Dear Family and Friends,One week ago today, as we awoke to the news of the death of Soleimani in Iraq, we had no idea of what would take place in the next few days. We were told to evacuate as quickly as possible but LDSCharities had too much project money in the bank to just leave ------ and Ken was the only signature on the account. He couldn't see just leaving it so he asked for permission to wait until the banks opened on Sunday. He was able to get most of the money out and we flew early Monday morning to Ammon Jordan. While in the Ammon Center with Elder and Sister Zwahlen, (they teased US about being refugees--and were very kind to us!) we were told that our new assignment would be to the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center. (We were told it would be a possibility but refused to get excited about it.) The humanitarian couple there had to suddenly return home for family health reasons and it left the rest of the couples in a difficult situation because of the work load. When they learned that we were just 2 hours away, they said to come the next morning.So here we are in the most beautiful campus with the most amazing BYU students, who just arrived yesterday, and the most friendly and helpful couples to serve with. Our assignments will be to give tours of the campus three days a week and to go on the tours around the Holy Land with the students, and to find some humanitarian projects to help with in the area.We loved our mission in Iraq. We loved the people we served and will miss many things about living and serving there. However, we are looking forward to this beautiful and amazing experience of learning more about the life of the Savior by living in this area. Today we took a walk with the students on a "City Walking Tour". Tomorrow, the Sabbath, we will walk to the Garden Tomb. As you can imagine, we are counting our many blessings as we finish unpacking and organizing this adorable little apartment.Thank you for all the messages and prayers that have been offered in our behave. We have been so inspired by your love and concern for us. We love you all but love the Lord more. If Jerusalem is where the Lord wants us to be NOW, then Jerusalem is where we want to be.With Love and Gratitude,Mom and DadGrandma and GrandpaKen and JoyceA few photos from our walking tour today.BYU Jerusalem Center overlooksthe city. It is on the Mount of Olives.Dome of the Rock--where the ancienttemple used to be.The Wailing Wall
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
January 10. 2020
Updates
We just awoke to an email and turned on the news. One missile was three minutes from our Erbil Apartment , one was five minutes away by the US airbase and airport, one was near the camp we’ve going to that has the latest 30,000 Syrian refugees. The base and airport is a five minute drive from our apartment. The news isn’t reporting the casualties. They say right now that there are no known American casualties——but some Iraq casualties.
We will keep you updated as we learn more. You may learn faster than we do. Ken said I made it sound like the school in Erbil was hit. I just meant it was near that small village in Erbil where we remodeled the school we've mentioned in our emails.. No reports of casualties.
Sorry.
Dear Family and Friends,
Just a short update:
The missiles were only 3 and 5 minutes drive from our Erbil apartment. We were only 5 minutes from the airport and the U S air base. One missile was at the little school we just fixed up for one of our projects. For the first time we realize that we needed to leave. The news is stating no US casualties but we are not sure.
We don't have any information about the Jerusalem Center. We are now afraid we will be assigned to go home. We will be patient and wait for directions. We are still with the Zwahlens at the Ammon Jordan Center.
Hello to each of you,
We now have a final and definitive answer on our new assignment. We received word this evening that we will finish our mission at the Jerusalem Center.
They have asked that we come Friday morning. We are two hours away and we will take a taxi or tour transport into Israel.
We will serve as center tour guides and help in some humanitarian projects. We are excited!
Additionally, we will be released a little early, due to another couple that has been called and will report in early June. That being said we will be attending Caleb and Ana Lisa’s Sealing in late June.
On another note , today we looked from atop Mount Nebo into Jerusalem. You’ll recall, Moses was denied entering into the promised land and could only look into the valley. On Friday we will enter in. Neat, huh?
We will report transition details later.
Love Mom and Dad
Monday, January 6, 2020
Good-bye, Iraq
We are in the plane. 150k out of bank. Apartment cleaned. Loose ends cleared up. 300$ for extra luggage at airport. Leaving Kurdistan Iraq . Very mixed emotions. There is a lot of beauty. Army truck and soldiers pouring into the area. We are hoping it all blows over.
However—- excited for a new adventure at Jerusalem Center and spending free time seeing Israel.
Thank you !💕💗. We will be okay. I just feel badly for this part of the world. We are in Jordan. We’re here with a cute couple we were with in the MTC. She’s a doctor and he used to be 007😊. They are sweet and fun!!
I really hope the plan of going to Jerusalem sticks. SL hasn’t called us today.
I really hope the plan of going to Jerusalem sticks. SL hasn’t called us today.
Evacuating Iraq
Just wanted to share an unfortunate event. Because of the political issues here we need to evacuate. We are not ready to leave the people or the country. Many unfinished humanitarian projects, a friend ready for baptism and many friends we won't ever see again.
The plan now: go to Ammon Jordan for a few days then on to serve in the Jerusalem Center in Israel. Thank you for the many emails asking how we are doing.
You are all loved very much by the two of us!
Asays
December 2019
Dear Family and Friends,
This is from Ken. He wrote it to express gratitude for a great year here in Iraq.
At the close of this year, we are grateful for the blessings of a year in service to the people of Kurdistan. We have learned much and grown in our experiences. We have learned what it is to see impoverished people struggle for their existence. We have observed the love and kindness of a nation that is destitute (in our view) of the conveniences of peace and plenty. Yet these good people reach out to assist others from neighboring countries, to provide them sanctuary from the threat of their very lives by evil men.
