We had a busy and enjoyable month of August---
Humanitarian Work
We have been to many refugee and IDP camps (tInternally Displaced Persons--This country's way of giving the homeless a place to live). The community center and green houses are in progress for Bahrka Camp and the Chicken Farm is almost completed. We continue to attend and watch the training for wheelchair recipients so they can be trained on how to take care of their wheelchairs. The following 2 photos are of two adults, receiving wheelchairs, who are trying to improve their lives by working and going to college for a degree. The young adult woman is Bana and wants to be a doctor.The man with no legs is working as a mechanic. The "little princess girl", Ashqa, was very scared to be in the room with all the other people but we managed to get her photo!
We see so many people here with disabilities. I read that 18 % of this country has disabilities. It is very humbling to watch them struggle to get in and out of a new wheelchair, but also rewarding to belong to a church that sends so many chairs around the world. I am going to include one of my favorite poems that I've loved since childhood:
Lord, Forgive Me When I Whine
Today, upon a bus, I saw a lovely girl with golden hair,
I envied her...she seemed so beautiful...and wished I were so fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw here hobble down the aisle
She had one leg and wore a crutch, but as she passed,..a smile!
Oh Lord, forgive me when I whine,
I have two legs.The world is mine!
I stopped to buy some candy, the lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him. He seemed so glad. If I were late, it'd do no harm.
As I left, he said to me, "I thank you. You have been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see, he said, I'm blind."
Oh Lord, forgive me when I whine,
I have two eyes.The world is mine!
Later while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play. I stopped a moment,
When I said, "Why don't you join the others, Dear?"
He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear.
Oh Lord, forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears.The world is mine!
With feet to take me where I'd go, with eyes to see the the sunset's glow,
With ears to hear what I would know.....
Oh Lord, forgive me when I whine.
I am blessed indeed. The world is mine!
Camp Fire!! We went up to the boarder of Turkey to a camp by the name, Chamishku, that caught on fire and 21 homes were burned and destroyed. They are receiving money from LDS Charities to help rebuild so we went to check on the damage and talk with the camp manager. They had already started the clean up and rebuilding process.
Land of the Prophets
Yesterday we went to a village called Alqosh. It is where Prophet Nahum is buried. His Old Testament book is the sixth from the end of the Old Testament and only has 3 chapters and it was so enjoyable to see his tomb (that is under renovation) and the ancient town.
This village is in Nineveh and Nahum was told to teach the people there.
We also learned that :
*Queen Esther lived in the area around Baghdad. Jacob met Rachel here and spent 20 years in this area. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were also from Iraq.
*The Kurdish people are from the tribe of Japeth, which means they are from Abraham.
*Iraq is the beginning of history--from Abraham to Moses.
*Mount Ararat is north of us in Turkey.
*Peter preached in Kurdistan.
*When Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, many of the Jews were brought here. There are still Jewish villages, as well as many Christian Villages. Ankawa is one of the Christian villages. There we met Archbishop Bashar Wada. We had provided the Catholic Church many beds for their new hospital and we went in to sign the agreement. (see picture)
We visited a village called Akre and one called Amedi. They both had beautiful waterfalls and a lot of ancient history.
Amedi Waterfall
Ancient entrance to the city of Amedi. The village claims to be the home of the Wise Men.
It was beautiful and on the top of a huge plateau.
Kurdistan Branch
We were able to take Elder Tiyari to the airport for his mission. He is in the Provo MTC and just went to the temple last Wednesday night. He was so excited but very nervous. Past missionaries and Mark and Georgia Anderson, who are over the wheelchair humanitarian project, attended with him.
Our youth attended their first EVER Youth Conference! They were so cute and happy to be together. They have never been able to be with each other for more than a few hours before. It was difficult to say goodbye at the conclusion. We loved being with them and felling their spirit and hearing their testimonies.
We had 10 youth in attendance and it was held in our missionary apartment. They all taught from Strength of Youth pamphlet and we went swimming, played 9 Square, ate a lot and had a testimony meeting. They were all able to watch Mark be set apart for his mission which was very important for all of them. Last week another young adult sister, Valentina, who attended youth conference, made the decision to go on a mission and we spent last Friday evening helping her fill out her mission papers. Great things are happening in Kurdistan!! We have also had several non member friends coming to our Sacrament meeting in Erbil.
We love you all but love the Lord more. If Kurdistan is where He wants us to be, then Kurdistan is where we want to be.
Love, Hugs, and Kisses,
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Ken and Joyce
Elder and Sister Asay
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