One Step at a Time

Thursday, April 17, 2014

"Bye-Bye" Dubai-An Amazing Blessing!

Wow! I can’t believe our time in Dubai is over! What an adventure it was! I would have never guessed we would live three years in Dubai, and have such an amazing experience! But you know what? That is our amazing God at work! As I look back on my life, not only has He led me “One Step at a Time,” but His handprint has been all over my life! I am so thankful for that!

We were so blessed to spend time in Dubai! It is difficult to know where to start when it comes to describing our blessings here. I loved where we lived! My absolute favorite thing to do was to WALK!!! We would walk down the JBR Walk, and hear many languages! Just when I would think to myself, “Oh, they are Americans,” they would break into speaking a language that was definitely not English! I loved seeing all of the different clothing, and experiencing all the different cultures. You know, cultures have unique ways of even walking down the street! Some cultures, because of the crowding in their home countries, do not step to the side or “give way” when you walk by, some stand in what Americans would feel their “personal space.” It’s not wrong...it’s just different! Dress is SO DIFFERENT for different cultures! Again, not wrong, just different than what I had experienced! I could wear anything on the JBR Walk, and it would fit right in!

It was such a blessing to get to know and love friends from different countries, speaking different languages, with different backgrounds. To learn about different holidays, and to celebrate them was such a blessing! We celebrated holidays from the UAE, India, Ethiopia, Kuwait...Christian holidays, Hindu holidays, and Muslim holidays. It was just good to be exposed to others’ beliefs!

The people in Dubai are amazing! There are so many there that have so little materially, but have such a positive attitude, and kind, kind spirit. It was such a blessing to spend time teaching English to sweet friends at the Labor Camps. What friends they became, and I will miss them terribly!

When we would walk in the morning, usually around 6:00 a.m., we would greet at least ten people before we returned home! I was always greeted with a “Good Morning, Madam, or Mum” I loved it! I have a feeling I will be greeting the trees and bushes on our morning walks out in our new neighborhood! In the evening, our walk was an obstacle course! So many people, so many clothing styles, so many languages, so many high-heeled shoes! Ha!

Our church, Fellowship of the Emirates, was our family! The Kids’ Ministry was my home! The children and teachers were so encouraging and just plain fun! My Ladies Bible Studies learned together and prayed together. Again, so many different experiences coming into the environment from different cultures. Larry served on the HUG team, and met wonderful people, wanting to make others feel welcome at church, and ministering to them there. I loved going to worship and hearing everyone singing in English, but all different kinds of accents! Pastor Jim did a wonderful job of making everyone feel welcome, and everyone understand what God’s message was for us.

You know, God stretched us in Dubai! We were out of our “comfortable!” I want to continue that! With teaching English in the Labor Camps, teaching the children, and becoming bolder in sharing my Faith, God blessed me, and showed me His Grace is sufficient for all circumstances. We were able to go to Uganda more because it was closer, and God grew me there! Our relationships there grew stronger, and deeper.

What is the next chapter? How do you top Dubai? We don’t know, but God does! We know He will continue to bless immeasurably! We know He will continue to comfort, and be everything We need. We know He will continue to lead us One Step at a Time! We can’t wait!!!

Burj Khalifa

Dubai Fountains

Beautiful!!!

I call it the "Twisty Building!"

Luke at the Burj Al Arab

Easter Sunrise Service

Atlantis Hotel

Camel Ride with Emily

Desert Safari with Emily

Desert Safari with Luke

Our "Neighborhood"-JBR Walk

Spices at the Old Spice Souqs

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Uganda...Better Every Time!

Each time we go to Uganda, I think, actually I KNOW, “It can’t get any better than this!” And, the next time we visit, IT GETS BETTER! We had the BEST time, and God blessed us immensely. I pray that He was glorified in all we were able to do.

We will be going back to the US soon, and we wanted to visit Mathias and his precious family one more time while we were still a short flight away. In the meantime, our children at church here had collected an offering to buy clothes for the children in Uganda. We held a “contest” between boys and girls, and the children gave $1,700! With an estimated cost from Pastor Mathias, this would buy a shirt and shorts/skirt for approximately 105 children. But, with Mathias’ ingenuity and God’s GOODNESS, we were able to touch 1,000 children’s lives with the clothes offering! We took shirts, shorts/skirts, and shoes to a small orphanage, “Sunday” shoes to the orphanage our church in Houston sponsors, then took one clothing item to children in two villages, a school, and a church! Wow! It was like the loaves and fishes in the Bible...the clothes just kept being “enough!”

We were so blessed to visit our church’s orphanage, to visit and worship at Mathias’ church, and his children’s church! What a blessing to see the children memorizing verses, leading in worship, leading in testimonies, dancing and praising God, and reviewing Bible stories!

As always, we LOVED spending time with our Ugandan family. Mathias, Frances, Mark, Patra, Mitchell, Matthan, Marjorie, and Junior always welcome us so graciously! Spending time with them is just THE BEST! They make us feel so welcome and loved! Visiting with friends there is such a blessing as well!

