Mohim Awy Awy Day

He loosened my tongue to speak in 95% arabic today at our cooking class , I can't even believe it when i say it. I didn't think it possible, I didn't think they'd understand, and if they did i thought they'd only understand bits and pieces and i'd have a dictionary open the entire time, but no, i used it only twice. And they did, they understood... HE was totally there, and He moved and He spoke...

cooking was fun, and talking afterwards was great!! exciting.

ahhhhhh sooo happy!

I've been laughing alot lately

Yesterday I cooked sour cream chicken enchiladas and.. I'll just say this. My friends wanted the recipe =) Anyways... it was so yummy, but man Mexican food takes a lot of work. It was fun but we were in the kitchen about half od the day for this party. I made hmm like 40 enchiladas, and each tortilla was made "a-mano" with a glass... we had no rolling pin.

Phones- Songs
Anyways... we couldn't stop laughing at our local friend who randomly turned on his cellphone and started playing for us the Sound of Music type of music... and all these random cheesy songs, that he sung to and was so very proud he knew... lol.... (celine dion... celine dion....) the guys here are so "macho" but at the same time are so cheesy, and sensitive... yea.. wierd eh. gotta love it.

LIMO??
Walking back home from the center I teach at, on Valentines day, Nov 4th, here. They have 2 apparantly.... Feb 14th... and their own... Valentines in November! hahah... anyways back to my story... while i was walkgin back home there was a wedding procession.

Car (with Christmas lights... the net kind... all on its windowshield...) honk honk honk, another truck with guys in the back, car, car, taxi, (yes it was part of the procession), car, car, limo (MICROBUS limo....) a microbus with the young ppl playing the tablah (conga type thing) and they were all clapping. Its funny, because I was just wondering how a limo business would do here, and ummm hmm maybe they would go for it... rather than a microbus.. haha... couldnt help but smile.

Deodorant? watch this first...


So I'm in class teaching about health problems and stuff. Deodorant is one of the things in the restroom drawer that we were naming and such. When I tell them point to the deodorant...
they all look at me with confused faces... one of them, class clown, tells me in arabic.." WHAT IS THIS... I DON'T KNOW THIS WORD.." then in english... he tries to say it... and just can't

HAHA.... I HAD TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT. oh how I love teaching them. Bless their hearts, lol they had no idea why I was laughing so hard. Their response was exactly as this video. I thought this video was making fun of them because..it seems as if no one would know the existence of deodorant because of the horrible Body odor everywhere you go, especially the metros, or in a cab the air flows back towards you.... and um it picks up his wonderful b.o.
ewww.. but apparantly.. lol... they DONT know it!

Tested in what I just learned.

Its funny how soon after you learn something from the Word you will surely be tested or tempted in the exact thing that you just learned about. A woman's worth....my last post. Its like if I'm being asked now, lets see Jaz, how much do u value yourself now? This is determined not by what we say but how we act. Our actions show us the value that we have on ourselves. It's the one who doesn't see any value that diminishes herself to walk aimlessly and to fall prey to any side wanderer/entertainer. Praise the Lord, for His faithfulness and for friends who know your worth as well and are quick to exhort you.

He has called me His. My heart belongs to Him, my life, and all of my future is His.

Truth. What is Truth?
I was just studying how in order to see Jesus we must first learn to see ourselves in Truth. He, of course gives us this ability. He sheds light on the reality of our state in contrast to his holiness.... ewww.... yeah..

Anyways.... its really easy too fool ourselves, to come up with "pretty" ideas that are partly based on truth but mostly on our lovely day dreams. dream being a key word. The enemy will come and deceive with some truth meshed in with lies. To destroy and crush, but if we hold on to Truth and discren what is Truth, we will not fall prey to his lies.

Oh and wow, did I get a bucket-full of lies this last week... lies that made me doubt for a second (a loong second) if they were lies or truth. I'm glad I had just learned on being watchful, and walking with Dad so he can show us what is true/reality vs deception.

Anyways...... isn't it awesome that HE provides us with truth to see beyond the ever so cunniving deceptions of the enemy. We must be aware and watchful for the barriers that so quickly throw you astray the goal.

A Woman's Worth... Set your worth.

I visited a friend last night. She asked me if I have a boyfriend, or if there was someone that I was "talking" with. She wanted to know if I'd be willing to marry a local, hoping that I would, so that I could stay here.... I told her... no there's not one, neither here nor in America. Anyways.... after sharing a little of my story, I asked her about herself. I don't know if to be happy or sad. Mostly my heart does break, for what she shared with me... I will now tell it to you as if it is her speaking.

-"When I was 19, my mom's friend saw me, and then she spoke to my mom about her son and how he was looking for a wife. He was ready to get married and she liked me for him. So my mom asked me, and I said, ok, no problem, we can meet them. So we met them as a family, we had dinners, and sometimes him and I would go on our own to get to know each other better. He was very nice and kind, and hardworking. So after some time, he talked to my mom and we all got together to arrange the engagement. When we get engaged, the culture is that He must give to the girl gold, however much she asks for. I asked him for this much, and he said he coudn't he only wanted to give me half of what I asked. I gave him 2 choices, he could either give me what I asked him for or I would not accept to marry him. Jazzy, I know he could give me what I asked for, I was not asking too much, he just didnt want to spend this on me. But if he didnt want to give me what I asked for, then he does not love me! He said he could not give me what I asked him for, and so I told him, from now on I am only your sister.

