BKHunter

Hi, all. My wife’s surgery went well and she is back at home now. She will probably start radiation treatments in a few weeks and continue them for about six weeks. Thanks to everyone for their prayers.

I haven't posted much in a while, since my wife and daughter joined me overseas in Europe, but I thought I'd update the group on recent events. I just had major surgery two weeks ago, followed by a week's hospitalization. Bad enough, but it went well and is over now, although I will be recovering for months to come. My wife was diagnosed with early-stage cancer a few weeks ago, as well, and has yet to undergo surgery, so I'm asking for prayers for her. Both of these issues should have been caught while we were still in the USA, but our medical provider there has been practically shut down most

It’s going okay so far considering what a big move this is. We’re still in quarantine for a few more days.

We finally made it to Europe despite the pandemic and hope to ride out COVID-19 here until a vaccine arrives (the country we’re in is handling the pandemic relatively well). We’re just in temporary housing at the moment and everything is still pretty chaotic; we’re looking forward to things settling down and getting back into a routine soon. Take care and stay safe.

Hope you're feeling better! Be careful out there.

It's more than that. It's symbolic of Turkey rejecting its modern-era secularism and, instead, embracing a past that included the genocide of its Christians.

This probably means the end of any restoration of the mosaics. I guess Erdogan is trying to score points domestically.

It was the most important cathedral of the Byzantines for hundreds of years before the conquest of Constantinople, when it was converted into a mosque. It was changed into a museum in the 1930s and has been one since -- until now. The Greeks are all up in arms about it: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-museum-greece-eu-idUSKCN24F1JZ

It's actually considered significant enough that the US government has condemned it: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-secretary-state-urges-turkey-not-turn-hagia-sophia-mosque https://usa.greekreporter.com/2020/07/10/erdogans-move-on-hagia-sophia-a-deep-affront-to-christians-around-the-world/ Of course, there's not much anyone can do about it.

As I predicted in Under the Crescent Moon a year or so ago. I don't think this was necessary; there are already plenty of mosques in Istanbul. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53371341

I've been using it for a few years and find it really helps to keep things organized, especially in a longer work.

Yep. The quarantine thing is getting a bit old.

Good luck!

Thanks for the laugh.

They said I can't get tested since I'm not currently sick and the antibody tests are in short supply. So, I'm stuck with a 14-day self quarantine, unfortunately. Thanks for asking.