of the soccer party.) This was another fun night!! We dressed up 80’s style with our clothes that we did have here. Then, we walked over to our leader’s house. We usually get comment as we walk on the streets, but these comments were a bit different. We had a dessert and THEN pumped up the 80’s music on our boom box (or computer). When Ghostbusters came on my mind went back to elementary school and skating around the roller rink shouting “GHOSTBUSTERS, WE AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GHOST!!!” Then, there was Tiffany’s I think we are alone now…I remember making up a dance to this song. Fond memories!!!

April Fool's Day

So, this year I actually pulled off some pranks!!! One prank that my roommate did was tell all our other roommates that our leadership decided that since we had to wait so long on our paperwork that we were moving to another country. They believed her until she covered all her bases. It also hit a little too close to the truth. The pranks that I did was put green food coloring in the electric kettle that is used daily to make coffee. I was able to get two people. One thought it was soap and the other just could not figure it out. Another roommate put Vaseline on the handles of out refrigerators. This got several of the girls. One thought it was butter. It was a fun day!!!

St. Patrick's Day

This year we went all out for St. Patrick’s Day! Last year one of my roommies and I found these T-shirts at a store that is equivalent to the Dollar General Store. (It is called the 5 pound store. Everything in it cost ~ $2.50 USD.) The shirts were something that you don’t see every day, so we had to buy them. We decided at that time that we would wear them this year for St. Patrick’s Day. We also made a sign and green mint tea shakes. We watch the Leprechaun video on You Tube and explain the meaning to our non-American friends. They just didn’t understand what the big deal was about, but we had fun!!!

Toba: the tradional dress

I have been embracing the traditional dress or can I say the traditional dress. It is basically a huge piece of fabric that is wrapped around you several times. You feel so restricted. I really do not see how they wear these things day in and day out. I have had people sit on my toba while riding the bus as well as getting it caught in different things. A friend and I decided that we were going to take pictures doing activities doing something freeing while wearing our tobas. So, we jumped on the trampoline, played basketball and kicked around a soccer ball.

Our Neighbors

Before we had to leave our neighbors came over and want to have their pictures taken with us. It was a fun night! They were all dressed up in their best clothes and had lots of make up on. We had prepared a small snack of fruit salad and tea (“shi” which is really hot and really sweet). Then, there was the chaos of having everyone wanting to have their picture taken with a white people. Also, if you happened to leave you camera lying around the boys picked it up and started taking pictures.

The next morning we had to leave for the airport, but before we left we were told to stop by our neighbors. They wanted us to wait, but we had no time. We had to leave and check in at the airport. We were sitting at the airport and here showed up two of our neighbors. They were hysterically crying (I have learned that this is a wailing society) and had gifts for us. They had headbands, necklaces, and soap for us three ladies. What a precious family!!! We were able to share the story of Ruth will the ladies in Arabic. This family consists of two wives and at least 9 children. The husband died this last December. They also live with their husband’s mother and there are usually several relatives in and out of their house.

The Wall!!

Due to the growing number of people that will be in the city out west with me, we are renting the other side of the compound that we currently renting. We have been working on having it cleaned up and ready for a new couple that will be living on that compound. We then decided that we needed to have a door in between the two compounds. The guy on our team measured out the dimensions of the door and drew an outline of it. Then the work began! We started chiseling out the door. You may be asking why we are doing the work ourselves. Well, 1. money is tight and 2. it is a great stress reliever. Here are a few pictures of the process. We did get a little dirty hence the picture of my face. We were not able to finish the work at this time, due to having to leave the city. We did have an injury. One of the other girls smashed her finger. We were able to bandaged it up and save the nail.

Driver's License

I can officially drive!!! After two days of going from one office to another, take this test and that test, and paying money here and there, I finally have my driver's license.

