October 5th and 6th: Sightseeing In Erbil

Friday, October 5th:

This morning we walked to Costa Rica Coffee Shop. It was about a two-mile walk, but we were able to go through a huge park with trees, green grass and lots of foliage. The coffee shop, much to our relief, was the real deal (or "legit" as Lisa would say). 

Enjoying lattes and chocolate muffins.

Andy and John took the kids back to the house for their morning naps. The ladies got to hang out together, journaling, reading, and talking. We grabbed lunch from the nearby Papa John's and Burger Queen (Burger King and Dairy Queen combined) and took it home to the guys.

Close to 1:30 pm, the girls were off again! K took us to Langa, a GIANT secondhand market! We shopped until we dropped ... well, dropped off our bags at home and headed off to the Citadel.

Deep in the labyrinth of the market.

The Citadel is said to be "the oldest continuously inhabited town in the world." It is layers upon layers of cities. We couldn't go below, but saw some of the old ruins on the top level. They are "renovating" the structure, which means (unfortunately) that much of the historical architecture is being replaced.

The Citadel

Carvings on a post

View from the Citadel

The Citadel was an amazing place to visit. It would be neat to know what it was like to live there. K said she met an older man during one of their visits who said he had grown up there as a child. The street was divided - men would walk down one side and women on the other. That little glimpse sparked my curiosity and I couldn't help but wonder what each civilization was like, how each layer would represent the culture's priorities and "personality."

As we left the Citadel, we passed the main bazaar (which is a city in itself). K ordered a juice and we all ended up getting a fresh-squeezed fig juice for free! I love free! And the juice was excellent too! From there we took a taxi to Abu Shahab where we met John and Mary for dinner. I had an Iraqi "salad plate" and Sarah ordered pizza. We stopped at a nearby grocery store for ice cream, then walked home. Happy to just hang out. Unfortunately, the "Butter Pecan" ice cream that John picked out was actually butter-flavored ice cream with walnuts. Guess it is best to take things literally here! As we sat around on the couches, Sarah braided my hair. Sarah likes to try new styles ... and I love to have someone play with my hair! It was so relaxing and looked amazing...

 We ended up playing the "name game." It was our first time playing with Sarah ... I'm glad she didn't decide to leave our team after seeing how wild and crazy we can be!

Saturday, October 6th:

At 7:30 am, K came to the house so she, Sarah and I could walk to a mosque that we had driven by the other day. It was over 2 miles, but good exercise for the morning. We passed this fountain on the way there... I want a miniature one in my room!

Here is the mosque in the distance. Erbil is a very dusty city!

And finally, up close!

The building was enormous.

Intricate tile work that covered the mosque:

The garden next the mosque was beautiful.

We took a different route home, which kept the 2.5 mile walk interesting. Sarah and I regrouped with the team. Mary and John decided to hang out at home. Andy went to look at vehicles with a friend. (Andy and Lisa are thinking about buying a car!) The rest of us (Lisa, the kids, K, her daughter, Sarah and I) went to Family Mall. We loaded up in one taxi. Tight squeeze! Sarah and I split off to look for some things and get a bite to eat. We rendezvoused around 1, so we could get back to the house for a 1:30 pm departure. We were a little later than planned, but ended up waiting for the driver to arrive anyway. Loaded up everything and everyone in an H1 and made it back to Duhok around 5 pm.

I unpacked, took a shower, did a load of laundry, uploaded pics, and even squeezed in a little school work! :) Sarah and I watched a movie with popcorn, then off to bed...

September 29th and 30th: Outside of the Classroom Moments

Saturday, September 29th:
Woke up and wrote out a plan for my day, hoping to prevent time from slipping by without being able to provide a good account of my time. After devotions, I caught up on correspondence, did some laundry and vacuumed. At 11am, I was able to Skype my friend who is serving in the Philippines as a teacher for MKs. It is encouraging to hear how things are going in her part of the world and share common experiences.

Afterwards, I read through my blog from last year. It was a good reminder of God's faithfulness and how much He has taught me, especially when I compare this first month with last year's first month. I spent some time reflecting, then graded papers while listening to a lecture. By then it was close to 4pm. Sarah and I decided to go to Sarky's for dinner. We got ready and walked up the street to the place where Stacy and I had become regulars. We ordered half cheese and half veggie (the same thing Stacy and I would order). It was nice to get out of the house. On the way home, we walked by "Sam's Club" (our American name for it) - the store where you can buy things in bulk. I went there for the first time in May and discovered that they had Oreos! Unfortunately, they didn't have any this time. Sarah bought a box of caramels instead.

When we got home, I wrote up my test for Monday so I could get it copied early. I also made up a set of questions for my students to complete as a teacher evaluation. At the beginning of the year, when the students had to write out three goals for the year, I shared my goals with them. I explained that while I want them to improve in Math, I want to improve as a teacher. I hope the evaluation will provide some insight for more effective teaching in this culture, and not simply provide an opportunity to complain and criticize. If nothing else, I want my students to know that I need to learn too and that it is important that my teaching benefit them.

Based on their multiple intelligences results, I created a project for Phase 2 that will allow them to work with a math concept in a way that relates to their learning style. They have to pick one math idea that we've discussed so far and present it in one of five ways. 1. Write a song/poem (musical learners) 2. Conduct a survey and present the data (spacial learners) 3. Debate about the topic (interpersonal and linguistic) 4. Create and act out a news announcement (kinetic) 4. Create a complex problem that incorporates multiple math concepts (logical mathematical, intrapersonal). After writing up the instructions and a form for each student to fill out, explaining their project, I cleaned the bathroom, which completed my checklist for the day.

Sarah and I went over to John and Mary's to hang out after Henry went to bed. While we watched an episode of Monk, I wrote out answer keys so the students could correct their homework tomorrow. Lots of copies to make ...

Sunday, September 30th:
Got off to a hard start this morning. When Mary, Sarah, and I arrived at school the copy room was full of teachers needing copies. I ended up being late for my class as I waited for the copies for my first lesson. I was chiding myself on the way to class when I walked by the new vice principal (who is in charge of attendance). I'm pretty sure he had just been by my classroom ... and I wasn't there. To add to that, I had just written up the teacher evaluation, which includes a question about whether or not I come to class prepared. Ugh.

