Our Introduction to Hot & "Dusty" Erbil, Iraq

Last Saturday, July 7, 2012, Kathy and I and Marianne, another expat who grew up in Garland, used taxis to go on a Mar Qardakh school sponsored scavenger hunt.  I thought I would post some of the pictures that were taken that day for your enjoyment.


This is Marianne.  She and Kathy and I ventured together to Erbil's city center.  She is from Garland, Texas.

This is one view of the ancient Citadel in the center of the city.  It is like the hub of a wheel, with all major roads moving away from it like the spokes of a wheel.

This was taken at the top of the mound, just outside one of the gates into the Citadel.



This shot was taken from the same spot as the previous picture, only looking towards the city instead of the Citadel.



Immediately outside the gate to the Citadel.

A shop inside the Citadel.



Laborers doing restoration work on the Citadel.


jw



The Seminary of St. Peter, Ankawa: Our New Home

 Just thought I would post a few pictures of where we are staying.


Sign at the gate to St. Peter's Seminary

Main building where we eat sleep and relax.

Small chapel to the left as you enter the gate.



Mural on one of the walls of the receiving room.

Brothers and sisters the need is great, the vision is great, the workers are few.  Please pray for all of us.  We cherish them more than you will ever know!

jw

Getting accustomed to life in Ankawa

Hello to all.

 Joe and I arrived safely in Ankawa last Friday, July 6, 2012 at 3 am.  It has been a whirlwind of activity since then.  Most of our time is spent at Mar Qardakh School.  The school week is from Sunday (a half day) through Thursday.  Friday and Saturday are free days. Saturday we went and visited some of the area sites, the citadel, a park, American Burger where you can get a good hamburger.  It was fun, but very hot so we didn't stay too long in any one place.  If you do not have a car you take a taxi.  There are not any stop signs or signals here.  Your horn is how you let other drivers know you are coming (sometimes you do not look to see where you are going because you see an accident waiting to happen).  However, those that do drive know this as normal and so relatively safe.  Last Sunday we spent our day at school setting up and getting ready for the students.  We were not quite sure what we were in for on Monday.  Monday the school children and their parents arrived.   We are expats and we were assigned the tables where parents came who wanted to sign their children up for the bus or would be "walkers".  Walkers are children who will have a parent, relative, etc pick up their child from school.  The parent designates who is allowed to pick up their child.  The rest of the morning was having the children pick their major of either Drama, Art, Music, Computer, Gym and then go with that group.  Joe has students in 3rd and 4th grades for Drama.  I have students in 3rd and 4th grade for Gym.  We were pretty worn out by the end of the morning.  We still were in jet lag mode.  The afternoon was meetings with Diane (Head of the school) and the teachers.  It does not take long before you are put in an area of responsibility, team leader, department head, office staff.  It is now Tuesday and we are finally getting into a routine.  We are staying at St Peter's, a seminary.  Breakfast is a 7, bus 7:20 to school, meeting at 8 and children arriving at 8:30.  Then until 1 pm it is time with students and for Joe, Drama Class and myself, Gym (unless you are called to a meeting).  Everything is very fluid here.  The afternoons are with the teachers or your group putting together lesson plans or working on a project (carnival, drama presentation). 

Mass, Sunday evening at St Joseph's, the cathedral, was very beautiful, but different from what I have ever experienced.  Sunday evening was windy and dusty, but by Monday morning the dust looked like a fog.  Glad that has cleared by today.

Well, it is time for dinner.  Will blog again another day.  Please continue to pray for us and all those here. 

Exploring Chicago

Today, Joe and I spent the afternoon riding the Blue Line to go to Michigan Street in Downtown Chicago.  Stopped and picked up some lunch, then on to Lincoln Park and the Zoo.

Then we took the bus and traveled To Holy Name Cathedral for Mass.  What a blessing for us.  Felt again like the Lord directing us to be His vessels and say "yes" to His call. 

After Mass we stopped at Gino's East for Chicago style Deep Dish Pizza.  Yummy!

And to walk off that delicious dinner we went to Millenium Park.  What a place.  A lot to see and explore.  We were just able to visit a small part of the Park, but ran out of time.  Everyone here is very helpful and willing to talk and give us directions.  We have had a full day and are tired, but enjoyed every moment.  Tomorrow is our last day here and then on to Kurdistan.  Thank you Lord for providing this small vacation for us. 

