April 29th through 30th (Days 112-113): Tired, but Trusting

April 29th:
Went to bed last night thinking about why it bothers me so much when people come up and tell me that I must be from China or Korea or Japan. It's happened a couple times in the last few days and I can get really upset by it. When I tell them I'm from America, they scoff and tell me that my parents must be Asian. Sometimes I feel like I have to go through my entire history just to convince them that I'm American. When I look in the mirror, I often think that my outward appearance isn't an accurate representation of who I really am, but then I have to wonder, "Who am I, really?" When I get down to the heart of it, I belong to God, which means that no human form will ever be an accurate representation. "When He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." I read through some Scriptures and found comfort in seeing how often Christ was mis-identified as only "the son of a carpenter," an unprofitable Nazarene, and as being bound in his relationship to his earthly brothers and sisters. Though perfect and sinless, the outward appearance that Christ took on Himself, being without form or comeliness, associated Him with sinful man. People scoffed at our Savior when He told them that He was not of this world and became angry when He declared Himself to be God. He didn't try to convince them or argue with them, He showed them by His works who He was. "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."


Went over for French toast with John and Mary and their guests. We had a nice time talking, then sang some hymns together and listened to a sermon from John and Mary's pastor in Pennsylvania. I left for school a little early and had some copies made for Mary (naturally, there was enough paper and ink for her print job!)


The "rowdy" class had some trouble settling down. So finally for the last 25 minutes of class, I made them sit with their hands folded and wrote their names on the board if they made even the slightest noise. When they realized I was serious, they started to quiet down. We'll see if it lasts into tomorrow...

At 10:15, I subbed for the science teacher for my second fourth grade class. We went through the lesson and did some of the practice problems. When I saw them again 12:15, we finished working on the lesson problems and then I released them to the garden for about 20 minutes.

My 11am art class went REALLY well. They are working on making their own books. I am giving them the sentences (borrowed from a book I read when I was little), then they are drawing the pictures. Today they drew a picture of themselves over the words, "God always sees me." Every student in the class (except for two) worked diligently and did their best. I was really impressed with the drawings they produced!

At 1pm, I went to H's to tutor J. We had a nice time, even though H has bad allergies right now. She fixed me some yummy pasta and then made me waffles with ice cream, chocolate sauce, pancake syrup, and banana slices! SUPER GOOD! J wasn't too motivated today and really wanted to draw, so I wrote words on the paper, which he drew after reading the word aloud.

Took a taxi to the market and bought a lot of the gifts I was looking for. Felt very successful. Came home and Skyped with the family. The boys had lots of fun things to tell me. At 6pm, John, Mary, Matt, Brad, Henry and I went to dinner at Shendokah, which is a pretty fancy restaurant and hotel on the other side of town. We ate outside ... the weather was perfect. I had parzola which is like a lamb chop. I really enjoyed it. It was nice to sit around and share experiences (well, most of the time ... sometimes I feel like I answer a little too eagerly, wanting to talk in English and say something about what I'm learning here. It brings out a side of me that isn't pleasant.) After dinner it was a little harder to squeeze into one taxi, but we made it home!

April 30th:
Three locals have told me that I look tired in the last few days, so apparently I must really look as tired as I feel! Got some good sleep last night, but between the heat and my allergies I don't have as much energy as usual.

Yesterday I told the "rowdy" class that whoever did not bring their homework today would go to the principal. Four students failed to bring it! We ended up sitting with our hands folded again; it was unbelievable to see how many of them kept pushing and pushing - talking, moving their desks, throwing pieces of eraser - primarily the four who didn't turn in their homework. In the end, I took them to the principal, but I'm not sure what their discipline was.

During the break I graded papers and watched Matt and Brad play soccer with the kids. Three first grade girls came up spontaneously and gave me hugs, held my hand, and told me their names. It was nice to get so much love! I definitely count that as one of God's blessings. During the break, I also gave the curriculum coordinator the names of the students who have turned in less than three of the six homework sets I have assigned. He is anxious to have their grades improve, but I told him that they can't improve if they aren't turning in homework. He agreed and said he would talk to them.

My 12:15 class went well. I feel like I can have a little more fun with their group - even if they are being noisy, they will respond and quiet down when I speak to them. We were about 15 minutes into the lesson when the curriculum coordinator and the principal came into the room. They asked if they could interrupt for about 5 minutes, then proceeded to call the names of the kids on my "no homework" list. They made them stand at the front of the classroom and went through each one, scolding them for only turning in ___ homework sets out of  the six. It was an agonizing process, especially as I watched the students sit back down somewhat disheartened. After the principal and c.c. left, I took a minute to tell the class that when they get in trouble, I feel like I am getting punished too. I want to help them and encourage them, but can't make them turn in their homework. They seemed to respond positively - several of the students who had been reprimanded came up and asked me what they needed to turn in. The c.c. and principal went into the classroom next door and gave the same lecture (I felt sorry for the teacher who was overseeing the class at the time). It is sad to see how they used shame to achieve compliance, instead of showing the students that they have a teacher who wants them to learn and grow and cares enough for them to say something about their poor performance... something I pray that God will allow me to demonstrate to my kids, little by little, day by day.

Met with the curriculum coordinator afterwards since a parent had complained / given suggestions for improvement regarding my tests. I was able to answer two of the three complaints satisfactorily - 1. I grade every piece of homework they turn in 2. I give them the answer to the bonus question (ex: What is mercy?) in class and write it on the board to see if they are paying attention. The third was a suggestion that I move the number of points possible from the beginning of the question to the end and use the term "marks" instead of points. All I could do was smile and say, "Sure" (which is exactly how the curriculum coordinator felt too).

A little after 1pm, I walked down to the market to T's office (from the orphanage). Since leaving her position at the orphanage, she is working for Heartland Alliance, which provides free legal counsel to Iraqi's. Their office is on the fourth floor of what looks like a clothing department store. When I arrived, she introduced me to her boss as "Helen Mezuri," which generated some conversation. After finishing up the monthly report she was writing, we explored the market, ate a bag of chips, looked at jewelry, and got some tamarind juice (I'd never tried it before - sort of sweet and sour). I enjoyed talking with T and asking her questions. She is forward-thinking and has some interesting ideas. Found myself praying often that God would give me the words to stay and keep me from inadvertently doing things that would be disrespectful. T introduced me to some of her distant relatives who own different stalls in the market, so I will be able to shop there in the future.

