Amer's Self-Reliance

We may have mentioned before that our branch president, Amer Elyas,was in a car accident about 2 years ago and his arm was severely crushed.  The doctors in Jordan put his bones back together as best they could, but he needed more specialized surgery for the muscle and skin grafts.  He was also in a lot of pain.  We looked into referring him to Kyle's doctor in Salt Lake, but he found someone in Thailand and decided to go there because it was a lot less expensive.   His business takes him to Thailand occasionally and so he scheduled an extended business trip and stayed for the surgery.  Everything went well and the additional bone repair was successful.  He scheduled a trip to go back for the the muscle and skin grafts later this year.

The North Jordan Branch Presidency.  Amer is the one wearing a suit.

Yesterday we got the following letter from President Amer.  The comments in the letter are significant because they shows that Amer "gets" the concept of self-reliance.  Someone in the Church (probably in Utah) helped Amer cover the cost of his first surgery, but he's determined to do the next one by himself.

Dear brothers and sisters

Approached with the second surgery date for my arm, according to the doctor's instructions

I would like to you know, I want to postpone the surgery at another time. 

I am not now ready to travel to Thailand , because I want to be responsible for the material costs associated with the operation of surgical, such as airline tickets, hotels, food and drink, periodic doctor visits, etc .... After providing that, I want to pay part of the cost of the surgery, as best I could. Or pay all the costs. 

I am trying to arrange some business in Thailand, at the same time in which the operation is conducted. Like what I did during the previous operation. 

That's really what I want to do it, I feel better that I take responsibility. Want to try more things measure, I think that I can do, but the need for some time.

I am grateful to all of you, thank you for your support during my treatment. I do not know to find the words to express the feelings of gratitude to you.

But I love you all.

Grateful to you

Amer

From now on President Amer will be able to preach the principle of self-reliance with power and conviction, sealed by his own testimony.  The members of the Church need to hear it and learn from his example.

Eid ul-Adha

The religion of Islam accepts Abraham as a prophet.  Muslims believe the account of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael (not Isaac???) on the altar as told in the Old Testament.

"And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son."  

At this very moment, the angel of the Lord stopped him and said, 

"Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."  Genesis 22:10, 12 

This event took place many thousands of years ago, but it is still celebrated in the Muslim world as Eid ul-Adha and lasts for 5 days.  To commemorate Abraham's sacrifice, Muslims sacrifice a goat, a sheep, a cow or a camel or any other animal they normally eat and then give out the sacrificed meat to other Muslim friends and the poor.  Eid ul-Adha is a holy and sacred time.  

Everywhere we go we see big pens of sheep, waiting their fate.

Men bargain for the best sheep they can find and at a good price.  They stuff the live sheep into the trunk of their car or back of a pick-up and they take them home.  The sheep don't like it much.

Notice the camel on the right.  We've been told that a camel costs about 1,000 JOD.  Some people like camel, but lamb is the most popular meat for Eid ul-Adha.

Virginia Malah, (a member of the Church who is married to a Muslim man) described the scene at their  home on Friday where a large group of extended family members gathered to slaughter 4 sheep.  They do this every year and Virginia doesn't like it.  She says the blood runs everywhere and the smell stays in the house and yard for a long time.  She was thankful to her husband for allowing her to "escape" and come to Church.  Later, she sent us a message saying that when she returned home, two of the sheep had been slaughtered and two had run off and they couldn't be found.  We suggested that they "look in the thicket." 

The Pastor From Syria

Today we were invited to the home of Eyad Hijji, Pastor of the Anglican Episcopal Evangelical Church of St. John The Baptist in Al Husn.  How would you like to say that every time you answer the phone?

When we asked Eyad about their home country of Syria, he showed us pictures of his village on his computer.  The village was very beautiful and peaceful with trees, homes and clean streets.  Then the bombs started dropping and whole areas were almost completely destroyed.  It was heartbreaking.  We saw photos of buildings that were on fire, buildings that were collapsed and streets full of rubble.  Many people have been killed.

 Eyad and his wife came to Jordan about 12 years ago and now their passports are expiring and since there's no Syrian embassy here, they are really stuck.  They can't go anywhere.  It's like being in prison.  He's lucky to have a job.  He's planning to start a small kindergarten for children and we laughed when he told us about trying to get a license to run the school from the government.  His story is almost the same as ours--like a dog chasing his tail--going from one department to another, only his story is a lot longer than ours.  He's been working on it for months.

