The Last Couple of days

Highlights of my time here so far....

Sleeping on a roof while they finish our apartments

Getting to know the host family...they are amazing

Eating Shawarma, mansaf, and other wonderful food

Staying with my adopted family...being with them for the youth meeting, helping in the kitchen and making new friends...

Watching the school being completed...its a beautiful building :D

Seeing the passion in the principal of the school and his goals for the school

meeting the teachers...***we still need one more***desperately would be an understatement   

Helped pick out the colors and logos for the uniforms that are being made for the children

Playing volleyball, soccer, and basketball with the youth at a camp

Spending the day with my dear friend from Egypt and catching up over the last 6 months

Talking with the father with my brothers and sisters and singing 

carrying a sleeping 4 yr up 5 flights of stairs at 2 in the morning

eating ice cream at 1 in the morning because it is Ramadan and the city is alive till around 2

Learning more and more of the language 

and will be teaching how to make cinnamon rolls with one of the aunties

   Figuring out how to blog with an Arab blog screen...meaning all the buttons are in Arabic and there is no English translation....

And I thank my God every time I think of you guys---much love from the blue city :) 

       

Those Crazy People who Love You Anyways.....

It was said once that.....

"You don't choose your family.  

They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

No truer words could be said...no matter what a family looks like, mine is an awesome blend of color, culture, and love...family is the greatest gift given to anyone and yet the first thing many take for granted...Making the decision to go and teach was difficult for me because I have been soo blessed by my crazy wonderful family.  As I was trying to discern God's will for my life and coming to grips with the realization that God will take care of everyone with or without my help...made me realize how special my family is to me...and will always be.

Sometimes we laugh and sometimes we cry but we love to talk, eat, laugh, 

play games, sing, Joke around,

try and out smart each other,

shop together, travel, and be with eachother.

We are all travelers on this road called life and God placed us all together from 1 to 13 (plus the in-laws, nieces, and nephews)....we share the same living space, eat with one another, borrowing clothing, sneaking candy, and hiding special presents not to be seen till Christmas. We talk things out loooooooooooong into the late hours of the night, we help each other chase dreams and are the tap on the shoulder when we need redirection. We were all taught by the same school teacher, argued about the best Christmas tree that should be cut down, and discussed the best way to make chocolate chip cookies. We come from different places but we all have a common name. We give each other a hard time but in the end there are hugs all around.

Love you all and will miss you guys! 

"You can have me"

"If I saw You on the street
And You said come and follow me
But I had to give up everything
All I once held dear and all of my dreams
Would I love You enough to let go
Or would my love run dry
When You asked for my life
 

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

If You’re all You claim to be
Then I’m not losing anything
So I will crawl upon my knees
Just to know the joy of suffering
I will love You enough to let go
Lord, I give you my life
I give you my life
 

 

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me
 

I want to be where You are
I’m running into Your arms
And I will never look back
So Jesus, here is my heart
When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me
 

When did love become unmoving?

When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
My Father, my love
You can have me" 

~Pictures taken in Egypt 2010

A glimpse into Zarqa...

Here is a glimpse into the city that I will be staying in...I had the pleasure of being in the same city last year and really enjoyed the people and the feeling of the city...

The children in the refugee church