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.

Aren't They Cute!!

This is the new Branch Presidency of the North Jordan Branch.  Aren't they cute? 

Elder Tolley was released as second counselor.  

Now the branch leadership is one hundred percent Jordanian!