Number Three - what was I thinking??!!

So this is Gena, who will be my newest addition after Christmas. She showed up in my brother-in-law's delivery truck one day, and they called to see if I would take her. Being the animal lover that I am I couldn't say no, so come December 28th there will be 3 cats in my 700 s.f. apartment!

Armenia, here I come!

Yesterday my church (Winnetka Bible Church www.wbc.org) had a report from a team that recently went to Armenia to deliver medical supplies and minister to a couple of orphanages that we have established in that country.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that while over there, our pastor was asked to speak to a Bible study being held by a group of Iranians who had converted to Christianity from Islam!!!! As a result, they had to flee Iran and ended up in Armenia.

I also learned that a family from our church is responsible for founding the entire project, including the medical mission and one of the orphanages. The project is called the Armenia Relief Mission (ARM). http://www.wbc.org/ARM.htm

But, the biggest news of all is that we are sending a team again next June to complete our third playground for the children. I've decided I'm going! This is a perfect opportunity to use the language that has seemed useless up to now. I don't know that I will have the opportunity (or be ready) the first time out to translate a sermon, but just to be able to talk with people in their own language will be wonderful. I am exploring the possibility that God is calling me to to become fluent enough to be able to learn Armenian as well and replace Rozik on a few of the trips every year so she doesn't always have to be the one to go and translate for everyone.

This translates into a few prayer requests for now, I'll keep you updated as things come to mind:

1) I need to find my birth certificate in order to apply for a passport
2) I need to resume my Farsi refresher studies so that I have at least conversation level skills when we go next year
3) I need to get on a regular exercise schedule - gotta firm up these muscles so I can be of help, not hindrance, in constructing the playground!

One more thing...

So, I needed one more thing to take up my time like I needed a hole in the head. And here's my blog!

But I am feeling a bit disconnected from humanity of late, and this seems to be the "in" way to connect these days.

I am living in a very cheap, great apartment. If you don't count the landlord who calls me a lunatic. Is it weird that I have more space in my bedroom than my living room? I'm thinking of buying a condo soon, what with the market being in the buyer's favor right now, but need to get a few financial ducks in a row first.

I'm planning on visiting relatives for Thanksgiving and making a trek to see family and old friends for Christmas.

And that's my life for now. I'm wondering if any friends from Army days will see this and stop by. Let me know if you do. I think I'm going to use this as my way to put my life out there and those that care can stop by. Those that don't, well, they don't have to listen to me drone on and on about things that they don't care about and I won't have to be disappointed that they don't show more interest :)