A Horn is Essential in Jordan

Yesterday we went to Madaba and on the way we noticed that the horn on our vehicle wasn't working.  Normally, we probably wouldn't have even given it a thought, but in Jordan a horn is essential for your safety.  Everyone honks all the time.  People honk for everything and nobody gets angry about it. It's the Jordan public safety at work.  If you don't honk, how would the other drivers know you are there--especially if they're talking on their cell phones or visiting with family members in the back seat?  It's a crazy system, but it works.

The "tender mercy" of the day was that we happened to be near the Kia Service Center when the horn went out and we happened to have extra time to stop by and get it fixed.  If the horn had gone out in Hussen we would have had a long dangerous time getting back to Amman to get it fixed, and it would have taken us a whole day to do, which we don't have right now.

Often the Lord helps us do big things, but most of the time He helps us with small things--and that reminds us of how much he loves us and is aware of us.  We know he feels the same way about all His children.

I hope we remember that you NEVER honk at other drivers back home.

Was it Easter?

When you live in a Muslim country, nobody mentions Easter so it's easy to forget.  In Jordan Sunday is a regular work day and Friday is the Sabbath.  So if Easter Sunday is Friday, is Good Friday really Wednesday?  I get so confused.

On Sunday we took some time to read about the last week of Jesus' life, his crucifixion, death and resurrection.  It's always difficult to imagine the tremendous suffering He went through to pay the price for all our sorrows, heartaches and sins, but we're very grateful that He did.  Words cannot express how much we love Him.  We feel so honored to have the privilege of representing Him in His work.  Next month we will be visiting the Holy Land and seeing where Jesus lived, walking in his footsteps and enjoying the places he loved.

It will be a great "capstone" to our mission.  

Happy Birthday Relief Society

Today we celebrated the Relief Society birthday at church.  

Each sister was given a bouquet of fresh roses from Sister Virginia's garden.

Last year the Relief Society had a huge barbecue that included an $80 cake.  

Things have changed since then.  Most of the people who were coming to church to get "free stuff"  have gone away because the church stopped the excessive spending and hand-outs. We feel sorry that the people who left never understood the great blessings of the gospel.  The gifts from God are infinitely more valuable than anything money can buy.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6:33 

School Mother's Day Celebration

We love the Khadaja Primary School for girls in Al Husn.  The project we had with them for the last few months has been so much fun!  LDSC donated classroom heaters, clean water dispensers, a copy machine, laptop computer and some other things to enhance the learning environment at the school.

Shopping for the laptop computer with the school principal and vice principal.

Freyal LOVES the laptop.  "It's Windows 10!!!"

Every time we visit the school we get MOBBED.  Everyone wants to shake our hands, give kisses and hugs and ask "how are you" in English.

One of the teachers invited us to lunch at her home.  It was a feast.  We laughed and talked for several hours.  When it was time to leave they invited us to stay and spend the night!! 

 If this is lunch, what do they do for dinner?

After lunch we sat around learning some new Arabic words.  It was very funny.  

Everyone laughed and laughed at us. 

We're glad there wasn't an exam because we would have flunked.

This week the primary school had a very impressive program involving students to celebrate important historical events in Jordan, along with Mother's Day. 

We were invited to attend the activities but didn't understand that we were going to be honored guests.  Other invited guests included school district officials, local school principals and teachers, government officials, parents, civic and religious leaders.

As a result of recent projects and activities in the Al Husn area, we are acquainted with most of the dignitaries who attended.

Lynn was asked to participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony with the member of parliament representing Al Husn.

The printed introduction to the program from the school director said the following:

"Please allow me to thank all of those from the local community for their cooperation with our school, especially Mr. Leen and Mrs. Murna as it is a great example of religious unity, forgiveness and love between societies and religion . . . ." 

The objective of the recent projects LDSC had with the two schools in Al Husn was to help improve the educational environment in the schools.  In addition, an important objective was to enhance the image of LDSC and the Church in the community. The projects have provided excellent public relations opportunities and have helped others to see the Church as being an example of "love between societies and religions.

The Women's Hygiene Kits

LDSC donated 100 women's hygiene kits to the National Women's Health Center for their hygiene education program.  They were so happy to get them.

