Bayraminiz Mubarek (Happy Holidays)

PICTURES: This event was hosted by our site mate Jesse in his apartment. There were 16 Volunteers from vious sites mostly in the southern sector of Azerbaijan. Jesse is in the hat preparing food. It was a typical younger Volunteer gathering - 13 slept in Jesse's apartment, crowded, taying up late talking and consuming. Sleeping bags on the floor provided bedding. We enjoy talking with the Volunteers and admire their commitment and sacrifice, but we went home around 10:00 p.m. There is a natural and distinct division between the older and younger volunteers. Picutred with Linda is Todd who is here with his wife Sarah. They are a terrific couple, but have had disastrous housing experiences at their site of Kurdimer. In 2 weeks they are about to hopefully move to their 3rd residence. The present house does not provide food and they only havewhat they can prepare for themselves under very difficult circumstances. They are hoping to get into a new residence with a widow this next week. Volunteers must live with a host family for 4 months before they can consider moving into their own residence. Sarah is an experienced teacher, they are a fine couple, but housing difficulties have thoroughly discouraged them. Please give them your prayers and thoughts.

Jesse and the girls decorated with stockings.

At Jesse's the menu included your traditional Christmas foods, spaghetti, chili, mashed potatoes, cupcakes, tangerines and apple cake. We had an evening of sharing experiences and listening to Christmas music. There were 3 rooms, so there was ample space and oppotrunity to have good conversations.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you! This is a short posting as we prepare to go to Salyan for the day to help celebrate Christmas with Leslie. There will be 7 at Leslie's in Salyan.

The AZ7s have been on site for 2 weeks. This was their first Christmas away and Jesse wanted to make sure everyone had an opportunity not be alone. There were gatherings all over Azerbaijan. We recalled that last year we spent the morning and afternoon listening to Christmas music and watching a DVD of the 1985 FBC Archie Children's Program.

To all our friends and family in the midwest - you have our sympathy and thoughts during the snowstorm and extremely cold temperatures. The same goes for Nancy in New York, and the Goff's in Maine (unless they are in Belize).