WOMAD and the Weekend

WOMAD.  World of Music Abu Dhabi. Bands from all over the world come for a three day concert on the beach.    The beach is transformed with huge stages, lights, speakers, flags and thousands of people.  It's really something. And it's free.  Last night we heard bands from Iran, Sudan, and here. (We missed Cuba. They didn't start until midnight or so. :) ) . The night before it was Burundi, Palestine and Egypt. Bands from India, France, China and Spain are also here. It is amazing. We grabbed our camp chairs and just walked along the beach to each stage along with everyone else in the city, or so it seemed.   The night began with fireworks. They really like fireworks here.  Several of our friends were there so we did the trek from stage to stage with them.  It was a great evening.

Today Robert is off to a sailing expedition with the boy scouts. I am quite jealous. Sallie is spending the day helping my friend, Pattie, with the costumes for Beauty and The Beast.  This is the musical that the Abu Dhabi Choral Society is presenting the first week of May. Our friend, Katie, is Belle. Pattie and Sallie have lots of great stories. I think Pattie has been to at least a dozen tailors in order to get the costumes made and at least 6 or 7 are making the various items.   At one rehearsal a guy started to strip down in front of them and poor Sallie's eyes bugged out. Pattie quickly said to change behind the curtain...Sallie: " I don't even know him!"  Pattie: "You DO NOW. " They both  ended up laughing a lot that night.    

WOMAD was fun but we sure missed Ryan.  Last year we sat with him.  So, Mike, knowing that I missed him called him from his cell phone not caring about the cost. We only talked for a minute or so, but it helped.  Some things are still bittersweet.

Hope you have a good weekend, too. Ours is almost over.  

He Came, We saw, He left.

Russell flew through here last week. On his way to his new job in Kabul, Afghanistan. And I mean..FLEW.  He arrived Monday night at around 8pm. He left our apartment at 2 am Thursday morning to catch a 6:30am flight in  Dubai.  It felt surreal.  Went by way too fast. The week before he came I counted down the days and even hours. We went to see Il Divo in concert at Emirate's Palace on Sat. and I kept thinking about Russell coming. At the park on Monday I thought about Russell coming... And I thought Mike would never get back from the airport on Monday night! :)  But the time was way too fast.

While he was here we celebrated sweet Sallie's 15th birthday and even had a few late gifts for Russell from his 22nd birthday in February.  We hung out. Talked. Laughed.  And ate at his favorite places like Arab Udupi and Lebanese Flower.  It did feel strange not to have Ryan here though.  Just not complete.   Robert pretty much stayed glued to Russell the whole 50 hours.  Then he was gone. But you know what? He is basically in the same time zone!!! Only a 30 minute difference from us. I love that.   Course not really excited about the Kabul thing, but it keeps us praying and trusting.  And we love that he is doing exactly what he wants and that he is trusting the Lord to lead him.  

If you would like to read more about his adventures he also has a blog....russellhildebrand.wordpress.com  He's already told us some fun stories.....Not sure if they will make the blog though. :)