Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Life is Weird

So I have officially decided that life is weird. I was very excited about this semester. I am writing my senior thesis on Ijtihad, taking Syriac, taking Teaching as a Second Language, and I am teaching ESL at the IRC. It was supposed to be a semester that prepared me for Cairo. In which I closed ties here in Abilene (ilhamdillilah). Then...I meet a boy. The boy and I are now dating. The interesting thing is the boy is republican...not just any republican but "a republican's republican." He likes country music republican, and strangely enough, I like him. This young man wants to some day own banks and maybe run for congress. Why I like him is strange...he's funny, cute, but I can't actually talk with him about things I like. We are very different. Now, instead of closing ties with people in Abilene, I'm making new ones. (By the way, I found out Abilene is the second or third most conservative city in the entire United States...crazy eh?).

In the mean time, I love Syriac. I sometimes like work, and applications and my senior thesis are being to haunt me in my sleep since I do not pay enough attention to them. I am excited to hear that Julianna is going back to Cairo too!!! I just hope everything works out so that those of us who wish to return can. I miss all of you terribly. I think there might be some protests on my campus for women's rights (yes, we are still fighting for those here...i am literally fighting for the ability to pray/talk/read scripture in chapel....be listened to...treated equally...etc etc). I hope we do hold one. I think it might be fun, but I am some what worried about being expelled. o well, we'll see what happens. probably nothing, because we are lazy. Miss you all!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Going Back

Count me in for going back. Like Kirsten nothing short of God's audible voice (possibly combined with an angel wielding a sword) will keep me from returning to Cairo. I have set my move back date at no later than September 1. I have my roommate's wedding in mid-August--I'm the maid of honor, and it is sort of important that I be in town to fill that role--but right after that I hope to be on a plane. Another sweet woman from my school who also did MESP is exploring the idea of returning to Egypt as well. All of this to say I am pumped about the possibility of meeting up with some of you--Kirsten, Becca, Alissa--in September in Cairo. If you see anything job related that you don't want feel free to pass the opportunity on (jksmith1@student.malone.edu).

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Pray for me

I feel bad that I haven't posted here in a while and now that I am I'm going to give so little detail. God's been running thru my life like a whirlwind. My spiritual life is at a new high and I've closer to God then I've been in years, but at the same time it's bring with it a lot of changes and I'm still not quite sure how to deal with it all and I not sure what will happen. So I'm kinda both excited and scared at the same time, if that makes sense. Anyway pray for me. If you have time drop me a line and maybe I can give you some more details.

I love you all and miss you terribly.

Bryan

Monday, January 21, 2008

Faith and International Development Conference

Is anyone going?
Im thinking about it...

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Please Pray for Me

Please, just pray.
I just dont know what to do.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

I almost hate to ask...but has anyone heard back on the Arab League internship yet? I haven't heard any news from anyone about it, and I thought they were going to be notifying people yesterday...

I mean, not that I stayed up all last night with bad dreams about it or anything..

all my love.
Alissa

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Okay so I made something for you guys..but I can't get it up on the site...I'll try again in a few days. I'm getting really excited about the upcoming elections. A lot of people I know are deciding to vote for Obama!!! I mean people who have been republicans all their lives are thinking of voting for ObAMA!! That's huge!!! It's interesting to hear my family who are very proud republicans trying to reconcile that they find themselves most aligned with a democrat. This election intrigues me with the way that certain candidates are relying upon independents and even changing the party lines! So interesting. I would love to hear about what you all think about it!

I miss all of you all very much. I had all four of my wisdom teeth out on Friday, so I'm technically still recovering...aka I can't eat!!! I'm so nervous about all of ou!! Ihear of things going on in the where I know some of you all live, and I get nervous for you all. If any of you need anything please let the rest us know so we can help.

In the mean time I have exciting news!!! I get to learn Aramaic! There is a graduate class being offered at my school offering Syriac! The prof is letting me take the class! I"M SOOOOO EXCITED!!! I can't wait to get back to school that with my senior thesis and work (I'm working with the International Rescue committee as an ESL teacher) I think this will be a fun semester. However this semester is already starting a little more complex than usually...I recently went to a wedding where i meet this guy. I honestly don't know much about him, but men always seem to complicate life.

What do you all think about Bhutto? What about Kenya?! So much is happening, and i wish I would talk to all of you about it!! I miss you guys I hope you are all well!!!