This cute Muslim woman named Asma will visit one of the poorest areas in Jordan and teach the women the importance of personal hygiene.  Feminine hygiene products are not available to many women, so these should be a very welcome gift.  The cloth products can be washed and re-used.  This project benefits the women who sew as well as the recipients.

Kawkab, Nesreen and Nada at United Muslim Relief came to our rescue when we were right down to the wire in having the kits available in time. They deserve a great big thank you. (and three kisses on each cheek)!!

Towels, soap, pad holders, extra pads and panties are included in the kit.  And a comb and toothbrush.

Roya Eye Clinic an Example of Service

Dr. Thara is an ophthalmologist at the Roya Eye Center in Irbid.  Two days a week she goes to Ramtha and and provides free vision care services to the Syrian refugees at the Altkaful Health Center  The refugees with eye problems receive advanced treatment at a deep discount at the Roya Eye Center.

The Roya Eye Center is equipped with state-of-the art vision equipment.  Dr; Shadi Alkahateeb, the owner, was educated in the United States and chose to come back home to Jordan to serve his countrymen and those less fortunate. 

These good people understand the joy and happiness that comes from service to others.  We are constantly humbled by the generosity of the people of Jordan.

Teaching the Gospel

After meetings last Friday we accompanied President Penrod, the district president, to visit and have lunch with the mother and 2 brothers of Azat Haddad, the young man who is preparing to go on a mission.  The mother and one of the brothers are not members.  The other brother, Nash, is a counselor in the branch presidency in Amman Branch 1. President Penrod speaks fluent Arabic and was able to teach the mother and non-member brother about modern-day revelation and living prophets and answer some of their questions.  We could sense that they were touched.  We ended the visit with prayer being offered by Nash.  He prayed that his mother would join the church.  She is a sweet lady.  It would be great if Azat could baptize his mother before he leaves on his mission.

On our mission we have never had the opportunity to teach the gospel discussions in someone's home. We wish with all our hearts that we could.  However our mission has been to show people the love of the Savior by the charitable things we do.  Neal Maxwell said, "Go out and preach the gospel.  If necessary, use words."  That's what we try to do.  We hope and pray that what we do will help prepare people's hearts and minds so that when the time is right and the barriers are down they will readily accept the gospel message--using the words.

Eating Out

Ok, we admit it, we eat a lot of junk food.  The staff at McDonalds and Subway know our first names.   We go there a lot.  The explanation is simple:  We know what we're getting and they have a bathroom.

McMoud at the Subway shop always takes his time "creating"a salad for us, cutting and arranging layers of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.  As we wait and watch, I can't help but compare McMoud's way with our way at home (throw the ingredients in a bowl, squirt on the salad dressing and toss the bowl on the counter in about 15 seconds). We like our food to be fast, but sometimes we miss the enjoyment of the visual presentation.

We don't let McMoud watch us "mess it all up" with our fork before we dig in.  He might be hurt.

Moral of the story:  Always do your best, even if you're working at Subway.

Move the slit lamps!!!

LDS Charities had a vision project last year in Jordan.  The project was to test people at random, find out which ones had diabetes and then test their eyes for early signs of blindness caused by the disease.  Two eye-testing machines (slit lamps) were purchased and used for the project.  After the testing was completed, the slit lamps were left to gather dust.  We inherited the project at this point.

Our thought was to donate the unused equipment to the Ministry of Health for use in the vision department of the Al Basheer Hospital in Amman.

We started to discuss the donation with Dr. Ali, head of opthamology almost a year ago.  "Go ahead and have your people move them" we told him.  He said he would get it done after Ramadan in July. 

When July came and the slit lamps were still sitting unused, we visited Dr. Ali again.  He promised us he would get it done.  Time went by, letters of donation were written and serial numbers recorded.  Still nothing happened--until last week.

Lynn talking with Dr. Ali 

 "You told us you would have the slit lamps moved by the end of Ramadan last year.
What can we do to help make this happen?"

Dr. Ali's equipment manager stopped by the office, made a couple of phone calls .. .and it was done!

This is what a slit lamp looks like.  

The Al Basheer hospital now has two new slit lamps, which they desperately needed.

And we still have our sanity.

