Labor Day Holiday Greetings

Labor Day Greetings! It’s as if no one here as ever heard of Labor Day Holiday, and the magic 3-day weekend.
The first two pictures are of some of the children who participated in Linda’s Courtyard Club. This week as Linda went to her school to visit with teachers, one of the teachers was telling everyone how Mrs. Linda was teaching her grandson English. He could count to 15, knew colors, and is able to greet people in English. The grandmother was ecstatic. The Courtyard Club was a very good activity. It more deeply introduced Linda to the community, and helped children accomplish some learning during the summer. Parents and students could also see the benefit of interactive teaching methods.

Next 3 pictures are of a group of Azerbaijani Christians. We came in contact with them through the Conversation Clubs at the Library. In the picture of all males, the highest young man is Elshen. Elshen is a fifth year medical student. His younger brother, Rovshen (not pictured), is a fourth year medical student and they room together in Baku when the Medical University is in session. Elshen’s next brother is studying to be a mechanic, and the youngest child is in the second grade. The other two men are Christian men, one is a taxi driver, and the other works at the power plant. The older of the two is a Deacon in the Russian sector of a Baptist Church in Baku. Linda is pictured with Elshen’s mother.
The home is one of the most modest we have visited. We had a wonderful evening and Elshen walked us home. We told him it was not necessary to walk with us, but he wanted to talk all the way. Elshen and the taxi driver, Aydin, are the English speakers of the group.
We gained a lot of insight while walking with Elshen who is very active in university student groups.
Azerbaijan is proud of its diversity and tolerance. There is freedom of religion as long as the group registers with the proper authorities. There are over 500 different religious groups registered (Islamic being by far the most predominant). However, when speaking with individuals, the tolerance is more limited to those who are born of a religious faith and maintain the faith of the family if only in name rather than practice. If a person converts to another religion, that person is greeted with skepticism and distrust. If the entire family does not convert, then there is disappointment within the family. The individuals and families who convert are then not as much a part of the overall community.
Each person we met is a proud Azerbaijan citizen and proud of their country and people.

Next week Linda and I are spending a night in Baku. Linda needs to get her haircut, and do some shopping for comfortable shoes. She purchased a pair of shoes locally, but they are just too stiff and uncomfortable for any kind of walking. While we are in Baku, we will visit a Baptist Church and also attend services at the Baku International Fellowship which ministers to expatriates.

Linda is winding down her summer activities with the final meetings of her Courtyard Club, and Working Adult Conversation Club being held this week. School begins on September 15 at all levels. I will lose many participants in my Conversation Clubs who will return to various universities, while gaining several who will come back to attend Shirvan Economic and Humanitarian College. I will get to see many students that I have not seen for months.
As our first summer in Azerbaijan comes to a conclusion, it has been one full of experiences and relationships. We are thankful to our country for this opportunity to serve the United States and the people of Azerbaijan. And, as always we are thankful for your friendship and support.