When I walked in, only two students were working on the warm-up. It was disheartening after I've tried to drill that procedure into them day after day after day. I reminded them of my expectation, then took a deep breath and asked the Lord to help me get back on track. Remembering my goal from last year, I asked to walk in His strength despite my feelings of inadequacy and unpreparedness. Peace came, and we moved on with the lesson. It was inside-out day, so I had a steady stream of students going to the bathroom to flip around their clothing. Lots of disruptions, but we made it through the material. I made a conscious effort to talk to one of the newer students. He is always eager to answer questions, but doesn't realize that I call on some of the weaker students to get their attention or check on their understanding. I want my better students to know that I care about them too, even though a lot of my free time is taken up disciplining the disruptive ones.

When I opened the door into my next class, I was not prepared for the scene that followed. Two of the boys, Sawyer and Manning [I just got looked those up on a baby names website...], were in the middle of a fight. Sawyer's glasses went flying and the punches got harder. I moved as quickly as I could to separate them and several of the boys intervened as well. We went out into the hallway. Sawyer is usually the goof-off  of the class, turning everything into a joke. (He was the one who called me a name in front of the 6th graders.) As he wiped away the tears, I could tell that he was really angry and offended. Manning transferred from the other class because they were always making fun of him, but I haven't noticed him fitting in any better. Between blocking kicks and deflecting punches, I was able to figure out that Sawyer had tried to trip Manning, then Manning had proceeded to call him (and his mother) a stream of ugly names. Two of the bigger boys in the class stepped in as intermediaries. The way they handle conflict never ceases to amaze me. Each one acts as a representative of the other. While keeping the fighters separated, they hash out what happened, allowing the accused and defendant to interject comments every-so-often. Eventually, everything that needs to be said has been discussed. On occasion, the representatives will get upset with each other, and then another representative will step in. I decided to let them work things out and went back into class to  pass back homework and check on their warm-up problems. After five minutes, the argument still wasn't over. I asked the Lord for wisdom as I stepped into the hallway. "Sawyer, you need to forgive Manning. What do you think Manning deserves?" Sawyer spat out something in Kurdish and raised a fist. "Sawyer, I know that is what you would like to do, but God says we must be merciful. Do you remember how you said something mean about me in front of the sixth graders?" Sawyer glances up. Embarrassment has replaced the anger in his eyes. "Did you get what you deserved?" Sawyer shakes his head, all the fury is gone. I turn to Manning. "Remember how the boys in 5B made fun of you? It doesn't feel good does it? And how many times have I been kind to you when you were being made fun of?" Manning's defiance is gone as he mutters, "Lots." "Boys, forgive each other and shake hands." They turn towards each other. The rest of us are poised to block a stealthy kick, but they shake hands and mumble apologies. As I thought about it later, with an aching back and bruised arms, I couldn't help but wonder if the illustration of that scenario will ever be explained to them. Will there be a day when they will come to know the Representative who has plead our case, taken our punishment, and forgiven us freely?

The class was amazingly quiet and attentive after that. Part way through the lesson, I noticed one of the girls, Sadie, in tears. Oh no... And then I caught some of the girls passing notes. After the lesson, I took Sadie in the hallway and she explained that Prissy (no surprise there) had written a note excluding her and another girl (Maddie) from the "best friends" group. Maddie tried to make Sadie promise not to talk to Prissy anymore. I sent Sadie back inside and pulled Prissy and Maddie into the hallway. Prissy tried to say that she didn't mean it in a bad way - "they aren't my best friends, they're my sisters." I could have rolled my eyes, but I didn't. I explained that sometimes what we say can be taken the wrong way and we need to make sure of our friends. I also told Maddie that she needed to be forgiving. As I headed off to my next class, I put Vanessa (she likes to roll her eyes at me) in charge of peacemaking.

After that class, I was exhausted and couldn't imagine teaching one more class before my break. Thankfully, the Lord provided strength. As I walked up to my class, one of the other teachers was standing in the doorway telling my class to be quiet. A rough day for others' perceptions of me ... guess I need to learn this lesson. No one was working on the warm-up. I could've cried. They are usually my best class. I explained (again) that they need to work on the warm-up quietly even if I'm not there. I am usually a few minutes late because I have to walk from the farthest point in the school to get to their class. We had a good lesson after that. They are excited about their projects, so I hope they will put a lot of effort into them.

During the break, I read one of the notes from 5A that I had confiscated. In it, Prissy tells Vanessa that "we are together and we don't care about the others, even when they are fighting and crying because we aren't their best friends" (paraphrased) and then she wrote, "ha. ha. ha." Out of all the notes floating around, it was providential that that was the note I had confiscated. It proved my suspicion that Prissy was intentionally being mean. I went upstairs to take the attendance for my first class (I had forgotten during the chaos). As I walked by their classroom, Prissy was just returning from the bathroom ... another providential moment. She stopped to talk to me and I told her that I had read her note to Vanessa. She acknowledged that she was being mean, but tried to excuse herself, "I am trying to be nice to Maddie now, but she won't talk to me. I try and I try and I try." I asked Prissy if she remembered how she had treated me when I first came to the school. "You weren't very nice were you?" She shook her head, "No, I wasn't." "Remember how I had to be nice to you day after day even though you weren't very nice to me?" "Yes..." "You have to keep being kind, even if they aren't kind back to you. You are a leader in that class ... even if you don't want to be," I add the last part as she shook her head. "Maddie looks up to you, but is afraid you will hurt her again. You need to earn her trust." "Yes, Miss."

My last sixth grade class went fairly well, apart from two major interruptions. During the warm-up, one of the teachers sent a student to our room to collect textbooks so he could use them in the other sixth grade class. We were in the middle of the lesson when the new vice principal came in and introduced himself to the class and gave a long speech about taking care of their school. It was hard to keep their attention after that. One student said to me, "Miss, you are lucky." "How's that?" "Your class was interrupted twice." That was the first time I've heard them use sarcasm. It took me a minute to understand, but it made my day. (Is that a good thing?)

As I walked to the teacher room, my third graders from last year were in the garden for their break. One of them came up and asked me to take a bag of chips to her friend who was still in the class. (They aren't allowed to go back into the building during breaks). I took the chips upstairs and got to say "hello" to several of my old students. They were happy to see me and I got lots of hugs and handshakes. It turns out I am teaching some of their older brothers and sisters in sixth grade! As I left, two of my girls from 5B invited me to sit with them. They put me right in between them, and we talked about their other classes, what they want to do in the future. I got lots of hugs as I left. Even more hugs when I stepped outside and all the students were returning to their classes. Each hug was a blessing from God, encouraging me that though I was not prepared for this day, I was walking in His strength through moments that had been planned entirely by Him.