-After a year or so, he called my mom and he told her that he wanted to marry me. He said he would give what we asked from him. My mom spoke with me, she said he was a good man, and he had a good job, but Jazzy, I did not feel the same for him. I also now thought different. I thought, i'm 19 he's 32... when I am young he will be old! I dont want that, he had his chance and he did not want to provide for me. If he loves me he will sacrifice and provide for me. So this is it, this is all. Now there is no one, we will see.... "

While she told me this... I couldn't help but remember the woman with the alabaster box.
I coudn't help but ask myself, how does one set a price on oneself?
How did she come up with this price?
How did she feel when she found out that the man who said he loved her, wasn't willing to pay the price she put on herself?

I ask myself how much am I worth? and God says, your worth my life.

-"Jazzy, I don't think there is anyone who loves me this much...."

YES! there is.... remember, He has loved you with an everlasting love...

-"Everlasting? It means that it will never end? Wow!!"

Jaz's Oath to the King. Oct 7, 2009

I will be a diligent daughter to my King because He has lavishly endowed me with His grace, hope, and faith. So in gratitude, I will do my best to improve my faith and be a trustworthy steward.

I commit to excellence in every thing I do demonstrating an upright and virtuous character at all times. Always eager to be useful and fruitful for my King.

I will arduously pursue to understand all that my King desires His daughter to know.

I will restrain from doing what I think is best and instead be loyal and obedient to the will of my King.

I will persevere in my devotion to doing good and all things profitable despite hardship or delayed success.

In all circumstances I will look out for the betterment of the body even when it takes sacrificial service.

I will constantly dwell on the love bestowed upon me from my King and thus be motivated to be patient in love, forgiving in love, admiring in love, joyful in love, kind in love, and always hopeful in love towards all and any whom I cross paths with.

All for my Kings good pleasure.

-Beloved daughter of the King-
-For its is my King who is at work in me, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Phillipians 2:12-13
2 Peter 1:5-7
Proverbs 31
1 Cor. 6:12
1 Cor. 13
1 Peter 4:8

Sacrifice. by Howard Guinness.

Where are the men of this generation who will hold their lives cheap (Rev 12:11), and be faithful even unto death?
Where are those who will lose their lives for Christ’s sake – flinging them away for love of Him?
Where are those who will live dangerously, and be reckless in His service (Acts 15:26)?
Where are his lovers – those who love Him and the souls of men more than their own reputations or comfort, or very life?
Where are the men who say “no” to self, who take up Christ’s cross to bear it after Him who are willing to be nailed to it in college or office, home or mission field; who are willing, if need be, to bleed, to suffer, and to die on it?
Where are the men of vision today?
Where are the men of enduring vision?
Where are the adventurers, the explorers, the buccaneers for God who count one human soul of far greater value than the rise or fall of an empire?
Where are the men who glory in God-sent loneliness, difficulties, persecutions, misunderstandings, discipline, sacrifice, death?
Where are the men who are willing to pay the price of vision?
Where are the men of prayer?
Where are the men that count God’s Word of more importance to them than their daily food?
Where are the men and, like Moses of old, commune with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend?
Where are God’s men in this day of need of God’s power?”
compliments of Rob, thanks. good stuff.

Captivated in Greece.

I was (past tense) going to write about each day in Greece, however I didnt have time. I'll sum it up.

First of all, I feel spoiled by my Heavenly Dad. When the word says he blesses us abundantly, he sure does. One of my desires had been to visit Greece, I never really dwelled on it too much, but it happened. and Dad provided for it. There could not have been a better timing for this vacation.

I had just come out of a rough season here in the desert, not only with work, but you know the feeling that comes when your away from the people who know you the best and who you know the best. When you start thinking with your flesh. Make sense? The thoughts of singleness started creeping up and tons of questions about the future. Like, where do you want me to go?

Questions that Dad told me very clearly that I woudn't have the answer to, and He asked me to wait on Him for. (That was a tough and clear response, he woke me from a dream/nightmare and led me to Isaiah 29:11. It was neat though. This had never happened to me, and it was awesome to experience this encounter.) He answers... amazing the concept we read about, but we just dont ask. Maybe because we're afraid of his response? hm.

Anyways, so yea thats where I was at. Needless to say I needed a break from the Middle East culture and some fresh air (literately... some blue skies).

While in Greece Dad marveled me with His creation. He captured my heart once more with his beauty. He flattered me with his sunsets. The works of his hands, the strong high cliffs, sounds of roaring sea, captivated me and took away any doubts. He whispered I love you, this is for you. and this love is more than Enough. His timing is perfect, his grace is abundant. He is my strong tower and strength.

Real quick memories from trip:
-Jumping in freezing waters from the boat to swim to the sulfur thermal waters by the Volcano! AND swallowing some of the water and thinking is sulfur poisonous?

-Climbing the active volcano and feeling the vapor from one of the craters!
-Sitting on the black rocks and the rock beach reading My utmost to the sounds of crashing waves.
-Eating a delicious fruit waffle on the sea side.
-Climbing and lying at the tip of a cliff, with winds that coul'dve blown me away!
-Riding a 4 wheeler, and a donkey in SANTORINI.
-Sitting at the rooftop in Ia waiting for the most beautiful colorful sunset, just for me! =)
-Nick the Greek calling me YASMINA in the most awesome greek accent!
-Eating a hotdog for the first time in 10 months yum!
-Watching the rain for the first time in 9 months!
-Wearing shorts and short sleeves in public for the first time in 10 months.

