New Year! 2014

Happy New Year, everybody! It's not time yet in the states, but it is in Sudan! Say "goodbye" to 2013 and "hello" to the new year. I hope 2014 will be a great year for everyone. January 1st is also Independence Day in Sudan! Have a great year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

Since I'm not in Iowa right now we don't get to do the whole Santa Claus thing till we get home. But I still get to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and hangout with family. I hope you guys have an awesome Christmas and keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas!

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!!!

Freaking out now! According to NORAD, Santa came to Sudan! He even came to my state, Khartoum! Thank you, Santa! This is the picture they had. It might look fabulous here, but trust me, it's not. It is fabulous in other ways, though....

Break day 3!

So today was my first day of break where I left the neighborhood... I played Twister with the neighbors and then my grandparents had dinner with us and we went to see Christmas lights. There's one house near us with TONS of Santas around their house. Another house has a lights display that goes along with different Christmas songs that play on their radio station... It's really hard to explain but it was awesome!!! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and my cousins from one side of the family are spending the day with us and my grandparents are coming over again. My family on the other side is in town so we'll probably see them soon too.. Hope you guys have fun with your family/friends.
Oh and it automatically says who wrote a blog at the bottom of each blog :)

^^Christmas lights at The Santa House, a cool nativity, and the fireplace at my grandparents hotel :)

^^My sister Hannah and I, the hot tub and work out room, and then the library which had awesome sliding ladders :)

Beginning of break

So the other day we were traveling for 14 hours which was really long and boring. Then yesterday I went to church with my grandparents, cousins, and great grandmother. Then we all went out to eat! That afternoon I went for a run and guess what?!?! I can actually breath here!!!! (If you don't know I have trouble breathing while I run when its cold) Then my sisters and I saw the Hobbit with my grandfather and it was really good! Today we went to the pool all morning and just got back and are going to watch Christmas movies till dinner!!! Hope everyone's having an awesome break!!

Introduction: Eman E.

Hey guys! Sorry I'm a little late! 
I'm Eman, and I'm 13 years old. I live in Iowa, but I'm currently in Sudan until the end of this school year. I am supposed to be in eighth grade now, so when I get back I'll be starting high school. I have two brothers, Ahmed (who just turned eight) and Elshareef (3). I'm really excited about this blog because I'll get to tell you guys stuff about life in Sudan and you can inform me about all the fun you guys are having back in the states. I miss Iowa and all of you guys so much! I can't wait to get back! 

Fun fact: I am originally from Sudan, which is hot year-round, but I love the winter!

Snow!!!!

We got tons of snow here today!!!! I watched church live stream from home today with my family and then spent almost 3 hours out in the snow with my neighbors :D We made a bunch of tunnels and an igloo in one of the piles of snow left by the snow plow. Hope you guys are having tons of fun over break!!!
~Bethany

Breakkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!

Hey! So I'm gonna be going to the east coast over break! So,we should all post over break and keep each other updated on what everyone is doing!
-Sarah
And we should have code names

......maybe

Introduction: Sarah L

Hey!!
Thanks Bethany for making this blog I think it's gonna be tons of fun!!
Well, my name is Sarah. I'm the oldest of seven children which can be crazy at times. Three of them are adopted from Korea! My brother Jake is blind and my sister Hannah only has 2 fingers(on each hand) and she doesn't have feet. I love to run! A lot. West cross country is the best!! Because West High best high.........we won't finish the rhyme. Most importantly I love Jesus and he's my savior!! I also love to be at church and hangout with my friends from church. I like to meet new people but can be quiet at times. When I grow up I want to be either a physical therapist, occupational therapist, an adapted pe teach, or an adapted sports instructor. Ummmm so ya that's me I guess.

~Sarah L

Introduction: Cassie S.

So also another introduction!

Age:14

Family: (Okay this is gonna be interesting) I have a younger sister Anna, who is 12, an older sister Becca, who is 16, another older sister Catherine, who is 18, and an older brother Matt, who is 20. My parents both work at this one place that I don't even remember the name of, but they both tell me never to go into retail so there is a bit of advice I guess. I also have a cat Mr. Kitty, who is very fat, another cat Snickers, who is not as fat, a dog named Rocco, who is also pretty fat, a hamster named Sir Bartholomew, who is pretty fat and who I am TOTALLY not obsessed with at all! Also, my sisters Anna and Becca have hamsters named Leopold, who is a very evil hamster, and Artemis, who got thrown against a wall by Anna so I don't know how he is holding up...
Favourite colour: Regenbogenfarben (Rainbow colors in German)

Fun Facts: Uhhh... I like Hamsters. and Cats. And Dogs. And all Animals in general. I skipped fourth grade because of math, and now I'm pretty awful at math, so that was weird.. I like art and reading and playing video games with my sister Catherine, who is a pretty cool cat. (as for the other ones.. well I won't get into that)

That is pretty much all!

-Cassie

Introduction: Bethany S

Hey! Quick introduction for anybody who doesn't know me!

~Age: 14

~Grade: 9th

~Family: I have an older sister, Hannah, who's 16 and a younger brother, Caleb, who's 11. My mom works at the elementary school where my brother goes and my dad is a pastor at our church.

~Favorite color: Lime green
~Stuff I like to do: sing, hangout with friends, run, dance, and go to youth group at my church

~Fun facts: I skipped kindergarten, I speak some Spanish, and I used to have 12 snails as pets

~Bethany

First Post!

Hey guys so I just thought this would be a fun way for us all to keep in touch and find out what's going on in the other country! Feel free to post whatever and share with whoever! - Bethany