A Day at a Time...

Life continues to roll along here in Kurdistan, although it has taken a turn for a bit to the quieter side of things, as it is the weekend and I came down with a flu that is making its rounds through the workers here.  So with an extra six hours of sleep in me I am now hanging out in my room, downing vitamins and orange juice and thought it was about time that I updated.
God is faithful, of that I am sure, and is teaching me to pray for His glory, rather than a change in situation when things are not going the way I would wish.  Its sometimes hard to pray for Him to change me, as its usually evident from the start that it won't be a smooth transition.  I've been praying for humility and wisdom, which is promised to those who ask in faith and the results of those prayers have been humorous, but effective.  I was teaching class a few days ago, being observed by a possible partner in our work out here, when I started forgetting some of my basic spelling skills.  You never really think about the spelling of mitten or glasses until you stare at them and realize mittins and glassess look just as valid.  I asked the correct spelling of the observer, and we laughed off the moment.  I still felt a little shaken up, and during break went down to dig a Snickers Bar out of fridge, a remedy I am sure many girls out there have put into practice every once in a while.  However, I had only gotten a few bites in when a well meaning Kurdish man hurried over to warn me that if I ate that stuff, I was bound to get fat.  Lesson learned:  my rep. a teacher is not as important as the attitude in which I teach, whether I am seeking to learn how to be better, or just get through the lesson with no mishaps.  Also, seeking God for courage to teach is more effective than indulging in chocolates, but I support doing both.
Elise and I will be helping to set up a medical building in a town about 45 minutes away this coming Saturday, En sh'Allah (God willing).  We will be doing small odds'n'ends, such as installing towel and toilet paper racks. Please pray for this center, it will be providing health care free of charge to the surrounding area, and is still in its beginning stages.  It needs some heavily motivated teams of workers to volunteer for a week or so to knock out some of the set up. 
Upcoming:  We will be having a lady, named Sarah, coming out for a couple of weeks to teach a photo journalism class and work with us.  Classes continue until December 9th, at which point we will have about a month off.  Elise and I are also tutoring two schoolgirls in English for the next six weeks.
More Prayer Requests:

• Funds for the year, about $2350 is needed for both the remaining months and airfare.
• Grace with learning the language, the alphabet is coming together, bit by bit.
• Focus on loving the people and knowing how best to teach.
• Opportunities for friendships.

Thank you again,
Sarah

(Photo of the traveling Ohio Team, the LIFE Center Teachers and Students)