Greece Vacation Day 1- A T H E N S

Saw the A C R O P O L I S.
thoughts: aww there goes all that repairing iron bars.... but wow these columns are huge... how old is this place!?

Climbed M A R S H I L L.
thoughts: WOW... how beautiful... the view was amazing, so high up, you can see all of greece! Paul spoke here!!!! The rocks were so slippery... this looks like marble!! The place of the altars, remains of them were down below. Its so green!!! Those skies are so blue *huge smile*

I sat at the Park and ppl watched.
thoughts: wow I think i might've lost my stylish fashion... Woman! Are u really wearing that?!
Aww that little old man is so cute. These greek old men remind me of Mr. Wilson from Dennis the menace! lol...

Saw the changing of the Guards at the Govt. place:
thoughts: I was about to go take a pic, and the cute officer told me to wait for ten minutes. Since he was handsome I didnt go Cairo on him. So we waited and it was HILARIOUS to see the stiff guards actually move to do their stretching. HAHA.... i can'texplain, but they looked akward raising their legs and kicking out.... At the end I took a picture with one of the guards and he was totally humming at me! then he winked at me when I looked at him. oooo I'M GONNA TELL ON HIM!

I ATE DELICIOUS GREEK SALAD AND A GYRO... a pork one!! notice i didnt capitalize, lol i'm starting to feel a little guilty for eating pork. it was delicious!! I had a strawberry yoghurt icecream and that was one of the bests icecreams i've had, reminded me of the icecream place we went to Carie!

So u feel like _____ fill in the blank. (blah)

Let me just share real quick my devo this morning. It was really refreshing.

I had been feeling like such a loser, an undisciplined child, just really frustrated with myself, and mostly dissapointed at how much I fail our Dad.

And this morning it was like a refreshing cup of water and a different perspective. In luke 18 there is the comparison of the pharisee and the tax collector... then later the rich guy trying to basically buy his way to heaven. We see that Dad's nature is all about having us depend on him and not on ourselves.

So when we feel like crap and like worthless children.. its because we are haha.... I mean, YES we're so precious to him, BUT just us, on our own, we are filthy rags before our Dad.

So its good to feel terrible sometimes, its like He reminds us of how much we need Him and how much we lack without Him. So just Thank HIM for that time you felt like crap... and realize he's wanting u to see urself without Him, and calling you to Him, to depend on Him. To allow Him to mold that area your lacking.

Usually when all things are great and we're "doing" alot... it's really easy to feel holier than though... but thank the Lord the Spirit reminds us of our weaknesses and our NEED to depend on HIM, because I sooo do not want to ever again come before Dad with the case like the Pharisee. Who honesltly, YES he was a great man, he was giving glory to Dad for taking him out of a bad life, (who doesn't?) he was being faithful and disciplined in his walk, fasting? tithing? He was praising Him, with his heart, he wasn't even shouting it out loud.

BUT...here's the issue... he was at a point where he didn't see all his shortcomings.... and this is what we need to be constantly reminded of... our shortcomings and our dependance, constant dependance on the Father. You must realize the NEED you have to abide in the Father!

So yes... I need more discipline, He's showing me many of my shortcomings... but hey, later when there is some good fruit ... it was because of HIM, and only Him.

and last.... there is always room for improvement. So this horrible feeling that we get of not being good enough... is normal... because its true. We just got to learn to take those feelings and use them as motivation to seek Dad more, knowing that even though we feel we're not good enough, we were definitely loved enough for Him to call us unto Him! We are his.... just a work in progress until the day we see Him face to face.

I hope I'm being clear buddy, I'm just typing as I think...

Awesome Ppl I met... little and big =)

Stories coming soon!

Flowing rivers hidden in the Desert!

Pictures.Stories coming soon!

P E T R A..... NEW WONDER of the WORLD

PICS/VIDEO coming soon!

Jerash... Roman Ruins in the Middle East

Pics coming soon!

The Hole in the roof Story!!

Pictures coming soon!

Gadara... bible village where Jesus casts demon to swine!

Pictures/Video coming soon!

Driving for the first time since January!

Pics/Video/ and stories coming soon

The Arm pit of the mIddle East.... Dead Sea

PICS and Video coming soon...

Lot's Cave... or aka Prophet Lut's Cave

PICS AND VIDEO COMING SOON.

Mount Nebo... "Moses go up to SEE the land I have promised you.."

View from the top.... Sea of Galilee at the distance

I found this rock and it reminded me of the 10 commandments...

although it didnt happen here, its the same guy! Moses

Check out the promised land =) sorry the pic is not clear. It was very dusty.... its the desert...

I got to tell you about last month in Jordan!

This snippet is from the top of Mt. Nebo. The place that God asked Moses to climb and where He would show him the promised land. Isn't it amazing that there are stones that cry out the Story!

Deuteronomy 32-34

3 Big men cruising in a beetle... HA

oK i wish I had my camera on me. I mean, really.... WHO cruises in a convertible little beetle?

You automatically think... hmmm maybe girls right. NOT HERE. 

I saw 3 guys... all pretty built, cruising, like with music loud, arms extended over the seats, cruising in a little beetle.... one of the new ones. 