Came home and made the salad for tonight's team meeting. Mary made lasagna soup, and Julie and I had the sides - bread and salad. We Skyped with Dave and Lisa, then had a fire on the roof with a cheesecake dessert that Lisa made. Felt that I needed to walk in the strength of the Lord many times today, and was grateful to see the many ways He met that need. I am finding that it is possible to stay positive when I am resting in His strength. I used to get so discouraged, even depressed for months on end. Now, I can go into situations and instead of focusing on my shortcomings, I simply ask God to show me what He is doing. The stress to be successful, get things done, and see results melts away - I see that all things are ordained by Him and that He delights to be my strength through every situation.

Lately, external negativity seems to encroach on my joy in the Lord. All around me people are discouraged, stressed, and frustrated ... it becomes draining. But then I realize that this is just one more area I need to rely on the Lord for strength. He endured much greater negativity, but continued steadfastly in the will of His Father. By Christ's example, I know that it is possible to remain positive, but need the daily remainder that it is in His strength alone. I can't depend on myself to know how to comfort others, alleviate their stress, or calm their frustrations, I must continually turn to the Lord to give me patience and wisdom, ultimately trusting Him to meet their needs.

April 27th through 28th (Days 110-111): A Day of Rest and A Day at the Monastery

April 27th:
Woke up this morning thinking how exciting it is to see God bless us as we walk in His strength. I'm doing more things in my life than I ever thought possible and all because "with God, nothing [is] impossible." We had a good time at fellowship even though (or because?) it was a small group. Got a ride home, then visited with Mary and planned lunch for tomorrow's trip to Al Qosh. Made a frozen banana smoothie, then caught up on emails. I also listened to one of Pastor's sermons. Spent most of my time quietly, and enjoyed resting in the Lord.

In the evening, Stacy and I ate leftovers together and had a Coco-Star for dessert (coconut ice cream with coconut flakes in the chocolate coating). Afterwards, I got to Skype with Mom. She is selling the rest of my things in the Central Point garage sale with some of the ladies from church, so they (Mom, Jess, and the kids had a sleepover at Jamee's. During the Skype call I got to see some familiar faces - Shannon, Jamee, Levi, Lindy, Eithen, John Andrew, and Joab. My new favorite is Tristen, who not only wanted to spend his Spring Break in Iraq with Miss Helen, but also told his little sister in disbelief, "Can you believe Miss Helen isn't back to teach Latin, yet?!" It's good to know someone is thinking of me! I guess Eithen thinks of me more than we know, since he crawled in bed with Jess last night. She wondered why he kept playing with her hair and giving her loves, but figured it out after Eithen woke up this morning telling Mom, "Sissy a home!" Jess (below) has similar hair, but is far prettier, so I was flattered. :)

I think he was a little confused to see me back "in" the computer this morning...

April 28th:
Got to go to Al Qosh with John, Mary, and their guests from back home (Mary's brother-in-law, Matt and a member of his church, Brad). Al Qosh is an Assyrian village not too far outside Duhok. We visited a 5th century monastery, the newer monastery from the 1800s and the tomb of Nahum that is also in the village.

Samer and Melad (teachers from our school) and Mr. Laith (the maintenance man at our school) and his family joined us. Samer is explaining to the group that some men are buried here, at the newer monastery.

Here is the inside of the church at the newer monastery:

The disciples are depicted up above with something specific to represent each one. It is amazing how iconography can be so similar across so many cultures.

Next to this plaque was a very small gift shop that sold cross necklaces, paintings, and statues. Apart from those two things there was little information for tourists, which is understandable since it is still an active monastery that graciously opens its doors to the oppressed coming from cities like Mosul and Baghdad. It was just interesting to note the difference in commercialization between places like this and similar "historical sites" in America.

After we visited the newer monastery, we drove up the mountain to the old monastery (you have to look closely since it is carved into the side of the mountain):

Behind the chapel of the old monastery are some old catacombs, where we went exploring. It was nice and cool down there:

This room is where "wishes come true." You make a wish on one side of the room, then close your eyes and walk towards this cross with your hand in front of you.  If your hand lays directly on top of the cross, then your wish will come true. All the guys tried it, but I was the only one who made it successfully! (They accused me of cheating ... sore losers!)

It was really neat to walk through something so old. I wish I could've had more time to sit and picture what it must have been like back in the 5th century or even in the 1800s. Laith and Samer were good tour guides and helped explain a lot of the old traditions, otherwise it would have been harder to piece together some of the history. There were amazing views everywhere we looked! (I took a lot more pictures, which I posted on Facebook). The best part was the absolute quiet. There were really no other tourists (just a small group from Mosul that came to pray and had gathered at the newer monastery.) It was really a peaceful place.

We drove a little ways into the village. After some winding around small roads, stopping to ask for directions, and backtracking, we finally stopped to visit one of Laith's friends, who is a nun at the school for girls. It wasn't necessarily part of the plan, but that is very typical of the way life works here (our director advised me to pack lots of flexibility when I came to Duhok!) After our visit (which lasted about 20 minutes), we went to Nahum's tomb. It is in a ruined synagogue, which has not been kept up very well. There is green plastic covering the tomb, which sits in a gated enclosure. Otherwise, there is not much security or upkeep. It was interesting to see the Hebrew lettering on the walls and wonder what the synagogue would have been like in its prime.

We left around 4pm. When we got home, I was exhausted (it didn't help that I got up a little after 5 this morning). Rested for a bit, then all of us Americans went to the market. We gave Matt and Brad an introduction to its wares, but didn't really go too far. We took them through the vegetable den and helped them buy some scarves as gifts to take back home. Went out to dinner at the Turkish place where you get all the salads and a sandwich for only 3000. Enjoyed the walk home, then finished grading fourth grade math tests. Headed for bed, hoping I get a good night's sleep!

