We’ve had some busy days the last few weeks and I’d thought I’d give you a brief glimpse into what’s been going on around here.
Last week all of the kids who were sent to Turkey for heart surgery returned and Shad’s funeral began. Funerals here last about a week and begin as soon as someone dies. I got to see all 4 kids who received surgery and it was great! I was really blessed to be in their homes and hear about their experience in Turkey and see how grateful they are to have healthier children. The youngest child we sent was little 2.5-year-old Roman. I went to his house twice last week and couldn’t believe the improvement. When I saw him before surgery he was always either sleeping or laying in his mom’s lap. He wasn’t very active and didn’t want to play with his brothers. I couldn’t believe that he was the same kid! Now he is riding his tricycle all over the house, wrestling with his brothers, and can hardly sit still. It is beautiful to see childhood restored to these children. I had lunch with another little girl’s family we sent and she is doing wonderfully. She was not able to receive a total correction because of the complexity of her heart problem but the doctors assured us that she would live a long life and be able to have children. She got all dressed up and put makeup on (I think she is 7) and is eating much better now than she was before surgery. She is very small for her age but should be able to gain weight properly now. The oldest child we sent was 16-year-old Lowen. Her parents have known about her heart problem for more than 10 years and have been waiting for the day that she could be healed. It was great to see the gathering of family and neighbors at their home to celebrate her recovery. I only got to see Schwan briefly as his family lives in a village 3 hours away from our city, but he was looking fabulous as he clutched his heart shaped pillow that the kids receive after surgery to help ease some of the pain. We are going to his village this week to see his family and check up on him. I also got to see one of our kids that we sent back in February. Little Lowran is just over a year old and will require another surgery when he is older. His lips and hands still have a blue tint to them and he can’t yet sit up by himself because he is so underweight and doesn’t have control of his muscles. He isn’t crawling or sitting yet, but he is making progress and getting stronger. I’m realizing more and more the dire importance of these children getting heart surgery while they are still babies. Ten-year-old Shad just had to wait too long for his surgery and his body was too weak from 10 years of fighting. The same is true for the kids who have been inoperable. If they had the chance to get surgery when they were babies (both were diagnosed since birth) they wouldn’t be facing the medical hopelessness that they are now.
Shad’s funeral was the first I have attended since we arrived here. They set up a large tent outside the house and all of the women gather there. The body is immediately taken to the mosque and that is where all of the men go. It is culturally appropriate for the women to be very vocal in their expressions of grief. They cry and wail and it is a very corporate event. There were probably over 100 women gathered in the tent when we arrived and it was really heart breaking. It was really encouraging though to see the mom’s of the other children who had been in Turkey with Shad there because they really understood how easily it could have been their child. There were also two moms’ whose children died in Israel awaiting heart surgery there. It grieves us that any of these parents have to go through this and yet I was really blessed to see how they support and care for each other. We’re praying that it won’t always be like this. That on that list of 4,000 kids waiting their turn that they won’t have to wait until it is too late for them. You can be a part of the solution. By making a donation to PLC you are helping to save a child’s life, restoring their childhood, and helping ensure that it is not too late. We’re praying for hope for these families who have faced and are facing medical hopelessness. We know there is a Hope that surpasses our circumstances and cradles us in our grief. Join us in praying Hope for these families today.
6.15.2009
6.06.2009
Shad
PLC sent 5 kids (and helped send one 26 year old) for heart surgery 2 weeks ago. All of the children were able to receive the life saving heart surgeries they required. The older girl was determined to be inoperable, it was just too late for her, she had to wait too long. One of the most critical and difficult cases was a little boy named Shad. He is 10 years old couldn't wait any longer for this surgery. We weren't sure he would even be operable as his case was so difficult. The doctor determined that he could do the surgery but that it would not be a total correction for Shad.
Shad went through his first surgery only to have to have another emergency surgery the next day. He had begun to recover last week and was finally released from ICU and was talking excitedly about returning to Iraq. He crashed suddenly on Thursday morning and was rushed into another emergency surgery. He was in critical condition yesterday and his Dad had given up hope for his recovery. We don't know the details yet, but we received word that Shad passed away this morning. We had been fervently hoping and praying for a different outcome and I know we are all grieved by this news. But we know who holds life and death in His hands and we believe wholeheartedly in His all surpassing goodness. Join us in praying for Shad's father who is at the hospital with Jeremy as they work to get the body back to Iraq. Pray for his siblings and his mother as they are back here in Iraq grieving with their family. Pray that God would comfort and draw these ones near to Himself.
