Update from Colleen- Iraq

Greetings,

Here I am again. A whole week has gone by and in many ways I feel no farther on in anything than I was last week. It is that time in the school year where you feel like the end should be coming sooner than it is, but at the same time it is rushing up on you and you don't have enough time to do all the things you want to do. It is a hard thing to explain.


I have had several good conversations with my team teacher and some of my students about the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. I have realized that I really struggle to remember what it is that I talked about with them afterwards. I am so focused on what they are saying and what I should say… and praying through it all… I only end up with fragmented thoughts and memories. Today was about "the wages of sin is death" with my team teacher Sh. and the other day I was going through passages about Jesus being king with Hannah. The fifth graders are learning responsibility and teamwork as they run the jump-roping at recess each day. I hope so much for all these kids and the teachers. Please pray for them.

All those conversations have been an encouragement to me. I am happy with what is going on at the school. I miss my missing teammate terribly, though. Although my life at home has not been as lonely as I expected without Laura here. My dear family here in Iraq has been so kind. I even learned to make homemade tortillas today. There are still many things that are difficult and lonely and hard, but I am aware of God giving me special blessings and showing his love and care for me. Please pray that I would continue to see God's hand at work and that I would persevere.


One thing that I have been blessed by lately is some music that a friend gave me. One of the songs by Rich Mullins struck me particularly because the lyrics seemed especially appropriate as I miss friends and family back in the States.

Well the other side of the world
Is not so far away as I thought that it was
As I thought that it was so far away
But the other side of the world
Is not so far away
And the distance just dissolves into the love
Into the love

And the New Jerusalem won't be as easy to build
As I hoped it would be
As I hoped it would be easy to build
But the New Jerusalem won't be so easy to build
There's many bellies to fill and many hearts to free
Got to set them free

And I know that the gates of hell
Are not prone to prevail
As I thought that they were
As I once thought they were prone to prevail
But I know that the gates of Hell
They have been destined to fail
I see Satan impaled on the sword of the Word
On the sword of the Word

And I see the people who have learned to walk in faith
With mercy in their hearts
And glory on their faces
And I can see the people
And I pray it won't be long
Until Your kingdom comes


I thank you all for your prayers. It strikes me as more and more important every day. Please also remember Laura (my team member that went back to the States) and her family as they adjust to a new way of life.

In Christ,
Colleen