Tourists in Chicago

 Today Kathy and I were able to get away from standing in lines and tour some of Chicago.  We traveled on the Blueline train of the Chicago Transit Authority for about an hour to get to the downtown area.  Went to the top of the John Hancock building (96th floor) to view the city and Lake Michigan.  Then we caught a bus over to the Naval Pier.  Walked around checking out the sights and came across an opportunity to go sailing on Lake Michigan on a 4 masted, 120' schooner.  I helped raise the main sail.

Once we got out on the lake, we relaxed for about an hour and a half, just sailing around.

 
John Hancock Tower is the tallest in picture

 

Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan

Kathy, standing on the main deck, just below the foredeck.

View from the foredeck, looking aft.

A new adventure to start tomorrow.

"And Your Work Begins"

     As many of you know, Kathy and I began a new journey in our life together on Friday, June 22, 2012.  We left early a.m. from DFW for Buffalo, for a week of vacation with family and friends in western New York.  Saturday p.m. we celebrated at the home of Mark and Carol the high school graduation of their oldest daughter ,Miss Melissa Morlock.  Lots of good times and good family as all of Kathy's New York siblings and families were there.  Let it never be said that the Morlock clan does not know how to have a good time.  A repeat high school graduation party was to be celebrated the very next day for Miss Jennifer Morlock.  She is the youngest daughter of Don(†) and Karen Morlock.  About 2 hours into the gathering, in the midst of a lighthearted 2 on 2 volleyball game, oldest brother Bob Morlock suffered a cardiac arrest.  His wife, Sheri, trained R.N. immediately into action with Michael, Kelly Morlock's longtime boyfriend. They worked together to do mouth to mouth and CPR until fire and rescue arrived on the scene.  They saved Bob's life.  Bob is currently in stable but very serious condition at Buffalo General Hospital.  He will be there for some time to come.  He has a long row to hoe before he will be released. 
     And so "our" work began.  Phone calls were made to the Walshe clan and our brothers and sisters in the Christian Community of God's Delight for prayer for Bob.  God is good all the time- prayers were soon answered and Bob's condition stabilized.  The week following was spent at the hospital to to support Sheri and their daughter, Devyn, in prayer and in whatever way was needed each day.  Kathy recited Psalm 91, a prayer for God's protection, over Bob each day.  I did my best to humor the family and make them laugh.
     Saturday, the 30th came, and it was time for Kathy and I to begin the next leg of this new journey.  We flew from Buffalo to Chicago in order to catch our flight to Amman, Jordan.  The flight from Buffalo was 2 1/4 hours late leaving the gate for Chicago.  Then immediately upon landing at O"Hare, the front nose gear locked up.  The pilot could only steer the plane by the use of wheel brakes and left or right engines to turn the plane.  He maneuvered the plane to the taxiway.  Then we sat at the outer edge of O"Hare for an hour waiting for a tow truck. United flight 441 got to the gate at 8:20p.m. Royal Jordanian flight to Amman departed at 9:30p.m without Kathy and I.  So "our" work continued as we spent the next 2 1/2 hours in the United Airlines customer service line to get things resolved and a voucher for a hotel room.  Met lots of new friends, a couple from Sydney Australia, a young mother from Iowa with her 2 young girls, and a grandmother from Venezuela.  My Spanish sure came in handy with Señora Abuela.  Tried to make the most of the situation and to keep people happy and smiling.  I think Fr. Manuel would have given me an "A" for this bit of homework.
     Next available flight to Amman is Wednesday, July4. Informed Diane at Mar Qardakh about the unexpected change in plans.  Her response: "And your work begins!  Getting here is often the hardest part of the job."  I suppose Kathy and I have our work cut out for us.

We have the next 3 days to explore Chicago.  Never been here before.  Looking forward for more opportunities to do Fr. Manuel's homework: "Smile!  Be happy! and Make those around you happy!"  And so "our" work continues.

Yesterday left Buffalo after a 2 hour delay.  Arrived in Chicago.  Upon touchdown the flight crew experienced the same problem with the plane that had caused the initial 2 hour delay.  This problem, the nose gear.  The crew could not steer the plane so could not get to the gate.  Sat on the tarmac about an hour.  Finally towed into the hanger.  We missed our flight to Erbil.  We are now at a hotel in Chicago.  We are on standby for a flight this evening, but also have confirmed reservations for July 4th.  Praise the Lord, He will continue to lead and guide us in His path.