SABBATH FRIDAY...

So we thought we would post a few pictures of what we do on Friday.... our Sabbath day.  Because Friday is a holiday in Islam the Middle East has their weekends on Friday and Saturday and so Sunday is a normal work/school day.  So we go to church on Friday.  We’ve been part of the Amman branch for the summer, which consists of mostly expatriates working for government agencies and other companies, a number of Arab Christians, and for the summer half of the branch was BYU students.  There is also a branch up North in Irbid which is made up mostly of Arabs.  We went up there for a weekend to visit two weeks ago and had a great time.  It’s been such a blessing to have the church as a place of refuge and to feel the spirit of the members here. 

P.S. We leave for Israel/Palestine in two days!

Andrew with our favorite old Arab member, Solomon (Sue-lay-mon)

Chana was asked to work with the Young Women this summer.  They LOVE her and are really sad she has to leave.

We love this Sri Lankan family.  There is also a father and two daughters in Young Womens with Chana.  

Andrew and Stevey (named after Stevey Wonder) playing at his house. 

Chana and Stephanie

This is a lady we stayed with overnight in Irbid when we went to church up North.  She's not a member of the church but lets the students stay at her house 

The church in Irbid

A LITTLE BIT OF RANDOMNESS...

Since our last major trip to Petra nothing specifically big and exciting has happened.  But we have been on some little adventures, had some neat experience, and met new people.  So for this post we thought we would post a random sampling of pictures we brief explanations of what we've been up to.

Andrew playing with some Palestinian kids

Two of Andrew's teachers (Ahlam and Heeyam)

Andrew and a few other students were invited to give a presentation to a class on campus about stereotypes.  Afterward class they met two sisters (Abeer and Aya) who eventually invited them (and their wives) out to their home just outside of Amman.  The dad works for the government so they have a beautiful home and just the nicest family.  We ate more than we could handle and we will forever be grateful for their amazing generosity and hospitality. 

Hanging out on campus  

(Andrew spends a lot of time here)

We went to a beautiful place called Ajlun and did a hike/service project with some of the Amman branch members.  In the picture Andrew is riding a donkey with Tutu.  Tutu is a member kid in primary.  He, his mom, and his little brother are from Taiwan.

We went a little place called Jerash North of Amman.  It's basically an ancient Roman city that is super well preserved.  We saw some cool ruins and had a great time just exploring.

This is an old chariot race arena in Jerash

In front of the chariot race arena in Jerash

We visited a place called Umm Qais up North.  From this view you are standing in Jordan but you can see the Sea of Galilee in Israel (top left corner) and the Golan Heights/Syrian border to the right.

Here we are playing with some kids at an orphanage 

(They loved Chana even though she doesn't speak any Arabic)

More playing with the kids