April Showers

I have been woefully delinquent writing this month. Here it is the end of April and I am just sitting down to write.  This will be a summary of our month.

1.  Sallie and Robert both had great trips to Nepal and Jordan.  I asked them to write so I could put their stories in my blog..but well, here I am. Just mom..filling everyone in. I cannot do justice to their weeks away, so maybe I will pay them to write. :)

We had a family dinner for Sallie's birthday when she got back.

2. Sallie turned 18 in Nepal!

New friends in the Compound.

3. This month I have made friends with more of my neighbors.  Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine are some of their home countries. So fun getting to know them better. Funny thing is...they see me swimming laps often and some are interested in swim lessons for either themselves or their kids. I never thought those swim lessons that I taught 25!!! years ago would lead to new friendships halfway around the world!!

4. More news of the day..RAIN RAIN RAIN.  What in the world? The rainiest desert this month! Oh and Earthquake, Earthquake, too!  Mike was on the 21st floor for the first one.  He said it was not fun. There was a guy from California in the room who figured it out first.  As Mike tramped down the 21 floors he kept thinking of Sallie in Nepal. Robert in Jordan. Me not answering my phone. He did not like the feeling at all. I, by the way, was swimming laps..blissfully ignorant that there had even been an earthquake!  The second one was also only felt by Mike.

Chilis for lunch after Church

The teens at Chilis.

5. More friendships forming this month.  As we settle into life in Doha, we are slowly feeling more connected to the friends we have made. It really does take nearly a year to transition to new places. Finally this is feeling more like home.





6..We made our first trip to the beach. The day was filled with wakeboarding, boat rides, sand castles, food and fun for all.  It was especially nice to get away from the city and spend time with some of these new friends. It was about an hour drive to the spot but it was fun.

And coming next month?? Mike and I go to Jordan to celebrate our upcoming 30th anniversary. Robert has a friend coming from Abu Dhabi. Sallie wraps up her senior year. Prom. And then in June? Graduation!!

And They're Off!



Jordan team being prayed for on Friday at church before heading to the airport.



Sallie and Brittany loading up for the airport Thursday morning.

My Poor little car.... covered in sand....

Sallie and Robert left town this weekend for Nepal and Jordan.  I think it will be challenging for both of them.  Although it is only for one week, the days will be packed with work projects, orphange visits.  hikes into villages and on Robert's trip they will meet many Syrian refugees whose lives have been destroyed by the war.  The teams have prepared since January as best as they can to be ready for what the Lord lays before them this week. Skits, reading some good books, like The Word Came with Power, memorizing verses and spending time getting to know each other better. I pray that the Lord will be glorified as the kids serve and worship Him in the next several days.

And what did they leave behind? Mom and Dad missing them, for one thing..and a major bad sandstorm. My car was washed in the morning and looked like this later in the day. Yuck.

When Sallie gets home she will have turned 18.  I guess not everyone can say they turned 18 in Kathmandu. :)




"Bye Mom and Dad. See you soon. "