Thursday, July 15, 2010

Kids Say & Do the Darndest Things

Stacia commented a couple of nights ago, "Moms that aren't skinny lose their tempers a lot."  WHAT? In my defense, Jared told her that she doesn't know what it sounds like when someone loses their temper. LOL  We have no clue where this came from....honestly we don't even talk about folks "losing their temper"! ::snort::  And, let's just say that I may not be skinny but I AM shrinking..... 
Zander caught a frog. Later Zander was in my bathroom for a VERY long time. When he came out I said, "Zander, did you have a frog in my bathtub?" What a darling smirky smile. I gave him a hug and told him he is so sweet to continue to provide teaching illustrations for me. He didn't quite get it, but gave me a big hug.


This I love! Yesterday, Zander jumped on the elliptical with his Bible...and said, "I like to workout with my Bible. I'm in the New Testament now."  Maybe Stacia thinks I'm a "not skinny Mom" but Zander recognizes that I "like" to spend time with a book or Bible propped on the elliptical for an hour or so each morning. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

I Know Where the Socks Party!

It began innocently enough. I was promised the "biggest" washer and dryer the base FMO office could send me.  A Whirlpool commercial set arrived.

The dryer would NEVER dry and it was full of lent.....We were told it was Japanese electricity. The washer wouldn't spin out, we were told it was Japanese electricity. We personally purchased a transformer and it made no difference.

Eventually the washer died and they brought me a replacement which spins out just fine on Japanese electricity. ::snort:: At that time, I told them again it takes 180 minutes to dry a normal size load. It makes terrible noise. There is lint everywhere. They suggested I clean the outside lent trap monthly and that this is just the way American appliances run on Japanese electricity.  I decided to move to a natural and cheaper alternative and use the dryer as little as possible.

We continued to change the lint traps OFTEN. We used the dryer as little as possible. It was LOUD. Rainy season came. I tried to dry a load and it never dried. I noticed there was no heat in the dryer at all.

I called FMO. They came out. It appears there is a switch for "no heat" and that had been switched.  I felt so dumb. However, they were HERE now. I put on my "angry eyes". ::snort::  I told them to listen. I put the pair of jeans in there, turned it on and it made a bit of noise. I told them it's LOUD when you let it run for a bit....they seemed a tad alarmed.

They opened the lent trap...took the drum apart...and now...I know where the socks go to party...and the wash cloths and POT HOLDERS...How did they get from the dryer drum to the bottom of the dryer?The gentlemen continued looking....and discovered the belt was frayed (I helpfully pointed it out as they began to put it back together), and the roller was BROKEN...the drum was just doing whatever in there.

They removed the demonic dryer. I'd been putting up with this thing for nine months. I guess the "determined eyes" are needed.

 I  now have a GE...way more knobs and gadgets.....it's QUIET...and I get some loads done in 40 min. This is good with all the RAIN we've been having this week.


Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Touching Lives in Afghanistan - Michael

This was our first foray into an IDP camp (Internally Displaced Persons) to hand out supplies. 

These people were refugees from the fighting to the south.  They were fleeing from Taliban fighters who would intimidate, steal and kill indescrimately amongst the populace.  The camp they were living in was next to or more accurately put, in a garbage dump.  The smell was rather strong.  The filth of the debris was everywhere. 














The tents were shabby, makeshift things hardly worth noticing except for the fact that you knew they were "home" for 87 families and that this was better than where they were coming from.



We had been working toward a trip into the community since I arrived.  It took three months for all of the pieces to fall into place.  We worked with an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) to make it happen.  The supplies are the result of people sending things to service member that in turn hand off some of these items to the chapel.  The NGO does the work of scouting into the community to find locations that are truly in need.  They also help us to organize the supplies into meaningful and appropriate packages for these families.  We were not able to bring any where as near as many people as we would like, but this was dictated by the need for security and to keep our time "on the ground" to a minimum. 

The kids were very dirty, always a bit hungry and very much in need of true security.  We could not give them any of these, but we were able to give some clothing, shoes and some school supplies. 



The adults walked in a daze that seemed as if they were on the edge of despair.  One might ask why they continue to live in these conditions.  I would love to wax eloquent on the subject, but that is for another time. 

The men were dressed in mostly traditional clothing.  As for the women, some just wore dresses, others had their faces covered, still others wore the full birka.  It was quite an interesting span of choices.


















One of the fun items we passed out was candy.  You know the kids were not sure waht it was although they did not mind taking it.  Our NGO friend opened one lollipop and put it into the mouth of one of the kids.  There was a little bit of resistance and then it was like a light bulb lit up behind the eyes and a huge smile spread from ear to ear.  It was fun to see.  Now for all of you who think we are contributing to tooth decay, yes we are, but only to a minor extent when you consider that this will probably be the only candy any of these kids will have for months on end.  All in all, we are not too concerned about this issue.

Our public affairs folks came along for the trip as well.  I had the fun of being wired for sound during the entire show.  Quite a few times our videographer would stop me and ask questions as he tried to capture everything that was happening.  The video should appear on Youtube and perhaps on an evening news station somewhere - maybe AFN news back home.  The photographer will be posting photos and writing an article as well.













Kudoes go to my Chaplain Assistant, SSgt Brad.  He was a great help in setting things up and keeping things orderly at the distribution site.  Kudoes also go to our NGO folks who organized all of the supplies.  Huge kudoes go to the UK contingent who organized all of our force protection and transportation issues.  Both Brad and I were very impressed at their professionalism and thoroughness.  We hope to do another trip sometime in the future.

-Michael

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

The New Neighbors Are Now Here - Michael

It was nice and open when I arrived.  Then came the digging for a foundation. 













Next concrete, and then came the conex-style rooms.  After this they built the stairs and top deck complete with its wood railing.  The new neighbors are officially here. 


































Compared to just about anyone on the compound, these are the nicest digs here.  They actually have restrooms and showers in their individual rooms instead of having to walk down a hallway to share one with who knows how many dozens of people.  The one good thing is the annoying light that blazed into my window all night is on the far side of the conexes - nice.  Another good thing, one of the new "neighbors" a strong Christian brother.  It is good to see him coming and going.

-Michael

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Beauty in the Midst of Ashes - Michael

I had noticed this little, scrubby plant growing outside the entrance to my billeting building.  It was very "weedy" looking.  Normally, if I were at home, I would have just pulled it up.  Here, you enjoy green even if it is scrubby and weedy looking.  A little while ago, it sprouted a flower. 














Today it has four. 















There in the midst of the cigarette butts of uncaring, thoughtless people, gravel, broken concrete and Afghan dust and dirt were these brilliant points of beauty.  It reminds me of reading through the prophets - every prophetic book, no matter how much despair over the moral condition of the people, there was the promise of the coming Messiah.  No wonder the early church did not look at the world and say, "Look what the world is coming to," but rather they would say, "Look what has come to the world."

-Michael

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...