"Children of my father"

So this is Awara, our translator/invaluable political asset/entertainer (as well as full time PLC staff). I've mentioned him a couple of times before, he goes with us to most any and everything!

The times I am most glad he's around though are when we're dealing with anything legal. Awara helped us all get visas, blood tests, etc, etc, etc. We'd walk into endless lines in government offices and Awara would waltz in, negotiate some things, sign off, and we'd all file out with the necessary paperwork. Easy. Also, any problem (i.e., armed guards reaching into the car and taking my camera) is solved with a phone call from Awara to his father, who in turn makes a phone call to the President (or so I assume) and done. Camera: returned.

Basically, any problem we have can be fixed when Awara says his full name (which I won't here, for privacy). Such is his father's influence in this country! Awara's father owns multiple houses, cars, companies. His influence extends socially, politically, economically. He also has a heart for the children of Iraq who are dying of heart disease. Convenient for PLC, eh?

I'm explaining this because two nights ago Awara told us something interesting. He explained that we (the interns) were "all children of his father". At first I thought this was another flowery Kurdish phrase. But, he actually meant exactly what he said. His uber-influential father legally registered 10 additional children into his family, just for us this summer. There is a "Lydia _____ " legally registered in the region of Kurdistan. And its me. And for all legal, political purposes I am to be treated as his daughter.

How cool?

Attribute it to the 18 years of Sunday school I have tucked away, but I instantly thought about the way God calls us children in 1 John.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

I don't have any earthshaking insights, but I thought it was pretty great.

I promise more pictures on the next blog!

Xua Hafiz!*

Lydia

*("Go with God", aka, "Goodbye" in Kurdi!)