On Tuesday, Christmas Eve, we attended a provision of medical and dental supplies being delivered to the Village of Herir. We attended with government dignitaries, high officials from our partner organization and community members. We spoke with the news media and shook hands with the community recipients. We greeted little children and gave them dolls, provided to us for helping hope to be restored to innocent victims of poverty.
We have encountered good where evil is present. Joyce and I are received well by those who benefit from the kindness of the many people of our Church that contribute to the welfare of those in need. Those contributors do not ask to evaluate who receives, nor do they question where the money is spent. Their entrusted faith is an indication of their own trust that the Lord is truly in charge. How impressed we are with the thoughtful people who make these contributions to the Humanitarian funds, which are collected by our leadership. How cautious we have become in assuring that those funds are disposed of in a responsible, yet considerate manner.
We have been on the front line of distributions to Refugee Camps, Community Schools, Hospitals, placing “Dolls of Hope” into the arms of little children, who are trying to keep hope alive in themselves. We have assisted medical workers who are learning to speak in English, so that they can improve in providing better health within their communities.
On Christmas day, we were invited into a rather depressed school, , to see if we could help them improve on their conditions. One thousand young women of the school were being taught in a very poor environment. What could we do to help them be more comfortable, have better lighting conditions, be warmer or cooler (depending on the season)? Could we help them have the opportunity to have a bathroom that works, cleaner water to drink, desks that are not falling apart?
Joyce and I mused on what we would be doing next Christmas? Would our time with loved ones be happier surrounded by family members, who have plenty? We look forward to being with those dearest to us, however, we do not begrudge our time here, seeing our brothers and sisters, as our Lord sees His children.
Christmas came and left, but the memories will not be forgotten.
Upon our return to Erbil, from Duhok, we were privileged to teach our third missionary lesson to Hami. The ability to teach the gospel in Iraq was not something we anticipated. Hami is accepting the truths that we share in providing a new perspective of Christ. He came with full confidence that Christ is real, He is the truth and the light of the world. Hami served time in prison (eighteen months) because of the belief he had in Christ, yet he had very limited understanding of the significance of what the Savior had
On Tuesday, Christmas Eve, we attended a provision of medical and dental supplies being delivered to the Village of Herir. We attended with government dignitaries, high officials from our partner organization and community members. We spoke with the news media and shook hands with the community recipients. We greeted little children and gave them dolls, provided to us for helping hope to be restored to innocent victims of poverty.
We have encountered good where evil is present. Joyce and I are received well by those who benefit from the kindness of the many people of our Church that contribute to the welfare of those in need. Those contributors do not ask to evaluate who receives, nor do they question where the money is spent. Their entrusted faith is an indication of their own trust that the Lord is truly in charge. How impressed we are with the thoughtful people who make these contributions to the Humanitarian funds, which are collected by our leadership. How cautious we have become in assuring that those funds are disposed of in a responsible, yet considerate manner.
We have been on the front line of distributions to Refugee Camps, Community Schools, Hospitals, placing “Dolls of Hope” into the arms of little children, who are trying to keep hope alive in themselves. We have assisted medical workers who are learning to speak in English, so that they can improve in providing better health within their communities.
On Christmas day, we were invited into a rather depressed school, , to see if we could help them improve on their conditions. One thousand young women of the school were being taught in a very poor environment. What could we do to help them be more comfortable, have better lighting conditions, be warmer or cooler (depending on the season)? Could we help them have the opportunity to have a bathroom that works, cleaner water to drink, desks that are not falling apart?
Joyce and I mused on what we would be doing next Christmas? Would our time with loved ones be happier surrounded by family members, who have plenty? We look forward to being with those dearest to us, however, we do not begrudge our time here, seeing our brothers and sisters, as our Lord sees His children.
Christmas came and left, but the memories will not be forgotten.
Upon our return to Erbil, from Duhok, we were privileged to teach our third missionary lesson to Hami. The ability to teach the gospel in Iraq was not something we anticipated. Hami is accepting the truths that we share in providing a new perspective of Christ. He came with full confidence that Christ is real, He is the truth and the light of the world. Hami served time in prison (eighteen months) because of the belief he had in Christ, yet he had very limited understanding of the significance of what the Savior had
done for him; nor did he know of how detailed the Plan of Salvation, which was given would impact all of God’s children. His parents are both deceased, we emphasized to him how they too would hear as he is hearing. They too would have the opportunity to accept and be under covenant as he will be. That the gospel is for all of us, not just those living in the earth. He could not accept the teaching of Mohammed, that death was only a place of rest and luxuriating. He desires to be active, doing and being of service. We have shown him the truth about heaven and how vital we will continue to be. These are the words of truth and he is accepting them as such.
We will be setting a time for baptism at our next meeting. The date will be dependent upon approval of our leaders, also in conjunction with our next District/Branch conference.
We wish you all a Happy New Year and pray for your continued health and happiness. Sincerely,
Elder and Sister Asay
We will be setting a time for baptism at our next meeting. The date will be dependent upon approval of our leaders, also in conjunction with our next District/Branch conference.
We wish you all a Happy New Year and pray for your continued health and happiness. Sincerely,
Elder and Sister Asay
Christmas Eve day at a hospital giving out Dolls of Hope. A man with a TV camera was following me around then a woman asked to interview me. I told of the people who made the dolls and why. I later got a message from one of our Kurdish friends telling me I was on the Kurdistan news. Dolls of Hope brought smiles and happiness!
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