"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there...

..Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow."

It's so true! If anything, this year is teaching me to wait, taking things one step at a time. The plans for staying here a few more years have appeared to fallen through the cracks as we were told that we did not meet the requirements for teaching at the University and that all the positions were filled (these statements were later said to be untrue by a faculty member, but those hired already are determined to bring in only people that they know personally and the hr department itself doesn't always know what positions are open as they are sometimes created post-hiring). With all that said, I feel at peace heading out in July. To where? Well, I am not entirely sure, at least for the long run. There are a few different options still opens that I am thinking over and praying about, so prayers for that are appreciated.

These past couple weeks have been a blur, with graduation and a few other events. We had our ladies from the morning class over to watch a movie called something like Magdelena, redeemed from Shame, I wish I could remember the exact name, but it was a movie that portrayed the life of Jesus through Mary Magdelen's eyes, and telling of women that he came into contact with (woman caught in adultery etc). I was actually surprised at how well done it was, and was glad for the conversations that we were able to have after (and during) the film. Elise and I also cooked some more American food for them, which we enjoyed together (we gave the recipes to them, so we might be spreading American cooking throughout Suly).

Along with the Ladies dinner we ended up helping with a last minute wedding (we heard about it on Wednesday and it was on Friday). Elise and I arranged the LIFE Center where it was held, helped pick out flowers, got the bouquet, and sang special music. I also helped design the marriage certificate and programs. It was, in a very hilarious way, the most awkward wedding I have ever been to. It was complete with a screaming child, people who took family photos in the pack (during the ceremony), took pictures of the audience (during the ceremony blocking the view of the bride and groom) and a wedding singer who told me he "loved me", sang my name into lyrics, and had me meet his mother and father. Wow.

Today was election day, everyone walked around in traditional dress with their pointer finger on their right hand stained purple to show they had voted. Traffic was crazy, but it will be a welcome relief after it is all over, with no semi trucks loaded with dancing people yelling and waving the flags of their chosen political party after midnight.

Other than that, we have the week to catch up on life. Tomorrow we are going to visit our friend Rachel, who is a social worker who has worked with women and children for ten years out here. She has been understaffed and swamped with work so Elise and I are going to do some administrative work in the meantime to help her catch up. Please pray that people come to fill these needed positions. Afterwards we are going to a play and dinner with our friend Shahad. Cheryl and the rest of the women return from retreat on the 11th so we'll also be cleaning up the house as well as helping to fix up the house of our friends the Wiggins. They had left about six weeks ago as Katie was going to give birth to their second son.

Prayer Requests:
1. I still have about $500 that needs to come in before I can buy the rest of my plane ticket home.
2. Wisdom and love in interacting with those around me.
3. Guidance for what comes next.
4. We are fundraising for the International Church of Sulaimaniyah building. If you or someone you know is interested in donating, please comment below and I can send you promotional materials.


Thank you all again for everything, I am so blessed to have you in my life.