Catch up

Min enshufuc akoon zein (When I see you, I am good: Ok, ok, it makes more sense in arabic, but it's pretty close to "I'm happy to see you" and since I cant really see yall, this is the best i can do: )

Ok, before I start, let me make a quick apology to those who thought I'd never post again! Add the "battle with the internet" to one of the great battles that have been fought here...I'm actually amazed that I was finally able to log on...Alhumdu Isa!! Some days I can log on to my email, some days I cant...some days I can get onto blogger, and then I get kicked off, so hopefully I can type this before I get kicked off, and maybe it'll let me post it. I hope that once we get back to the states, I can keep this thing updated more.

Anyway, let me give you a quick update: We have a month (give or take a week or two) left here, and things are getting crazy (majhnoon in arabic). Here lately, it's one of those "just when you think things cant get much sillier...they do". And a bunch of us here are trying to keep our cool, but it seems that lately, the harder we try, the harder it is, so please pray for patience!! And so everyone knows, we havent had any more 'excitement', and we are all safe and okay...just more frustrated ;)

Yall, I am looking forward to going home so much! And for the record, I've got 4 more lbs to go until I reach my goal of 180. When i started working out in October, I was 232...not anymore :) Jack, our interpreter taught me a phrase (he was in the same boat, but now he's about 185). We were talking about it the other day with another one of the interpreters, and the other guy said, "yeah, Jack was 'dub-dub'". When I asked Jack what that was, he giggled and said, "Dub-dub is 'fatty-fatty'" then he busted out laughing. It's 'fatty-fatty' in a Major Payne-ish (one tubby tubby, two tubby tubby) way, not a mean way. (And once I do reach that goal, dubdub will be part of a blog that's floating around in my head, so look for it)

Also, here lately, it has been a roller coaster spiritually...some days ya get up and feel like you're right there next to Isa, (Jesus in arabic-see the "too long in the sand" list below), and other days it feels like you are pulling a Peter and following him from far off. But I am confident that there is something going on here in South Asia, just based on the amount of spiritual warfare that's been going on. Sometimes I catch myself wondering if I wont be back overhere on the civilian side one day...Ma'dree (I dont know!)

Finally, (i know this is random...welcome to my world) here's a list that we've been putting together "How you know you've been playing in the Sandbox too long"

1-You start speaking part English/Part arabic in everyday conversation, and folks understand you!
2-You turn off the dvd that you're watching because one of the characters is wearing yellow.
3- 130 degrees outside is 'just a little warm' but 65 degrees is 'freezing'
4-When you can greet people in 3 different languages other than english (and they understand you!)
5-When the sound of random gunfire no longer bothers you
6- When you swat the flies, and they swat back at you!!
7-When you eat chicken 8 days a week, and it doesnt bother you!

Well, that's all i've got for right now :) I'll try to keep yall updated on our trip home as much as possible. OH, and before I forget, please pray about our transition home, AND my college application...apparently it was lost in the mail, so I have to redo the whole thing over again.

Masalama (goodbye !)