snow pictures are finally up

do to really slow internet, busy-ness and other unforeseen complications, the snow pictures were delayed in being posted. They have now been posted and are available for viewing!

a new look

there are some really cool things about learning Arabic- one is that my dream of being able to sit in a coffee shop and overhear (and understand) conversations - but another is that I get a new perspective on life. there is so much I could say about this - but I just wanted to write about something I encountered in my homework tonight.
I am translating John 1 from classical Arabic into spoken Arabic (yep, from Arabic to Arabic...I know you are dying to join me in this task!) Anyway, I got to the verse where John says "behold the Lamb of God" (that is the English version) In Arabic it says "behold the carried one" Well, that is, the classical Arabic word for "lamb" is the same word as "carried one." What an amazing picture - The lamb of God...not this cute furry thing walking beside the shepherd. No, it is the picture of the favorite lamb, carried on the shoulders, protected and cared for like none other. This is the Lamb that takes the sins of the world. This is the Lamb that lays down His life; this is the Lamb that is sacrificed.

arabic galore!

Well, I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to "immerse" myself in Arabic. I mean, I am able to study with native speakers and that is great- but sometimes you get to do that even in the States. What you don't get in an English environment is the opportunity to spend a day speaking only Arabic. In attempts to make this more a reality for me, I decided that I needed to get back in the classroom. So, I was able to volunteer at a local school and amazingly I have spent 15 hours in the last 2 days in an "all Arabic environment"- so all I have to say is - if my arabic is not stinking good by then end of the next few months I will be highly disappointed!!! I am trying to throw myself into this language learning thing with everything I have- but it seems that the more Arabic I know the more I realize I don't know.
It is one thing to sit around with my teacher and chat- it is a totally different thing to sit and listen to a "transportation" chat with 4 1/2 year olds all around me and realize that I learned 5 new vocabulary words (all of which the 4 year olds all ready knew!) It is a bit overwhelming!
But, my arabic is improving by the day which is always a good if not exhausting idea!
I have been doing a lot of homework and trying not to freak out about what is next...another year of taming the bear (aka learning Arabic) or something else...and if so, what? I have felt a bit overwhelmed with my lack of ability to make such decisions- and my lack of trust.

busy

I have been trying to squeeze as much into every day as physically possible- or so I think....
I have been studying at various coffee shops with friends, studying at home, visiting friends, going to class and now starting tomorrow helping in a KG-2 class at a local school. This is probably going to be the thing that helps my arabic the most! Going to Kindergarten :) I am going to help three days a week from 8-1 (so that means that I will get another 15 hours of arabic instruction in my week!) I will be extremely busy...but I will be learning Arabic :)
The school is within walking distance so I will enjoy the brisk walks in the morning-
I also get an "accidental" much needed break from lessons- My friend that I have joined in this tutoring adventure is taking tomorrow off (so that means that I "have" to take the day as well). I decided to take Friday off as well. So, now I have three whole days with no lessons- two days with no homework!! I can't wait!
I have been learning a lot- but I will have to wait to post that because there are people at my house waiting to eat dinner with me....
did I say I was busy :)

space for God day

there is this lady here who helps us make space for God- she puts on these "conferences" for us every two months or so. They are just times of getting away (to this great house that over looks Gilead...yep, Gilead!) and we sit and chat, have times of personal reflection and then chat some more. It is a great time to just focus on God, His love and grace for us and to hang out with other people that I might not ever meet if not for these conferences. I had a great time at the "space for God day" today and I learned a lot as we reflected on Ps. 23. It was a great time of me finding restoration and rest after a long and tiring week of failing at language!
Then, I went all over Amman looking for the stuff to make a cake- never finding all of them and having to give up my quest, well, at least for today. I came home, washed dishes and then sat down to an inbox of emails that I haven't taken the time to return. But, I cranked them out- tried to make them as personal as possible when you are writing the same thing over and over again :)
Now, I am done- and I am going to go read or watch a movie or something.....a good day

be thankful for your car

there is this phenomena here in Amman- when it rains, there are no taxis and traffic gives a new definition to "horrible."
Today I left tutoring at 2 in the afternoon. After standing for 20 min. in the pouring rain waiting for a taxi, I decided to walk to the next "circle" and try my luck there. After a 15 min. walk in the pouring rain, I arrived at 3rd circle and joined the 20 or so people waiting there. After another 30 min. waiting, I walked in the rain - getting soaked by every passing car as the puddles exploded on to me- Now, I have been waiting for over an hour- and still no taxis. I begin to walk to the next circle, but by this time my plan to "go to tutoring and come straight home" has been severely derailed. I am not wearing the appropriate clothes to walk in and I am soaked!!! My rain jacket has shed all the water on to my jeans, my smart wool pants (which have been worth their weight in gold) are beginning to take in the water, and my hair that peeked out of my hood is dripping wet. My chin feels like it has turned into a popsicle and I am begging God to send a taxi.
A taxi pulls over. It already has one man in it, but the driver is nice and tells me that I can hop in too. I sit down, even my gloves leave water on the car seat. I quickly pull out a couple of dinars so that they can dry before I have to hand them to the driver. I thank both the driver and the man profusely. I tell them my saga and they say "it is raining!" like that explains everything!
Then, we drop the man off and sit for another hour in traffic. the cars were barely moving- and when it was your turn to go, there were cars stuck in the circle or intersection so that it was impossible to go.
After a 2 hour adventure/miserable journey I arrived home. (note: it took me 20 min total - including waiting for the taxi!- to get to tutoring, 2 hours to get back) I immediately took off my shoes, swimming with water- my jacket, my fleece and other 2 t-shirts soaked- my jeans and long underwear soaked. I might as well have gone swimming for all the water that I brought home with me!
Well- at least it is raining here. Thank God for His grace on the just and the unjust..and the really wet!

almost shot

I have never been that close to a random act of violence as I was today. It was 12:20 in the afternoon. I am walking home from tutoring. I come up my street crowed with people and cars. There are shouts in the distance that I can barely hear over the sound of my ipod. I smile because I know that somewhere a highschooler made good marks on the National Test and is celebrating his future with family and friends.
Then, I hear shouts closer. I turn and see a group of women crowded into the "sun room" shouting. I see a manboy turning the corner. And then...he pulls out a pistol and begins to fire it into the air!
I was directly across the street from him and I was really worried where the bullets were going to come down. He, on the other hand, just kept walking and gloried in his success.
I regained my composure and began to laugh....I mean, people here die in celebration shootings every year...but man, what a crazy thing to think about-

good shoes

you would think that with 31 years with my blister prone feet, I would know better! But I went to the Balad yesterday and bought some "golashes." These aren't real golashes that you throw over shoes, they are basically plastic boots. I got them because the snow has created a small river in every street. it is impossible to stay dry and ice cold water on your feet for hours is no fun. So, I thought I would solve that by buying some cheap boots! But, the blisters on my feet from wearing them today remind me that was a bad idea!!!
I have never been so grateful for crocs as I am now! Only if I had bought some croc boots before I left the US. (they will definitely will my first purchase once I get back...and I will never live anywhere it rains, without some waterproof shoes again!)