You could tell in their faces they were like... "LOOK AT ME... I'M COOL"

U just dont see this in America.... not that I remember at least.

r.

Ode to Chorizo?

Ok... so I had to share about my first time that I had like a stomach issue here. Since the story goes that everyone who comes here will at one point get sick, I hadn't though. I thank the Lord for an iron stomach. But today.... I threw up. It had been a loooooong time, like I dont even remember the last time I threw up! 

I ate chorizo con papas and huevo today, which was sooo good. But earlier I had a big and tasty from McD's, which was supposed to be like a treat, but it did NOT look appetizing at all, they put this wierd sauce on it, and the lettuce was a little soggy, and somewhat old, I took some of it all, but ate most of it. 

My theory is... the greasy mexican food I had later, reacted with the nasty Mickey D's, and made me throw up... .... ughhhh....... but after I did, I felt better woo hoo. So... I was sick for like a total of 3 hours maybe =)

I'm 23?!

I just want to share my thankfulness to Dad for providing love, peace, affection. When u think about spending ur bday in a foreign land away from ur family and friends, u dont really look forward to it. But wow, Dad is good all the time. He gives us not only what we need but he gives us more, abundantly!

I thank him for providing me with some friends here who I have become close with and one in particular who took it upon herself to take me out the entire week of my bday. My parents had just left and she helped out alot with the whole nostalgic feeling.

Then my bday weekend another girl planned a trip to Mt. Sinai and to the Red Sea, she had no idea it was my bday weekend, but I know Dad knows, and he loves me, so I totally am taking

 this as his gift to me aswell. I've always wanted to go, but honestly I don't like planning my own bdays.

(on the 17th I went to dinner to Hard Rock downtown, and I got a cup of ummm whipped cream. lol... wierd huh)

And not only this, but today, sunday after my bday, I was surprised by my local friend who baked me a cake, this was her first time, sooo sweet and she and her mom sang happy bday to me in english... aww! Super sweet!

I know that DAD seeks to love on his children =) He's so good. 

So Moses... Man he was fit!

You know God was with him because, I'm pretty sure he was pretty old when he climbed up and down Mt. Sinai. As I climbed this mountain I kept on thinking, Moses had some dedication! Perseverance, and discipline. I mean it wasn't easy. I know I'm not all that fit, but still it wasn't an easy climb. One time was good enough for me. It's 9,000 feet in altitude, and we did it by night, so that we could catch the sunrise and man it was beautiful. It's definitely worth it. We were freezing at top, we rented out some blankets which smelled like.... ummm camel I think, but they were heavy so I wont complain too much. I tried to sleep because I knew early in the morning I would have to start the trek back down, and although it be easier it was still a long ways. But I couldnt... I saw many shooting stars and it was sweet when I asked DAD to let me see one more before I covered my eyes forcing myself to go to sleep, and he did, soon after I asked him and at the exact spot I was looking up at. I smiled, checked my watch and it was exactly 3 am, the time that Dad always speaks to me or wakes me up to talk. 

My mom told me.... u Know Moses spoke face to face with God, and u see that mountain... he climbed it to hear from the Father. 

The Father does mighty things with those who earnestly seek him, and reveals himself mostly to those who do whatever it takes to know him. What a shame that there are many times that I can't sacrifice some sleep to wake up and seek Him.

My next goal: The Shady Buses

So shady...because, there's like no route system, I'm tryin to figure out where they go. They have like multiple numbers on them and then like a little wittle sign that says I think where they go... but by the time I sound it out and figure it out its gone, and u kinda have to jump on them like that guy there.. ppl hang out from them lol they get packed sometimes.

I got on one, with the help of a nice lady, after a police guy was being rude to me, he told me everything BUT what I asked him about. sighhh.... I think she felt sorry for me, we were on the bus and she asked someone about what was the best stop for where I wanted to go, and this started a huge conversation about where everyone thought I should get off. This little old man was insistent on this one stop and everyone else was like NO and he was like YES! Hahah and I was in the middle of it all just listening... praying that I would just get to where I needed to get, without the whole world knowing that I was a foreigner who had no Idea where she was going, bcuz thats when bad stuff happens!

Anyways... it was FUN, I'm gonna start riding random buses to see where they go because that'll be the only way I learn the system...plus I'll save some big money, riding the PPL'S BUS!

They Don't Believe I'm Mexican Now...YES!

We'll see how long that lasts, myabe today was just a special day. 

I was at the bazaar where lots of tourists go for souvenirs and its like a game for the vendors to figure out where u'r from, they've always kinda figured me out. But today, I went with a friend and they guessed she was from India, she's like no we're mexicans, and they asked her, and her (as in me) where is she from? She's mexican too... and they were like No, No she's not, and there was an officer there too and he was like... NO, tisk tisk tisk, she is not, she is from Khalif, which is like a city in Yemen I think, an Arab country, and the guy was like, she speaks good Arabic... 

So anyways.... I'm happy that the little I spoke, they thought I was a native Arab speaker... HA... YES!

Macaroni Fish...I can't Breaf

So everytime I go to my language tutors home, I walk through a long  windy alley market, where I can find everything from hangers, matches, strawberries, eggplants, to eel.. and fish =/

They don't look very good.... and I would only buy fish from there if there were no veggies and fruits left...BUT anyways... at my tutors house, guess what was for dinner?! Macaroni Fish... because its thin... like macaroni, is what she told me. 