I spoke with the principal as I caught him alone in passing. I apologized for my students coming to him with problems. I explained that they were asking to go to the bathroom, but going for him instead. He responded, "Do not believe them, Miss. They will lie to you." I explained that I wanted to trust my students to be responsible, but would be more careful about where they went. I apologized again and assured him I would do my best to handle issues inside of the classroom. I felt that it was an opportune moment to try to make things right between us, and tried not to use it as a means of defending myself. It seemed to be taken in the right spirit.

During Sarah's last class, I visited with teachers in the break room. At 1pm, Sarah and I walked home. After we ate some leftover pizza together, I laid on my bed and pretended I was back home getting cranio-sacral therapy. My body ached all over after getting pummeled by punches that weren't intended for me. I felt a little better afterwards. Skyped with my family at 5pm. Eithen broke his elbow the other night. Poor baby ... I wish I could be there to cuddle him and even more, be there when he goes to the hospital for a possible surgery this week.

Sarah and I went over to John and Mary's for dinner. Henry is not feeling well, so I got to cuddle him (instead of Eithen). Mary made Jamaican spinach soup and grilled cheese. Soooo good - spicy, flavorful, toasty, and the perfect Fall meal! By the time we left, Henry had a fever. Praying for the little guy and hoping he doesn't get worse.

Early bedtime ... test tomorrow. Thankful for those moments outside of the classroom that catch me off guard, but make me rely on God. I feel utterly useless and can only watch in amazement as He works through me to teach an unexpected lesson.

September 21st and 22nd: Hiking Up the Mountains and Walking Through the Valleys

Friday, September 21st:

Thanks to Sarah, I have pics from last night...

At Zeri Park with the teachers

In the flight simulator

At Dumballah

Bershes! (Helen and Helen, Sarah and Sarah)

This morning I woke up feeling refreshed (even though I went to bed at 2am). This was an answer to prayer as I had asked the Lord for help to go to fellowship with the right attitude. John, Mary, and I went to fellowship at 9am (Sarah stayed home to rest and recuperate). We had a good time studying Psalm 81, which went along with the lecture I listened to yesterday - expect great things from God. We looked at Israel, a stubborn, rebellious people, who were intent on following their own hearts. God spoke to them time and again, even promising them, "Open your mouths wide and I will fill it." We were encouraged to NOT follow Israel's example, but to listen to God's Word and believe His promises.

On the way home, I picked up a chicken for our weekend meal(s). Sarah and I have made it part of our weekly tradition. The "chicken man" was much more courteous, telling me the bread would be about 5 minutes more and allowing me to sit inside and wait. Before, he acted annoyed (probably because I am single and Asian-looking) even though I waited outside and tried to be respectful. This culture is difficult to navigate, especially since I break all of their molds, but I trust that God will open their eyes to see that my heart is upright, and I am not trying to offend.

After lunch, I listened to a sermon on 1 Peter from Monergism.com. There were several good points that I will try to meditate on throughout the week, but one that struck me right away was that the gospel is neither cultural accommodation nor cultural withdrawal. I err on the side of cultural accommodation. I want to adapt and fit in, fearing that I will disappoint others around me. The sermon reminded me that our lives, if we are living them to glorify God, will generate praise and criticism. "Whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." We are to live deep in the heart of our culture, set apart. Later in the evening I was put to the test. Someone local, via Facebook, asked me on a date. My first thought was, "How should I respond culturally?" After going through various responses with Sarah, I realized that I needed to respond in a way that would glorify God. I told __ that in the States he would have to meet my parents first. (Note to fathers: Tell your daughters that they can and should always use you for backup. My dad told me that back in middle school, and it was his words that came to mind.) The reaction was positive, even though I was afraid of disappointing him. I trust God will help me respond to future situations in a way that identifies me with the gospel.

At 5pm, John, Mary, Sarah and I walked to Geli (the park near Duhok Dam) and met up with Andy, Lisa, Zander and Zephie. Together, we climbed the flag mountain, where we saw the remains of a Zoroastrian temple and took team pics.

Zoroastrian Temple

View of Duhok from Flag Mountain

Looking towards the dam

The scenery was beautiful and we decided to take a team picture. I set the timer on my camera and we took our places. The following pics give a good look into the dynamics of our team :)

Get Ready!

Sarah and John are fixing their glasses, Andy is getting Zander-man into position.

Get Set!

Leave a space for Helen! (What is up with Sarah and John holding the same pose?)

Go!

One more just for fun!

A view of Duhok in the sunset:

Zander and I exploring a cave (Batman's cave). I stepped on a bottle as we rounded the dark corner. "Crackkkk" Zander and I both jumped! (Thanks, Sarah, for taking this pic!)

The Kurdish flag

We ate dinner at "Duhok Paradise" after our hike. Our salads included pickled cucumbers (that weren't orange), pickled red cabbage (SOUR!), and diced apples in fig? jam. Between everyone's orders, we Pizza Mexicana (really good and tasted like pizza back home), Pizza Marguerite, and chicken tikka (or chicken on a skewer). Enjoyed a great view and wonderful team fellowship.

Saturday, September 22nd:
In the morning I was able to chat via Facebook with Pastor John. It was encouraging to hear from home (and converse in "real" American, even to the point of using sarcasm!) Went over to Mary's for a waffle brunch. Just as we finished up our meal, Mary received an alarming message on Facebook. Almost immediately, we (or least I) went into the default mode of last year - move into a holding pattern until we hear from the administration. Thankfully they responded quickly and even though we were still unnerved by the message, it seems that the response was faster and more complete. We sat with each other, grading papers and watching Henry until about 3.

Sarah was able to Skype with her parents, and then she and I went down to the market to change money and look for a DVD player and TV. Along the way, we saw a small grass fire. Someone ahead of us had just walked by, but I couldn't just leave it. After all, I worked for a wildland firefighting company! What to do? Thankfully Sarah brought her water bottle and, after assessing the situation and determining that it was just burning paper and grass (no alcohol), she poured water over it while I kicked some sand over the small embers. Sarah and I might just have saved all of Duhok! We ended up going the long way through the market, picking up a few souvenirs and other fun purchases. In the end, we bought a DVD player and TV too! When we got home, we set up the TV/DVD right away. It worked! Three successes in one day - we found a DVD player, we found a TV, and we got it working! Unbelievable!

