Birthday upon Birthday!

Anna and friends!

Heather and Sarah over for birthday coffee and coffec cake. 

The last week has been celebration on top of celebration. My friend Heather had her birthday, which was bitter sweet as she will soon be leaving Doha for Berlin with her precious family. We will miss all the Hintons. That's for sure. Our neighbor Anna..now age 8 had her party.  What great neighbors we have all over this compound. Anna's mom is Portuguese. Her dad is Italian and they speak English around me which I appreciate. :) And then I had my birthday. Mike, Robert and I went to The Pearl to an Argentine Restaurant , Patagonia. The beef is imported from Argentina and the flavor brought back memory after memory of my childhood in Latin America. This is a restaurant we will return to with guests. It was  a great day and over and over I counted my blessings!

Smile for the Camera

After three years of pain, rubber bands and only slight smiles in pictures..Thursday morning dawned. The day that Robert got his braces off! Here he is with our fantastic orthodontist Dr. Graciela from Brazil. We were told about her just after moving to Doha and the best part? (besides the fact that she is GREAT!) is that she is just across the street from our compound! Although Robert still has a couple of weeks until the bottom set comes off, we are celebrating!  

                                           Happy Smiles, Robert!                  

Not A Normal Day

Today is our 31st anniversary!  Our 7th in the Gulf Region. As much as today is special, and it is, it has also been a difficult day for me.  A few weeks ago I was asked to go with a friend of mine to the courts building to translate for a young woman from Bolivia.  Glad that I could help out I went down there for her hearing. She had been detained 7 months earlier for drug trafficking. This was the first hearing where she would actually understand what was going on. The previous hearing were cancelled as she had no translator.  Only she didn't know this..because, you guessed it, she didn't understand what they were saying. I will not go into her case but she is innocent.
 Anyway, as I said, I was glad to translate and immediately felt a kinship with this young woman who for the first time was told what was going on.  We were able to pray with her and encourage her and explain things, as well as translate the hearing for her.  At the end of the hearing her lawyer, who had actually never interacted with her, nor did he say anything during the hearing, told her that on May 28...today, she would be released as innocent or as time served. Huh. Ok.  Wanting to be sure I understood the Arab to English translator we asked to have it repeated. My other friend was also there and she heard this too.
. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that today did not go as expected. The judge at the end of the hearing made sure that I would return today to translate. I said of course. However, when we got to the courthouse today we never saw our Bolivian friend. No, after two hours of having no idea what was going on, the same lawyer came and told us... 5 years. She is here for 5 years.But wait, we haven't even seen her. Where is she? What is going on? How will she learn this information she isn't even here and who is going to tell her??? The police will come and take her to prison. She can appeal. She needs a lawyer. Fine, Fine. But HOW WILL SHE HEAR THIS???  We finally connected with a lawyer who spoke English well and she explained a bit more clearly what we would need to do.  Again, we said, ok, but who is going to tell our friend??? Well, her family/ NO they don't live here. She was in transit. She has no family here. She speaks no English or Arabic. Seeing that we were not getting anywhere we left.
 Our hearts were heavy, so heavy for our new friend who only wants to go home and be with her family. We decided that we would risk  going to the detention center to see her even though visiting days are only on Saturdays. We would try to talk (and pray) our way in. All we could think about is that she sat all day thinking she would be released to go home. She would soon be corralled by the police who would take her to prison and she would have NO IDEA what was going on. Our hearts were heavy.  We battled Doha traffic again. It was now 11:30. The car thermometer read 47 degrees... centigrade. (117 degrees fahrenheit...) The air conditioner was losing the battle and my friend and I were soaked. We arrived at the detention center and I wrote a note just in case I couldn't talk to her. However, we received the captain's permission to speak with her. Thru the glass partition we told her the hard news. Thru many tears she kept repeating, my baby. my son. Are there other options.. We felt so helpless. After we talked for awhile encouraging her any way we could, we had to leave.  Our kind guard allowed us to hug our sweet friend before we left. Saturday I will  return and speak with her again before they move her to the prison. One of the inmates offered to have her lawyer meet with her and help her out. Perhaps that will be a way to go.  We will be praying.
It was not an easy way to spend my anniversary day and yet I am thankful I can help in some small way to ease this woman's pain and grief. As a follower of Jesus I was reminded of the exhortation in Hebrews chapter 13..Continue to remember those in Prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Please pray for this woman. And many who are here and separated from their families.

     

May Birthday

Robert turned 16 this month. Russell and Sallie dropped in via Skype. On Friday he had friends over to celebrate. I think I am still in shock that our baby is now 16. :)

 

As I sat and watched the kids horsing around, I couldn't stop smiling. Not just because they are all great kids and were having fun, but also because I am thankful for Robert having them as friends! It has been lonely with Sallie gone this year and we were all missing Russell, Ryan and Sallie!  

Casting Crowns

Mike on the Dhow cruise. In the background is the project he is working on. 