Most of it was bone... and I'm just not that great with fish and bone... long story short, they did kinda make fun of me for not knowing how to eat it... because  I was being cautious and thus slow, and I got a bone stuck in my throat, they laughed... and I my eyes were tearing because I had a bone in my throat! 

Anyways... after like  4hours i finally couldn't feel it anymore il humdulilah... oh and they were like dont mind the bones, their so small... its not a big deal.. and i was like... oh yes it is! If i can feel it... ummm and its poking me... its a big deal =)

but i'm alive... after eating the fishy fish. PTL 

It was NOT an Itsy Bitsie Teenie Weenie Polka Dot skirt

NOTE TO SELF .... dont wear skirts on a windy day. Or just don't wear them period....Unless its like to my ankles and its a stiff skirt. This will save you from tragedies and stares. (in addition to the normal ones you always get)

So it's hot and I decided a skirt would be better than jeans today, plus I felt like dressing up a little bit. Ok so.... all was well until I got off the metro, on my way home, the wind was blowing mightily and I was praying that G would control the winds so that ummm my skirt would stay where it needed to! It was not short at all, the pic there is just to help visualize looks very similar but my skirt was longer, it was appropriate length, but it IS from america, so.... its light, most skirts here are heavy material. The non-majority girls wear shorter skirts so it wasn't unusual to see me in a skirt to my calves. Anyways, that was my little disclaimer... dont judge me ;)

Ok so I think....I hope, that I managed to go up a flight of stairs, across the bridge, and down another flight without anything too tragic or revealing happening, but this little kid noticed and well he's a kid....anyways, let me just get to the nice part.... YES THERE IS ONE....there always is.

I asked an older lady, she was chubby and short, (just helping you get a mental picture)  if she could walk with me. She knew why I needed her, she didn't ask me anything, She took my arm and walked right behind me, to help me with the wind. Sigh.... then she whispered in my ear how the little boy was trying to look under, but I was wearing shorts, but still in this culture shorts are like underwear. fyi...BY little boy I'm just trying to make things sound nicer, he's old enough to know what he's doing. 

Anyways... I'm glad I got in a taxi and got home and that once again the Father always puts someone nearby to come to my rescue! AND that it was just a little bit of torture but soon I was home.

Its a cute skirt too.... what a shame!

Grey Skies

Wow, so today it was hot, and the sky was grey. Not a very bright day, it was a little gloomy.

And like i said before, it doesnt rain in the desert. So to my conclusion, the sky is grey because of pollution, did i tell you tha by living here its like a smoke a pack of cigarretes a day?

Anyway, My friend said it was like 100 degrees, but actually I doubt that it was 100, more like 80, yes it felt like a hair dryer was blowing at my face, but I hope she's right because then that means I'll be fine in the summer, because it can't get much hotter. or.....can it? oh...oops...AND.... I just confirmed online, yea she was right its 104 degrees. No wonder I was so lethargic!!! Today just wasn't a very good day. 

I was just not getting Arabic today with my tutor. There was like a mental block. Bless her heart. My eyes were shutting. I wish I could just learn it through osmosis. 

Oh Arabi, ana mish bahebik deluwati....

BUT.... There's always something nice each day! To my beautiful surprise I received a call from my lovely friend in India, and that brightened up my day. It made my looong ride in the taxi pleasurable. =) lol is that a word??? 

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Rom 12:12

The only one in the desert watching the MAVS game

I stayed up one time  like till 5 am, to watch my lovely mavs beat the spurs many a times =) I miss basketball games, but love that I had live streaming online!! I dont mind staying up late once in a while for some basketball!! I'm excited about Football Season too... im going to have to introduce it to my friends here. Basketball was too foreign...

Holidays in the Desert

So for easter, we dyed boiled eggs, i havent done this in a long time, like since high school, so it was fun! I had never dyed boiled eggs... is it a mexican thing to stuff them with confetti? or flour? Hmmm..... They came out pretty good for using Jello dye... the only thing we could find.
The water in the cups was already turning into gelation at the end. where there's a will there's a way!
I also had never received a chocolate bunny like this! It was delicious, and i almost ate it all to myself =)
So I forgot to put pics up for my valentines day in the desert. We got together and we cooked some delicious flour tortillas for all the girls. But i received a special treat like a month later, from the Kids in Rowlett!!! Happy Balentines!!! SOOO sweet =)

On my fREE Day....

Watch my 1st home made corn tortilla making and my 1st home made video too! I'll have to work on the bluriness

My invention for Tortillas de Masa

=)

Helluwa Awy (delicious)

I went to a street party!!!

Me and another friend were the only ones who didnt have a "headress" we both pretty much look local.. so these ppl were prob thinking what they doing here!? until they find out we're foreigners then we're cool. =) They were so kind....they kept offering us soda... i think they passed out food in some boxes.. they didnt get to me, bcuz kids were snatching them out of their hands, but i drank 2 sodas... out of obligation... restroom please?

SETTING: The alley between two buildings, Colorful lightbulbs hanging overhead from the two buldings. Chairs lined up against the walls in like a circle, in the middle a table with a fake cake out of paper with big colorful candles and a doll that belly dances. (YES i'm going to buy one!) And at the end of the alley, a DJ with like 8 speakers.