April 26th Addendum

In my sleepiness last night, I forgot to mention some important events at the picnic:
1. A lot of the teachers with cars brought them to the picnic. Because of the heat (and lack of shade) one of the teachers had his car turned on with the A/C and the teachers were piled in trying to get cool. There was a point when no one was in the driver's seat and there were only three of us girls in the car. I asked the teacher (Samer) if he trusted me to drive it. He told me I could go ahead, so after getting all the kids out of the way, I drove the car around the dirt loop. The girls in the car were pretty excited that I could drive. We made it around the loop without incident - definitely a highlight in my day!
2. I saw the student that I had dragged out of class (the one I had sent to the principal's office on Wednesday). I made sure to check on him, and asked him if everything was good between us. He replied, "We're okay, Miss" with a cute little head nod too.
3. I discovered my new favorite food, which is called "booreck." It is flavorful, ground meat wrapped up like an egg roll. Really yummy!
4. Even though the pics make it seem like we're simply eating, dancing, and having fun the entire time, I was actually able to have three meaningful conversations with some of the teachers. I'm thankful to see that God is providing opportunities to build better relationships.

April 25th through 26th (Days 108-109): The Joy of a Job Well-Done

April 25th:
It's amazing what a good night's sleep will do! Woke up feeling refreshed and encouraged. Had a good time of devotions this morning. As I thought about the discouragement of the last two days, I realized that it has pointed towards another area where God is weaning me from trusting in my own strength to rely more on Him. With the joy of the weekend strong in my sails, I moved into the next two days feeling somewhat invincible and believing in my own ability to get what I needed from circumstances and other people. When expectations weren't met over the two days, my happiness flagged. My mindset was entirely subconscious, so the reason for discouragement was hard to pinpoint at first. As I prayed over it this morning, God showed me that I need to learn to respond. Instead of looking ahead and deciding what should happen, I need to sit back and watch how it unfolds according to God's plan. Having an idea of what I think should happen and believing that I can bring about that outcome gives me a sense of security. God is teaching me that my only security can be found in Him. My verse for the day was, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."


The "rowdy" class did fairly well on their test. They still have a lot of trouble keeping quiet, but it seemed like they understood the questions much better this time. The art class following was not very good. Five of the boys would not listen despite repeated warnings, and the class in general was not very responsive. I sent the two worst boys out of class and spent the last five minutes making the class sit with their arms folded. Despite the silence in the classroom, two boys in the back continued talking! I told them to come with me to the principal's. One of the boys refused to come. He broke down sobbing and held onto the desk. I dragged him out of class and some of the other boys had to help me. I felt awful, but knew that if I didn't follow through the next class would be even worse. One of those moments when it is easy to feel like a failure. The only comfort was knowing that I had to look to the Lord to make it work out for good since I was trusting in His strength to do the right thing. Went from there directly into the next art class which was fairly good. I had a 30 minute break, then on to the next fourth grade class. They did really well on their tests yesterday, so I decided to give them a special treat. I gave a brief overview of the lesson in less than 15 minutes and then let them go to the garden.

The weather has been really warm, so the kids were anxious to get cold drinks from the snack shop. The "snack man" had disappeared though, and no one knew where he went. When I got down to the garden, the kids were lined up against the fence asking one of the administrators if they could go to the market across the street to get "waters" (the word they should really use is "snacks"). The administrator had one of the guards take a group of older students, but didn't allow my fourth grade girls to go. They begged me to take them, so I waited to make sure it would be alright, then did a head count and we were off. The girls were great and listened to everything I told them. We all got ice creams, then headed back. I became "the best teacher ever," which was nice, but the best part was rewarding them for a job well done. Those moments seem to come few and far between with the way students behave at our school. Sat outside with some of the seventh grade girls, then went back to the teacher room to grade after the period was over.


Finished off the afternoon teaching my last third grade art class. After it was over, I caught a ride back with Lisa and Andy. Lisa and I had some girl time and enjoyed a macadamia, vanilla iced coffee! We walked up to the local market, then I headed back for home. Made some raisin bran bread for fellowship, then Skyped with Mom, Grandma, Jaden, and Eithen. I loved Jaden's first comment on the call, "Hi Sissy! I wish I could give you a hug!" Enjoyed a long conversation with each one, then headed for bed.

April 26th:
It's amazing what some iced coffee will do! (To use yesterday's words...) I didn't end up falling asleep until after 1am. When I realized I couldn't relax, I got up and read some Edwards. Finally dozed off, but woke up at 5am. Got dressed up in my Jilli Kurdi, then Dan and Julie came by and picked me up in a taxi.

We got to the school a little after 8:30am. Most of the kids were already there and anxious to get on their buses. They were supposed to wait in their classrooms until we could take a head count, but it didn't quite work that way. Eventually everyone got loaded up and we were off a little after 9:30am. We drove out to our location, which didn't have very much shade. The kids were pleased to be there though and started unloading all their food and mats to sit on. Each class prepared their picnic while the teachers waited in some shade. When we'd given them some time, we found our students, who then invited us to eat with them. I ended up eating the main meal with my second class of fourth grade girls:

Then had some snacks with the "rowdy" fourth grade boys:

Before moving on to some Kurdish dancing:

Spent the rest of the afternoon trying to stay cool and taking pictures with my students. Here are some of the third grade boys: 

Fourth grade girls (from the "rowdy" class):

I also enjoyed spending time with the teachers. Delin is one of my favorite teachers. She is getting married this week! 

Lelav and Suzan are also really sweet teachers and they like teaching me Kurdish words:

Despite the heat, it was another fun-filled day. We left around 4pm, then took the kids back to the school. I waited for quite awhile to make sure they were picked up by their parents, then got home around 6:30pm. Took a shower, then went over to Mary's for a cup of tea (she had to stay home with Henry, who now has the chickenpox). Enjoyed a slice of the raisin bran bread, then off to an early bed!

April 23rd through 24th (Days 106-107): Short and Sweet

April 23rd:
One of those days when I am happy to be alone in my thoughts. The weekend stirred up a lot of emotions and thoughts, so it was good to take some time to process them. School went well. I only taught the two math classes, but had a lot of grading and a couple meetings. By the time I got home, I was tired (I haven't slept well the last two nights and am still tired from the picnic). I really wanted to take a nap, but had a cup of tea and powered through so I could write my math test for tomorrow. John, Mary, Stacy and I headed off for our team meeting at 5pm. Lisa made chicken biryani (a Kurdish dish), Mary made hummus, and Stacy made a cucumber, tomato salad. It was nice to have the week off! Julie made frozen fruit salad for dessert, which we polished off without a problem. Julie's parents are visiting, so they joined us for our meeting. The highlight of the evening was feeding Zephie her rice cereal. Lisa just started her on it this last week, so it reminded me of feeding Eithen his first cereal. Seeing how much Zephie and Henry have grown in four months makes me wonder how much Eithen has changed...

