catch ya on the flip side

As promised, I am making one last update before I go into silent mode. I actually sign the language contract today, so what I am doing is semi-legal, but I feel I ought to make one more post.

I finished up the first part of my deputation with brother Harbin in Dubuque. I had a great time with him. I also wish I could spend more time with the pastors and churches that I visit, but I only get the time that God gives me. At least I got to see brother Harbin play some softball; that was pretty fun – just watching I mean.

As of yet I do not know how much support I have acquired, as there are some churches that I am still waiting to hear from. However, I am confident that I will have no trouble going back to the Middle East in September as planned – the Lord always provides. I have decided for sure to go over to Washington before heading over seas. My mother is coming for sure, and possibly my sister. I talked to my grandmother and she is going to set up a date for my dad’s side of the family to get together so I can see them all (some for the first time, others for the first time in 17 years). I will arrive in Seattle the 14^th of August and spend two full weeks visiting churches there before my mom arrives and we head down to Oregon. I have not purchased my ticket for overseas, and am debating whether I should go see the Shakkours on my way over or go straight to school.

I am looking forward to all of it, but right now I am thoroughly engulfed in language study. I found out I did make it into the advanced level at the school here. I was complimented by two of the teachers on my speaking ability (largely because of my pronunciation)…God receives all the credit for any abilities I have. I am so blessed to have Him as my Helper and my Strength.

Before I started school I talked to all of my family; mom, dad, sister, and brother. I think I cherish the time I talk to Monk the most. Tomorrow is his birthday. I can’t call him then, so I took care of it already.

I don’t have much else to share except a kind of funny story about arriving in La Crosse: Brother Harbin dropped me off on Thursday, and insisted I have a hotel for the days before I could check into school (Saturday). I told him I would not stay in a hotel for more than a day (I had already been in a hotel the last two nights and could feel my Alaskan identity wearing off), so he agreed and I was able to spend that night finishing up all my emails and checking out the city briefly. However, Friday I took my pack and grabbed a bus to within 2 miles of a nearby park. After walking a while I finally got to the park, but I couldn’t find any camp site, so I stashed my stuff in the woods and went to find a place to get water and some food. The park was nice, situated right on the bank of the Mississippi. I found a small store across the road, that also happened to offer campsites…for a price, which was 20$. Well being the stubborn, cheap person I am there was no way I was going to pay 20 bucks to sleep in my own tent. So I took my stuff a little deeper (about 70 feet) into the woods and set up my tent. There happened to be a Frisbee golf course in the park, and since I still had my disk from when I was playing with James Norberg in Grand Forks I found some other guys and decided to play a round. Well I didn’t even finish because at hole 16 some juvenile delinquent stole my Frisbee. How low and pathetic is that! I wasn’t gonna use it anyway, so I hope he does as well with it as I did (I was at 7 under at the time of ‘the incident’). Once it started to get dark I decided to go back to my hide out. It was the first time in my new Cabelas tent with my new Cabelas mattress (both which I got an awesome deal on). The tent and mat were great…the humidity was not, but I am not that picky so I was asleep without much problem. All went great until I awoke at about seven to the sound of thunder followed quickly by a torrential downpour. The tent held up well, and even stayed dry inside (thankfully since I had 3,000$ worth of electronics inside), but the rain didn’t stop. Once it slowed down a bit I decided I better just go for it, so I wrapped up all the electronics in plastic bags (part of my survival kit) and headed for the University. I made it in about two hours, only half way wet.

So the question is: would I have taken the offer of the second night in the hotel if offered? Well everyone who knows me a little already knows that answer to that…Attached is a picture of the Mississippi as well as my portable home.

Talk to everyone in two months,

With Love,

Noah