A partial retraction

After talking to a friend of mine who read our blog, I wanted to print a partial retraction. Things are safe here, relatively speaking. It is very evident once you've been here, how much these people have been through. There are shells of houses up and down each street. They are rebuilding , but slowly. So memories speak through the catastrophic rubbel. The country is in flux. Good and bad. They are very accepting and love the west(esp. the U.S.). I couldn't think of a better people group to come to. People are frustrated with the speed of progress for their freedom. There is nothing they can do accept wait, and protest. That doesn't happen very often, but it does. We really don't have a spirit of fear, PTL!, but there are factors in living that just aren't even thought about in the states, like bombs. Could it happen? It's possible, but not likely. But there sure is a greater probability of it happening here than it would, be if we were sitting comfy back in TX. That being said so you can understand the other factors that we now consider in daily living.I hope that puts some of your minds to rest, but also increases your prayers to Him on our behalf.

Boom!

It's hard to believe that it has been nearly 2 months since I have blogged.School has been out , we went to Greece, found a Starbucks, returned from Greece, Going , going, going to language classes, enjoying the warmth, the heat, the melting, oh yeah did I say it got hot(it's different than TX, No AC), bought a kiddie pool, and waiting for our crate. Kids are doing well. Asher has come out of the doldrums and enjoying life again(lots of laughing and goofing off). That had been an issue of prayer for a while. Food poisoning for both Simon & myself , at different times from different things mind you, but still food poisoning. Then we got it again. We had some national friends over for dinner and served them fried pickles. The pickles were the homemade brand, from our benevolent neighbors, with a slight touch of botulism. We felt so bad for our friends. You couldn't tell! They tasted so good. And our friends loved the special dipping sauce. Even dipping banana bread in it. Yukkk!

This morning, a dreadful noise woke the house. My first thought, BOMB! Then I listened some more. It made more sense that it was thunder, but it sounds alot different here. I remember those thunderstorms in TX and the sonic boom that would sound. This was different. I think being in the valley makes a difference. Not to mention there was no time between the boom and the sizzle, that meant it was close. I guess that is what prompted me to write. It is different here, with a different state of mind. In TX, I was accustomed to pray immediately after a sound like that, kind of like Samuel, "Yes, Lord. I'm listening". Today I found myself just trying to determine if I needed to put on day clothes, gather the kids and get out door. I wasn't afraid , but sometimes the nerve bundles in my body have a slower response to my brain than I would like. I was a little shaky. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. We otherwise would not be able to be here with the political climate the way it is. I guess I was prompted just to tell you the way it is. We love you all and really do need your prayers. In TX, all the helicopters that fly over head, we could speculate as to what kind they were. Traffic, television, private, military, Presidential. Here we know what kind it is. Just a thought. So remember and appreciate the freedom and peace that we enjoy indulgently in the US, but even more so the freedom & peace we have in Christ.PTL!

Sickness

The house is shaping up, but all the hard work has taken its toll on me. A minor headcold, but it is still not fun. I've been sick twice since we have been here and hope that it is not a new trend. I'm usually a one timer/year. Please lift up our health. Satan will use any tool he can get his hands on. I remember that we have not because we ask not. I guess I let this one slip. Blessings and love to all.

Alot going on.

New culture,new language, new house, new schedules, new friends, new foods. It's as though God has said redo everything in your life and adjust it to my timing, my location, my purposes. All that we have known has changed with the exception of our God. Praise him for that. There is so much to be thankful for and too few hours in the day to sufficiently thank him. A heart of gratitude is what I have. He has blessed us with a beautiful home and new skills in plumbing that I did not know that I had. Food has been an adjustment here since everything has to be made from scratch. Flour tortillas for you Texans, Louisiana hot sauce for our Cajun friends, and salad dressings all around. PS. Who has a good recipe for homemade Ranch? We found a real treat at the store. Chicken cordon blue! With real ham and cheddar cheese. We have neither ham or cheddar here so this is a taste from home.Our language studies are coming along nicely and our teacher has a sweet spirit. We are looking forward to the more laid back attitude and lifestyle here , but with 5 children, language studies , and setting a new home, there is very little time for rest. Pray for that. We have felt a different spiritual atmosphere here at times, but we are not afraid , just prayerful. God is keeping us on our toes. Please realize how very important your prayers are to us . Please continue to pray that He will bring us people of peace and avenues for the message to be sown widely. We are trying to blend in. It's hard to be inconspicuous though with red hair in this people group. They are beautiful people here with warm hearts. They love Americans. We love you all.