April 24th:
Went to the copy room to get my tests printed and much to my relief there was a ream of paper sitting on the copier. Plenty of paper to get enough tests copied ... and then ... "Believe me, Miss, we are all out of ink! It will be an hour." Ohhh... We improvised and the "rowdy" class got a review day. Some of the kids were having a really hard time focusing, so I let the "good" team go to the garden early and made the others review the lessons until they were sitting still. Thankfully there was enough paper by the time I got to my second 4th grade class (who can't handle change). I graded their tests afterwards and am encouraged to see that they're improving! We'll see how the test goes tomorrow for the other class...

When I got home, I changed into comfy clothes and made a frozen banana smoothie. Got an email notification regarding my flight home, so I called the airlines. It turns out that the carrier changed for one of my flights ... of course that was only established after a 45 minute phone call on hold. Cooked up some sausage, egg, spinach, and cheese for dinner, then decided I would make some more granola, since I had finished it off this morning and need to eat up the rest of the dates. I realized I didn't have honey, so I had to change into long-sleeves, pants, and a long shirt for a trip around the corner. After some charades, I figured out the word for honey. Unfortunately the first two places I tried didn't have any, so I had to go a little further and got some with the honeycomb too ... Came home and threw the granola together, trying not to keep the oven on too long, since it has been getting warmer and warmer in the afternoons.

Spent the remainder of the evening resting...

April 21st through 22nd (Days 104-105): When Peace Like a River

April 21st:

Went on a picnic with the teachers from school. John, Mary, Henry, and I taxied to the school a little before 9am. We were supposed to rendezvous at 9am so we could leave around 9:15 ... which turned into 9:50. We loaded up into five vehicles and drove for about an hour and a half to a beautiful location on the Khabur River. It was a perfect day for a picnic. The sun was shining and we stayed nice and cool next to the river.

Green grass and blue skies!

We wandered around taking pictures and played games until lunch was served. Lunch was lamb soup over pieces of bread. The awning provided some nice shade - it was truly a unique picnicking spot!

It didn't matter where you turned, the views were amazing.

After lunch we had a program arranged by the school's vice principal (on the left). One team wrote down "Why..." questions about our fellow teachers and the other team wrote down "because..." answers. The "why" questions and "because" answers were picked at random. For example: Why did Nadia fall into the river? Because ... she wanted to get married!

Around 5pm it was decided that we should change locations. We drove about a few minutes back the way we came and stopped here. Simply stunning. I couldn't soak in enough.

There was more space, so we did some Kurdish dancing. The Assyrians have a couple different dance steps, so they showed us their moves too. 

We ate dinner - beef and vegetable skewers with bread. Mmmm...

One last group pic before we head for home. (They love taking pictures here, so we fit right in with our cameras!)

We left to go back to Duhok around 6:30pm. It only took us 45 minutes to get back ... yep, that's right, half the time! When they want to get home, they can really step on it, and that goes for everyone on the road! Close your eyes and hang on!

April 22nd:

Tired after a long day out, but blissfully content as a result of sunshine, time with friends, and beautiful scenery.  It was really peaceful to spend some time away from the city. Thanking the Lord that I can participate in fun events that make me feel more at home in this place.

Had a good time with my kids in the "rowdy" class. I gave them their grades from the last "phase" (each semester is broken into at least 3 phases). I think the low scores opened their eyes to the importance of turning in homework. Some tried to blame me for their marks, but I kept putting the ball back in their court and showing them how many homework papers they had missed (or copied for a zero). Much to my relief, I had several students approach me after class, "I want to get better marks in your class, Miss. What can I do?"  It's really exciting to see that they want to improve ... leaving me an open door to help them! Praying that God will give me the patience and wisdom to teach them what they need to learn.

Taught my 11am (3rd grade class) the art lesson for the new curriculum. It went fairly well. The highlight of the class was to see that the three worst students are now working diligently in class! Their faces light up as I praise their work and acknowledge their good behavior. They are so happy to be the first to leave and shake hands with me while I thank them for being good students.

Read a chapter out of "Little Pilgrim's Progress" during the lunch break. Two of the girls are really there just to be with me. They can be distracting as they try to sit close and ask me unrelated questions. We only made it through one chapter today, but I was happy to end the story time early and just talk to them.

The phase grades had the same effect on the second 4th grade math class. Unfortunately they weren't as attentive as usual, but I was able to apply a math concept to the situation ... what fraction of the students are misbehaving? Should I stop the class and make you work on your homework because of them? The kids were quick to point out that the misbehaving students were in the minority, so their argument was "No." Funny how fast they catch on to math when it directly relates to them!

Took a taxi to H and J's house. We read for a little while, but cut the lesson short since they had to go visiting. H's husband came home and made iced lattes. AMAZING! I haven't had an iced latte in a really, really, really long time! When I got home, Stacy and I went to the market. It has taken awhile to get used to not buying things in bulk or always having a supply on hand. Thankfully, one of my friends told me about her experiences in Asia and mentioned how she would go to the market daily to pick out their food for dinner - it helped me adjust to the idea a little faster (otherwise I would've thought it strange to go to the market so often!) Bought a juice (fresh melon) and drank it on the walk home.

Skyped with Mom and Dad at 5pm. It is always good to see their faces and hear their voices. Ate some leftover curry chicken that I had put in the freezer for a quick meal. Ready for bed, knowing with confidence that it is well with my soul!

April 19th through 20th (Days 102-103): A Happy, Thankful Heart

April 19th:
I forgot to say "Happy Birthday, Dad!" (I Skyped him, but forgot to mention that in yesterday's entry.)


0500 Woke up after a silly mosquito started buzzing in my ear. Enjoyed a longer time reading and praying. As I finished reading Luke 4, it struck me that Christ's refutations to temptation were afterwards confirmed in His "everyday" experiences. When he entered the synagogue and read from Isaiah, Christ closed by saying, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." He states His purpose for coming to earth, which was to fulfill the Scripture. He did not come to live conveniently, but to do the will of the Father. (Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.) Afterwards, the people were filled with wrath and rose up to "thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong." As the devil had tempted Christ to cast Himself from the pinnacle that the angels might deliver Him, the people here are ready to cast Him down headlong. In this real situation, as in the temptation, Christ was confident that this was not the end that His Father had intended for Him; He passes through the midst of them and continues on His way. Lastly, Christ had been tempted to worship the devil that He might receive all the kingdoms of the world. In reality, the devils must acknowledge that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and they are afraid lest He destroy them. The clear contrast in Luke teaches me that the devil will try to tempt me with things that are not real. As I am delivered from temptation, standing fast in the truth of God's Word, I can watch and see the reality of God's truth unfold in my everyday experiences.


