My how it flies...

      These past two months have flown by!  This past wednesday was our graduation for the 1st semester of classes, a time of certificates, sweets and a lot of picture taking (I'll post some as soon as I can).  It was encouraging to see the progress that the students have made, with many promising to return in January for the next set of classes.  We are also looking forward to having around three more ladies joining us in our morning class.
      The Islamic Eid has just passed, a time where Muslims remember the story of Abraham and Ishmael (or Isaac if your are following the Bible) and slaughter a sheep as a symbol of atonement.  We went with our family friend Fadhel early one morning to watch some of the slaughterings.   It was a pretty interesting experience, at one point an almost headless cow went shuffling towards us, only to be pulled back by its hind legs.  So, the concept of sacrifice and atonement is not a foreign one to Muslims, and the practice provides an interesting stepping stone for conversations about faith.

Thanksgiving was a wonderful family affair, with about 16 people gathered around the table, lots of fun, games and fun.  Elise and I added to the mix by dressing up as Indians and stalking the already stationary turkeys.  We are anticipating a lot more business in the weeks to come.  Tonight is our first (haha, and only) rehearsal for the Christmas play that we will be putting on next week.  Darrell and Cheryl's children will be coming up also for about a week, something very much looked forward to by their parents. New Years is also coming up, we are looking into renting a hall for the festivities.
       This past week we had a group from a variety of places, including Baghdad, come to stay at the American house to take some classes.  Cheryl, Elise, DJ and I worked together to help provide some of the meals and would stay behind to eat and chat.  During one of the meals, through all of the hullabaloo I knocked into the table I was sitting at, spilling this poor guy's water onto him.  After helping to clean it up, I, embarrassed, took my place and what remained of a piece of break into the kitchen. Then I realized that I had stolen HIS bread and was eating it!   Ah, the social situations I can get into...
       Coming up this weekend...we will be traveling up to Dohuk
and Irbil for an ordination.  I am really looking forward to seeing more of the country.  It will also be an interesting experience since all of us will be staying overnight in one room ( that is about 13 of us).

Prayer Requests: 

• We are off of classes until Registration, which begins the 3rd of January.   Please pray for good attendance and wisdom in teaching.  During our time off we will be spending more one on one time friends, something I am very much looking forward too.  We are also going bowling with our morning ladies this coming Thursday. 
  
• The upcoming Christmas play, that all would run smoothly and clearly. 
• Understanding when it come to Kurdish, it is coming slowly, hopefully as we have more lessons and more practice, it will come.