Our New Refugees

Round Rock Christian Church (DOC) joined forces with St. John’s Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas, to sponsor another refugee family - a mother (age 46), her son and daughter (ages 9 & 14), and another, unrelated, young woman who will be arriving later and living with them.

There is scant information on the family. We understand the mother and children are from the Karen Tribe in Burma (now known as Myanmar), and lived in a refugee camp in Thailand for about 10 years. They arrived in Austin on 27 February, just before midnight, an hour later than expected, after somehow missing their connection in Denver. Luggage, between the three of them, consisted of 2 coarsely woven, shopping-style bags about the size of large rolling suitcases. The tops were taped closed. These were all their worldly possessions. They speak no English.

Working together, members from both churches readied the family’s apartment. The generosity of church members, combined with donations from Refugee Services, provided comfortable, well-appointed living quarters for the four refugees to settle in and begin the task of making America their home.

As we introduced the mother to her new home, we had a glimpse into the life they must have left behind. Her excitement at the simplest things was unrestrained. We showed her how to pull the chains to make the ceiling lights and fan work, and then showed her the wall switch. There was a look of awe on her face as she timidly touched the light switch, gently pushed it down, then turned her head to look in wonder at the lights that responded to her touch. Our minister provided a microwave oven demonstration; they explored cupboards, pantries,and cabinets, but there is more for them to discover as they settle in. After 10 years, most likely in a tent with dirt floors, the family is home and ready to begin a new life.














Daughter, mother, and interpreter with Minister.

Happy Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, M.E. !!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Chuckwagon

They strive to make it as authentic as possible.

Check out more photos on Wordless Wednsday.

Driving, Missed Crazy

I was perusing the post of ABW's Friend. She addressed some interesting points on driving in this country.

An 80 mph speed limit in West Texas, coming out of El Paso, was a welcome surprise. I-10 is a major highway but it is not well traveled, at least I did not see many cars when I was there. Of course, the few I did see felt they could go faster than the posted speed anyway. Like ABW's Friend, I just seem to be sitting still when people pass me, even though I am doing, in this case, 80.

ABW's Friend has to pump her own gas up north. We ran into the same problem in Oregon. When we asked why they had to do it, there was no real answer. One attendant told us it was to make sure there was no gas spilled into the environment. We watched as he stared into space and ran the tank over, spilling gas onto the ground.

Speaking of gas, I am well aware the price is rising but have you noticed how much of the price is TAX? Check it out some time.

One of my pet peeves when I am driving is changing speed limits. ABW's Friend says they have signs that can change the speed limit as desired. That is really far out. We only have stationery posted speed limit signs that change from 35mph to 65 mph to 45 mph to ????? Sometimes these changes occur within a few feet of each other. I don't even have time to reach 65 mph before I see the 35. Sometimes they are posted in a row so all are visible at the same time. Is this a conspiracy?

Speaking of conspiracies, how about the small town PDs that lower speed limits dramatically on lonely stretches of highways through their towns so they can make their money on the tickets. I was caught in one of those "scams" and received a ticket that advised me it would not be reported if I just paid the ticket by the due date. I made sure the check was made out to the PD, but wondered if it went into a "pool" to pay off the officers. But I was guilty of cresting the hill and heading down at 7 mph over the limit.

Last, but not necessarily least, why do we have to pay tolls on some stretches of Interstate Highways? This seems like a double whammy - paying for something we have already financed.

In spite of everything, I am one of those independent Texans who keeps driving.

Odd Shots on Monday - Quilting Tip

When cutting fabric with a plastic template, it is difficult to keep it from sliding. Here we are putting hot glue dots on the template about 2" apart, 1/2" in from the edge. This helps hold the template in place for cutting.

Learning to Love My Cell Phone

I watch the faces of drivers in cars that pass by me as I wait at red lights. It is amazing how many of them are talking on their cell phones. I was horrified the other day as I watched an 18-wheeler make a precarious turn into the lane beside me. He was turning that big rig, in a tight turn, with ONE hand on the wheel, the other hand holding his cell phone up to his ear, and his mouth going a mile a minute. If he had hit something or lost control, he would have said it was an "accident."

Have cell phones freed us or enslaved us? Just a few years ago when I was on call many hours each day and night, I had to be close to my home phone or rely on a "beeper." The cell phone absolutely liberated me....if it had a signal where I was.

I recently found an old GTE MobileNet Newsletter (Winter 1990-91) that touted the headline "Cellular Subscribers Top 4 Million." Some information excerpted from this newsletter was rather interesting:

The new milestone comes less than 7 years after the first cellular system was activated.
You are not restricted to using your cellular phone just around home. When you visit another city, you can dial local calls just as you do at home.
Try to answer your cellular phone promptly since most cellular companies bill for ring time.
Cellular is not a perk and it is not a luxury.

By the middle of 2005, there were 2.4 billion cell phone subscribers.

The numbers continue to grow. A service that was considered primarily for business people or the elite, is now often used in place of regular home telephone service. As for me, the cell phone has become an essential. I guess that happened late one night when my car broke down.

It was late when I left my shift at the hospital and drove through the dark streets of an "unsavory" part of town. My car died in a really dark area next to an abandoned building. I don't know if I were more worried about someone stopping or someone not stopping. I locked the doors, whipped out my cell phone, which I had previously considered a luxury, and alerted DH to my dilemma. It seemed like a long wait, in the dark, vulnerable to possible predators lurking in the shadows. My fears seemed well founded as a man emerged from a hidden spot near the building and walked in my direction. I watched with trepidation as the indistinct form materialized. Then I noticed he was pushing a grocery cart overloaded with all his worldly possessions. He was afraid of me and was getting out of there! I have had a cell phone ever since then.

PhotoHunt - Wooden

Tile and painted wood of Palace in Seoul, Korea

PhotoHunt