0830 Walked to school and prayed over another day of teaching. As I visited with teachers in the break room, I found out that one of them is getting married in a few weeks ... she just met her fiance two months ago! They are getting engaged this weekend (there will be a large ceremony on Saturday), then they are going to Turkey to get married around May 5th.


0915 My "rowdy" class went really well, and I had a fun time with the kids. Even when they were misbehaving, I was able to look at them with that "are you really going to do this today?" look and they would smile back and straightened up. Two of the boys completely blew me off, so I had to take them to the principal.


1000 While waiting for the principal to arrive, I got to visit with a 7th grader that I met at the soccer clinic. It is fun to see how the older students will smile and talk to me now that I've interacted with them more.


1015 Graded papers in the teacher room. I don't go home in the middle of the day anymore since my breaks are so much shorter and I have more grading to finish. Being at the school more means I am getting to know the teachers better and they are more comfortable around me. Several of the teachers will come to me with English questions for their classes. Today I was approached with, "You know Miss Helen, that ancient instrument used for killing birds?" I've learned to repeat the question back to them in case I throw out the wrong word entirely. Sometimes I think I should respond "Jeopardy" style, "What is ... a slingshot?" I've also been asked how to pronounce the names of Egyptian pharaohs (with the way they keep changing for political correctness, I don't think anyone knows the correct pronunciations anymore!) Met with the curriculum director. In addition to the art fair, we are supposed to complete a step-by-step art lesson next week (for the curriculum that Lisa is developing) and critique it. It will be a busy week!


1145 Read "Little Pilgrim's Progress" to my students for their lunch break. The same students from yesterday came and they were very attentive. Afterwards I showed them pictures of my family on my iPad. When they saw Eithen, a lot of them said, "Oh, he looks just like my little brother!" or "Gelleck Jonah" which means "Very Beautiful." They also thought Jaden was pretty cute. When they saw Caleb and Stephen, they could tell they were similar to their own ages and wanted to know more about them.


1215 Taught the second 4th grade class. Their session went really well. It is exciting to see that we are getting settled into a routine together. I have at least twice as many students turning in their homework, and almost the entire class participates in the lesson.


1300 More papers to grade since I had the students complete a project and a lesson set for homework.


1345 Taught the 3rd grade art class. They were much better today. I am eager to see what they will produce for the art show.


1430 After school I always return to the teacher's room to put things in my locker. When I walked in today, they were in the middle of a teacher meeting for the locals (we have a separate one in English). The door opened right into the front of the room, so there was no way to retreat quietly. One of those embarrassingly funny moments.


1440 Walked home, thinking how thankful I am for my job and my students.


1500 Arrived home, feeling energized. Responded to a lot of emails, graded all my papers, and sent off the gradebook to the curriculum director.


1800 Skyped with Jessica, which was an unexpected, but pleasant surprise. The only thing better would have been chatting over a cup of coffee in person.


1900 Went to Sarky's with Stacy and we caught up on the week's events over pizza.


2000 Checked on John (with his shingles) and Mary (since I couldn't get through on her phone earlier). Mary came over and we talked for a little while.


2230 Crawled into bed late, feeling like I could indulge since it is officially the start of another weekend!


April 20th:
Stayed home from fellowship this morning and listened to a couple sermons from home. I was challenged to ask myself, "What am I pursuing for my happiness?" In a place like Kurdistan, the choices for pleasure are limited, which means my pursuits are easier to narrow down. I came to the conclusion that my pursuits are the same things I would have worried about having (or not having) back home when thinking about moving to a place like this. Probably first on the list is control. I want to be able to control my space, my time, my food, etc. This is an area I am striving to conquer as I pursue my spiritual goal to "walk consciously in the power of God on a daily basis." The more I depend on God, the more I must surrender control. Secondly, I pursue happiness by helping others. I have to be careful that in helping others I do this "as unto the Lord," receiving my happiness from Him.


By God's goodness I have been growing happier and happier in Him every day. As I realize my full acceptance in Christ before the Lord, my heart overflows with joy. Through continual practice, I am able to trace more and more of my emotions back to where I am standing before God. If I am trying to hide an idol or erase my shame, then I am discouraged, depressed, disdainful of others. When nothing stands between my Beloved and me, I am filled with hope, thankfulness, and love for others.


It was a good morning/afternoon of singing songs, reading God's Word, and listening to sermons. Around 3, Stacy and I went to the store and picked up ice cream. We brought it back to John and Mary's and visited with them. All of us went to Pizza Hot for dinner. I had something new: stir-fried chicken, peppers, onions, and mushrooms alongside fries - pizza without the crust! The weather was really nice, so we took the longer way home and enjoyed the walk.

April 17th through 18th (Days 100-101): How Time Flies

April 17th
As I went to bed last night, I read through Luke 4 (the text we will be studying on Friday). It dawned on me (and probably because I heard it somewhere else before) that the devil was tempting Christ to take the shortcut to His ministry on earth. Because Christ was "made in the likeness of men," He would feel the weaknesses of the flesh - fatigue, pain, hunger. The first temptation was to avoid these by changing the stones to bread for nourishment. Christ's purpose for being in the flesh was not to live His life conveniently without suffering, but to live by and according to the Word of God, ultimately fulfilling the Word. "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." Christ came in the flesh to inherit a kingdom. The second temptation (as listed by Luke) is to skip the rest of His life on earth and receive "all the kingdoms of the world" in a moment. Yet Christ, consistent with His first statement (that man lives according to God's Word) can not use evil means, though the end would still be accomplished. In a final attempt, the devil attacks the very heart of the gospel. He tempts Christ to avoid the cross. How many men, in their inability to face the wrath of God, have taken their own lives trying to escape? Yet Christ can not. In order to redeem His people, He must be forsaken, He must bear the full punishment for sin, and die on a cross.


