Traveling light...

     It is now the beginning of May and the temperature is creeping up into the 90's, and if you travel 3 hours away, the 100's.  I spent some quality time on my roof yesterday (in silence because my ipod was dead, so it, and the rest of all my electronics were wasting away as the electricity has gotten progressively worse as the heat increases) working on looking like I belong in the Middle East.  Ironically enough, everyone over here is trying to look whiter...I suppose we will meet in the middle (almost a pun, I laughed anyways).
     Just some random going's on around this side of the world.  The Fountain of Love medical project, in Chum Chamall about half an hour away (run by Samaritan's Purse, I helped hang up towel racks and other random things if you remember back that far) had its grande opening last friday.  It was quite a big affair with the Minster of Medicine in.  There was also a short term team of Doctors out performing heart scans (they performed over 1,500 check-ups in two days, insane).  Please be praying for the project though, they do not have any teams lined up to work there (they are hoping for Dr.s who are willing to do 1-2 year long stints) and the current leader of the project may be sidelined by a cancer relapse.  So, at the moment, there is beautiful project being unused in an area which can desperately use the help.
     There were two murders over the past week.  One was a Kurdish journalist student in Irbil (about three hours away) and one was right here in Suly.  The one in Suly was a 16 yr. son of a very rich man, being held for ransom.  Unfortunately, the token image of an American is rich, so we have to on our guard and are no longer allowed to travel on our own.  Please pray for the families of the victims and also please pray for me, I feel selfish, but walking around is one way that I manage some sanity in a house of seven.  I am learning to be more deliberate in spending time alone so I am recharged and don't run out of patience and compassion quite so quickly.
     The Phenicie family is heading back to the states this coming weekend, and Elise and I are moving to a new home on Friday.  Please pray for everyone as more goodbye's are said, as the team adjusts and as the Phenicies prepare for the next stage in their adventures.  They will be home for at least six months and then heading out to a new area.
     I have been able to spend some more time with my friend/student Nigar.  I am hopefully going to have lunch with her tomorrow and perhaps go walking on Thursday.  She is very dear to me and I want to build the relationship with her as much as possible these next two months.  Prayer for wisdom on my part, an ear to hear where God is directing, and an open heart for her.  During out last Kurdish/Arabic/English lesson (we teach each other) she helped me to translate the Lord's prayer.  It sounds beautiful, and it was a cool chance for me to work through each phrase and its meaning (when was the last time you thought about the word hallowed? ) I am now working on memorizing it.
     I was able to meet up with the founder and a worker from Buy Shoes Save Lives (check them out at http://www.buyshoessavelives.com/)  They work to create partnerships between people with children who need heart surgery (very prevalent in this area, many children are born with holes in their heart) by selling the traditional Iraqi shoes, called Klosh.  The family is required to come up with some of the money (which I really love, it is too easy for dependance and also a lack of motivation to develop if people do not contribute themselves) and the money from the shoe sale covers the rest.  The heart surgery in itself is not expensive at all which is encouraging and the shoes are super comfy!  I am looking to help develop a more feminine looking product with them and may even help to design some more shirts; I'm pretty excited about that.
     We are still working on buying the land for the church.  We have raised enough money but are waiting for zoning and other paperwork.  Please pray for that, we are so excited to begin!
      Other than that, we are half way through classes, then we will be helping to run a two week children's English camp.  Please continue to pray for direction, here and when I return to the States, a job and just passion to live each day individually, giving all that it hold to God.

Listening to: False Alarms by Steve Moakler  (check out his free music on noisetrade.com)