After the trials of getting my visa in order to get here, I am so glad I made it. As we prepared for this trip to visit Anwar's hometown in Lebanon, Dhour el Choueir, his face would light up. We all love our home countries but whenever Anwar talked it was like we were going to be visiting heaven. :) It is beautiful here. We have seen Roman ruins built on the temple of Baal. We have driven thru mountains and gazed at vistas that stretch forever. Today we walked through 2 million cedars. Some as old as 3000 years. There were times when I wanted to sneak away and simply sit in awe of God and His amazing creation. In fact, Ryan was able to do just that. The weather is glorious. The people are friendly. And I think I want to move here.
I will write more later and add pictures but I wanted to send a quick update. Lebanon is amazing. More later!!!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Family Circus
I taught English to adults for many years. One of my fun things to use were the comic strips from Family Circus. Remember the ones where the son would meander all over the place before he got to his destination? To go to school he would chase a dog, play in the park, up the slide down the slide, around the swings and on the merry go round. Over he'd go to the ice cream truck and on and on...
That's what the last 48 hours has been for me. Saturday night at the airport, my second passport turned up missing. This is the one that has the residency visa in it...the one needed to leave the country and reenter the country. Yep. Not there. So I raced home to frantically search the apt. Nothing. I raced back to the airport to make sure it hadn't turned up in lost and found. Mike, Sallie and Robert went thru security and flew to Lebanon ahead of me. Russell and Ryan had flown out on a morning flight.
Naturally, that night I searched and searched. I slept a bit, but mostly prayed and racked my brains. First thing Sunday morning I drove to Mike's office to ask what I needed to do. As all expats are sponsored by their employers, this is the place to start. And so began my "adventure"(see previous post) into immigration, lost passports, and residency visas. From 9am until 4pm I traveled up and down stairs, in and out of offices, in and out of buildings, and even to the other side of town several other offices in two other buildings. I got stamps and signatures and bad directions from just about wherever I went. Finally, at the end of the Sunday I could see the end in sight. So up again this morning to finish up. Once again...up and down, in and out, go here, no go there, no that is not right. At 1 pm when the lady said "We can't do without photo," I thought I would scream. Not one person had mentioned photo up until that point. It turns out I didn't need one. And so it goes.
Finally, at 4 pm today I got my passport and my new residency visa right there in it. I will hopefully be on my way to the airport, to join my family and friends who are having lots of fun, in less than an hour.
By the way, all of our visas expire in November. Ha ha ha ha ha...Then it happens all over again. I'm thinking the guy at Mike's office might do it this time. I'm done.
On a side note, it sure is nice to have friends who are around when things get rough. Pattie peeled me off the ceiling a few times. And my friend, Wael, talked me thru several steps and made phone calls to help me. So thankful for great friends!!!
That's what the last 48 hours has been for me. Saturday night at the airport, my second passport turned up missing. This is the one that has the residency visa in it...the one needed to leave the country and reenter the country. Yep. Not there. So I raced home to frantically search the apt. Nothing. I raced back to the airport to make sure it hadn't turned up in lost and found. Mike, Sallie and Robert went thru security and flew to Lebanon ahead of me. Russell and Ryan had flown out on a morning flight.
Naturally, that night I searched and searched. I slept a bit, but mostly prayed and racked my brains. First thing Sunday morning I drove to Mike's office to ask what I needed to do. As all expats are sponsored by their employers, this is the place to start. And so began my "adventure"(see previous post) into immigration, lost passports, and residency visas. From 9am until 4pm I traveled up and down stairs, in and out of offices, in and out of buildings, and even to the other side of town several other offices in two other buildings. I got stamps and signatures and bad directions from just about wherever I went. Finally, at the end of the Sunday I could see the end in sight. So up again this morning to finish up. Once again...up and down, in and out, go here, no go there, no that is not right. At 1 pm when the lady said "We can't do without photo," I thought I would scream. Not one person had mentioned photo up until that point. It turns out I didn't need one. And so it goes.
Finally, at 4 pm today I got my passport and my new residency visa right there in it. I will hopefully be on my way to the airport, to join my family and friends who are having lots of fun, in less than an hour.
By the way, all of our visas expire in November. Ha ha ha ha ha...Then it happens all over again. I'm thinking the guy at Mike's office might do it this time. I'm done.
On a side note, it sure is nice to have friends who are around when things get rough. Pattie peeled me off the ceiling a few times. And my friend, Wael, talked me thru several steps and made phone calls to help me. So thankful for great friends!!!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Great Adventure
I'm not sure if I have shared how Robert and Sallie hate the word...ADVENTURE. "Mom," they say,"it usually means either you are lost or we are going to be bored silly." I just laugh at them and we keep going. (Most of the time they are right, but NOT always.)