After some lesson planning, we went back to John and Mary's to hang out. Tomorrow, a rep from the school will pick us up, take us to school, then escort Mary back home after her class. Praying that all goes well and we are able to walk in the Spirit.

September 15th and 16th: Ready, Set, Ad Lib

Saturday, September 15th:
Arrived back in Duhok around 10am. Sarah greeted me at the door. We sat around the table and talked about our weekends. Took a shower, did some laundry, and caught up on emails. Around noon, Sarah and I went over to John and Mary's for waffles and catching up. John and Mary had gone to Assyrian engagement party the night before and the night before that, Sarah went a celebration with an Assyrian family from the school. We laughed about our "very Assyrian weekend!"

Laid low and prepared for school. I thought I would be exhausted and ready for an early bedtime, but my body wasn't back on the early night/early morning schedule. I was able to get a lot accomplished, and then Mom and I Skyped until 11:30pm.

Sunday, September 16th:
Thankfully I didn't have any problems getting up this morning. It might be more difficult tomorrow once all the activities of the weekend have finally caught up with me. Sarah, Mary, and I left at 8am so we could make copies before our classes. We all had fairly important copies to make, but when we arrived, we were greeted with, "All out of paper, Miss." Time to ad lib...

My first class had not behaved well for Sarah, so withholding the test was providential. For their warm-up, they had to answer the following questions: 1. Were you good for Miss Sarah? 2. How could you have behaved better? 3. What do you deserve? Sarah had marked down the names of the most disrespectful student, and I handed them sentences to copy for the duration of the class. For the rest, I read true/false statements aloud and they had to mark the answers on a piece of paper. The questions are supposed to identify their learning style, and I am prayerful that this will help me structure the class in a more effective manner. Overall, the students were attentive. I felt that I was unusually strict with them, so much so that it was hard to break that demeanor for the next class, but I hope they realized that I was serious about good behavior for subbing teachers.

My next three classes went well. I used the same ad lib lesson plan, though it was rather tedious to repeat the questions (and explain them one, two, three times). The school eventually got paper, and my copies were finished by the break. Hopefully I will be able to give the test tomorrow without any hiccups and we can try to catch up somewhere during the week. At noon, I subbed for another teacher's second grade class. Again, I had to ad lib a lesson. We identified and drew patterns, which eventually morphed that into what they are learning in math right now (smallest to largest). It would be nice to see the younger grades learn that math is really a tool we use to identify and create patterns. I think most view it as foreign language or a rule book of formulas, not something with practical applications.

Since leaving for the weekend, Sarah is more comfortable getting around on her own. She walked home after her class, so I stayed until school was finished at 2:30pm. It was nice to catch up with my kids as they piled into their buses. Even though I hadn't asked for it, I was given the opportunity to talk to four students who had been heavy on my heart for various reasons.

Enjoyed time for reflection during my quiet walk home. It was warm, but not unbearable. Once home, I graded a good portion of my papers, then Skyped with Dad and two of the boys before they went to church. At 6pm, the team met up at Vin House (the hamburger restaurant.) I had a delicious chicken burger with fries and coleslaw. Almost as good as home! Afterwards, we got ice cream at the shop next door. I had a really good red slushy. It hit the spot!

Came home and finished grading. Pictures of me at the village are all over Facebook. It is easy to imagine, especially in the midst of all the topsy-turvy-ness that surrounds us everyday, that the pictures will somehow give rise to false accusations. Each time I see a new post, my mind turns towards those thoughts, and I push down the fear that rises into my throat, threatening to choke me. Idle words of defense come to mind, and then I plunge deeper into worry over what others might think. Amid the fiery darts of the evil one and despite my fleshly panic, God keeps reminding me that I must rest in Him. I am learning that one of my greatest fears is the loss of self. One of the lectures I listened to talked about this kind of anxiety- not a healthy fear that spurs the adrenaline rush that sends us flying across the road when a car is barreling towards us - but an unhealthy, unreasonable fear that arises when something that gave us identity, something that made us feel we had control is stripped away. Combine this with another lecture about our treasures ... The example given was money. We use money as either a symbol of our status (exalting ourselves) or as our security (protecting ourselves). It follows then that our identity is wrapped up in what we treasure. When that treasure is threatened, anxiety arises not so much for the treasure itself, but because we are afraid of losing our identity.

Conclusion: Fear reveals our treasure. (Think of the ruse Sherlock Holmes used to uncover a compromising letter. Fearful that her house was burning, the woman revealed her hiding place to save her treasure.)

Based on the fear that has arisen in the last 24 hours, I keep asking myself, "What is my treasure?" Perhaps it goes deeper than this, but I know that how others view me is at least part of the package. The lecture on treasure goes on to say that Jesus is the only treasure who died so that we could have Him. Every other treasure will demand that we die in order to obtain it. The treasure I seek to obtain, worth in the sight of others, is drowning me in a sea of "what ifs." What is the remedy? Delight in the Lord as my treasure. Delight in God rather than self. I am not certain that I know how to do this yet, but tonight I am resting in His Word, finding peace in the knowledge that though I am unworthy, God delights in me:

"For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye."

September 7th and 8th: Suffering, Defeat, and Resurrection

Friday, September 7th:
It was nice to sleep in and not worry about getting ready for school this morning. I slept until 8:30, then graded some papers until I was pleasantly interrupted by an invitation for waffles. Visited with John and Mary for about a half hour. A few days ago, John caught two geckos, which he decided to keep as pets inside his terrarium. Since then, the geckos' latest eating habits and terrarium changes have been the main subject of conversation. :)

Returned to grading, but set a time restriction so I could try to not only be more productive, but more realistic about how much grading I should really complete each day. I've decided that at least twice a week I will simply check to make sure students are completing their homework, then put the answers on the board the next morning. It takes me at least two hours (probably closer to three) to grade and correct all four classes (about 90 papers).

In the afternoon, I had a pleasant surprise. My friend from back home, who just left to teach in the Philippines was on Skype! We got to chat for awhile, comparing our locations and the things God is teaching us. She is still in the "take it all" mode, so it was fun to hear about what was new and exciting for her.