Jordan Drivers' License

We went to Amman to get a Jordan drivers' license yesterday.  Here's what we did:

Got up at 5:30 a.m. and drove to Amman.

Picked up Hammonds and our lawyer Raad at the Amman Center at 8 a.m. and went to the motor vehicles department of licensing (30 minute drive)

We handed in a bunch of documents

 Were told to go to another building

Then sent to the Department of the Interior (30 minute drive away)

We filled out paperwork and were informed the licenses would cost $250 each, so we decided that the Sisters didn't need a license and wouldn't drive

Then we got the paperwork stamped and headed back to the Department of Licensing

where we finished up the paperwork, the guys took an eye test, borrowed money from Raad and paid the fee.

 Five and a half hours later -- Elders Hammond and Tolley received their Jordan drivers licenses good for 10 years!!!

THEN . . .

We noticed our tire was flat.  Raad called for help (he knows everybody) and immediately someone came to help us.

We made friends with the guys in the tire shop and cooled off with Slurpees while we waited for the tire to be fixed.

We didn't even get out of Amman before the tire went flat again.  Once more, we "just happened" to be in the right place and were able to immediately get some help--FROM SOMEONE WHO SPOKE ENGLISH!! from Calgary, Canada of all places.

We made friends with the guys at the repair shop
AND
DROVE HOME!!

Mission accomplished!!!

We are so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord today.  When we needed help, it was there.  The people we met were generous and kind and were in the right place at the right time. What a wonderful thing it is to know that everything that happens has a reason.  We don't always know what the reason is, but we're glad to be a small part of it.  Today we felt Him "walking beside us."  It was a good thing.

Hurray for Miracle Whip

We found real honest to goodness Miracle Whip in the grocery store in Amman.  It's always nice to meet an "old friend."

Do you think it's worth $2?  I did.  I bought two.

We're Busted!!

We got pulled over by the Jordanian police on Wednesday and Lynn got a ticket.

 Oh rats!!

We have been stopped by the police almost every time we go to Amman, but when they see we're Americans and they can't speak English they don't bother with us--they just say "welcome to Jordan" and wave us on.  Today our luck ran out.  We got a patrolman who could speak English AND he knew the law.  He told us we can't drive in Jordan with our American driver's license.  Lynn huffed and puffed and I phoned our lawyer, but it didn't do any good.  They confiscated his license and told him to go to headquarters in Balila the next day (where is Balila?).  "Welcome to Jordan!"

Fortunately we found Balila.
The police station is at the top of the hill.

The missionaries have been here for 25 years and nobody has ever been stopped and asked for their drivers' license. In fact we were told we didn't need to get a local license.  Our Jordanian lawyer, Raed, didn't even know about the law.

So the Tolleys were selected to "take one for the team" and pay a big fine.  We're glad we didn't have to go to jail.  Raed will take the couples to get their Jordan drivers' licenses on Monday.  Hope we don't get into trouble between now and then.  And we hope they don't make us take Jordan drivers' training--now that's a scary thought!!

How to Treat Refugees

The world could take a lesson from Jordan when they deal with refugees.  From the very beginning of the current crisis, Jordan has welcomed their neighbors--people who are fleeing from wars and violence in their own lands.  We heard that one Jordan border guard was helping someone come across the border and remarked, "Welcome to Jordan.  You are safe now." That comment is so typical of the people we have met here.  Right now (this year) there are over 1 million refugees from Syria and Iraq over 2 million from Palestine living in Jordan.  They don't have the resources to do it, but they do the best they can.

How do you treat a refugee?  The same way the people of Zarahemla treated the people of Ammon who were escaping their native land for their lives, and the way the same people treated the Zoramite refugees who came later:

"....The people (of Ammon) did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants."  Alma 35:9

It breaks our hearts to think of people being driven out of their homes and being turned away by their neighbors.  We love the Jordanians (and the hundreds of NGO's) for what they are doing to help in this crisis.

Duh!!

The first six months of our mission were almost entirely spent working with an project called "diabetic retinopathy."  The project was to improve awareness of diabetes and loss of vision as a result of diabetes.  LDS Charities wants to help Jordanians with loss of vision and has donated a lot of expensive eye testing equipment to the Ministry of Health.  The eye testing equipment was to be used in local campaigns where people were tested (for free) for diabetes, had their eyes checked and counseled about healthy lifestyles and solutions to any eye problems that may have been detected.