"Be humble...gentle...full of patience and long suffering."  Alma 7:23

Marriage In A Muslim Country

It isn't easy for LDS singles in Jordan to get married.  Why?

1. Almost everyone here is a Muslim.  As a Christian, marrying a Muslim is impossible.  It won't happen.
2. Marrying another Christian isn't easy either.  The family probably wouldn't allow it because we're "Mormons".
3. The only eligible LDS singles are your cousins.  

Yesterday I talked with our branch president, President Amer. He's 32 years old, returned missionary, active in the Church, has a good job and no prospects of marriage.

President Amer teaching Sunday School 

Amer expressed his deep desire to find a young woman with a testimony and marry her in the temple for time and eternity.  He wants his children to be born in the covenant and be nurtured and taught the gospel in their home.  He isn't willing to settle for less.  May God bless him.  He's a great man.

Not A Bomb

The Altkaful Health Cender is remodeling an old building across the street from their Clinic.  The building will house a much-needed laboratory.  We have submitted a proposal to headquarters for LDS Charities to donate some of the equipment needed or the lab.

 It looks like a bomb hit ...

but this pile of rubble is part of the remodeling project for the new lab.

"This is where the equipment will be"

Last week the clinic had 2 "free health days" for Syrian refugees and a team of doctors from the U.S. participated in the event.  1,400 people were served.  On the second day an official from the Ministry of Health showed up and threatened to shut down the clinic because they didn't have the necessary paperwork giving them permission for the event.  It isn't clear who dropped the ball, but it wasn't Altkaful. All the U.S.doctors were forced to leave and take their medications.  

Abd was devastated.  He had worked so hard and then Altkaful was left to carry on without any support.  We tried to cheer him up but there wasn't anything we could do.  Lynn told him to "do your best--do your very very best--and leave the rest to Allah."  Then we went to our car and prayed for him.

 The rest of the story is amazing.  Abd was able to rally his own team of doctors and use all the medications from his store room.  The clinic served 650 patients the first day with the outside help.  On the second day when they were left alone they served 750!  We are so proud of them.  Abid was smiling again. His pharmacy was empty, but the team of US doctors sent a donation of $1500 to replenish the shelves. They are very sorry for what happened.

Isis Gun Battle in Irbid

Seven armed men were killed in Irbid (about 6 miles from here) during a raid by security forces on Tuesday night.  The group of men was identified as Isis affiliates who were planning to carry out attacks on military and civil sites in Jordan.  Thirteen other members of the group were arrested.  One Jordanian Special Forces officer was killed.

The members of the North Jordan branch are all safe, but a bit shaken by the events, and many could hear the shooting and explosions during the night.  The event took place in an area close to where two active members of the branch live.  Power was shut off in their homes and they all stayed inside.  The next morning it was over and life went back to normal in Irbid.

The comments we read on social media were patriotic and supportive of the king and the Jordanian Special Forces.  The Special Forces officer who was killed has become a national hero and was promoted posthumously from captain to major.  The king attended his funeral.  Flags are flying and people are proud that Jordan has demonstrated once again their resolve to keep terrorist cells out of the country.  Jordan is very blessed to have a good king.  The people love him.

You can read about the events at jordantimes.com


http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/jordanians-say-kingdom-has-no-place-terrorists

It's Spring in Jordan

Last Saturday we took a rare day off and went for a drive down to the Jordan River Valley.  It was a beautiful spring day and everything was so green, we couldn't believe we were in Jordan.

 The Jordan River Valley is the fertile land along the Jordan River as it leaves the Sea of Galilee and runs south to the Dead Sea.  The temperature is a few degrees warmer than in other areas of Jordan.  The availability of water from the river through irrigation makes it an ideal place for growing fruits and vegetables year round.

 This is a very poor area.  Thousands of Bedoins live here.

 The Jordan River forms the boundary between Jordan and Israel.  Those mountains in the background are in Israel.

 Happy Sheep and goats feed along the road. 

 Cars can go across the Jordan River into Israel at this point but we didn't bring our passports so we didn't go.  There's a $52 per person exit tax to come back to Jordan 

Leaving the Jordan River Valley we drove up through some lush, green country.  

We understand that Christ spent some time in this area.  We can see why he loved it.

 Farmers plowing the fields...the old fashioned way.