Afterwards, I moved on to lesson planning for this coming week. Sarah and I watched "The Scarlet Pimpernel" while I jotted down my notes for each day's chapter. At 5, we went over to Andy and Lisa's to watch Z & Z while they went on a date night. Zephie was not very happy when she discovered that Mama had left her, so I got lots of "cuddle" time (even though she wasn't sure she wanted me as a replacement). Sarah built a tower with Zander, made him a tunnel out of dushaks, and went to imaginary places. Andy and Lisa brought home dessert, which we enjoyed while visiting with them after the kids went to bed.

We walked home and stopped in at Holland so Sarah could pick up some conditioner. We had a fun time looking for one that didn't have a "cone" in it (used to describe any chemical that ends in "cone"). It was good walking weather and nice to get some exercise.

Saturday, September 8th:
Woke up this morning plagued with such rebellious thoughts that I felt my heart must be truly hardened. As I begged the Lord to "take away my stony heart and give me a heart of a flesh," I was reminded of the part in Pilgrim's Progress where, "poor Christian was so confounded, that he did not know his own voice" and "one of the wicked ones got behind him, and stepped up softly to him, and whisperingly suggested many grievous blasphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put Christian more to it than anything that he met with before, even to think that he should now blaspheme Him that he loved so much before; yet, if he could have helped it, he would not have done it; but he had not the discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence these blasphemies came." Instead of fixating on the wickedness of my heart, I prayed that God would deliver me from the evil one and help me to walk in His strength. The morning improved as God answered prayer.

Sarah and I went to fellowship by ourselves (John and Henry were sick and Mary was looking after them, so they couldn't join us.) We had an encouraging time studying Luke 23 and the 11 different responses to Jesus as He was led to His crucifixion. We picked up a chicken on our way home ... ironically we saw two little baby chicks in the alley near our apartment. It is very unusual to see "wildlife" or any living animals, so we stopped to take pictures (and tried to hide the cooked chicken we had just picked up for lunch.)  :)

After lunch and an encouraging conversation with Sarah, I listened to a short message (it was actually a response by Tim Keller during a Q&A session). From the 5 minute response, I gleaned 5 important points that I thought were relevant to the heart issues I've been struggling with, and tied in with the reading from John 11:
1. When we resist God's will, we are essentially saying "there can't be anything better than what I've imagined." (Like Thomas, who though there couldn't be anything more reasonable to expect from a journey to Bethany than death.)
2. We often stray into two lines of thinking when God's will doesn't "align with our own". We either say, "There must be sin in our lives since God is not answering our prayers" (Keller pointed out that Jesus' request was not granted and that was certainly not a result of sin in His life). Or we say, "God's will must necessarily contradict my own desires, so I better get used to it" and then we refuse to be happy in Him. This last point is the one I am struggling with. ("Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'")
3. Our plans never include suffering or defeat, but the gospel has at the heart of its victory both suffering and death! (Am I ready to lie down my life, my plans, my self, for the gospel?)
4. As Christians, we proclaim a suffering God. Jesus suffered so that we, through our own suffering, might be made like Him. (Will I follow Christ in His sufferings?)
5. In the gospel, resurrection will always be on the other side of death. (This was the miracle that Jesus intended to show His disciples! Do I believe that there is a resurrection for me here, which God will reveal in His own time?)

The second message I listened to looked at the fear expressed in Psalm 3. Not only was David afraid for his physical well-being, but for his very self and identity. Everything he had counted on to define himself had been stripped away - his favoritism with the people (they were about to depose him), his moral integrity (they knew of his affair with Bathsheeba and the murder of her husband), and his ability to parent (his own son was trying to kill him). In verse 3, David recognizes that God is his shield IN danger not apart from it. We have to follow God even in the midst of danger. To obey will be difficult, but to disobey is fatal. David also recognized that God was his glory, the lifter of his head. It wasn't the physical that could bring him glory, but God alone. These two points confirmed the things I've been meditating on throughout the week. God is calling me to follow Him into the difficulties and I dare not disobey. Secondly, my disinclination to follow Him reveals that I do not believe He alone is my glory. I trust that He will show me how to delight only in Him (my resurrection) in the months to come.

After a profitable time of rest, Sarah and I went out to get some things for Mary, then watched Iron Lady, a movie about Margaret Thatcher. It was a little depressing, but very informative about her life and the events surrounding it. Sarah made two big bowls of popcorn - one for each of us. It was delicious! And reminded me of home. When we finished it was about 8:30, so we went over to visit Mary and make sure Henry was sleeping well. All was quiet on the Eastern front :) and we were able to chit chat over a cup of tea.

September 1st and 2nd: The Calm Before the Storm

September 1st:
We went to Fellowship this morning. (It has been switched to Saturdays for the summer.) It was nice to see everyone again. The lesson was on Luke 22, looking at Jesus as a teacher. I was challenged and encouraged to be the kind of teacher that: leads by example, models submission, meets my students in their failings, and serves them.

After fellowship, John, Mary, Sarah and I went to the Western Union at Mazi to pick up our wire. Thankfully, they were open! When we got home, I read, listened to a lecture, finished the artwork in my room and tried to keep it a day of rest.

Making my space more personal:

My goal for this year is to delight in the Lord. I don't want to simply be happy because of what He has given me, or what He is doing in my life, I want to find my happiness in Who He is. I want to learn to satisfy myself with Him. I want to delight in Him so that His joy becomes my joy, and His purpose, my purpose. I'm not exactly sure what this goal will look like in the practical sense, but I know it will require laying aside other desires and clinging to the Lord only. Through this year, I pray God will show me what it means to delight in the Lord.

The furniture was delivered around 6pm. We were so excited! Sarah's space looks like a bedroom now. She was able to arrange the furniture and start getting settled in. Mary invited us over for dinner, which was delicious! She made spinach pasta with rosemary bread. It was nice to hang out with John and Mary. Henry is growing up fast. He is now eating solids (though he doesn't always appreciate them) and can use the dining room chair like a walker. With school starting tomorrow, I was ready for an early bedtime.

The sunset a few evenings ago:

September 2nd:

The first day of school! As a student, I loved the first day of school - getting to know the teacher, meeting my classmates, wearing a new school outfit, and learning what the teacher expected of us. It was fun to have the same excitement, but this time as the teacher!