We are heading back to the US soon! I will be coming the end of March, and Larry will follow sometime this year. We are building a home in New Braunfels, and plan to live there. We are listening and waiting to see what adventures God has for us next! We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, He will continue to lead us One Step at a Time!

"Bales" of clothing

Sorting clothes

Larry and Fahim…so cute!

I think it fits!!!

Children at school waiting and receiving clothing

Classroom at the school. This was actually two classes, the oldest and the youngest!

Peace and Simon from Jennifer's orphanage

The children at Jennifer's wearing new clothes and shoes!

BEFORE!

AFTER!

Larry and Isaac

Habiba! We met her five years ago, and have stayed in touch!

Market

Kasaba! Yum!

Oh so cute!

Children in one of the villages, waiting in line for clothing

See our clothes!

Mathias and Mitchell!

Children's Church

I ALWAYS find a baby!!!

At Junior's school! We're missing Matthan, Patra, and Mitchell in this picture!

So blessed to call them Family!!!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Thanksgiving in London, Christmas in Texas, and New Years in Dubai!

Wow! We've had a busy last thirty-eight days…and loved every minute of it! Except the jet lag, I'm writing this at 2:00 A.M., as I can't sleep!

We were so excited to meet Emily and Luke in London for Thanksgiving! It was the perfect time of the year! The weather was a little bit chilly, but there were not near as many tourists as in the summer! We met Emily on Monday, November 25th. She was able to take off work, so was able to come earlier. Luke finished finals, and came on Thursday, the 28th. We had been to London with Luke three years ago, so Emily planned our itinerary for this trip! We visited some of the same beautiful places…Buckingham Palace for the changing-of-the-guard, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, London Tower, a boat tour, the National Gallery, Hyde Park, Harrod's, and Churchill's Underground Bunker. But then, we did some things that we were not able to do before because of the crowds or just running out of time. This trip we went to Westminster Abbey! This cathedral is absolutely gorgeous! The outside is so majestic, and the stain glass windows are beautiful! We also visited St. Paul's Cathedral. Emily and I walked the 500 steps to the top! What a view! One of my favorite things to do as we have been able to travel is to find the highest spot to view the cities! St. Paul's Cathedral did not disappoint! The view was amazing! We also visited Shakespeare's Globe Theater. We learned so many things, very interesting! Emily arranged for afternoon tea that was delicious, and really nice!

Luke arrived on Thanksgiving Day! We met at the changing-of-the-guard, and then walked over to Garfunkel's for Thanksgiving Lunch…not turkey and dressing! Emily and Larry had fish and chips, Luke had a burger, and I had chicken. We did some walking after, and went "through" a Christmas festival. Larry and Emily trekked down to a market…Luke and I waited at Starbuck's! :)

The next day, which was Friday, we did a bus tour! We visited Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath. This tour allowed us to see the countryside outside of London! Windsor Castle was beautiful, and reminded me of Buckingham Palace. The Queen was at Buckingham Palace, and then I guess heard we were going to Windsor Castle, because she arrived the same day we did! Ha! Stonehenge is such a puzzle, and so fascinating…to imagine how the heavy stones were placed there, how they were placed in such an intentional pattern, and for what reason they were placed there. No one knows, just much speculating by many! Bath was amazing too with the warm springs. The town was also beautiful!

Then Saturday, we went to the Museum of Natural History. It was huge, and a little too "sciencey" for me! Ha! We also walked through Hyde Park. The fall leaves were gorgeous, and I loved seeing the fall season! Not much fall in Dubai! We also found the Peter Pan statue in Hyde Park. Fun! Then, we walked and walked and walked to Abbey Road. Luke and Emily got their picture crossing the street, just like the Beatles album! That evening, we had our first and only experience riding the "tube!" I wish we would have done it sooner! We were on our way to a performance of "Stomp," and there was a huge traffic jam. The taxi driver suggested we take the subway, so we did! Emily found out the ins-and-outs, and off we went. I wish we would have ridden it to Abbey Road! "Stomp" was very good!

Sunday, we all left to go our separate ways. Emily and Luke back to San Antonio, and us back to Dubai. But, in two weeks, we were back in Houston ready for Christmas! We were able to see my mom, Leon, Helen, and Jack in Seminole. Then, went to New Braunfels and enjoyed time with Luke and Emily, and Christmas Dinner with my sister and niece, Mom and Leon, Emily and Luke! We were missing Ben, who was not able to join us this year as he is busy finishing his last year of school in California. We had such a good time just being with family!

The night before New Year's Eve, we arrived back in Dubai, just in time for the New Year celebrations! We have been in Dubai all three years for New Years, and love to spend it here! The fireworks are always spectacular, but this year was exceptional! Dubai set the record for the longest fireworks display in the world! It is Dubai, after all!!!

It was a busy time, but such a special time with our family. We have missed David terribly, but Heaven seems to have become more real for Larry and me. We were talking about what a fantastic birthday party for Jesus they must have in Heaven! We have our faith, and the hope that one day, we will unite with Dave, and he can show us the sights, far more grand than we can even begin to imagine! As on all of our trips, and each day of our lives, God leads us, and will continue to lead us…One Step at a Time!