West Asia: Flexible

As someone I know used to say "Changes are improvements". The people who have been setting up our teaching arrangements kept telling us that we needed to be extremely flexible, and we have learned why. Originally Sarah and I were going to be teaching at one school, and Michael and Cody would be at another. The other day plans changed, and now Michael and I will be teaching at one school and Cody and Sarah will be at another. These schools are in completely different locations from each other. I met the 15-year-old girl I will be working with to help her with her English. She is kind and sweet and actually speaks English very well, which will be easier for both of us. Pr*y for good conversations and for us to build a good relationship while I am here. I will also be working one-one-one with one other person and conversing with the native teachers here who are trying to teach English, so I will help them with their pronunciations and mostly just have conversations with them. The teachers from the U.S. that are here now will be leaving in seven days, and they are sad to leave the relationships with their students they have built, but hopefully we can build good relationships and make a smoother transition for whoever will come in next. I am also sad these U.S. teachers are leaving because we have had fun with them these past couple days. They have been here for two years, so we have received some wisdom and advice from them. I really like the location Michael and I will be at. It is about an eight minute walk from the Caspian Sea. Surrounding the area are nice restaurants, coffee shops, stores, etc. I love just people watching and there are some peaceful places around to read and journal in much of the down time that I will have. Thank you for your pr*yers and please keep them coming. I can definitely feel them. The Father is doing and will do great things here. You can see pictures below because pictures are worth a thousand words...

Chandeliers hanging from the streets

Drinking an iced coffee with Sarah...The iced coffee actually had ice cream instead of ice. Still good :) Sarah and I were given two of the waiters numbers here inside our bill...just because we are American. We did not take them to relieve some of your worries.