For homework, the students who came last week, had to write a letter and introduce themselves. It was fun to read their letters and learn about their likes/dislikes, families, and favorite ways to spend their free time.   We reviewed the rules and procedures; it was nice to see how many of the students remembered! There were a few boys in the first class who decided to test my discipline policy, so they ended up losing their long break. Unfortunately (for them or for me, I'm not sure yet) I teach during the first 15 minutes of their break. About 5 minutes before their break, I sent one of my 6th grade students to bring the four boys down to our classroom. They had to sit in my class for 15 minutes, then sit on the wall for the remainder of the break. I think it was humbling for them to sit in front of a group of older students; but it was also challenging for me to teach with the added distraction. Two of the students sat quietly, and I released them a few minutes early. The other two seemed to understand that I was serious about good behavior in class, so I hope we don't have to repeat that scenario every day.

My first three classes flew by. I remember praying silently as I erased the whiteboard that God would give me the right words to speak and the patience to teach well. I think the sessions were productive, but they became one big blur by the end. We covered a lot of material and I tried to use every opportunity to reinforce procedures.

During my break (between 10:45 and 11:15) I noticed that the snack shack was being mobbed again. Last year, Dan was the "controller" and would keep everyone in line (a concept that was foreign to them, but that they eventually mastered.) I stepped in, but am afraid I didn't do as well as Dan. Sarah caught me in action:

After classes, Sarah and I walked to the market and bought some hangers, changed dollars for dinar, and bought white-out (a must-have for school!) By the time we got home, we were pretty warm, but thankful for working splits! I did a little bit of school, then took a short nap (I woke up thinking, "Oh no! I'm late for school!" and was relieved when I realized it was three in the afternoon.) Read some teaching articles, made seating charts, and wrote a "Rules & Procedures" test. I've also decided to use "Free Homework" passes and "You were terrific today" coupons. I hope this will be an encouragement to the students who are trying their best each day.

Ate some leftover pizza before Skyping with the family. We inherited a microwave from Dan and Julie, so leftovers are a breeze! And leftover PIZZA made it feel like I was back in the States. Oh, the little things are so nice here! :)  Hannah is home this weekend. We got to Skype for the first time since I've been here. Jaden broke his arm and split his chin, so I got to see the cast and stitches. That kid is a wild one! I only hope he is still in one piece when I get home.

As I close for the evening, I am thankful knowing that it is in God's strength that I walk each day. He doesn't require me to do this alone. He is ever present.

August 25th and 26th: Back Up and Running!

Saturday, August 25th:

Arrived in Erbil around 3:30 pm with Andy, Lisa, Zander, Zephie, and my new roommate, Sarah. It seemed much easier to navigate the airport than last time, but I think it must have been because there were three extra sets of hands and a lot more experience! Driving from Erbil to Duhok, it didn't seem like we'd been gone all that long.

Bus ride home:

Sarah and Zephie

Andy and Lisa

Lisa and Zander

We got to our apartment about 7:20 pm after stopping at Newroz Telecom to pick up an internet card (so thankful they were actually open!)

We were greeted outside our door by the neighbor kids who promptly helped us take our bags up to the apartment. Andy turned on the water for us, we switched on the electricity and in no time at all everything was up and running. Sarah unpacked and moved into her room. I set up the internet and was successful in creating an adhoc wireless network for both of us to use - hello iPad!

Went to bed around 10, but couldn't fall asleep until after 2 am. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that I am really back here, that I am jumping into the ring again for round 2 with no guarantees that it will be any easier. As I lay in bed asking the Lord for help, I was reminded of a conversation with my best friend, Jessica. She was telling me that as we re-enter the arena God has called us to (whether it is having your 10th child or going back to a foreign country), we tend to remember the difficulties and trials, when we should be focusing on all the grace (at times extraordinary grace) that was given to meet those struggles. I pray that these next ten months will be evidence of that grace and the goodness of the One who provides it.

Sunday, August 26th:

Slept in later than I had planned, but Sarah and I got ready quickly so we could run our errands before the day got too hot. We left at 10 am and it was already about 90 F. I showed Sarah around the market and we picked up a new faucet for the entryway sink, a showerhead, and some miscellaneous items. I had to mentally prepare to face the barrage of staring eyes, smells, and feelings of complete cluelessness. I don't often pray for strength, endurance, and wisdom as I park at the grocery store back home, but it is something I do here every time I go to the market. After dropping off our things at home, we went to the nearby shops where we picked up some groceries - peanut butter, juice, water, chocolate (the essentials) :)

In the afternoon, I switched from tour guide to handyman:

Sarah and I cleaned house, hung up some pics...

...then rested during the heat of the day. I wasn't really feeling motivated to unpack, but dove in and got the job done. John and Mary had been delayed by a day, so it was a relief to hear they were in a taxi and on their way. Bishops, Sarah, and I met up at Sarky's for dinner, then brought back a pizza for the Nelsons. It was fun to hang out as a team again. I finally felt at home and able to thank the Lord for bringing me back. Missing Dan, Julie, and Stacy, but excited to see what this new year will bring.

May 25th through 26th (Days 138-139): The First of the Goodbyes

May 25th:
This morning Stacy and I shared one last coffee moment before I headed off to fellowship. She leaves tomorrow with Dan and Julie, so we've been trying to do a few of the "traditional" things that we've enjoyed together over the past few months. We had a large gathering at fellowship today. I really enjoyed the songs we sang. Dan led the music ... another pleasant memory to look back on as we soak up our last few moments with them. Enjoyed a great potluck lunch, then over to Dan and Julie's to move some of their furniture to my apartment. It was not as stressful as other moves I've participated in. The guys took care of everything and before I knew it, the apartment was brimming with fun goodies - a wash machine, a bookshelf, a microwave, portable desk, and a bunch of kitchen things.

It was close to 4pm by the time we got everything moved. I visited with Stacy, then ate a yummy dinner - sauteed green beans and onions with the leftover meat from our Greek dinner. Enjoyed chatting with a few friends from back home before heading for bed.