Anyways, i had always seen these so called street weddings, and if ya know me, i want to be where the party is at. So i was so excited when my friend invited me to go the party, turns out its a bachelorette party for a 45 yr old lady getting married for the first time!! HUGE reason to party it up. You could hear the music a block away. She was all beautified, in white and gold, she had glitter all over her face, and henna on her hands.

What happens at these bachelorette parties: All the women sit waiting for the bride to be to arrive from the coiffeur, once she does, everyone gets up and go to her to hug her and all that mushy stuff. Oh and the women do this yell with their tongues... like indians? hard to describe... but its loud.... then PPl bunch up around in circle to dance with her, she's in the middle and by dance i mean belly dance. They hold hands and do the greek thing too... like in my big fat greek wedding.

FYI: there is no drinking at these parties. Also, I thought it was only for women, but i guess since this one was out in public, men were obviously watching, and family guy members attended.

I ask the girls, do you know how to dance like that? They all answer the same way... every ninevan girl knows how to dance like this..... WOW.... its like amazing. I might just take some classes

So there is this one song that I love, and its THE song at all the parties, so I'm told. Its called El Ainab.... The GRAPES... yeah? check it out, umm yea you wont see women wearing that here... but as far as the dancing, yea men dance like that too =/

There are no Lines

So on Friday I was able to go to the "biggest amusement park in Ninevah" lol.... Disney World came up, I guess so that i can have an idea of what it was like.

It was pretty awesome. Except it wasn't like Disney... of course,more like a state fair. yes with sketchy rides and all. There was a total of ONE actual roller coaster, for which we stood in "line" for about 3 hrs. =)

By line I mean crowd of ppl pushing towards the front, only controlled by some railings. My friends were like forget lines Jaz, there are no lines here. Groups of kids (by kids i mean shibaab teenagers, and ummm 20 something yr olds..) jumped in front of us, jumped in front of the whole "line" no shame... whatsoever. JAW DROPPED. I didnt understand why some girls kept tellin me to move up, I was like.. ARE U SERIOUS? They were doing some major eye rolling and shoving, in my mind... there's no need for me to be all up against this guy infront of me, we're not going anywhere.... the line is not going to get any shorter, nor faster, might as well have some breathing room. They insisted... later i found out why.... ppl as in, those in the back trying to move forward, will squeeze in wherever there is a piece of floor. so therefore.... the theology is.... lets make sure we're all so close together no one can jump in front of us... Gotta love it! Welcome to __________ =)

Overall though...I had a great time. I'm all about doing the big rides. Oh man but i was praying, because you know they dont check these rides, some seats were not "working" I dunno, but anyways I'm alive! PTL. The bumper cars were soo much fun, great stress reliever, plus i havent drove a car in a looong time.

Guess what? they had corn dogs!! I wasn't too convinced by the oil they were dipping them in, so i opted out. But it was nice to see them, I had no id

ea they knew what corn dogs were... no one was buying them though, rob bcuz they didnt know what they were but at least the guy who was making them knew what they were.

Ooooo and i had a slushie too!! strawberry one! mmmmm....

oh and last... i think i sat on a seat that someone threw up on.... i thought it was water... after being buckled mmmm i saw chunks on the floor ='(

oh and only the crazy american raises her hands on the rides... lol i stood out... but malesh (oh well)

No, I'm not from here...

So... I've never felt more discriminated against than I have here. 

It's actually kind of funny. Because I can't believe how real it is, and how it still exists very openly.

I went out with my local friend, to a local restaurant, I asked for an english menu, at that moment the guy told her, she'll have to pay more for her fo

od than you will. So she decided to just order for me. So here's my friend, trying to get our order, going back and forth, doing the work on a waitress basically.

We went to sit at a table outside, and were told that we couldn't sit there, because we would have to pay more, now I was just really annoyed, where can we eat? She said.. we'd have to take it to go. We were so far away, there was no way we'd be able to just ta

ke it. 

Anyways.. they just made it so hard on her/us.  I busted out my english, for the first time without any arabic. I was being charged way more, and my friend was doing all the work.... not fair.

This was the climaz from this weeks events, everything has a price for foreigners and a price for locals. One place a local pays 1 pound, and a foreigner pays 50. 

I live here!!! sigh......

I think its more frustrating because they think i'm from here at first a

nd when they finally figure it out, prices rise.... and i'm like what!? seriously....??

The place of the incident, good food must I add =)

Insha allah

So, ppl use insha allah all the time here. It stands for "Lord Willing" Some say its basically saying  I'll see what happens, or how I feel. Just to avoid saying "NO" and possibly shaming the other person. 

Its become a part of my new vernacular, it took a while, you know, let your yes be yes and your no be no, but well in this culture I think they'd prefer an insha allah instead of a No, its a whole honor/shame thing, and saving face. I use it, at least when haggling, insha allah I will buy this from you at this price, or return later. 

But anyways. Last night I took a taxi, for a non-local, the price would be like 3 pounds, but ofcourse I say about 5, he says ok, I get in, and he says insha allah 7. I say ok, insha allah, soon after we get out, i give him 5, it wasn't even far.... he said no, 7, I used my arabic, YAY, and told him you told me 5, and he said... i said insha allah 7. So I learned a new meaning for insha allah. 

"These ppl with their mouths, they honor me, but their hearts are far away from me." 

- The Creator

Silver lining

This last week while doing my hair and listening to a podcast, I was overwhelmed with happiness. I realized I felt at home... and I thought I should compile a list of little things that I'm thankful for here... they are commodities that I didn't think I would have at all...

