The Adventures of Mike and Linda

2010-03-31T03:22:00.000-07:00

Bedouin has trained his camel to kiss him! He makes money off the tourists doing this.

I wanted Mike to get his picture taken with them but.... the camel tried to kiss Mike... hey...that's what she does for a living! The camel was willing but Mike wouldn't do it!

In front of the Giza pyramids.......
Bedouin loaned me his kafiya to keep the sun off

Not exactly Joseph and Mary but you get the idea!

2010-03-31T03:15:00.000-07:00

Delicious Bread......
made daily the same way it has been for milleniums...rolled flat like a tortilla and baked in a hot stone oven

2010-03-31T03:07:00.000-07:00

Awesome Camel Cops.... or is that Coptic Cops

The real Sphinx

2010-03-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

2010-02-09T03:31:00.000-08:00

Ribbon cutting ceremony for water treatment facility!
The Governor of Tyeba is doing the cutting...he is a wonderful, kind and gentle man...but just as we left his office for the ceremony...he put a 45 automatic pistol in the back of his belt, under his coat, ...then smiled and said, "just in case we need it."

These guys tolerate NO TROUBLE! On duty with us at the water treatment facility.

2010-02-09T03:06:00.000-08:00

The town provided the building....for the water purification plant and LDS charaties (see sign) provided the remodeling and water treatment equipment. The people will now have an inexpensive place to get clean water and the town will make a small profit.

2010-02-09T03:04:00.000-08:00

Water treatment equipment provided by LDS Charities

2010-02-09T02:40:00.000-08:00

Blood sugar test kits...donated by LDS Charaties allowed this young man to be identified early. His parents are grateful. Sugar diabetes is very prevalent in Jordan and has caused permanent damage to many because is goes undiagnosed.

2010-02-09T02:08:00.000-08:00

Now that's a sparkler! Happy New Year 2010!

Steve Colson (Branch Pres. Irbid, Jordan)

2010-02-09T01:46:00.000-08:00

Sister Donna Coleson (missionary from Irbid Branch) and I celebrating NewYear's with the biggest sparklers I've ever seen!

2010-02-09T01:40:00.000-08:00

Wheelchairs provided by LDS Charities ....headed for Gaza with the support of the Hashamite Society of Jordan

Camel tarps for the rainy winter season just outside of Amman, Jordan

2009-12-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

Christmas Pageant .09

2009-12-25T08:27:00.000-08:00

Mike played the part of Luke and he and I did the set decorations. I had to be the director and casting agent....I'm calling this a real miracle but it turned out wonderful!

Bringing blankets to Rumamin Village for Christmas

2009-12-25T06:38:00.000-08:00

Math lesson in Rumamin... Hanging on to the blanket for dear life...

Getting to be Mrs. Santa Clause with the children....

LDS Charities provides blankets to the village school children

THE KING'S CARS!

2009-12-25T06:24:00.000-08:00

The CES students take a trip the king's Car Museum...approximately 100 very, very expensive cars! Probably a better investment than the stock market!

1937 Mercedes

1952 Gull Wing

Thanksgiving 2009 in Amman Jordan with CES students

2009-12-25T05:45:00.000-08:00

STRANGE SIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST!

2009-10-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

These camels must have been tired and hitched a ride!

Trucks are an artform in the Middle East.....
click on this one to get the full effect!

Finances in the Middle East! One for you and one for me....

HUMANITARIAN AID REACHES ACROSS RELIGIONS

2009-10-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

The chapel inside the Armenian church is beautiful and carried a very special spirit. The Armenians have been Christians continuously since 52 AD.

The Young Single Adults from Amman and Irbid joined togerther with the Armenian Christians to put together hygiene kits for the poor.

President Boyd and Fr. Haygazoun Yeghiayan coordinated the humanitarian efforts.

Brother and Sister Coleson are the missionaries in Irbid - the only completely Arabic branch in the world!

More fun stuff!

2009-09-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm also teaching the single Adults and they are a fun bunch. The branch President ask me to teach church history because most of the members know very little about it. They are wonderful people. One of our little sewing companies that LDS Charaties helped to start is manufacturing these book bags...I love the Barbie gone Muslim look.

SEPTEMBER BRINGS HUMANITARIAN BOUNTY

2009-09-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

Delivering wheelchairs is the celebration after all the work it takes from the Salt Lake end and the Middle East end - to get them to Jordan.
The business meeting happens whenever we get a chance. The Coleson's are the missionaries north of us in Irbid.

The kids in the "hood" from Marqa..in front of the Women's Society there.

The children inside the Women's Society were very shy and there was little laughter. The little boy behind the screen just kind of broke my heart.

BAPTISM

2009-08-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Our little baptismal font (once a swimming pool).

This was our 1st Baptism since we arrived...Rachael Hayes and family.

President Boyd conducted and taste tested everything .....just for security!

RAMADAN

2009-08-27T10:40:00.001-07:00

The truck driver that delivered our humanitarian aide shipment for the Muslim religious month of Ramadan... in his office. Unloading the boxes became a basketball game with backups waiting to play.

Goods delivered included hygiene kits, back-to-school packs.....

.....and wheelchairs. These guys really worked hard!