We arrived in Jordan when most of the groundwork had already been done for six major testing campaigns all over the country.  The specialists involved had worked out a complicated procedure that involved a lot of work from the missionaries along with a few national leaders from Jordan who were not very committed.  The missionary couples basically ran the show.  Before and during the first two campaigns held earlier this year we tested a lot of people, but there was no "buy in" from the local leaders and very little follow-up.  As a result, there were a lot of problems and we don't know what was accomplished.

The diabetic retinopathy project now belongs entirely to us.  We are the project leaders and the specialists in Salt Lake want us to continue.  We are trying to do our best, but aren't sure where we're going and how to know when we get there.  We would like the local health districts to be more involved and for LDS Charities to help and assist them in whatever they want to do but not take charge.  We have prayed mightily for direction.

As we were pondering about how to use the medical equipment sitting unused behind locked doors since the campaigns we got the idea to go to the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) and talk to the dean of the nursing school.  Maybe JUST would have a use for the equipment in their community outreach program which is part of their curriculum.   In that meeting we learned that JUST has "free medical days" in clinics around northern Jordan several times a year.  About 5-600 people line up early in the morning for the services.  The dean of the nursing college was very happy about having the use of a slit lamp (eye testing device) to add to their already-existing program.

Coming away from the meeting we looked at each other, smiled and said, "this is too easy."  There's already a program for testing in place, run by local leaders, involves volunteers and is sustainable--all requirements for a successful LDSC project.  All we do is make a donation, stand back and let them run it.  Why didn't we do this before?  Duhhh!!

Helped by the Spirit

This weekend we had couples meeting, district training, meetings with United Muslim Relief (UMR) and Association of Volunteers in International Service (AVSI).  Add the BYU Football game (starting at 5 a.m.) to that schedule and it was a bit hectic for two old folks like us.  We are so happy to be busy and involved in the work here.  It's really fun to do the things we do.

Today UMR (United Muslim Relief) leaders came to the Center in Amman to meet with us and we discussed a donation of sewing machines and other equipment to the women's charity we visited last week.  We also talked about other ways we can assist the organization, like repairs to their pre-school, upgrades to their kitchens and sewing projects for the women.  We are very excited about the possibilities and potential of helping this group.  It "feels good" to us.

Later we had an appointment to talk with AVSI about what they do and see if they are a possible partner for an education van project.  In our thinking, the van would go around to remote places with teachers who would teach children who can't get to school.  AVSI has a good program and does a lot of good.  We were very impressed with their work, but didn't get "the feeling" about them.  Lynn was worried that he had such a "confusion of thought" during the meeting and couldn't think clearly until we realized that maybe it really was a confusion of thought and we didn't need to pursue this.  We have no idea why.

We are very grateful for the Spirit to guide us as we bumble along in this work.  We will try to do our best and always listen to the promptings.

Hurray BYU Students

Every year BYU sends a class of students who are studying Arabic to Jordan for the fall semester.  The students are a huge strength to the struggling branches and give a "boost" to the whole church here.  Most of them have served missions and speak Arabic fluently.  There are about 25-30 students and they spread themselves out between the three branches.  Ten are assigned to come to Husn on Thursday for Institute and eight others are assigned to come on Friday.  We have been busy preparing for them and planning to use the students in the best way possible.

In the past, the students have come in like gangbusters--teaching classes, taking leadership roles and giving talks, etc.  The members of the branch love it because they can sit back and do nothing for the next three months except enjoy the "rest."  When the students leave, everything falls apart.  This year it will be different.  President Morad (with a lot of counseling from Lynn) announced to the members that they will continue in their present roles and be expected to do them well, using the students to "fill in the gaps" and do things the members cannot do.

Today was the first day of the new plan.  North Jordan Branch members gave the talks, conducted the meetings and taught the classes.  The BYU Students sat in the congregation.

Two of our young men showed up appropriately dressed and helped pass the Sacrament.  Because we simply don't have enough members to do it, some of the BYU kids taught a brand-new investigator class and a brand-new missionary prep class.  They will also be doing teacher development and visiting less actives.

After the meeting block we had a "linger longer" with lots of yummy food and everyone went home happy.

On Thursday evening almost every one of the young single adults in the branch came to Institute.  

Morad taught the plan of salvation.  He's an excellent teacher. 

We know why everyone came to Institute--to check out the BYU kids--but that's okay.  We understand.  We were young once, too.  Whatever gets them there .  .

Brother Tolley and President Amer are two happy campers.

A Sandy Week

For our anniversary, we decided to take a day off and go stay in Amman, relax, see some sights and go out to dinner.  What we didn't know was that a HUGE sandstorm was on its way.