I've learned to give thanks for the blessings, its better than focusing on all the toughies of living in this place and It makes for a more enjoyable journey:

Wireless internet. 

SKYPE!!! 

Itunes Radio- I even enjoy the commercials =)

Itunes Podcasts- I hear one of my favorite speakers weekly.

IPOD- read previous blogs to see why

Local Market (STRAWBERRIES)

My balcony (Daniel 6)

Microwave

Hot Water

Grass (when i see it....The couple of places that have it)

My dark sunglasses

Washing machine

Straightner

Thats black from the "dust" that builds up a day after another.. imagine not having a washing machine...

OH...It's not hot yet, ask me about what I'm thankful then, lets pray I'm quick to answer.

Living Water in the Desert

I mean... is it not awesome? One week I went to the desert... fyi, the desert is the suburbs to my home and then the next week  I went to the beach! (twas too cold...boo)

Camels are so ugly they are cute. This picture doesn't portray this concept very well...BUT believe me they are some intriguing creatures I think the Father had some fun creating them.

Lol they make the funniest faces, spit, and pee for a reallll long time, oh and they roar... lol. 

   

 The Mediterranean Sea inspires me to paint but then how is it possible to take such beautiful creation and duplicate it on canvas? I was also reminded by creation that water is not far from the desert. i.e.  The living water (I could hear the roar of the waves from afar) is here, in this desert.

Mish Kwayas... Not Good

I should be asleep, I can't because my neighbors wont go to sleep... when do they sleep? OHHHH durIng the day... hmmm....

Prayer call at 5 in the morning is pretty scary... 

recording of it, coming soon!

The man sounds like he's sobbing.... 

Man..... its sad. 

Oh did ur house smell like feet?

OK So if u're a mexican u know a staple at home are beans, frijolitos. Frijoles con huevos, frijoles con arroz, frijoles y carne, frijoles con frijoles.. I mean... we ALWAYS have frijoles at the house. Ok so now that I'm pretty much set up I've started my hunt for beans. And this is what I found..... 

The local beans here....... They don't sell pinto beans, I asked my friend if she knew what they were.. its Kinda hard to describe beans i mean what am i going to say? oval shaped beans light brown with darker stains on them.. i dunno...I TRIED, MANY WAYS, oh and black beans.. she was amazed at that, never seen them before!! Well we looked and looked and finally I was like just show me how u guys make your beans. They call it ful and I tried some at one restaurant they were actually tasty. So i buy 1/4 of a kilo of these, you have to let them soak supposably for 3 hrs, she said, but online It says all night... I followed her advice, then boil them like our beans.

And this is how they look...

 eww... and my flat stunk... I called my mom and she said ohh their 'avas'... and her friend who was there, was like ohhh did ur house smell like feet? Yea.. it did. They knew exactly what I was talking about. My home smelled nasty. So i gave up on them for today.

 I just want some pinto beans.... Tomorrow I'm going to try again, my mom told me a good way to prepare them, crossing fingers... hope it works. I'm sure i'll have to have them refritos so they wont look so uglay.

OTHER RANDOM FOOD ITEMS.... I like the bottles.

Coca Cola.. its real good! I think its better than the states. It's not as sweet.. more gassy =/ lol jk. its good.

And here's the milk its called laban in Arabic. The brand is "Labanita"

They sell milk in boxes but ewww and like the real stuff in the streets... but also....ewww..

I'm still on the hunt for real Jalapenos... I made salsa today to go along with Carnita and delicious flour tortillas... (which i'm so happy about, because yesterday I tried to make them and they came out horrible it was very dissapointing, something about the flour made them stiff and yucky...) but =/ these peppers were not cutting it. I mean I could get used to them but still....you know.. 

Today completes my first month here!! I just needed to add that. I do miss my loved ones back home. I miss them sooo much. I'm thankful for skype which makes up a little bit for not being with them. But i'm soo happy because I'm seeing some answered requests!!

I've had good and bad experiences... mostly crazy... and I'm past the honeymoon stage I think, I already had my homesick night... but I will continue to take the desert a day at a time. 

Asking for the strength to smile!

I Forget i'm in the Desert

So... I have Chili's and On the Border, and McDonalds, and "King Burger", Even Starbucks, which are all pricey.. but still we have them...BUT I still can't believe we dont have ranch. I was so excited because I was buying me some chicken nuggets and i was expecting them to have ranch, i mean they import everything right? MCDonalds makes their own ranch so u think they'd import that too. but no... the guy was like... what? franch? ughhhh... sad day. 

We don't get asked that here.....

Jaz.... your in the desert... is what a friend had to remind me.

I went to starbucks today, I finally just went ahead a

nd catered to myself, I had a rough day yesterday. 

I ordered my happy drink: Strawberries and Cream frap.... =( The guy looked at me and said... No we don't have... only in AMERICA... yes... THANKS.. I'm done with my whining for today....

I had a caramel macchiato... extra caramel? YES!

Thankful for the little Things...IPOD

So.... this wonderful invention, called an ipod. I'm so glad i have it. It helps alot.