Today, I dropped Sallie off with her friends to see a movie. Then I went shopping. I don't like shopping, but as I was at the mall, I thought I would run in a couple of stores. ( I especially don't like shopping in 115 degree heat and 300 percent humidity or whatever it is today. After awhile you quit checking. It's too depressing)
I answer my cell. My friend (who loves shopping) laughs when she hears I quit after two stores. But here is what I love. "Did I tell you about my taxi ride?" "No,"(but please do, I am thinking, this will distract me from the incredibly hot walk to my car that must be parked in Saudi Arabia). "I called my new guy that I have been using. You know, the one from Ethiopia. He is so nice and comes right away. Anyway, we are chatting and I am giving him short cut tips to some places as he has only been here a few months. A car just about hit us and he swerved and did a good job of not getting hit. I told him that it is crazy here. He said, 'Yes, it is.' Then I blurted out, but wait until Ramadan. Oh no, did I say something that would offend him? So quickly I said..you know, everyone is cranky from not eating or drinking all day. And it comes out in the driving. I don't mean to offend you. I am cranky too during Ramadan..etc. etc. He said he wasn't offended. Then I asked him if he was muslim. 'No, madam. I am a Christian. I am from the first church. My great great great great great...and however many..were all Christians. I follow Jesus."
My friend and I shared a moment of thankfulness. Some things just stop us in our tracks. And a taxi ride can be a cool adventure.
My kids aren't convinced. But I know better. I put my music on in my car and the CD song that came on was..You guessed it. "Saddle up your horses, we got a trail to blaze, thru the wild blue yonder with God's amazing grace. We'll follow our leader into the glorious unknown.....this is the Great Adventure!!"
Picking up Ryan tonight. Russell on Wednesday. And off to Lebanon on Saturday. Now I am sure that will be an adventure.
Oh boy!!!
Today, I dropped Sallie off with her friends to see a movie. Then I went shopping. I don't like shopping, but as I was at the mall, I thought I would run in a couple of stores. ( I especially don't like shopping in 115 degree heat and 300 percent humidity or whatever it is today. After awhile you quit checking. It's too depressing)
I answer my cell. My friend (who loves shopping) laughs when she hears I quit after two stores. But here is what I love. "Did I tell you about my taxi ride?" "No,"(but please do, I am thinking, this will distract me from the incredibly hot walk to my car that must be parked in Saudi Arabia). "I called my new guy that I have been using. You know, the one from Ethiopia. He is so nice and comes right away. Anyway, we are chatting and I am giving him short cut tips to some places as he has only been here a few months. A car just about hit us and he swerved and did a good job of not getting hit. I told him that it is crazy here. He said, 'Yes, it is.' Then I blurted out, but wait until Ramadan. Oh no, did I say something that would offend him? So quickly I said..you know, everyone is cranky from not eating or drinking all day. And it comes out in the driving. I don't mean to offend you. I am cranky too during Ramadan..etc. etc. He said he wasn't offended. Then I asked him if he was muslim. 'No, madam. I am a Christian. I am from the first church. My great great great great great...and however many..were all Christians. I follow Jesus."
My friend and I shared a moment of thankfulness. Some things just stop us in our tracks. And a taxi ride can be a cool adventure.
My kids aren't convinced. But I know better. I put my music on in my car and the CD song that came on was..You guessed it. "Saddle up your horses, we got a trail to blaze, thru the wild blue yonder with God's amazing grace. We'll follow our leader into the glorious unknown.....this is the Great Adventure!!"
Picking up Ryan tonight. Russell on Wednesday. And off to Lebanon on Saturday. Now I am sure that will be an adventure.
Oh boy!!!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Texas Friends Come My Way
June 19th I landed in Amman, Jordan. My friend, Colleen, was their to greet me. That evening we picked up 5 other friends at the airport. Granted we were waiting for them at the wrong terminal, but hey..Welcome to the Middle East. :) After many delays and long hours of flying, we were all together. They actually looked quite good. Especially to me. Since I'm not going to Texas this summer, I joined some of Texas in Jordan.
We spent 8 days together. During that time we laughed, cried, shared, taught, and experienced the Lord working in so many ways. We started in Amman. Visited a couple of churches to encourage ladies there, then traveled from the south in Aqaba(where we toured Petra, amazing!). Later we traveled north to Husn passing by the mountain where Jacob wrestled and coming very near to the Sea of Galilee. The whole trip felt surreal. The History, the beauty, the churches all over the place..and being with such great friends, all blessed me so deeply. I can't wait to take Mike and the kids to see it as well. And to visit my new Jordanian friends.
Jordan is much like here. But oh, it was sooo much cooler. I wanted to bottle up the weather and bring it back with me. It felt like Colorado. Sigh. The Jordanians were talking of the heat. But it didn't feel that way to me.
The 8 days flew by. I tried to stop the clock from ticking. But, alas, it was over before I knew it. Colleen and I waved our team, Margaret, Sheryl, Sheila, Marguerite and Kelly goodbye last Sunday. Then she walked me to my flight. A quick movie and I was home. I think I had made dinner, slept, finished my laundry..and more, before my sweet buddies made it home. Oh well. That's life. :)
Colleen has promised to come visit soon. She is jealous that we can get Blue Bell ice cream here. Can't wait for her to come.
So now, we are going to get ready to celebrate the 4th of July at the beach tomorrow. Sure am missing Mr. Pearce's homemade ice cream. But maybe we will dish up some Blue Bell and pretend.
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