May 26th:
Sore and tired as I sit down to write this entry. I went to the school this morning at 8:30am. It was hard getting up ... I don't think my body was ready for the weekend to be over. The students had their math final this morning. They will have finals the rest of the week and then they will be out for SUMMER BREAK! My job this morning was to move between the two fourth grade classrooms and read questions out loud. Some of the kids tried to get the answers out of me, while others said, "Miss, this is so easy!" Some of them finished in 30 minutes, others took the full two hours. After the test was finished, I went into the teacher room and graded tests with all the other teachers. It didn't take too long since I had three other teachers helping me. After we finished, John came in with his finals. His questions were much more in-depth, so he wanted to be able to give partial credit. We came up with an assembly line that helped speed things up (it was getting close to 1pm and we were supposed to be at a team "Goodbye" lunch at 12.) We finally finished grading at 2pm. It was nice to see the other teachers pitch in to help us. After picking up visas and salaries, we headed over to Dan and Julie's. Thankfully we got to visit for a few minutes before saying "Goodbye." Stacy had gone back home to get her bags, so John and I hopped in the taxi with Dan and Julie back to our apartment. We said goodbye to Stacy and waved them on their way. We hopped in two separate taxis and went back over to Andy and Lisa's. Chilled with the team, then John and Mary had to get home as they were expecting visitors.

Went with Andy and Lisa to Zeri Park to celebrate Zander's 3rd birthday! I had a blast, especially since I was the only one small enough to fit on the rides with Zander! :)

We had fun on the Ferris Wheel together (and yes, Andy shaved off his facial hair for the summer)

There was a great view from the top:

After we covered almost the entire park, we went back to their place for dinner. Mm-mm good! On the taxi ride home, the driver complimented me on my Kurdish :) I had an expat friend tell me that if I ever wanted to boost my language-proficiency esteem, I should just hop in a taxi! Though I know I am far from fluency, it was nice to be reminded that God has brought me a long way in the language department (one step at a time). I can be thankful for understanding so much more now than I did upon arrival.

Came home and cleaned up house/new furnishings. Did a lot of scrubbing, so my body is really tired now. John got the washer set up, so that will be something fun for tomorrow!

May 19th through 20th (Days 132-133): My Mourning Into Dancing

Had a good conversation last night at the dinner with administration. I was able to talk to the curriculum coordinator about my adoption. Here it is very shameful to be adopted and everyone wants to say how sorry they are for you, but I was able to say how very grateful I am to be adopted. The curriculum coordinator thought about it for awhile and started to realize how amazing it was that my parents would love me and take me as their own when there are those who do not even care for their own flesh and blood.

May 19th:
Woke up feeling discouraged, still plagued by the "mosquitoes" of distraction and doubt. Talked to Pastor John and got a good book recommendation. Then I listened to part two of the shame lecture (again). Once more, it pulled all of the wandering ideas going through my mind into one concise thought. I saw that my bad attitude came from the shame of not living up to the expectations that I've placed on myself when I'm around my team and the fear of anticipated shame next year. The fear for next year has been rooted in finding my acceptance from those around me. After confessing this false standard that I've placed myself under and asking forgiveness for not seeking acceptance from God, my heart was emptied of all contempt and discouragement. In its place, thanksgiving and praise overflowed!

Went to the market with Lisa and Julie. I was really encouraged because we were able to find Lisa some great summer tops (which is not always easy since she has been blessed with above-average height - it does make it easier to pull down the clothes hanging way up high and helps us locate her, but she can't always find long shirts to wear here). Anyway, we were eight for eight!

I came back to the apartment and visited with Mary for awhile. We talked, played with Henry, played Bananagrams, and watched another part of "Our Mutual Friend." Around 4:30pm we went to an early dinner at Tantuni. The owner is very friendly and remembers his friend, Barzon (the name he has given Henry) every time. This time he actually gave us a juice for Henry! They like to start them young. :P Since we were near the market, we went to one of the shops and got a watch for Mary. Another shopping success in the same day!

We taxied from the market to Andy and Lisa's for team game night. What happens at team game night, stays at team game night. :P We were as goofy as ever. Of course playing Apples to Apples can bring out the best in all of us! We made S'Mores over the gas stove (we were going to have a fire on the roof, but it was raining.)

May 20th:
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance. I know I was much more cheerful going to school today. God  had filled my heart with thankfulness yesterday and it continued to spill over, especially as I contemplated the magnitude of His love in my devotions.

My 9:15 class went fairly well until the very end. We played review tic-tac-toe. There were two teams. If the person I called on answered the review question correctly they could place an X or O on the board for their team. The kids had a lot of fun ... trying to use their best strategies to win the game. Two of the boys (from opposite teams) got into a fight at the end, but overall the class was well-behaved and I had a fun time with them. During my break I prepped to sub for Andy's 8th grade science class and 7th grade World Religions class. At 11, I had a party with my 3rd grade class. We played charades (which they didn't understand at first, but had fun once they caught on).

At 11:45 I dashed over to the 8th grade class. They were just finishing their break, so I had some time to set up the whiteboard for Review Jeopardy. I had prayed on the way to school and during every break that I would walk in the strength of the Lord (and not my own) to teach the class. With all the things I've heard from fellow teachers, I was a little apprehensive... When the eight graders came into class, I warned them that if they misbehaved I would have to take them with me to my 4th grade math class at 12:15. Five students walked into class late, so I had the other students tell them what the punishment would be for causing problems. Thankfully Jeopardy was a big hit. The class erupted into laughter at one point when a fellow student gave the wrong answer, but all I had to say was, "the 4th graders will be laughing at you too when you have to come sit in their class" and they stopped making fun of each other. :) Had to break free a little after 12:15 ("Okay, last question. Okay, one more question. Alright, this is it for Double Jeopardy.")

My 12:15 class wasn't too good by comparison. The boys get so rowdy and determined to do whatever they have their mind set on. We played review tic-tac-toe, but none of the boys were interested in watching/helping their teammates. I ended up having them write "how I am going to be better tomorrow" letters before I left class. Went straight to 7th grade World Religions. We did Review Jeopardy in that class too, but they were much more talkative. No wonder Andy's voice is gone! There was a group of boys in the back that wouldn't stop talking, so I made them copy sentences "I will be respectful in class." Lame! The students who were paying attention (there were quite a few ... the noisy ones were just more noticeable) seemed to enjoy playing. We got down to a tie breaker which was pretty dramatic.

Relieved to have a break. Talked to teachers and then off to visit with students as they left. I never know who I'm going to see, but it is always fun to hear them call out, "Miss Helen!" I talked with a group of 3rd grade boys today. They are all disappointed that I won't be teaching them next year ... praying for opportunities to continue my relationships with them.