As most of you know, the whole men situation here is a little risky, and well they just like to talk, hiss, and umm sometimes follow women. So as i get in a taxi, these guys always tried talking to me, so 1) I have no idea what they say but 2)I can tell by their tone and hand motions when they are wanting to chat and not actually wanting to know where they need to take me to. So now, when I get into a taxi I put my ipod on! =)

And it works....I mean I think its pretty universal that w

hen someone has their headphones on it means I dont really care to talk right now. I havent had any issues since then. and  now they only speak up when they actually have an important question on the place i'm going. Plus... i'm wrshiping in my mind, rather than listening to their pryer songs and stuff. (rarely is there some good station on in a taxi)

Today I forgot my ipod.. and I got offered some of the guy's snickers... LOL. let me just say it was funny...I mean he was being serious. I tried not to laugh, and keep a serious face. But I mean.... really? want a bite of my snickers?? He then went on to try to have a conversation...and i found the 2.5 pound headphones and put them in sans ipod, he wouldnt know. lol.  

so those headphones for 2.5 pounds (about 50 cents)  i bought from this old man on a corner shop. they proved their value, they tore while i pulled them out of my bag... lol. ehhh malesh (whatever)  and yes i felt a little ridicuhlous with my tore headphones in my ears. lol but he couldn't tell. ; )

Thingamabob plug

So I'm guessing if you read my blog, your also getting my email updates. So i figured on here i'll put my random adventures, and stories of what it's like living in this interesting place. Where plugs are two round thingamabobs..... gosh

As useless a fact as this might seem. It caused me some frustration. I mean, a girl has to have her chi.... (for guys: the straightening iron that is amazing to leave your hair silky straight and it's only the best straightner ever.) So anyways, I brought it. I only brought with me my chi, and my ipod/ipod dock, and my MAC. So.... i get here and yeah i can't plug in anything to the outlets on the walls. So long story short, my chi doesn't work anymore because of course its on a different power range and it burned out... SAD DAY(s). Oh and my ipod dock also is not working... Anyways, its not a need, need, but it is NICE.

bUT LET ME JUST SHARE..... a couple days ago.... THE FATHER IS SO KIND... I saw an amazing straightner, (one that my friend has, her mom bought it from spain and it hasnt reached the states yet)  like you won't believe me.... i saw this man going out of the store with it, and YES we ran to him and asked him to see it to make sure it was the one. 

So... i have a straightner with that thingamabb plug and its awesome, it's better than the chi, and cheaper too. God is good =) the end. 

I'm still on the hunt for some speakers....they can stop me from singing in public but not from jamming out in my flat!

So u think its Fog.... BUT

The air is heavy, its dark, there are no white clouds and blue sky. Its polluted. I've never had a problem with allergies, but I mean now, like a friend said, my lungs will be black. Last night, on a taxi, I was like wow its foggy, but no, its just the pollution. I was amazed. not a good amazed though. lol. The taxi's door is about to fall off and I inhale all this smoke/gas. I'm sure i'll get used to it all. This is real gross but... this is how bad it is: I blew my nose and umm ... it was black =/.

Ok so on the good side, I rode my first taxis yesterday. Yes plural, like 4 times and even one at night time. If you know where I'm at, you'll know how big of an accomplishment this is! especially with the little arabic I know. It went great. Well.... most of it. On my way home, the guy passed my flat and then he asked me something in arabic, he stopped, annoyed and was like..bla bla bla...and ofcourse I had no idea what he was saying. I called a friend, he was yelling at her. And i doubt she understood him either. LOL. so I was like henna kwayas... stop here. I got off that angry man's taxis and got on another one, whoo.... I arrived safely =)

Faithfulness

It's amazing to see how HE is faithful in all things! Absolutely, he knows of our needs, our thoughts, and is faithful to provide, to love. Today I received good news: I will not have to live alone! It is an answered request! I trust HIM in making this possible, and know that He will be glorified. The way it happened is actually unusual, but thats how HE likes to work things, right!
I also crossed a crazyy street/highway all by myself. Ummmm my friend called it DodGE Car. We learn to laugh about things! I called for a taxi...I should learn more arabic for this task!

Today I read from Jeremiah, HE tells him to bind a cloth on his loins, and then he tells him to bury it in the ground, days later he tells him to take dig it up and the cloth is worthless. We, such as the cloth, are useless if not completely bound to the Father. This is my desire.

Let me just tell you the darkness here is immense. While in a taxi, I saw a little girl look straight at me from her car and she had a distraught face. She had to be, at the most, eight years old, and why wasn't she smiling? It wasn't a normal look. Seems as if she had anger in her eyes, as though she did not like me.

Only HE knows the suffering, the oppression that is here.
It's difficult to smile, when everyone around you is frowning.

Let the light shine before all men....

The Journey has begun!!

So today was my first full day here and it was great I went to the nicer part, which is very much American. I was surprised! I found my place to go when I need some American food, music, and starbucks!

Oooo and PTL my bags came in this morning, got them delivered to the flat! YAY!

Late we went to the mall, 6 stories, we only went in 2! They took me to Burger King, and so i HAD to tell the ppl about Bon qui qui... lol. The whoppers were as good as home! I kinda wanted local food but i'm sure i'll have some soon.

I got a cellphone its so cute its champagne color, i thought it be black but then surprise it was a different color, and it was only like 90 dollars, and 4 dollars to get a phone line!

Then for dinner PIZZA HUT, deliverd.... lol so yes i'm surrounded by a desert, but its a darn good one! ;)

PTL, i was received by a beautiful familia and I'm just so excite about learning arabic and meeting more ppl.

much love!