This is the view of Amman from our room at the LaRoyal Hotel on Monday evening.

 This is the same view on Tuesday morning.

We ventured out to see the ancient coliseum in downtown Amman  (cough, cough)

It's so hot and dusty!!

Dust in our eyes

h please, pray for rain, we're dying here.  The temp is over 100 degrees.

The Lord send 10 plagues to the ancient Egyptians.  Dust storms wasn't one of them.  Maybe that's because the Lord saved it for our day.  On the other hand, maybe it isn't a plague, but a blessing.  It's pretty hard to fight a war or be a terrorist when hot dust is blowing everywhere.

Maybe Not

This week we met Dr. Yaroup Ajlouni, the president and founder of JHAS (Jordan Health Aid Society).  JHAS is a non-profit organization that provides health services in the refugee camps and in poor areas of Jordan.  In an earlier conversation with the field officer for JHAS in Irbid we heard about their mobile health unit that travels around and provides medical services in remote areas.  The concept was interesting to us and we thought there might be a possibility of partnering with them and providing an additional mobile unit.

Dr. Yaroup is a very personable, intelligent humanitarian.  We were so impressed to learn about his philosophy of staying away from politics and servicing all religions.  He feels that Jews, Muslims and Christians can work together and their organization is an ambassador for keeping peace.  They realize that most families just want education, food and jobs.  He remarked, "I will die one day and when I face God, I can say that I treated all people the same."

In our conversation we expressed an interest in his mobile health van, but he explained that the unit is not a van, but health care professionals traveling by car to specific health clinics.  We didn't know that a mobile health van is illegal here.  So much for that "great idea."  We left the meeting with a promise to keep in contact, but felt that there wasn't anything we could do together at the present time.  We try to listen to the Spirit, and today we heard a definite, "maybe not."  That's okay--we're not discouraged.

Women Helping Widows and Orphans

When Jamal went to Salt Lake City and met with Sharon Eubanks last spring, she gave him a sample of a women's hygiene kit that has been developed for use in developing countries.  Jamal brought the sample back to Jordan and we are making plans to mass produce the kits for refugees and poor Jordanian women.

 We asked a group of local women who run a small sewing business to make a sample product for our approval.  The sewing group is a community based charity, run by Syrian, Palestinian and Jordanian widows and volunteers.  The sample products they made for us were very good quality.   We ordered 400 to be distributed to women in the area for them to test and give us feedback.

This group also runs 3 preschools for 250 local orphans called "Orphans Who Are Excellent in Everything."

 An orphan in Jordan is a child without a mother and a father.  Jamal explained that if a mother and father divorce and they marry someone else, their children also become orphans. Adoption is illegal here.

To produce income, The women also run a kitchen that produces food for sale in the local market.

The food is delicious.

 The leader of the staff remarked, "I have a lot of time, I like to do something good."

The little children are being taught values, good health habits, moral character and serving others.

 The poorest of the poor inside a Palestinian refugee camp.  The facilities we visited were old and needed repair but they were clean and neat.

 In one of the centers we observed a group of widows being taught to read.  We could see the hope in their faces as a "new world" was being opened up to them.
Today we experienced love in action.
We will meet with Jamal next week to talk about how we can assist the organization in other ways besides the sewing project.

Altkaful Approved!

We received notice this morning that our proposal to assist the Altkaful Clinic in Ramtha with medicine and supplies was approved!  We are authorized to spend $21,800.  That should help a lot of Syrian refugees who desperately need it.

"We can't do everything . . . but we can do SOMETHING!!

The Altkaful Health Center is a charity clinic that runs a well-equipped, well organized, clean facility in Ramtha.  The clinic provides services for Syrian refugees in Northern Jordan who fall out of the Jordan health insurance program.  Approximately 350 refugees receive treatment per day at the center at a very low cost.  There is an immediate, critical need for day-to-day supplies for the center because of a recent decrease in donations (donor fatigue).  The donation from LDSC will get them through the next 45 days. 

48 Years Ago

Forty-eight years ago today, Sept 2, 1967 we were married in the Manti temple. It was such an exciting day as we made sacred covenants to each other and started our life together.

Today we look back with joy and we count our many blessings...5 beautiful good children with 3 spouses, 17 fantastic grandchildren and countless other blessings.  We acknowledge the Lord for all the good things in our lives.  We are grateful to be serving Him on a mission.  We love each other and we love our family dearly.

This picture was taken when we first started dating many many years ago.