Shad went through his first surgery only to have to have another emergency surgery the next day. He had begun to recover last week and was finally released from ICU and was talking excitedly about returning to Iraq. He crashed suddenly on Thursday morning and was rushed into another emergency surgery. He was in critical condition yesterday and his Dad had given up hope for his recovery. We don't know the details yet, but we received word that Shad passed away this morning. We had been fervently hoping and praying for a different outcome and I know we are all grieved by this news. But we know who holds life and death in His hands and we believe wholeheartedly in His all surpassing goodness. Join us in praying for Shad's father who is at the hospital with Jeremy as they work to get the body back to Iraq. Pray for his siblings and his mother as they are back here in Iraq grieving with their family. Pray that God would comfort and draw these ones near to Himself.
5.25.2009
My trip to the Salon
It wasn’t my first time to get my hair cut here, but it was the first time I’ve had enough language and knowledge of the culture to really understand and appreciate the whole experience. The salon is in the same building that our office is in. Just to give you a picture of what the ‘salon’ is like, it is a room with a mirror, a counter, a couch, and one salon chair. I guess since there is only one lady who works there it makes sense to only have one chair. The lady who runs this place is fully covered. She covers her head and wears the long shirts to her knees. The first time I went to get my haircut she left me in the salon by myself for about 20 minutes so that she could go to her house and pray because it was time for afternoon prayers.
So, when I showed up yesterday there was quite a crowd… I wish I could have taken a picture of the women there, but it would have been pretty rude! The first woman was dressed from head to toe in sparkly red. She had the traditional Kurdish clothing on and was going to a wedding that evening. She was getting her makeup and hair done for the occasion. Women here REALLY like their makeup, especially for special occasions. The women also think it is beautiful to have really light skin, not their naturally really dark skin (I know, the grass is always greener huh?). So, she only has one shade of powder and it is really light. It requires much caking of the powder to conceal the women’s actual skin coloring. There is also nothing sanitary about make up application. There are no separate wands, or brushes, or cloths. After the make up she did this lady’s hair. They really like big hair here, I mean like 1984. The finishing touches were a can of hairspray and some glitter in her hair. I guess it’s a little bit like getting ready for prom, only with way more sparkles and gold jewelry.
The next lady came in to get her face flossed. I don’t know what you call it actually. You know those people in the mall who do people’s eyebrows with the string. They do that here too, but they don’t stop at the brows, they do the ENTIRE face. I mean cheeks, forehead, chin, lip, and sideburns. I felt pretty bad for this lady as she was grimacing in pain and kept having to wipe tears from her face. I’ve never done the face floss myself, but this lady’s face was bright red afterwards. It pretty much deterred me from ever wanting to experience it though.
So, then it was my turn. They don’t wash your hair here when you get it cut; they just spray it with a bottle. After I explained what I wanted, or tried to anyway, she got right to work. When she wasn’t using the comb to brush my hair she stuck it in her own hair and when she needed to pin up my hair she took the clip out of her own hair to use it in mine. I just had to smile and think about what it would be like if a hairdresser in the states did that. She insisted on drying my hair afterwards and giving me her own style. She is a really good hairdresser and I’ve liked my hair both times she has cut it. I’m not a big fan of her styling, but I never liked how they fixed my hair in the states either. See below for a picture of the finished product. After she was finished the other ladies in the salon exclaimed ‘She looks Kurdish! Now she must speak better Kurdish.’ I couldn’t agree more.
So, when I showed up yesterday there was quite a crowd… I wish I could have taken a picture of the women there, but it would have been pretty rude! The first woman was dressed from head to toe in sparkly red. She had the traditional Kurdish clothing on and was going to a wedding that evening. She was getting her makeup and hair done for the occasion. Women here REALLY like their makeup, especially for special occasions. The women also think it is beautiful to have really light skin, not their naturally really dark skin (I know, the grass is always greener huh?). So, she only has one shade of powder and it is really light. It requires much caking of the powder to conceal the women’s actual skin coloring. There is also nothing sanitary about make up application. There are no separate wands, or brushes, or cloths. After the make up she did this lady’s hair. They really like big hair here, I mean like 1984. The finishing touches were a can of hairspray and some glitter in her hair. I guess it’s a little bit like getting ready for prom, only with way more sparkles and gold jewelry.