Valley below the Cedars of Lebanon

2009-08-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Beirut Lebanon

2009-08-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

Occupational and physical therapist came from Salt Lake City to fit wheelchairs.

Wheelchair designer from England

2009-08-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Mike talking to David Constantine...the designer of the wheelchairs.

Cedars of Lebanon

2009-08-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

The ancient forest of trees from which Solomon's temple was built.

BIBLOS

2009-08-07T11:33:00.001-07:00

This is the port at Biblos where the cedar trees going to Jerusalem were likely shipped out on barges.

2009-08-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

This cedar tree is reported to be 6,000 years old but the scientist say

it's only about 3,000 years old...

Wow..ethier way..what a miracle of nature!

LEBANON

2009-08-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

A dead cedar tree carved to look like the Savior being crucified....can you see the two spikes?

This is another carving on the same tree...supposed to be The Apostle Peter.

Dinner with the General at Irbid

2009-07-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Retired General had us all over for dinner. He also invited 2 BYU students. His son is applying for a scholarship to BYU.

Invited to a Muslim Engagement Ceremony.....all men.

2009-07-18T03:32:00.000-07:00

The General invited Mike and Bro. Coleson to a local engagement party in Irbid. The Mullah welcomed the Americans who were learning about their culture. This party is about signing the agreed terms for the wedding,....dowry, rights, family obligations etc.

Al Hussan Branch Members...so cute!

2009-07-18T00:53:00.000-07:00

Partnering with the locals................

2009-07-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

NGO's representing Islamic Societies observe new prototype of a "Rough Rider" wheelchair....hoping to start building them soon in Jordan. LDS charities is helping to get this business started.

LDS Charaties partner with locals to start wheelchair manufacturing.

2009-07-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

LDS Charaties working with locals to get wheelchair manufacturing in Jordan

2009-07-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

Along the road to Rome.........

2009-07-11T15:12:00.000-07:00

The peaceful looking Golan Heights are where three countries come together....Jordan, Israel and Lebanon...in a tense and guarded peace...........
Just to the left of the Golan Heights lies the Sea of Galilee....

Jarash is one more city on the continuous Roman highway bringing trade and commerce to Rome......

2009-07-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

This young man was making personalized sand paintings in a bottle...he could speak English and was making quite a bit of money.

Gladiators.......looked way to real to me!

2009-07-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the audience to decide.....

2009-07-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

Life or death by the turn of a thumb...life was a thumbs up .....death was a side pointing thumb to indicate death by the sword...but thumbs down was never used.

2009-07-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

Chariot Races in Jarash are exactly the same as they were during the Savior's life.

When in Rome.................................

2009-07-10T10:40:00.001-07:00

This reinactment takes place in the same arena gladiators fought and chariot races ran some 2000 years ago.

2009-07-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Looking across the valley from the spot that Moses saw it for the 1st time, and declared it ....Home!

Mike, Bro. Coleson and Minister Latooth (Minister of Social Development)

2009-07-01T04:36:00.000-07:00

There were many dignitaries from the area and television coverage. We even got a very nice write up in the paper. Minister Lattouf of Social Development for Jordan....was conducting the distribution. She has been wonderful to work with.

2009-07-01T04:22:00.000-07:00

Donna Coleson, missionary from Northern Jordan with recipients.

Wheel Chair Distribution

2009-07-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

This is the real paycheck for humanitarian aide...seeing people receive

The Real Paycheck

2009-07-01T03:56:00.001-07:00

Inside our Home

2009-06-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

This long hallway has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths

Mike on the sunporch of the dining room

The kitchen is huge and really is a nice place to work.

Dining room just of the living room

Exploring the Middle East

2009-06-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

Camel Attack! These camels had actually gotten loose from a Bedoine camp. A young boy was trying to herd them back to camp.

Good country for bike racing.......

The place where John the Baptist was supposedly beheaded. This is a prison on top of a mountain about 50 miles from Jerusalem,

This is where the prisoners were...the tunnel goes way back under the rock.

Home Sweet Home!

2009-06-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

Baptisimal Font in the back yard.

Trellised walkway on one side of the garden behind our house.

Church upstairs above our apartment.

This staircase goes up to the church. This is the door from our apartment and there is an outside door for members.

Outside door that goes up to the church.

It's just over that hill.........Sure Dad!

2009-06-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Petra by Camel

2009-06-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

This was the best! Camels are easier to ride than horses (when you have the double delux padded seat). I loved this.

Captured

2009-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Obviously I was taken hostage by a bedouin warrior!

How did I get a job like this?

2009-06-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

How much do I have to pay to get her back?

2009-06-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

That will be 2 camels and..............

2009-06-01T06:15:00.000-07:00

...and 3 donkeys!

2009-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Eagle Mountain Faction

2009-06-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Neighbors Candy and Rob Bateman, from Eagle Mt.) presently living somewhere in the Emirates (Sharjah) met us in Amman and we all went to Petra. The neighborhood has expended. It was great fun!

We made it to Petra

2009-06-01T00:31:00.000-07:00

We survived and we love it here. This is the view looking down on the mountains where Petra was built in the 1st century but was hidden from everyone but the bedoines until 1812.