I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but I am not that good at keeping this thing updated.
But its been six months and I thought I would be doing you all a great disservice by not keeping you updated on whats happening here in Azerbaijan.
(This is Fagan. He is one of my student and a good one at that. He was reading a poem as we sat on a couch. All of the rooms were taken so we did our lesson on the couch on our laptops.)
First of all, teaching is going pretty well. Our school has resigned their contract with Caspian Drilling Company here in Baku, so about 70% of our students are coming in from that oil company. That leaves us with a predominant student pool of men in their late 20's to early 50's. They are a great group of guys and I feel blessed to be able to mnstr to them.
This is Rshad at his birthday. Be lifting him up! He is a great friend.
I remember walking through the streets one day in Baku early in our time here wondering who would reach some of the older generation in this city?
The Father has answered that by supplying us with middle aged students who we've been able to reach at least in some ways. I am so grateful for that opportunity.
Also in our school we have students preparing for TOEFL (English exam for University study) and other students just wishing to improve their abilities.
This is R who I've mentioned before. A wonderful and intelligent guy. Be thinking about him.
This is his "American smile"
We have been so blessed with these guys and girls and have been able to reach into their lives on a weekly basis. Be lifting up our students and our school, International House as we continue here in our sixth month of teaching.
As you think about this country try to consider the individual who live here. I love that we have so many people groups in our world, but it distracts me from the fact that these groups are full of people. Individuals who all have different needs and personalities. Be thinking on an individual basis when you lift up our IH staff, students, friends and those who live in this city and country. Think about shepards out in the mountains, men out on oil rigs in the Caspian, women who barely make it out of their homes during the day, because they're taking care of the house, taxi drivers, teachers, clothes vendors, market keepers, rich and poor.
Be lifting them up, knowing that He knows them all intimately. Ask for His mercy and knowledge.
A few things you can be thinking about for me,
1. That I'd be taking my time here day by day. Trusting daily in my Provider.
2. That I would follow where He leads me and be listening to Him.
2. That I would follow where He leads me and be listening to Him.
3. That our Father would continue encouraging me and our team. That I wouldn't forget His promises.
4. Ask for more opportunities to share the wonderful Truth we have. May it speak to these people's hearts.
Over the past few months I have been able to let it sink in that I live in a foreign country and that this part of the world is just like any other. People love each other and care about their families. People work hard to provide.
But they need the Love that we know. So please be thinking about them! He is moving here and I ask for your thoughts for this country.
Thank you so much and please let me know if you have any questions.
Geoff
He is good.
