Crape myrtle trees shed their bark throughout the year and have pore-like branches making it appear as though they are raining in these early evening summer days. They are strange but make for great landscape fill-ins.

Today I'm in Rogers visiting my sister, Katie, with my family.  Katie and my birthday is tomorrow (Sunday) and we are celebrating our birthday and my mom's as well.  Katie showed us where she teaches school and told some interesting and funny stories about her kindergarten class.  Pig sooiee!  Razorbacks!  The Hogs just beat Vanderbilt today 21-19 in Nashville. Yay! 

For those who don't know how to call the hogs, check it out!  It's really fun and it's okay to try out other cheers.  Last weekend I went to a Baylor game and when I tried the bear call it was a lot of fun.  What do you have to lose?!    http://www.houstonnutt.com/tradition3.htm

If you'd like to check out Ray and Katie's blog, go to   http://rayandkatie.blogspot.com/

Peace!

It's been at least two months since I've been in Waco, probably three.  With so many friends here, there is no problem with finding great company.  I love all my friends!  Woohoo to friends!

I traveled here Thursday to go to a memorial service for my teammate's son who was found Saturday next to his truck.  The authorities ruled out foul play so it was a devastating situation for his family.

Friday morning I spent the morning on a conference call with a contractor in northern Iraq and an engineer.  Heather, our architect, a few engineers and I went over some questions about the Freedom Center.  We were so happy to get a lot done and accomplish some important negotiations with the contractor.  We are almost finished and ready to sign the papers for the contractor to begin work.  Woohoo!  and Praise God!

Last night I had dinner with some great friends of mine: Quang and Steve House.  I shared with them that Heather has talked with the president of the university where we will be located near and he said he is looking for 30-50 English speakers to come and teach English for a year or more.  He will provide a salary and housing.  I don't know the details but that is pretty awesome!  So if you know anyone who may be interested in loving the Kurds with the same vision that I am moving towards, please let me know.  Anyone want to go to the middle of the east - the only place I know of where they are asking Westerners to go?  Pretty neat, huh?

Today I visited with my good friend Kate at Panera for a few hours.  She shared with me about her medical trip to the Himalayas.  There were many rocks with buddhist prayers inscribed on them.  Her team was diverse.  Only five were followers of the way, but the 35 member team did a great job of hiking into beautiful mountainous areas to set up clinics for the people.  She is doing awesome in school and has started doing rotations.  Now she is doing psychiatry at the VA in Houston.
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My hope is to get a few days with some contractors on a few job sites in Waco to get some experience for the building of Freedom Center.  Also, hopefully I can raise some prayer/financial support here and by the end of September move.  One last woohoo! for this email but many to come later as well.  Everyone who reads this far...thanks for reading and special reward for the person who can tell me where Combat Chuck is from.  Later!