February 26, 2008: Back in Canada!

  YAY – we have made it back to Canada.  It is always nice to return to the Americas.  It was a nice trip overseas and I am always sad to leave.  I guess we will be heading by to the United States on Wednesday/Thursday.  Should be home on Friday.  I have two stops along the way.

Gail Stubblefield sent me this photograph – she lives near the Massac County/Pulaski
County line (Illinois).  GREAT photograph and beautiful snow!  (Sunday photo)

  It is snowing here in Waterloo.  Light snow started falling at 7:30 a.m.  It looks like we might pick up a few inches.  Nothing major though!

  Some amazing news out of North Korea.  The New York Philharmonic has performed in North Korea.  They gave a historic performance to a crowd of thousands.  State run television also showed it to everyone else within the country.  I believe that this is a great moment in the history of their country.  It is the cultural exchanges, such as this,  that will bring about cracks in this communist nations walls.  Bravo for all involved!

  I have finally finished my "day to day" list links on the web page.  You can view them here (I sort of got behind).

 
Kristy sent me this photograph of Lucy!  She is looking gooooood! 

NEW KIVA MEMBER

Farruh Nizomov is 23 years old. He runs a small shop where he produces small carts, which are used by his customers to transport food and other goods they purchase at the market to their homes. In general, the families in Tajikistan are large and, in preparation for family celebrations, individual family members purchase all of the necessary goods at the market for such celebrations. Thus, Farruh produces small hand carts and leases them to customers so they can transport their purchased goods to their vehicles or to the public transportation stops. Farruh is seeking a loan of $600 to purchase additional raw materials (e.g., wheels) required to make the carts. This would be Farruh’s first loan and he is confident that he can repay it on time.