As Christ could not avoid weakness, though He was the Son of God, I must not expect to live conveniently, but live with a full view of my shortcomings, walking in the strength of the Lord.


As Christ could not implement evil means to fulfill the Father's will, so I must look to the Father for His guidance moment by moment that I might not fall prey to any of my own schemes.


As Christ could not escape the suffering and shame ordained for Him, so I can not expect any less; I must be ready to endure the cross with a thankful heart that I am not forsaken.


This morning my fourth grade class was much better. We had a one problem test, completed the overview for two lessons, and I explained how they could receive partial credit on their homework by showing their work. I notice that this class does much better when I can keep the lesson moving (which is challenging when I have to talk over so much noise. Need to pray about teaching the lesson more creatively for this group). After class I called up one of the students and asked her if she had given her homework to specific individuals (each one had the exact same answers). She confirmed my suspicions for all of the boys, but when I asked about her best friend, she looked down and denied that she'd cheated. I wasn't sure how to proceed, but in the same moment, the friend came up, put her hand on her friends shoulder, and told me that she copied! Amazement and gratitude to God filled my heart in the same second. I thanked her for telling the truth and when I graded the homework, gave her 100%, making a note on her paper that the truth is more important than getting the right answers.


My 3rd grade art class was not up to their usual standard of behavior. I hope it is because there is a holiday tomorrow and they are antsy to have a day off. During the half hour lunch break, I read a story in one of the fourth grade classrooms. I handed out invitations to both classes and told them they could bring their food and eat while they listened. About ten students trickled in and out of the room during the break. I think most wanted to make a good impression, but I had three who were really attentive and asked me questions afterwards. I am reading "Little Pilgrim's Progress," but not sure if there will be enough time to finish before the school year ends.

My 12:15 class was pretty good. They can't run through material as quickly (even the "good" students need to have things repeated), but more of them have started to turn in homework and are showing ALL their work! Cheating has also subsided. Spent an hour after class in the teacher lounge grading papers and encouraged to see the progress. One of my quiet students was just starting to come out of his shell in my art class, when I switched to teaching math. I was afraid that he would retreat again, but today he actually turned in his homework and seems to understand more than I thought! He has some learning disabilities and troubles at home, but is very sweet and responds to my eye contact.

It seems appropriate that today would be my 100th day of being here. It would not be difficult to list at least 100 blessings that God has showered on me lately. I really feel how much I don't deserve them. His goodness far exceeds what I can ever imagine. Though I depend on Him for everything - strength to live in Christ, hope to persevere, light to understand - He graciously meets my needs, and gives me extra besides.

At 3, Mary, Julie and I went to Buhar City. It is a store on the other side of town that has a lot of dishes and cookware for better prices than we can find in the market. Next door is a market called "TeamMart" where we also found some good deals on food. The latest craze on our team is Magnum Infinity. It is dark chocolate ice cream covered in a dark chocolate shell. We each got one for the ride home - delicious, but really rich! After we unloaded our purchases we all went to Jovia for dinner (John, Dan and Henry too). We saw some friends from fellowship there (a funny coincidence), then enjoyed curry chicken and the Jovia Spec (I think they meant "Special"). Mary wanted to find something for Henry to sit upright in, so we went to a few baby stores on the way home.

April 18th:
"...of making many books there is no end." This verse runs through my mind nearly every time I sit down to update the blog. Sometimes it is helpful to release my thoughts on "paper," but other times I feel like I run through the same itinerary over and over again. There was no school today, so perhaps I feel a little purposeless.

Regardless, it was a busy day. We went to the governor's house at 11am. One of the governor's sons had posted something inappropriate on his Facebook, and Andy and John talked to the principal about it. The principal phoned the mother, who promptly invited the entire team over to their house as a way of reconciliation. Andy and John tried to explain that we were not upset or took it personally, but simply wanted the son to realize that some things are not appropriate. All to no avail. The principal picked us up at 10:30am and we were off to the governor's mansion. (I didn't have to come, but was curious to see what it would be like.) As we walked up the steps, it was apparent that this was no ordinary house. Two caged birds greeted us on the patio. The patio was mostly overtaken by an inset fountain, but was also furnished with a shaded wicker bench and some potted plants. As we stepped into the house, I involuntarily sucked in my breath. The white couches were gilded with silver and rhinestones. (Lisa and Andy both reached for Zander who had started to clamber onto one.) The walls were covered floor to ceiling with elegant wallpaper and the room was carefully arranged with attractive furniture. The governor was out of town, but his two wives hosted us. We stayed for a little over half an hour. During that time we were given pieces of candy, water, coffee, and at the end, a variety of sweet cakes. The student's mother made sure to tell us in a variety of ways that no harm was meant. John and Andy (through the principal who translated for us) responded accordingly until there was nothing left to say. There is no sense of "I am sorry. It won't happen again." in this culture. Everything must be round about so that in the end, everyone is absolved. As we left, the family gave Zander a two-seater tricycle as a gift. He was thrilled!

Lisa and I went to the market afterwards to buy clothes for Zephie and Zander and gifts to take back to the States. I always enjoy going with Lisa since we shop almost identically. While Lisa went into one stall, I stopped in at the one next door. I took awhile looking for things and was worried she would've moved on by the time I came out. Nope! She was still shopping too! Because we're both pretty thorough, it's nice to go out together.

When I got home, I did my laundry, grated a block of cheese, and made some thank-you cards. I haven't had to cook too much lately, but I did make some yummy pasta for dinner tonight. I boiled the noddles, then added sausage (80% chicken and 20% beef), parmesan-like cheese, and a little bit of spinach. It almost tasted like one of our family recipes back home! It was good to feel productive.

Around 7pm, Stacy and I took the neighbor kids to Geli Park for ice cream. The youngest is about Jaden's age. He held my hand the entire time - I didn't realize how much I missed having a little hand tucked into mine!

April 15th through 16th (Days 98-99): Back to the Routine

April 15th:
Left a little early this morning so I could makes copies of the test. (John and Mary were kind enough to print off my papers, so I stopped by their apartment first - Mary handed me the test, and told me that John has shingles! Another discouragement from the enemy, but John seems to be bearing it patiently. Medical issues are the last thing any of us want to have here!)

Once again, the copy shack at school was running low on paper, so I only copied off enough for my first class. The class was much quieter today and there was definitely improvement. They still don't understand all of the concepts they should have learned already, but they remember the things we have learned together so far.

