March 2019

Dear Family and Friends,

On March 10, 2019 the members in Kurdistan were made an official branch. The members were thrilled and the meeting was beautiful. Ken was called to be the YM President and I am the YW President. We have only 3 YM and 3 YW. They live 5 hours apart from each other. Any ideas for activities, please share!

We have had a busy, wet, fun month. We went on a 12 hour excursion, in a bus on windy mountain roads, with a charity group to see the the museum and grave sight of a very loved and admired political man by the name of Barzani. We visited the museum honoring the 8,000 Kurds in that area who were killed by Saddam Hussein in about 1986. Kurdistan is so appreciative of the Americans for enabling their rescue from Saddam.The military sees our LDSCharites logo on the sides of our car and always wave us on--with their hand over their hearts---a gesture of "thank you and God bless".The photos are a little frightening, but are from photos at the museum. It is a very beautiful country--green rolling hills and many many sheep! They are seen in the rural areas and even in the cities. We roll down our windows to hear them and can actually, smell them..... There are sheep headers with their flocks everywhere in Iraq. Lamb is the main meat eaten for all meals. Following that, there is chicken and more chicken.

As we drive along the hills and cities there are beggars along the road, in the middle of the of the lanes of traffic and in the bazars (where we shop), asking for money. We are asked not to give them money by the local people because they all say it just creates more begging. It is a business and many beggars are employed by a boss who takes most of the money they collect. This is kind of like Oliver and his minions of gypsies.

On March 21, Kurdistan celebrated Neuroz. It is a combination of New Year and 4th of July. Their custom is to dress in native Kurdish clothing, have a parade with their beautiful clothing, and picnic in the mountains in their fancy clothes. It lasts for the entire week of the first day of spring. (Photos) 

We are working on a chicken project---it is to help a small village called Pahluja to establish a community business. LDSCharities will assist them in building a facility for the care taker, supply 3 thousand chickens with necessary feed, and the building materials for the coops, including water and electricity. We needed to drive out to the village and check over the land it is to be built on. The land is on the banks of the Tigris River. It is a very fertile land. The Tigris and the Euphrates are the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia. They are referred to as the "Cradle of the Middle East". The Tigris flows down from southeastern Turkey and flows into the Persian Gulf. We have heard about it all our lives and it was remarkable to see it. (Photo)

We also are getting ready for a load of wheelchairs from the United States. This is an ongoing project that LDSC has been working on for the disable persons of Kurdisatan. We have been informed that the joy is amazing as one watches handicapped persons struggle to be brought in by a family member and leave in a wheelchair. We went to visit a few recipients of wheelchairs and visited a little girl who had to be tied into her chair. The persons who fitted her for it were not accurate in placing her in it. She should not have received it to due her inability to sit up. It was a difficult sight for our hearts to handle as we watched her struggle. Have you ever read the poem, "Oh Lord, Forgive Me when I Whine"? Every time I see people here struggling, the words in that poem go through my mind. We are reworking with the provider to provide her a new chair that reclines, allowing her more comfort. (photo)

Ken would like to share that he can now squeeze in with four cars on a 3 lane road, pass semi trucks, with an on-coming car directly in front of him and dodge many deep pot holes, honk his horn with the rest of Kurdistan, AND...I mean... AND...(this is for the grandkids!!) drive a dirty car for several days until he washes it again!!! You grandkids are now off the hook! I never thought I would hear him say, "It is a waste of money to wash the car!" Actually here, it really is, lots of dirt and lots of mud holes.

A few weeks ago we were reading I Nephi 17. It was at a time when I was going through a silent feeling of sorrow for myself. We read about Nephi being commanded to build a ship. Really, a person being asked to build a ship with no experience? Yet, he was obedient to the Lords' command. The Lord shows him the way to build it---where to find ore to make tools, to make bellows with skins of beasts to blow the fire. Rubbing two stones together to make a fire---the first fire they had in the wilderness, making their  food sweet (without having to cook and now provided them light. All these things were taught and given to Nephi by the Lord to accomplish His purposes. It kind of made my little hardships here seem pretty trivial. Oh Lord, forgive me when I whine...!

We love you all, but we love the Lord more. Kurdistan is where the Lord wants us to be so Kurdistan is where we want to be.

Love, hugs and best wishes,

Elder and Sister Asay

Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa

Ken and Joyce

First branch in Iraq