Joe Ragan

The weather in Texas has been almost perfect.  I have really enjoyed my time in Texas thus far.  The mornings are a little cool and the days are reaching up to around 70.  Even the trees are changing color.
I have spoken in a couple of places thus far and plan to speak to a couple [...]

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Well, I received a great phone call from my friend Ben.  His wife was an Olympic swimmer from The University of Texas in the 80’s.  She worked some of her contacts at UT and has scored 2 tickets to the Texas- A&M game on Thanksgiving.  So… I am goin to the game!!! Go Horns!

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I purchased my first Mac last summer while I was in the US.  After a hard drive crash and my case cracking, I wasn’t too high on Apples.  Well, after my trip to the Apple store in Fort Worth yesterday, I will probably never own anything else!
The store clerks bent over backwards to help solve [...]

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Being a part of God’s family and his child, I am so thankful to all of you who have sent emails, posted on FB or posted on the website.
Yesterday was probably more difficult for me than my mom’s funeral as I was responsible for the service.  However, it was a blessing.  I was blessed by [...]

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I had a trip to Texas planned for around Thanksgiving.  Yesterday, I received news that my middle sister has passed away.  Now, I am planning to leave Karaganda in a few hours.  I will drive to Astana and then fly out Thursday morning.  I have to be at the airport by 3 a.m. (4 pm [...]

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Well, there is an auction selling 2 tickets to the Longhorn vs Aggie game.  Trying to decide should I try to bid on them…

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Three weeks in a row I have seen the Longhorns play on TV here.  I am extremely happy that the Longhorns won.  However, I am worried.  I watched the offense unable to punch it in on the one yard line and the defense hasn’t been able to stop OU, MO or OSU.
I saw the first [...]

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While in Ukraine, the president dissolved parliament and called for snap elections in December.  The third election in 3 years for Ukraine.  While speaking to friends about the prospects of a third election in three years, my friends shared with me that they have grown weary of the different parties and all the elections.
One friend [...]

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As I stepped off the plane in Astana I felt the chill in the air.  It was a stark reminder that I was back in Kazakhstan.
After sleeping a few hours I loaded up my car and drove back to Karaganda.  It was nice to sleep in my own bed after being on the road so [...]

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I was privileged to be driven by car from Tbilisi to Yerevan.  It is about 5 hours, depending on how long the border crossing takes.
A friend took me to numerous sites on the drive down.  It was a beautiful drive.  Armenia is full of history.  It is several thousands year old.

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