After my first class, I subbed for 6th grade. Some of the girls from soccer were in the class, so it was fun to see them again. (It amazes me how unruly the students will be for a sub! I remember that our behavior for a sub was always more scrutinized.) Apparently we are going to have an Art Fair at the beginning of May (I hope this doesn't turn out like the Valentine's Day party). Since the kids are "supposed" to turn things in this week, I taught them how to write their name using one-point perspective to submit for the fair.

Went directly to my 3rd grade art class and taught them the same technique. It was really encouraging to see that my third graders were more attentive and even produced better work than the 6th graders! It was a good test to see how much they have improved: working diligently on their projects, drawing more details, keeping their work neat and expressing their creativity. Had a half hour break, which flew by since I had to administer the math test to three students who have trouble with English comprehension, answer students' questions from the homework, and copy off the rest of the tests for the next class. The second class of 4th graders are showing improvement as well, though I've noticed that some of them score really well on their homework, yet can hardly do one problem on the test (they have tutors who "help" them at home). I subbed for their teacher after me and had them work on the name project too.

When I left, I went straight to H's house and worked with J for a little awhile. H is always gracious to feed me. We talk for a little while, then I take J up to his room which doubles as a schoolroom. We read together and play some word games, then H will bring us hot chocolate and coffee while we finish. J has really improved in reading, and I am thankful for new friends. H had some syrup on the counter, which she found at Mazi just a few days ago. When I left, I took a taxi to Mazi and picked up three bottles (one for every family on the team) - we haven't seen any syrup in Duhok, so it's important to stock up on those things! :)

By the time I got home I was exhausted. No time for a nap though ... graded some of the tests, then Skyped with my family. I got to wake up Eithen, but I think he was disappointed when he realized I wasn't actually there in person. Four months is a long time to have not given any hugs to the brothers ...

When I dropped off the syrup to John and Mary after my call, they were just eating dinner and invited me to join them. Mary had made a new kind of bread with rosemary, which was super yummy! So grateful for kind neighbors... not having to cook anything made it much easier to go back home and finish grading.

April 16th:
Last night I had my first annoying mosquito experience. I could hear it, but couldn't kill it. Keeping the fan on during the night helped keep it from hovering over my head. When I woke up this morning I was thankful not to have any new bug bites, but as I was reading and praying, that annoying mosquito kept flying in front of my face! (I actually asked the Lord to let me kill it, but didn't get to until I was about ready to walk out the door.) The weather today was strange. It looked like it was going to clear up this morning, so I prepared for warmer weather, but threw on a light coat before heading out. Thankful I did since it started to sprinkle once I got to school. The rest of the day stayed windy and cool.

My rowdy class lived up to its name this morning. Both teams ended up losing their break (which means I lose mine too ... oh, the sacrifices we make for our kids!) Seven of the boys scooted out, so when they came back in, I escorted them down to the principal's office. (The cleaning ladies sit in a corner next to the principal's office, so they always see me bringing down the kids and they will "cluck" in disapproval. At first I think there was some skepticism from them and other teachers that I wasn't doing my job if I had to take kids to the principal, but since getting to know me a little better, they will now scold the students as I bring them by.) When we got to the door of the office, the boys started arguing with me about why they "deserved" their break. As I waited patiently for them to finish, two of the boys surprised me. They actually apologized for taking up my class time and not taking the punishment they deserved. (Did I actually just hear them say that?!) Hopeful that it came from their hearts, I let them go back to class ... just in the nick of time, because the principal came out, asked me what had happened, then took the other five into his office. Later, as I was grading papers in the teacher's lounge, he came and told me that he had given the boys yellow cards, which their parents would sign and return to him. I was really encouraged to have so much support from him, especially since I have been trying not to go to him immediately, but implement methods that will motivate the students instead of squelch their efforts.

Spent my break grading tests, then headed off to the second 4th grade class. It seems like they are starting to understand more of the lessons. I am encouraged to see that the middle level students are making improvements. Not only do they turn in homework, they are also participating in class and making an effort to learn. It is interesting to be on this side of the gradebook. I am beginning to understand the frustrations I could sense from my teachers, not necessarily because of me, but because no matter how they taught, the attentive, "good" students always did well and the poor students always did poorly. It is really the "middle" group that I have to focus on and watch for their advancement. The climax will be the day when all of my students are active in their own education, striving to grow their minds and reaching out for new opportunities.

Came home and took a nap. My allergies have really been bothering me and I think a cold may be setting in. My body is aching and tired. Feel tension building, but not sure why. After my nap, I made dessert for our team dinner tonight - Brownie Batter Dip with crackers and fruit on the side for dipping (compliments of Stacy). We moved our team dinner to 5pm so we could all get home earlier. Julie made Taco Salad; chips and toppings by Lisa; and Mary's salsa and queso on the side. For team time, we wrote down the lies we tell ourselves or that the enemy whispers to us, then countered them with Scriptures. Spent a good time praying. By the time we'd finished eating, I was feeling worse. I almost went home after team devotions, but decided I'd better just stick it out. Skyped with Dave and Lisa and found out that the situation in Suli is not getting better. Our teammates may be going back to America soon. Lots to keep praying about. Thankful that it has not reached us, but eager for the Lord's will to be done, knowing that this is not easy for our colleagues.

Made it home, ready to crash into bed and hoping I feel better tomorrow.

April 13th through 14th (Days 96-97): All-Day Events

April 13th:
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I can't help thinking these pictures will say more than I can express. First thing this morning I got ready to go on a Kurdish picnic. I walked to the orphanage (not far from Andy and Lisa's) and discovered that the lady who invited me wasn't there yet. I was ushered into a "ladies lounge," already occupied by five other women (who didn't speak any English) for T to arrive. I was already apprehensive about being the only American on the picnic, but felt that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and was confident that God would see me through the day. Even though it was an awkward beginning, I was reminded that smiling and making eye contact go a long way in overcoming communication barriers.