Day one: Went with our national staff member who told me that since I already had a license from the States that it would not take long at all. We waited outside, thankfully it wasn't too hot, for this one particular officer to show put. Instead of him telling us that I just needed to pay money and get my photo taken, he wrote on my paper that I need to go through the whole process. What an experience!! First to the psychological doctor, he looked at me and in Arabic asked me if I was healthy. Of course I told him yes in Arabic and he laughed, don't think he expected a white person to speak Arabic to him. That was all he needed, along with money, I passed this part. Next stop, the vision test. I had to point to the direction the E was facing. The chart looked alot like our vision test in the States, except it only had on letter on it. Again, paid some money and passed the test.


Next was the written test. Walked into this room full of computers and was thinking oh my I already did this once in my life didn't think I would have to do it again in a different language. Thankfully, they let me take the paper test and after some talking they allowed our national staff to translate for me. Again paid some money and passed the test. Next stop was the driving test. There was only one other female in a group of about 25 people waiting to take the test. She was really nice and I learned that this was her second time to try and pass the test. Thank you, Daddy that you made me learn to drive a manual transmission!! The driving part only took like a minute. The key was to make sure you had on your seat belt, even though the nationals don't ever wear them. Passed the test and so did my new friend, which she thinks it was because I was there. After we both passed, her dad insisted that we go back to there house to celebrate. This was the end of the first day.

Day two: I was told that all today consisted of was paying more money, getting my photo taken and having the card made. When we arrived we were allowed to wait inside this time. But of course, the people taking the money were not in the office. Once they finally showed paid my money and waited some more to have my picture taken. Got my picture taken and waited till my card was ready. This day it only took 3 hrs and the total process was 8 hrs. I can drive though...if only I had a car to drive.

Jordan

I went to Jordan to take some classes. The view from our classroom was a drastic change from where I have been living.


I met up with some friends and we went to Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked across at the promise land.


We tried to go to the Baptism site of Jesus, but it was closed. So, instead I took a picture of the sign...just to show how close we got.


We did get to go to the Dead Sea. What a neat experience, the only disappointing thing was that I forgot to bring a change of clothes and was able to experience the floating. Funny story though: we were walking back from the sea heading back to our car and I had this pain coming from the bottom of my foot. Sat down to look at my foot and notice blood. Months later, I have to tell you that I have a scar from walking on salt rock in the Dead Sea.

Christmas Time!!!

I have to say that it was really hard to be away from family and friends back home during this season. I missed all the family traditions, BUT God was so great in allowing my time here to be special as well. My roommates and myself got up Christmas morn and shared a special time of giving to each other. We finished our last minute food preparations and headed to our team leaders house. We began with a wonderful brunch and included lots of different cheeses and BACON. Next, we push ourselves away from the table for a brief time to watch my favorite Christmas movie...ELF and to play several rounds of Guess Who with the kids. It was time for dinner, which I really didn't have room in my stomach for...but it was oh so good (ham, turkey and dressing, broccoli, green beans, mashed potatoes, corn and carrots). We then had a time to exchange gifts and to read the Christmas Story. Next, dessert...not sure how I didn't explode, but it was a great day(pumpkin pie, apple pie, candle cake and fruit salad).

Sammie the Sheep

Eid al-Adha"Festival of Sacrifice"is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. However, God provided a ram in place once Ibrahim demonstrated his willingness to follow God's commands.

Sammie is the Sheep that our guard brought to spend the night in our compound before it was sacrificed the next day. We decided that Sammie should have some photos to remember its last night.

We went to several national's homes to visit and eat with them. I have spared you guys the photos that would have been too much to handle. I have a picture of me using a motar and pastel to grind up garlic.

Thanksgiving!!!

There is sooo much to be Thankful for!! Awesome friends and family back in the States that love and support me!! Great friends and food on this special day!! I think this was the first year that I was sooo excited about the food (roasted chicken and stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and corn). I realized how much I take for granted the wonderful food that my family has every year and me not having to cook one thing. It was so nice to have a great meal with wonderful friends and to share what all we have to be thankful for.



We were also able to share the meal with some nationals. I am not so sure that they enjoyed it as much as we did. It was neat to hear the things they are thankful for.