Shoot with the Marines at Al Asad

A few weeks ago I was invited to go shooting with the Marines Here at Al Asad. Needless to say I jumped at the opportunity. While some of the Marines I work with offered to let me use their assault rifles, I declined that option. This was owing to the fact that all of the Marines actually complain about going to the range. They say the experience is way too long especially considering the fact that they must wear all their battle gear. I simply did not want to be a part of anything that slowed the process down and made any of them more annoyed. This is a sound policy in my opinion. Anyway I have included here a few pictures of the Marines at the range, who I work with every day. As you may be able to tell, all but one of my shots hit in the prime target area. The only one that did not was still a head shot and probably would have been fatal. Not bad for no practice shots and no practice since last summer. I also did speed shooting with one of my magazines. All in all, I thought it was a good time. I guess if I was a Marine and I had to wear their heavier armor and it was the middle of the summer I would have been less enthusiastic. I also have dropped a few pictures I took to show what Al Asad looks like. I think it is kind of like a small scale Moab in some ways. It has shear cliffs surrounding a river/wash (wadi) valley. There is an Oasis which I mentioned in a previous post and those things combined give it a slightly more lush than expected appearance for the middle of the desert. I think it is quite scenic.

Brandon's Redecorated Room

I love paint and the different things you can do with it. This is my latest project. Brandon's room. It was a brown color before.  Just changing the color made his room look bigger, which is good because it's a small room. The only thing missing from the pictures are his drums. They will go under the hanging lamp.  After I paint my kitchen I will post a tour of my house so you can see the different things I've done in other rooms with paint. Or, you can come visit in person. Just give me a call, or just stop by. I love having friends over!! 

Dust Storm at Al Asad

So, we have had a few dust storms since I got here. They are pretty nasty affairs. The wind is not so bad but for some reason the dust gets all stirred up and blown around. About a week ago we had a really bad one. It got so bad at about 1030 in the morning that I could barely see 30 feet in front of me. The air turned the most stunning dark and intense orange I have ever seen. Lia ask to see a picture but I had to tell her I do not have one. I refuse to take my camera out during a storm like that. In fact I left it in my room inside a ziplock bag. The dust penetrates almost everything. My bed and floor were all covered in dust and it is a real pain to clean up after something like that. Well it turns out that this last storm was the worst storm that had been seen here for at least the last two years. I finally found a friend who had taken a picture from inside his hanger. This was well past the peak and was taken from under cover so that is why it seems like you can see farther than you really could and why the sky is not so intensely orange. Still you can get sort of an idea what it is like.

Ryan's Letter 4/29/08

Well family things in the beautiful city of Nottingham are fantastic. We projected a lady last Saturday for baptism. So she will be getting baptized next week. She is so good, so much desire to know and learn about the Book of Mormon, she knows it is true. Her name is Susan. Other than that things in our won area are kind of slow.
But I have really started taking to my new calling. I never realized how crazy and hard a life as a zone leader was. I definitely have very recent felt the burden that weighs on any person with such great responsibility. I just need to move quicker, I feel almost as if I am dragging behind and not getting up to speed as fast as I should be. So that is an absolute huge focus of mine this week. I love this work and all, but I never imagined this side of the work. I guess its just something that can't really just be explained, thank goodness I have a good companion that can really show me how its done, I have been playing following the leader, but unfortunatley I am not in a postition where I should just be following him so much. I am really good at doing my own things sometimes and when it comes to a one on one basis, but when it is just thinking and pondering how to handle a whole zone I feel like I struggle. I need to rely upon God more. I know that God did not call me because of the skills I had or have, but who I CAN become. And I know that whom the Lord calls the Lord qualifies. So that wil be a huge focus of mine this week! but it sure has been an adventure. I hope to improve quicker so that no one is affected by my "newness" for lack of a better word. But don't get me wrong I love it and I think I can fill the shoes, I love even more the great oppurtunity I have to serve other missionaries 100 % of the time. And while doing that I am serving God. It is just new and different. Well so today we are playing football, so we can prepare for mission football in two weeks. So I guess it is drawing nigh to call home again, and for pretty much the last time until right before coming home. But i don't count Christmas. Well I dont think I will need a phone card they aren't very expensive here. And I will try and sort a good time to call. So hopefully everything will work out fine. It should! Well how are things back home, everyone ok! oh and dad you'll never believe it. I know how to drive a manual. Did I tell you thats all we drive here! I think its cool. I have leanrned in the past week! Well I love you all and thanks for the good stories. Cool Passover story, and Mom thanks for keeping the picture updated, I will write Brandon his birthday letter today! Hopefully. I actually won't be in my home today I am on exchanges with several missionaries the next couple of days. It will be crazy! Love ya, Elder Ryan Lee

I actually won something!!!

Today on Mix 107.3 they were giving out tickets to the Journey with Heart and Cheap Trick in August to the 10th caller. I can't believe I won!!! Of course I felt old when I tried telling my kids (who were sitting in the car when I called) what I won, and they're saying "Who are they?" But anyway, I think I'm more excited because I actually won something fun and different than what we normally do.  Chris and I are also going to see Lion King in July. Both boys will be gone at different camps a good portion of July, so this is turning out to be a fun filled summer of different things for us. Can't wait!!

Passover in Iraq

So on Sunday 21^st of April the Base Jewish Chaplain held a Passover dinner for non-Jewish personnel here on Al Asad Airbase. I attended along with two other members from our LDS congregation. It was a very interesting experience. When we arrived we all put on the Jewish skull cap (I forget what it is called). We were seated around a large table that we pre-set with many symbolic foods for the dinner. The whole dinner experience is a teaching tool. It is a symbolic journey from slavery and suffering to freedom. As each item is consumed a prayer or song or recitation is given that reflects on some aspect of the Jewish condition throughout its history. The recitations began recalling the time when Abraham call from the land beyond the Euphrates. We all reflected on the fact that we were sitting very near the Euphrates at that very moment. It does sort of add a little something special to the experience. Early in the meal the foods are bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery. Unleavened bread is to remember the haste with which Israel fled Egypt. The lack of leaven represents the removal of bread early from baking so that it could not rise. Slowly the foods become better and better to reflect the elevated status of a free people. Wine or grape juice is consumed while leaning to the right. This is a symbol of freedom since in the older ages the wealthy would lay on there side while eating. The right side is to protect life. This is for medical reasons since leaning to the left could result in fluids going down the wrong pipe. I thought this interesting as the right is a symbol of Christ who saves lives through his sacrifice. All in all it was a very unique and fun experience. I think there are many things that could enrich an Easter meal if take from the Passover. In the end they are really about the same thing, God’s mercy in saving mankind from bondage.

Princess Kayla

Had to post this picture of our cat who thinks she's a princess. But, she's so pretty, you can't help but agree with her.