When T arrived, we waited for the buses to load, then drove with the director of the orphanage to the picnic site. T is very friendly. From the beginning, she told her niece (who was my shadow for the rest of the day) to call me "Aunt." On the drive to the picnic, T told me I needed to pick a tribe to belong to. The director said (through T) that I should choose his tribe (Bedani?), and then T told me the name of her's. She said I should just roll them around on my tongue and see which one I liked better. I dodged the question for awhile, but as the day progressed, it came around again. Not wanting to upset anyone, I finally said that I would join myself to the "Mezuri" tribe since it sounded like one of our states in America (Missouri - in case you were wondering) - Mezuri also happens to be T's tribe, which I think pleased her.  :)

We drove for about a half hour to a beautiful spot in the country. There were other picnickers, but we had a large area all to ourselves. Trash is everywhere, which spoils the natural beauty of their countryside, but if you could see beyond, it was truly refreshing to be out of the city.

The countryside:

New friends (T is to my left):

The director and one of the girls from the orphanage:

When we arrived, everyone set up their "areas," spreading out blankets under the trees and hanging up sheets to provide some shade. T and I moved from group to group so she could say "hi" to everyone.

All of a sudden it was lunch time. The owner of a restaurant in Duhok provides all the meals for the orphanage (which they try to keep nutritional) and he graciously offered to bring the food for the picnic as well. As we sat down to eat, it started raining! Nothing more than a few sprinkles for an Oregonian like me, but we ate quickly and then moved back under the trees until it stopped. The rain didn't last long and we had clear skies the rest of the day.

After lunch, I was standing around awkwardly, when some of the girls (ages 14-18) from the orphanage gathered up enough courage to ask me my name. I practiced my few Kurdish phrases and by the end of the day they were my new best friends. It is amazing how much you can tell about someone's personality without really talking to them. There was the girl who is confident and outgoing, and her friend who is more striking in appearance, but  looks to others for approval. There was her older sister who stood off to the side, content to be with a close friend and expressive of the responsibility she feels for her younger sister and brother. The two little girls who wanted to stay as close as possible, though they couldn't understand anything I said, eager to please me with chips and flowers... someday I might get to know all of their hopes and dreams, disappointments, and hurts, but until then it was fun to watch and learn from them. They taught me how to dance ... Kurdish style:

More dancing:

which helped dry us out and stretch our legs from all the sitting.

As I took a break from dancing, some of the boys I had met earlier (during our tour of the facility) came up and said "hello."

We sat around and talked most of the time. T was probably afraid I would feel excluded if I only spent time with the girls, so she made sure to take me from group to group to visit with the women (the girls were much more fun, though ...) :) When we weren't talking, we were usually snacking on seeds, nuts, raisins, or candies.

The boys started a game of soccer...

... while some of the older ladies moved on to a more secluded area for even more Kurdish dancing. This time, we danced to their singing. From what I could gather, they were telling a story about each of the cities (I will have to ask T the next time I see her). One lady would sing the verse, then the others would join in with a chorus. It is very much like a chant with a distinctive beat. Every so often someone chimes in with a high-pitched "dedalalalalal" that T compares to a Native American war cry.

I tried to soak up as much of "nature" as I could:

The boys were playing around with a microphone and a speaker and some of them were pretty good singers!

Some of the smaller girls who had been too timid before, gathered around me and told me their names. We started an interesting conversation about what their names mean. (My students already told me that "Heleen" means "nest" in Kurdish!)

This little girl can't walk. She was left with the police when she was only 2 and half years old. She is so sweet!

After we ate one more meal, we loaded up the buses around 5:30 and headed for home. It is surprising how fast everything gets packed up. No one made an official announcement, everyone just got ready to leave. The men loaded everything while the woman cleaned up the food. Kids scrambled into the buses and they were off in less than 10 minutes! 

Phew! What a day! Came home and Skyped with Jessica, then thankful to plop into bed at a decent hour. [I actually had my first dream in Kurdish!]

April 14th:
Woke up this morning ready for another all-day event. I picked up Lisa and Julie in a taxi and we headed off to the soccer field one last time. Today was the big tournament, so all the kids were excited to be there, wearing their official jerseys and showing off their soccer skills. A tournament back home wouldn't have really been a big deal - I might have gone to watch the kids I babysat play a couple innings of T-Ball, or cheered for my cousin from the sidelines - but there were always opportunities to watch or even participate in sports. For the past six weeks, soccer practice has been my one outlet each week. Not only do I get to run and shout (which I could never do outside the arena), I also interact with the kids in a very real way. I cheer them on, give them high-fives, laugh with them, tell them to "get back in the game with a good attitude" ... every week, walking out of the arena into the "real" world, I experience culture shock when I realize that I didn't just walk out of soccer practice in America. Anyway, all that to say that today was a big deal. I stayed the whole day just to be there for my students and the kids I've gotten to know over the past few weeks. Some of the older boys I didn't recognize since I hadn't coached their sessions, but I got to know them pretty quickly as I kept reminding them to stay out of the arena until their match.

By the end of the day, I had congratulated players, wiped their tears, and calmed frustrations... a day well spent! Some of the older boys can be a handful, but I enjoy talking to them and seeing them warm up to someone who is willing to listen to their interests and ask questions about their lives. Several times I realized how much older I must seem to them ... I remember what it was like to be their age, just like it was yesterday, but here they are, asking me if they can play their music on the speakers (which meant I had to listen to it and make sure it was "appropriate" ... reminded me of my parents) and looking to me for approval and acceptance. Such a difficult place to be in, but more so especially if I didn't have assurance of my own acceptance before God ...

After the trophies and medals had been handed out, the coaches and parents played a match. I ended up being the only gal who played, but it reminded me of playing street basketball with the guys and intramural football in college. I snapped back into "this is Kurdistan and I can't do everything the way I would at home" mode when the other gals decided to leave and I realized I would need to go with them since I couldn't stay alone with the guys ... funny how one moment can differ so much from the next. Still, I am thankful for these little blessings (a new experience at a Kurdish picnic, hugs from my students, and that burning in your chest after a good workout) - they fill my heart with joy. I know it's tempting to think that  the "foreign surroundings" are the cause for this overflow of passion and excitement, but I am convinced that every part of it comes from walking with the Lord on a daily basis. I find Him to be my strength and comfort, and as I continue to draw from His never-ending supply, I am filled and overflowing with His goodness.

Went to Texas Chicken with some of the kids ... I'm pretty sure the workers are going to know us by name pretty soon! Came home and took a nice hot shower (one of those other blessings I am thankful for every day - HOT water!), Skyped with a friend from back home, then wrote a test for tomorrow's math classes.

Going to bed with a grateful heart ...