The next lady came in to get her face flossed. I don’t know what you call it actually. You know those people in the mall who do people’s eyebrows with the string. They do that here too, but they don’t stop at the brows, they do the ENTIRE face. I mean cheeks, forehead, chin, lip, and sideburns. I felt pretty bad for this lady as she was grimacing in pain and kept having to wipe tears from her face. I’ve never done the face floss myself, but this lady’s face was bright red afterwards. It pretty much deterred me from ever wanting to experience it though.
So, then it was my turn. They don’t wash your hair here when you get it cut; they just spray it with a bottle. After I explained what I wanted, or tried to anyway, she got right to work. When she wasn’t using the comb to brush my hair she stuck it in her own hair and when she needed to pin up my hair she took the clip out of her own hair to use it in mine. I just had to smile and think about what it would be like if a hairdresser in the states did that. She insisted on drying my hair afterwards and giving me her own style. She is a really good hairdresser and I’ve liked my hair both times she has cut it. I’m not a big fan of her styling, but I never liked how they fixed my hair in the states either. See below for a picture of the finished product. After she was finished the other ladies in the salon exclaimed ‘She looks Kurdish! Now she must speak better Kurdish.’ I couldn’t agree more.
5.14.2009
Top 25 Most Played
I’m a huge itunes fan… it pretty much changed listening to music for me. One of my favorite itunes features is the playcount. Every time you listen to the whole song (it doesn’t count if you skip the song or don’t listen to all of it) in itunes it records how many times you have listened to that song and when the last time you played it was. Itunes also makes a playlist for you called ‘Top 25 most played’. When I’m having a rough day or just need something to pick me up a little bit I almost always go to this playlist because it is a record of my favorite songs. I don’t think I would have said that some of these songs are my favorite, but sure enough when I hear them it makes me pretty happy. (I’ve had itunes since 2005 so these playcounts are since 2005) Here are my Top 25 and how many times I’ve listened to them in itunes:
1. You are Still Holy by: Rita Springer 204 times
2. He’s Always Been Faithful by: Sara Groves 201 times
3. Homesick by: MercyMe 181 times
4. Created to Worship by: Rita Springer 158 times
5. In the Secret of His Presence by: Sandra McCracken 146 times
6. Jesus I am Resting, Resting by: Alisa Dishong 132 times
7. My Stupid Mouth by: John Mayer 130 times
8. Come and Listen by: David Crowder Band 122 times
9. Everything by: Michael Buble’ 122 times
10. Micah 6:8 by: Charlie Hall 120 times
11. I Have to Believe by: Rita Springer 117 times
12. Provision Song by: Caedmon’s Call 115 times
13. Loving A Person by: Sara Groves 113 times
14. Jesus the Lord My Savior Is by: Sandra McCracken 113 times
15. Me and You by: Kenny Chesney 111 times
16, My Hero by: Rita Springer 111 times
17. I Boast No More by: Sandra McCracken 111 times
18. Be Still My Soul by: Jill Phillips 110 times
19. The Heart of Life by: John Mayer 109 times
20. Waiting on the World to Change by; John Mayer 107 times
21. Love With Justice by: Rita Springer 105 times
22. Rich Young Ruler by: Derek Webb 104 times
23. You Have Redeemed My Soul by: Enter the Worship Circle 102 times
24. She’s Everything by: Brad Paisley 97 times
25. We are Man and Wife by: Michelle Featherstone 96 times
So, what are your favorite songs?
1. You are Still Holy by: Rita Springer 204 times
2. He’s Always Been Faithful by: Sara Groves 201 times
3. Homesick by: MercyMe 181 times
4. Created to Worship by: Rita Springer 158 times
5. In the Secret of His Presence by: Sandra McCracken 146 times
6. Jesus I am Resting, Resting by: Alisa Dishong 132 times
7. My Stupid Mouth by: John Mayer 130 times
8. Come and Listen by: David Crowder Band 122 times
9. Everything by: Michael Buble’ 122 times
10. Micah 6:8 by: Charlie Hall 120 times
11. I Have to Believe by: Rita Springer 117 times
12. Provision Song by: Caedmon’s Call 115 times
13. Loving A Person by: Sara Groves 113 times
14. Jesus the Lord My Savior Is by: Sandra McCracken 113 times
15. Me and You by: Kenny Chesney 111 times
16, My Hero by: Rita Springer 111 times
17. I Boast No More by: Sandra McCracken 111 times
18. Be Still My Soul by: Jill Phillips 110 times
19. The Heart of Life by: John Mayer 109 times
20. Waiting on the World to Change by; John Mayer 107 times
21. Love With Justice by: Rita Springer 105 times
22. Rich Young Ruler by: Derek Webb 104 times
23. You Have Redeemed My Soul by: Enter the Worship Circle 102 times
24. She’s Everything by: Brad Paisley 97 times
25. We are Man and Wife by: Michelle Featherstone 96 times
So, what are your favorite songs?
