When you grow up in one place all your life, there is a huge tendency to become clouded to how things really are. We believe what the news tells us or what we hear the old folks talking about, despite if it is true or not. We take it as being the truth. Now I am not saying that there isn't some truth in what the news reports or what the folks around us talk about, but can any of us really say that we know everything about any one subject in particular? I am so proud to be an American! I am glad that I can live in a place that entitles us to freedom that so many have worked so hard to sustain! So don't misunderstand this post...I am not being unAmerican! When we announced that we were moving to the Middle East, so many people were shocked that we would even entertain the thought! We heard comments about how terrible life was in the Middle East, that we were going to deal with bombings, that we were going to be living around terrorists, and so many more. This is where my post title comes in...We should all stop and think..... I first hand had to stop and think for myself. I too grew up in small town America. I had some of those same thoughts at first, but I made a choice to educate myself about where we were looking at moving to. I told Clint that I had two conditions that would seal the fate of my decision about the move...#1) Could we go to a Christian church? If so, where? #2) Would there be quality education for our boys?
Well after some research online I found the answer to both of those questions. We are attending a Christian based church that has Awanas, Youth Group, and many other avenues for worship and service, that bases everything on the Trinity....Father, Son, & Holy Spirit! If in my research I couldn't find a place for our family to worship, then that would have been a deal breaker. I have recently learned some information about the church and the way that it came into being that makes me know that God's hand is at work.... As you know the religion of this region is primarily Muslim, but because of the work of some of God's people that have worked through the Mission Hospital here, the rulers of this country made a decree that allowed Christians to build a place for gathering and worshiping here in Abu Dhabi. At one point in time, the ability for Christians to gather was in jeopardy. The church was given 30 days to vacate the premises of the building they were using at that time. On the 29th day, one of the Sheikhs here took his wife to the Mission hospital to have their baby. There were some complications but the doctor was able to save mom and baby! The Sheikh was so happy and thankful that he asked the doctor if there was ANYTHING that he could do to thank her....She said as a matter of fact there is, and she told him about the situation with the church. He said give me a day and I will get back with you about this! The very next day, the last day that the church had to be in the building, after exhausting all efforts through all possible channels of saving their gathering place, they received a call saying that they did not have to move anywhere. In fact, they were told that the main Sheikh was making a decree that they could not be touched by anyone. That they would be given land and that they could build adequate space for what they needed for their "gatherings". (They use the term "gathering" because although the church was being given this wonderful gift, it still couldn't be recognized as worship because it was not the religion of this region.) The Sheikh even purchased the buildings that were being currently used from the church at a price that more than covered the cost of the new buildings. Now what do you think about that? I think it is pretty AWESOME!
As far as education goes, well that is covered as well. (So many people think that the internet is a tool used by the Devil, well that very well may happen, but I totally believe that anything can be a tool used for good or for evil! It's all in the user!! Just like a gun can not kill someone unless a person picks it up and uses it for that purpose....now this is another topic I could rant about, but I hope you understand my reason for using it as an example at the moment.) The internet has been an awesome tool for us during this time of our life.... I found us a church, as well as I was able to locate the top notch American school in the area. The school is well known in this area, so well known that many of the areas most important and high ranking people's children attend this school as well. Now although it is an American school with an American based education, it doesn't mean that it is only for Americans. There are many different nationalities attending the school that the boys will be going to in a few weeks. The school is a private school and they have excellent academic programs as well as they incorporate community service trips and world travel into their curriculum! Again I say....once in a lifetime opportunity!
After I was able to answer my two deal breaking questions, I couldn't find any reason not to take advantage of this great opportunity for Clint's career and our family, except FEAR! But let me quote part of a verse of one of my favorite hymns.... Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed!
So God has brought us to it, and He will bring us through it!
Well after some research online I found the answer to both of those questions. We are attending a Christian based church that has Awanas, Youth Group, and many other avenues for worship and service, that bases everything on the Trinity....Father, Son, & Holy Spirit! If in my research I couldn't find a place for our family to worship, then that would have been a deal breaker. I have recently learned some information about the church and the way that it came into being that makes me know that God's hand is at work.... As you know the religion of this region is primarily Muslim, but because of the work of some of God's people that have worked through the Mission Hospital here, the rulers of this country made a decree that allowed Christians to build a place for gathering and worshiping here in Abu Dhabi. At one point in time, the ability for Christians to gather was in jeopardy. The church was given 30 days to vacate the premises of the building they were using at that time. On the 29th day, one of the Sheikhs here took his wife to the Mission hospital to have their baby. There were some complications but the doctor was able to save mom and baby! The Sheikh was so happy and thankful that he asked the doctor if there was ANYTHING that he could do to thank her....She said as a matter of fact there is, and she told him about the situation with the church. He said give me a day and I will get back with you about this! The very next day, the last day that the church had to be in the building, after exhausting all efforts through all possible channels of saving their gathering place, they received a call saying that they did not have to move anywhere. In fact, they were told that the main Sheikh was making a decree that they could not be touched by anyone. That they would be given land and that they could build adequate space for what they needed for their "gatherings". (They use the term "gathering" because although the church was being given this wonderful gift, it still couldn't be recognized as worship because it was not the religion of this region.) The Sheikh even purchased the buildings that were being currently used from the church at a price that more than covered the cost of the new buildings. Now what do you think about that? I think it is pretty AWESOME!
As far as education goes, well that is covered as well. (So many people think that the internet is a tool used by the Devil, well that very well may happen, but I totally believe that anything can be a tool used for good or for evil! It's all in the user!! Just like a gun can not kill someone unless a person picks it up and uses it for that purpose....now this is another topic I could rant about, but I hope you understand my reason for using it as an example at the moment.) The internet has been an awesome tool for us during this time of our life.... I found us a church, as well as I was able to locate the top notch American school in the area. The school is well known in this area, so well known that many of the areas most important and high ranking people's children attend this school as well. Now although it is an American school with an American based education, it doesn't mean that it is only for Americans. There are many different nationalities attending the school that the boys will be going to in a few weeks. The school is a private school and they have excellent academic programs as well as they incorporate community service trips and world travel into their curriculum! Again I say....once in a lifetime opportunity!
After I was able to answer my two deal breaking questions, I couldn't find any reason not to take advantage of this great opportunity for Clint's career and our family, except FEAR! But let me quote part of a verse of one of my favorite hymns.... Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed!
So God has brought us to it, and He will bring us through it!