Took a taxi to Andy and Lisa's house, so I could pick up their documentation to give to our rep tomorrow. He is *supposed* to go to the RO for us tomorrow. (Thankful to hear that Andy's voice is a little better, though it is only a bit louder than a scratchy whisper.) Home for a snack and then Skyped with the family for almost two hours. It will be strange to talk with them in person! Definitely a good kind of strange! :)

May 11th through 12th (Days 124-125): And Forget Not All His Benefits

May 11th:
Relaxing day at home. Listened to Pastor John's sermon on rejoicing in conflict and was really encouraged by it. He had given me a "sneak peak" when I was dealing with conflict earlier in the year ... hearing it again was refreshing and a good reminder. It was good to see that I have much more to rejoice in now, having seen the blessings of walking in the strength of the Lord over the last four months.

Skyped with Mom, so thankful whenever she is online and we have a good connection! I filled her in all the things that daughters tell their mothers. It was late on her end, but she laughed and listened. I blogged, emailed, napped (swimming yesterday wore me out!), and got my "laundry oxen" out of the ditch.

Stacy and I went to Sarky's for dinner. We like to order half cheese (for Stacy), half veggie (for me - no such thing as pepperoni). Anyway, we must be "regulars" because the waiter knew what we wanted! Glad to see that I am starting to put down roots here and establish connections (even if they are at the pizza place).

In the evening I Skyped with Jess. It's always good to hear her voice and see the kids. We could talk for hours, but one hour is about all she can spare as she tries to keep the house afloat. It will be good to catch up in person, where I can help clean and fold laundry while we talk.

May 12th:
Another quiet day, but a lot accomplished. After my morning routine, I vacuumed, cleaned my bathroom, wrote out the answer key for the math final, and finished the yearly plan for fourth grade math next year. John and Mary got back from Erbil (they went to a wedding and left Thursday evening), so I visited with them for a little bit. Went to the shop at the corner and bought some groceries for the week. Read a portion of Doddridge's "The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul." Was encouraged by his "particular directions for maintaining continual communion with God, or being in His fear all the day long." Need to put many of them into action this week. Took another nap ... have to catch up from all the sleepless, mosquito-filled nights of the last week!

In the evening, I read through previous journal entries (starting last October) and was encouraged to mark the many ways God has answered prayer. From giving me an opportunity to work at the orphanage, to revealing my deeply-concealed idols, to building relationships with my students, God has been faithful to lead me in His paths of righteousness. The last four months have been filled with situations I never thought I'd experience, but God has used each one to grow me and show me more of Himself. Even though four months is a relatively short period of time, I realized how quickly my thoughts and feelings move on to other things ... it is good to have a written reminder of all God's dealings with us. The reminder of answered prayer was also an encouragement to ask Him for more specific things, particularly for this week.

May 5th through 6th (Days 118-119): From Finals to Finales

May 5th:
Woke up at 4:17 am (on a Saturday, no less) ... so there was plenty of time to get things done. After devotions, breakfast, and exercising, all of which was completed by 6 am, I did a load of laundry, then got to talk to Mom on Skype. They had just gotten out of the pool in a hotel in Seattle (where they are staying for the boys' karate tournament). After we talked for awhile, I got to work on writing the final exam for fourth grade math. The final and re-take are nearly complete, I only have about 20 questions left to write (out of 100) and the answer key, so that was relieving. Around noon, I had had a full day. I sat down to read and ended up falling asleep for about 20 minutes. Around 1:30, I walked down to Gali Park and met up with Stacy and a friend. Went to three different shoe places afterward and couldn't find a thing (that's the trouble with having really narrow feet.) Came home and caught up on some emailing. The rest of the evening melted away ... definitely ready for an early bedtime.

May 6th:
On my way to school I actually saw a lifted F-150, extended cab! It was amazing! Not too many big pickups around here. If I get a vehicle here, I might have to consider that. It would definitely give me an advantage on these narrow roads where "chicken" is a normal part of driving. [Side story: on the way home from one of our picnics, I commented that it seemed like we were driving in the other lane the entire way TO the picnic to avoid potholes and now, on the way BACK, using the same road, we were still driving in the other lane to avoid the potholes. John dryly retorted, "Lanes? What lanes?"]

My "rowdy" class wasn't very good today. I took three of the boys down to the principal because they weren't responding to any of my corrections. It was supposed to be an easy day. We spent most of the time reviewing for the test tomorrow ... and it was one of those review sessions where I practically gave out the answers to the test!

After class I graded papers, then taught my 11am art class. I had to send one boy out of class, but after that they settled down and got right to work. The kids spent a lot of time on their drawings. This is the third day that they have exceeded my expectations! God has been very merciful to me with that class.

Had a half hour lunch break, then taught the second math class. We had a review session during their time as well, and I awarded extra points for the test to the students who were paying attention. We covered a lot more material and I am hopeful that they will do well tomorrow.

I graded more papers, and copied off the test (ahead of time). The copy machine obviously wasn't prepared for my cleverness and didn't have time to run out of ink or paper! After I finished grading and socializing, I hopped in a taxi and went to Mazi to get my wire. This last month I am living off my salary from the school, so SGI simply wired my rent money for the next three months. It was the shortest wire transfer yet! Stacy and I usually end up waiting for about a half hour when we go to the Western Union downtown ... this took maybe five minutes. I was really relieved that it went so well (and that I was able to make my weekly grocery run at the same time). Took a taxi home and napped for 15 minutes. I think the dust storm really affected my allergies - by the afternoon I am pretty zapped of energy.

Stacy and I grabbed a taxi around 4pm and stopped by to pick up Dan and Julie. The four of us headed to the Convention Center where one of our friends from the fellowship was participating in a concert. The convention center is amazing. Really up-to-date and impressive set-up. The participants were dressed in their Kurdish clothes and the whole performance was very professional. The only time I realized I was in different cultural setting is when I could hear the people around me talking on their cell phones, getting up to leave and most of all, when the TV cameras were directed on our group of foreigners (there were quite a few of us that showed up to support our friend).

It was really neat to experience and I'm so glad I was able to go - not only to see the way a concert is "put on" on here, but to compare the elements that they value in music with the elements we emphasize in our music. Our friend wrote a song for the concert, and we all agreed that it was the best out of the nine songs they performed!

By the time the show ended, it was 7pm, and Dan, Julie, and I were starving. Texas Chicken was on the way home, so we stopped there to eat. We saw three of our students (who apparently eat there about two or three times a week!) I roped one of them into helping me explain my order, even though we are supposed to be able to order in English ... and all I wanted to do was change out my fries for coleslaw! :P

Took some pictures of the amazing moon when I got home, then visited with John and Mary for a little bit. Ready for bed ...