August 30, 2021

Here we are headed southeast to Youth Conference in Sulaymaniyah near the border of Iran. We are taking the youth from Duhok, which is near the Turkish border... about a 5 hour drive.

We'll post a few pictures of the ride to Sulaymaniyah as the landscape is so solitary and goes on forever.

A little lake along the way with some roadside entertainment venues...

I love the many shepherds, goatherds, and cowherds we see throughout Iraq with their simple flocks and herds... and most times with the lonely herder is the donkey leading the group and carrying supplies.

Increasing elevation as we climb towards Sulaymaniyah...

Approaching a fascinating group of mountains...

Approaching..

A daunting and beautiful look... the mountains seem like shark's teeth...

Two lane highway with huge trucks and cars coming at you... its a bit hair raising!

Lots of expansive vistas..

Roadside stand waiting for its owner...

The Iraqi Kurdish LDS youth were very happy to reunite, it's usually years between conferences and get-togethers...

Fun times, and moments for pensive reflection on the Gospel...

Jim and Edward enjoy some time together, they are both car aficionados...

 
The youth had different topics to present on... the Liahona, the scriptures, etc...

  

 

Speed 'getting to know you' games, guessing favorites, and funny skits...

Lunch at youth conference... 
It's the custom to sit on the floor to eat, here we have a traditional biryani rice dish. 

 
Geri Giraffe joins in the conference...

We prep for our presentation on Time Management while the youth finish their speed encounters.

Yoga stretches to start off another of the 3 days...

Geri joins the winning dessert team!

The youth took this fun picture of the two of us with Snapchat...

The youth had a fun morning in the hotel swimming pool up the street from the conference...

 


And an afternoon of ice skating for the first time in their lives.

Yeah Iraqi LDS youth!


One sort-of-serious mishap...which required a trip to the ER.

Teaching our lesson...

Time to head home back across Kurdistan...
Good bye Sulaymaniyah!

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