Viola!

I have found it!

The Perfect meal. Spaghetti noodles, marinara sauce, garlic and oil, red onion, oregano, salt, pepper, chicken or roast beef. Stir fry in skillet and eat. Goes well with chocolate milk and chocolate cheesecake.

I have been very busy working hard and trying to keep from melting at the same time. It’s over 110 degrees, and summer is a month away. I have to use gloves to touch anything metal in the day time. I don’t know how people could live here without a/c. I got an ice chest for long trips, and fill it with water and soda. It’s great to have. The work is hard, but my buddies and I have a good time whenever we can.

Every few days I go to visit a small village north of a large city. I see the same few people every time I go there. They are very fun, but none of us know each other’s language. There is one person there that gives me and my friend a meal every time we se him. My buddy does not like the food, but is polite. I eat my food, plus his share of the bread. They give us each a plate or rice and sauce, a piece of chicken and two pieces of flatbread. The bread is very good, the rest is a nice change and taste of the local culture. I really enjoy the trips because I get to experience the country I’m in. It’s an amazing mix of the modern and third world. Major highway with donkey carts along the side, and smll country roads with Mercedes on them.

Hey everyone, this is Ariele writing on behalf of John. His AKO email has not been working the last week and he has not received any emails since April 30th. If you sent him one, please resend it and if you know his other email address send it there too. He doesn't know to check that one yet, but as soon as he calls I will tell him to be checking both if he doesn't find any emails at AKO. AKO is his us.army.mil address. If you don't have his hotmail address let me know and I'll share it with you. Thanks.

I'm here...for now.

I finally moved. I live in a large dorm room and have a bunk bed with a mattress, a wall locker and AC power and air conditioning. Everything one could want. I also got a large stack of mail that was waiting for me. It included a letter from my aunt, several each from my mom, Kate and Erin, Carol and Ariele. If anyone else wrote me, it’s not here yet. It seems to be taking things about a week to get to me. The food is similar to what I’ve been eating throughout. It is the rainy season here, so there are large puddles of standing water everywhere. The area outside seems rather dull and dreary. Everything is brown, and muddy, and there are few trees. My roommates are all nice and easy to work with.

Most of my luggage was separated from me on the flight up here. I have everything I need with me, but my nice Bible was in the lost luggage. But I will get it back shortly. Fortunately I received another one in the mail today, but it is KJV, and I prefer NIV. I will also get some of the luggage that I shipped earlier.

I have the option of buying a cell phone or my own internet, but I am unsure if I will, because I don’t want to spend a lot of money.

If anyone would like to send me some thing, there are a few things that I would like

- magnetic hooks, clips, racks or organizers, to hang stuff on.

- magnets to put on my space, and hold other things up.

I have a metal wall locker that is 2’ deep by 1.5’ wide by 6’ tall. I need to make the most of the space.

Due to really slow computers, I’m going to ask for now that anyone sending me email send it in Word, Notepad, or wordpad document as an attachment. This will make it much easier for me to save and read them. If you can’t do with, I’ll still be able to read and reply to emails. If you’re willing, but unsure how, just call my wife. She’s very smart and nerdy and good at explaining things like that. Thanks.

Please pray for the following things when you think of me.

- That I would not forget God in my business, and would grow here.

- That I would be patient and loving with those I work with

- That God would heal Ariele

- Safety for Ariele and the kids.