5.11.2009
Belated Mother's Day
We've had some internet issues so I didn't get to post this yesterday, but I wanted to show you the first baby thing we bought! Jeff got these shelves for me for Mother's Day and I love them! It has been fun thinking about how we are going to put our nursery together!
5.07.2009
What do I know of Holy
I’ve watched this movie a few times this week called ‘Magdalena, Released from Shame’ (It is put out by the same people who produced the Jesus film). I’ve been watching it in Kurdish and English to prepare me to watch it with a local friend this weekend. It is the story of Mary Magdalene, but it is so much more than that, I was really pleasantly surprised by it. Mary tells the story of Jesus’ life from her point of view and tells how her own story is intertwined in the life of Jesus. She talks a lot about the women Jesus touched and his ministry among women. It struck me so hard living in this culture where women are such second-class citizens and the culture back in Jesus’ day was not so different from this and yet he so radically and compassionately broke the rules to reach out to women around him. She also tells the story of Jesus in the context of the whole Bible and talks about the Old Testament prophets (many of which Christianity and Islam share) and how Jesus is the fulfillment of all of these promises.
I know I’m kind of hormonal anyway right now, but I cried several times throughout this movie. I think besides being so stuck by Jesus’ radical love for these women, it was just realizing again that God’s glory is so huge and His relentless pursuit of His people throughout history is so compelling! I was left thinking about this song I heard several months ago and fell in love with. It is by Addison Road and is called ‘What do I know of Holy?’ The lyrics are below:
I try to hear from heaven but I talk the whole time, I think I’ve made you too small, I never fear you at all. If you touched my face would I know you, look into my eyes could I behold you?
Chorus
What do I know of you who spoke me into motion? Where have I even stood but the shore along your ocean? Are you fire are you fury, are you sacred are you beautiful? So, what do I know, what do I know of holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured you out, I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about how you were mighty to save but those were only empty words on a page, then I caught a glimpse of who you might be, the slightest hint of you brought me down to my knees
Chorus
What do I know of holy? What do I know of him who’s love will heal my shame and the god who gave life it’s name? What do I know of holy of the one who the angles praise all creation knows your name on earth and heaven above what do I know of this love?
Chorus
I was thinking last night as I was praying for many of the things I pray for daily that sometimes I behave as if I really don’t know or fear God at all. I live my life in such a small way and ask God for such small things and believe him for such small things that it seems I must really not know anything about him. I spend so much of time with God thinking about him only in the context of my life and what is immediately before me – it is SO small! This is why it is really good for me to be in the Old Testament (something I haven’t done well lately), because I forget how HUGE and eternal God’s story is and what a small part I actually have in it. I don’t feel belittled or uncared for to realize this… I actually feel really relieved and free! God’s love for those I love, for my family, for the Kurds, for the world He created, has existed eternally and I cannot do anything to change that. If anything, I can learn to love more fully through learning to love like His love. I don’t know if any of this resonates with anyone other than me. It has just been really refreshing to get a bigger glimpse of our God than my small perception. Join me in praising God for His endless love for His creation! May the world see and fully know this Love.
I know I’m kind of hormonal anyway right now, but I cried several times throughout this movie. I think besides being so stuck by Jesus’ radical love for these women, it was just realizing again that God’s glory is so huge and His relentless pursuit of His people throughout history is so compelling! I was left thinking about this song I heard several months ago and fell in love with. It is by Addison Road and is called ‘What do I know of Holy?’ The lyrics are below:
I try to hear from heaven but I talk the whole time, I think I’ve made you too small, I never fear you at all. If you touched my face would I know you, look into my eyes could I behold you?
