27September2015 Quickshot: Undulating

To put it mildly, our city is "hilly."  This trait adds an element of intensity to morning walks but rewards with lovely views. 

24September2015 Quickshot: Sheep

Sheep!  

Sheep wherever you look!

In the back of pickup trucks...Sheep!

In the street...Sheep!

In pens at intersections...Sheep!

In neighbors' yards...Sheep!

Cartoon Sheep!

Toy Sheep!

Sheep!

 This week, starting today, our neighbors are observing Eid al Adha (the feast of the sacrifice) where many sheep will die.   In the midst of this, we pray that many will come to know the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.   

20September2015 Bilal by Boat

With his beautiful fourteen-month-old son perched in his lap, Bilal lamented the current state of his life.  

Fleeing from Homs with his wife and small daughter.  

Moving from one dilapidated, price-gouging apartment to the next.  

Having their baby on foreign soil. 

Loss of family.

Loss of friends.

Loss of community. 

Loss of home.

 

But he smiled as he showed us pictures his Whatsapp account.  Several cousins had fled through Turkey and then paid brigands to smuggle them across the Mediterranean and into Greece.  Now they were in places like Sweden, Germany and Italy.  One friend, smile beaming from Bilal's Samsung screen, had made it all the way to Florida...to the promised land!

Bilal is now dreaming of taking that same journey.  He wants to cross the sea to new opportunities.  

To freedom. 

To safety.  

Images of Aylan Kurdi, the three-year old whose body washed ashore in Turkey, after he, his brother and mom drowned while trying to cross the Sea, flashed through my mind.  I asked about his family but Bilal just smiled.  "What can we do?  I cannot stay here.  My life is over but not theirs [nodding toward his small children] is not."

We spent the afternoon with Bilal. Sharing stories, prayingl, listening and sipping tea.  

Thousands of Syrian Refugees are making this decision each day.   Do they go overland to Macedonia or Hungary? Do they wait for a call from the UN saying they've been approved from resettlement?  Bilal, he wants to go by boat.  Please pray for them.

18September2015 Quickshot(s): SALSA!

If there's one thing this family misses it's fresh salsa.  For some reason Mexican restaurants haven't caught on here.  Not one to be limited by circumstances, D. decided to make her own.  Boy are we glad.  

Be sure to drop us a note if you'd like the complete recipe. 

Cleaning and slicing peppers, tomatoes and onions.

 

Veggies are then roasted in the oven.

Not only do they look nice but they make the whole apartment smell wonderful.

Additional ingredients, including fresh cilantro, are added.

Boom!  Easy peasy, lemon squeezey.  Fresh, yummy salsa!

14September CARE Package

Ever done a study on the phrase, "care package"?  Me either, at least not until today.  Apparently, following the end of WW2 America sent C.A.R.E  (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) parcels to Europe, particularly Germany, to stave off widespread starvation.  Who knew?  

Yesterday we received a care package from America.  We aren't in Germany, haven't recently been through a war and we certainly aren't starving but this well thought out, lovingly prepared act of kindness certainly had an impact on our family.  One of our greatest sacrifices in coming here wasnt Chickfila or showers with actual water pressure, but the loss of fellowship with family and friends.  Of course we have loved ones in this place but there are times when feelings of isolation, loneliness and discouragement are all too real.  It is usually during those times that we get an email or a phone call, or in this case, a package that is like a soothing balm to our sun-parched souls.  Pumpkin spice muffins, hand written cards, pepperoni, REAL PEPPERONI PEOPLE, are amazing things but what really touches us, what causes those small, sweet tears to form in the corners of our eyes, what makes us feel like we're being hugged deeply from afar is the reassurance of that we are remembered we are thought of, we are loved.  That's caring and we are so very grateful for it

4September2015 Quickshot: Insomnia

This city never sleeps.  Well, it sleeps during the heat of the day but not at night.  In our neighborhood tonight, a local restaurant is hosting a grand re-opening complete with loud music, traditional dancing and abundant fireworks.  It's going to be a long night...

3September2015 Quickshot: KG

The first, first day of kindergarten for #L today.  We have two years of of (KG1 and KG2) here so you have 365 days to prepare your eyes for more abundant scholastic cuteness.