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I have made it back to the city once again.  My my, so much traveling has taken place these past few weeks!  It was a good trip and a successful trip, as I so gladly hold a new visa in hand.  It expires two months earlier than we needed them to, so be praying as we figure out how to approach that.  I think the university office can extend it, so we are hoping that is true.  On the train ride back I got more and more excited to get back “home.”  I began to realize how much I missed the city and how much I longed to be back on its streets where everything is familiar - the people, shops, food and even smells.
Since being back we have started to prepare for language class.  We paid tuition, signed contracts and worked on moving into the dorms.  Through many conversations this week, we are still NOT moved into the dorms yet.  They keep giving us the run around and have finally said that they were remodeling our rooms, so they would not be ready until next week.  Please be praying that we’ll be able to move in soon and get settled well   . 
I don’t know if I have expressed it enough, but I am so blessed by the father to have such wonderful teammates. I love Gabi. She is so happy all the time. Music is what drives her and she sings all the time. It makes my heart so happy to always live in a place filled with joy, which I know is a product of the son because of our hope that we have in him. Her passion for the people here is so encouraging day after day. It is so beautiful that father created us so similarly, yet so different that she makes connections with people in ways that I don’t. What a great picture of the Body.
Sometimes I don’t listen or tune out Gabi and I don’t even know it. Example:
Gabi – “Callie, I’m buying this nesquik for you because you do not like plain boxed milk.”
Me – smile and nod or sometimes do not even acknowledge it.
(A couple minutes go by…)
Me – “Hey Gabi, I think we should get some nesquik.”
Now, this may seem like it is not a big deal and maybe that is not the best example I could come up with (actually that happened just this morning!) but father has really been convicting me to attend to it. I have been reading in James to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. In that time, wise men spoke a lot and to be quite and listen to them showed great humility. Not that anyone of us is wiser than the other, but I’m praying that I will be quicker to hear my teammates and hear them well. Also, I pray that the spirit would help me to discern how I can best serve them on a daily basis.
My other teammate Sara is wonderful as well. She is like a little sister to me, (mostly because she is the same age as Clara!) Her love for the father and his people is so genuine and inspiring. It has been a process for her to adjust to the culture and life here because her hearts’ desire is to be working in Africa in a rural community. (It’s funny how father works because he brought her here to a large Asian city!) She has told us time and time that He wants her here to gain a new perspective of this side of the world. Already her faith has been such an encouragement.  For a while when we were going to meetings and changing visas she thought our final destination was just a dream; that A-town was not a real place.  Since being here a week I think she has grown to love it and be comfortable here.  I ask you to keep her in your conversations with Papa that He would continue to break her heart for these people and show His purpose for her here.
My teammate Meg is a blessing.  She is a Jgirl who I see as my older sister.  She has graciously taken us under her wing and showed us the ropes, teaching us the secrets of sharing with people here.  Her heart for Central Asian UPGs and UUPGs is very genuine and is a great motivation for me.
This week we are also preparing for our service project, which is teaching English club.  We have already been approached by some students who are anxious about the club starting next week.  We have been prwalking the campus asking father to prepare the field for new seeds to be planted.