Last Day In Kuwait

I got this morning at 6:30, had some toast, coffee and read the paper. It amazes me how much they keep up with the US over here. From politics to sports. As I was getting done reading the door bell rang and Mohommed, Jonathan's friend had come by to take him out on the town.

When they left I was able to have my quite time. I read the last two chapters of Luke. I'm always in awe at what Jesus went through so that my sins might be forgiven.

After my prayer time I decided because of the sandstorm I would exercise indoors. So I put 52 minutes on Randy's NordicTrack. It wore me out.

After a shower I went to the local market without Randy. There is one problem at the local market they don't speak English. All went well until check out. Apparently I fail to pay for an item at the one of the little stands they have inside the market. I tried to pay the cashier but he kept carrying on at me as if I understood what he was saying. He finally hollered at a bag boy and the bag boy went and got the man in charge of the stand. (He wasn't at the stand when I picked the item up.) Anyway I paid that gentleman and I was able to go on my way. It was a little scary.

I then went back to the City Center to pick up something I saw the other day for Katelyn, my granddaughter. Can't wait to see her mother's expression when I give it to her.

I left and met Randy at a little French cafe for drinks. I had a strawberry bannana shake (nothing like those in the states. It was just favored milk shaken up.)

Afterwards I went up to the apartment to finish packing for the trip home.
We are getting ready to eat supper (my last Patricia's meal) then we will be off to the airport.
It's been a joy but it will be good to be home (so the Rays can win again) in my own bed.

Thanks for reading
runrandall

Wednesday July 16, 2008

Oh my friends have you all gone to the dark side. Here I am all alone on foreign soil looking to my friends for strength and encouragement but what do I get. Grief!
Monday night not such a restful night.
Well after I tell you about this day I know more grief will be headed my way. I did a 5 mile run on the treadmill, because of the sand storm I was unable to run outside. After breakfast I hadn't heard from Randy so I called to see if I needed to pick up Jonathan. Jonathan answered and asked if I came and picked him up could I take him to the City Center at 3pm. I said sure. I brought him home and we had lunch. We left at 2:30pm for the City Center and arrived at 3pm even though I made a wrong turn and ended up in a Ministry Parking lot with no way out. Everything was one way and we kept going around in circles. Finally I spotted a local driving and told Jonathan we will follow him to find our way out. And true to the Kuwaiti way he went the wrong way on a one way and we followed suit. We were soon back on the correct road and at the City Center. We were getting supplies for the Filipino maids. We also met with a rep. of City Center, Gem. We were to discuss ordering new sleeping mats for the maids to sleep on, the ones from last year are worn out. Have I ever mentioned that time is not important here. We sat there for over an hour just talking about her family, our families, the weather, you name it we talked about it. (I guess that's way they do business and I don't think it is bad) We finally got to the mats and she is going to look into ordering us some. We went down stairs and loaded up a few more items for the maids and checked out.
With only one Kuwaiti experience on the way home we met Randy back at the apartment so we could ride together to go to a store that Talah told about where the locals shop. I was able to get the things I had been looking for; I may go back to that store today and get some more things. We then went and ate at Johnny Carino's. Jonathan wanted to eat here since the one in Brandon has closed down.
Home again for the last night’s sleep in Kuwait. I couldn't go to sleep right away so I watch the Billy Graham film "The Climb." It was really good to I think it would be a great movie for movie night at the church sometime.
I will try and post again before we leave for the airport.
Thanks for all your comments and I do mean all. It has been fun reading them. Ron you just make me laugh.
One day left.
runrandall

Tuesday July 15 2008

Sunday night I didn't sleep well only about three hours. I got up at 6:30 eat breakfast and was so tired and when I looked outside and saw a sand storm blowing in so I went back to bed. I woke up when Randy called at 10:30. Took a shower and went to pick up Jonathan. Jonathan wanted to go see Grace, the maid they used to have when they lived here about five years ago. So with directions in hand off we went. We were told to go to the City Center (It's like a Sam’s Club) turn right at the road across the street. Well we found the City Center no problem; however have you ever gotten direction from an Indian that has never driven once in her life. I didn’t think so. Anyway we turn on the road across from the City Center and it was a parking lot. Not sure if this was the correct road Jonathan calls Grace to get clarification. After talking with Grace, Jonathan was sure we were where we were suppose to be. After circling the block a few times he call Grace again this time we think maybe we should go down another street on the other side of the City Center. Once again nothing. We do some driving and Jonathan calls Grace again this time she says something about a Ministry Building. We have now been driving for an hour. We head to where we saw a Ministry Building drive up and down that road and a few others looking for a bus stop with a sign laying the blocks by numbers. (Confused yet?)Jonathan calls Grace again this time she says she will meet us at the City Center in ten minutes. We head over and go in the round-about we had been in several times already and Jonathan says “Look I see the block sign with her number.” We go around the circle again, no small feat in Kuwait. We head down the street and see a lady walking I asked Jonathan is that her he says yes, I roll down the window and call to her. She gets in the car and we go to the house where she works and visit for about 20 minutes. I took us an hour and a half to find, but only stayed for a short time. I think she was nervous with me there. She would not sit down but, insisted that we sit.We left and made it back to the house in 15 minutes.I got ready to go to VBS. I explained to the counselors how to use the tracks and most seemed excited to have something to give the children.I hung around and helped with the music then headed back home to meet Randy and Jonathan for some shawarmas (sp). Shawarmas are lamb filled flat bread across between a burrito and a gyro. They are really good. We had that and some Kuwaiti chicken.After supper we turned in for the night.
Two more days then home
runrandall

Videos Not Uploading

I have the said camera and I have tried to unload the said videos but this said computer tells me I have the wrong format. I have even tried "youtube.com" to upload. Sorry said pictures and said videos will have to wait.
So Sorry
runrandall