With only about two weeks left of classes and an impending Iraqi Parliment Election, the spirits and energies of everyone in Suli are high. Strings of flags zig zag crazily over each street, candidates faces plaster walls, bus stops and phones poles, while driving and walking have become a little more erratic as drivers tends to maneuver with one hand on the wheel and one out a window or sun roof, clasping a flag of their favored party. What will really change with the election? Corruption has been rampant and many fear that governmental power is not enough to quell tribal violence that has been spreading (Some stories here). With this in mind, many do not even bother to vote as they believe each party to be corrupt. We are hoping and praying that individuals stand up and take courage and responsibility to slowly turn things around. Our friend Ashwok is running; known for her strong character, she is called by the name of another Ashwok who died for her beliefs. Her name is not well know, but we are hoping that she somehow stands a chance.
On a brighter note, this past Friday we host a very successful Valentine's Day dinner for couples. Decorating the LIFE Center was a lot of fun, as we flung furniture about the room and lit every candle we could find. I like fire. I also like arranging things in a precise way that would drive most people mad, but the end result was deemed quite beautiful and I was content in the fact that the napkins were all at right angles. I also got to arrange the food! Why does making small mounds of rice and radish flowers bring joy? No idea, not even going to try to explain. The one thing that made me a little uneasy was that we ran out of plain white napkins and so for the bread we had to use Valentine's Day napkins that, in my mind, didn't go absolutely with the decor. I resolved myself to the issue and continued to fold origami baskets. Dinner continued with Elise and I serving salads and then the main course. I learned how to balance three plates in my hand but was happy that dessert was already on the table in the form of heart shaped cookies. As the night progressed we had some couple games, a skit about communication performed by Cheryl and Darrell and of course, Kurdish dancing. We did manage to slip in one Western slow dance, to "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, but only one. Many couples later said that they had never had such a wonderful time and appreciated the opportunity to spend some time together.
Here's me showing my true feelings about the napkins....
Hmm, well, you can check up on my other blogs to read other random things that are happening in my life. I have to head out to get a dress fitting for my jilly kurdi, the the traditional dress for the National Holiday coming up in the spring. In case you don't already have them marked the other blogs are "baristainaburka.blogspot.com" and "aventureourien.blogspot.com". Not sure why I have three, but I feel like they have evolved into different trains of thought.
Prayer Requests:
1. We are going to have to move in June, so decisions still have to be made whether another house needs to be bought, and if so, we need to find one.
2. It is still up in the air as to WHAT in the world I will be doing this coming year :) Right now I am looking into the option of working at the American University, which would allow me to continue to work out here. There are a LOT of loose ends that would have to come together for this to work, and as in anything, I want God's will to come first. I will admit that a large portion of my heart still would like to return to California. If I were to return I would be home for two months and return sometime in October.
3. The Easter Play is coming, the script is in the works and we are dreaming.
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