Chorus
What do I know of you who spoke me into motion? Where have I even stood but the shore along your ocean? Are you fire are you fury, are you sacred are you beautiful? So, what do I know, what do I know of holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured you out, I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about how you were mighty to save but those were only empty words on a page, then I caught a glimpse of who you might be, the slightest hint of you brought me down to my knees
Chorus
What do I know of holy? What do I know of him who’s love will heal my shame and the god who gave life it’s name? What do I know of holy of the one who the angles praise all creation knows your name on earth and heaven above what do I know of this love?
Chorus
I was thinking last night as I was praying for many of the things I pray for daily that sometimes I behave as if I really don’t know or fear God at all. I live my life in such a small way and ask God for such small things and believe him for such small things that it seems I must really not know anything about him. I spend so much of time with God thinking about him only in the context of my life and what is immediately before me – it is SO small! This is why it is really good for me to be in the Old Testament (something I haven’t done well lately), because I forget how HUGE and eternal God’s story is and what a small part I actually have in it. I don’t feel belittled or uncared for to realize this… I actually feel really relieved and free! God’s love for those I love, for my family, for the Kurds, for the world He created, has existed eternally and I cannot do anything to change that. If anything, I can learn to love more fully through learning to love like His love. I don’t know if any of this resonates with anyone other than me. It has just been really refreshing to get a bigger glimpse of our God than my small perception. Join me in praising God for His endless love for His creation! May the world see and fully know this Love.
5.06.2009
Improvement
I just wanted to take a few moments to report that Jeff & I are doing so much better. We've been in country for over 3 months now and praise the Lord, we are continuously improving.
I'm so proud of my husband... he has really pushed himself and is doing such a tremendous job of making the most of life here. Learning a new language with 44 letters in the alphabet, many of which make a sound that has no English equivalent is pretty daunting. Especially when you have to learn to read and write all over again! It is really neat to see how well loved Jeff is here. He says 'hello how are you' (in Kurdish) to just about every guy we pass on the streets and they all LOVE him. The shop owners and restaurant workers he has befriended are constantly giving him free stuff and refusing to let him pay for things because he has been such a good friend to them. Every time I am with our neighbors or the families we have helped through PLC they are always asking about Jeff and when they will see him again. He spends time most days in the big outdoor market just meeting people and practicing his Kurdish with them. I know it is exhausting trying to think and speak in another language all day but Jeff is doing such a great job and improving in his ability to understand and communicate every day.
It is hard. I know lots of you probably have hard jobs that you have to do every day. I just wanted everyone to know what a great job Jeff is doing and how even at the end of these long days of language learning he still comes home singing some oldies song and smiling. There aren't a lot of people here to pat you on the back for using a new word correctly or celebrate with you that you said what you meant to say to that guy and he understood you. I just wanted to invite you to celebrate Jeff with me and the strides he is making in loving people well and learning a really difficult language. Ultimately, this isn't about Jeff and his ability to learn Kurdish and succeed here. I think we both have come to understand in new ways the depths of grace available when we most need it. So, praise be to God who gives us every good thing and prepares good works in advance for us to walk in them!
I'm so proud of my husband... he has really pushed himself and is doing such a tremendous job of making the most of life here. Learning a new language with 44 letters in the alphabet, many of which make a sound that has no English equivalent is pretty daunting. Especially when you have to learn to read and write all over again! It is really neat to see how well loved Jeff is here. He says 'hello how are you' (in Kurdish) to just about every guy we pass on the streets and they all LOVE him. The shop owners and restaurant workers he has befriended are constantly giving him free stuff and refusing to let him pay for things because he has been such a good friend to them. Every time I am with our neighbors or the families we have helped through PLC they are always asking about Jeff and when they will see him again. He spends time most days in the big outdoor market just meeting people and practicing his Kurdish with them. I know it is exhausting trying to think and speak in another language all day but Jeff is doing such a great job and improving in his ability to understand and communicate every day.
It is hard. I know lots of you probably have hard jobs that you have to do every day. I just wanted everyone to know what a great job Jeff is doing and how even at the end of these long days of language learning he still comes home singing some oldies song and smiling. There aren't a lot of people here to pat you on the back for using a new word correctly or celebrate with you that you said what you meant to say to that guy and he understood you. I just wanted to invite you to celebrate Jeff with me and the strides he is making in loving people well and learning a really difficult language. Ultimately, this isn't about Jeff and his ability to learn Kurdish and succeed here. I think we both have come to understand in new ways the depths of grace available when we most need it. So, praise be to God who gives us every good thing and prepares good works in advance for us to walk in them!
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