April flew by for us this year.  We celebrated Resurrection Sunday. or Easter, on a Dhow boat with good friends. Mike took the week off so he was able to join us on Sunday, what is usually a work day in this part of the world. Robert was on his spring break.  It was a gorgeous day filled with relaxation, prayer and laughter. Most of us signed up to do it again next year. A new tradition? I hope so.  

Also, we are excited to announce that we have located a good dentist over here! This is no easy task. My neighbor's husband came home last week after seeing a guy who didn't know how to do a root canal. I gladly gave her our new guy's number. :)  As Dr. Rami examined my teeth he coninually commented on all my crowns...which, by the way, are in good condition.(.Thank you, Dr. Hank Campbell, in Carrollton, Texas. Friend and dentist for about 25 years! )It is nice to have found someone here who is up to date on the latest technology and trustworthy.  Especially as I have a cavity. :)

We squeezed in a visit to Abu Dhabi this week as well. Many of our friends will be leaving this summer and we wanted to see them before they pack up and head to other places. We also had breakfast with Russell's good friend, Talitha.  Always fun to catch up with her, even with Russell being in the US right now. 

I imagine May and June will fly by as well.  Robert finishes school on June 19. He is counting the days.   

  

Although we had no April showers we did have some flowers bloom on our back patio..So enjoying our desert rose.

Desert Sand and Sea

Although Qatar is small there are many ways we have fun over here. One fun activity which we did many times in the UAE, is picnicking in the desert.  Last weekend was the first time we went out here in Qatar.  It was a beautiful day with good friends and peaceful scenery.  It's called the Inland Sea. Water, surrounded by sand dunes in every direction. It was a great day.  A much needed getaway.

 Our day was filled with dune bashing, swimming, clams found in the sea by our tents, and even the call to prayer on the sand dunes above us. With the weather heating up, and air conditioners running full blast,  this will be the last trip until next fall.

The Facts of Life

The longer we live over here in the Gulf Region of the Middle East the less surprised we are at the things we come across.  In fact, things are just normal now.  Camels, goats in trucks, women in black, men in white, etc.  But last week I nearly drove off the road at what I saw.

Robert and I were driving to visit friends in Education City.  (This is where several western universities are located..Texas A&M Qatar, Carnegie Mellon Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth and others. A cool area here in Doha.) We drove passed this building that reminds me of the Sydney Opera House.  A very pretty building and as it turns out it is going to be a hospital.

Out front were these sculptures...13 to be precise. Large bronze shapes.  But I could not make them out...Until we got closer.  Yes. It's a baby.  Oh wait, next to it was a baby earlier in the pregnancy. And earlier. Oh my gosh...Yes. The entire 9 months in separate huge sculptures. Let me frank here... I am pro life to the core. I have been most of my life...but these are the strangest things. And maybe it is just that they are huge and on display in a country where kissing is removed from movies.  I don't know, but if they had added one more statue at the front of these things it would have to be censored.

So, yes. We are pretty comfortable living in the Middle East, but yes, there are still things that sneak up on us and surprise us. We all laughed though at the timing of our discovery. It was the day before Sallie's 19th birthday. We were missing her a lot that day...  So it was fun to laugh over the strange sightings. :)   OH and yes. It is a maternity hospital.  but still....

                                       Happy Birthday, Sallie!  We love and miss you!

Rainy Days Don't Get Us Down

Big News! It's been raining in Doha.  So here is the standard, overdone foot shot..My view from my garage.  :)  The funny thing is, despite the fact that with an inch of rain roads all over the place  fllooded, and everything was a mess, we still all love it. The trees get washed down. The sky turns clear blue and for just a bit everything sparkles.  Robert was anxious to get home from school and enjoy it as well.

Here he is. Headphones and book, relaxing after school.  

The rain is gone. I don't think we will get anymore this spring but we certainly enjoyed our day in it. I hear the wind picking up outside. I think we are gearing up for a sandstorm. There goes the clear skies and the green palm trees. But it was nice while it lasted.  

 

Good For the Sole.

It takes me awhile to process things after a trip like the one I just took to Kyrgyzstan.  I have been blessed to travel on several trips where I joined others in serving people in various countries. God never fails to teach me a whole lot as the teams I have been with have joined with others, and with the Lord, in what He is doing in these different places. I'm so very thankful for these opportunities.  It's always in layers that are slowly revealed, that I see His work. I loved serving God in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan.

Our team mostly came from Abu Dhabi.  We left sunny, warm UAE early, early Saturday morning and landed in snowy, dark Bishkek about 5 hours later. A shock to our systems but we were up for it. This trip was a cooperative effort between Samaritans Feet, International, the church in Abu Dhabi-ECC, LAMb, International in Kyrgyzstan, and a wonderful church in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan. We delivered over 600 pairs of new shoes to orphans,staff,  families in crisis, senior citizens, and residents and staff of a boys prison.

The work was hard but so sweet.  Orphans in this country must leave the orphanages at age 15 but are not allowed to work until 18.  Two thirds end up in drugs, prostitution or prison.  With our shoes we delivered a message of hope. We prayed for each recipient and as there are already wonderful people who serve in each place we visited, we know that the seeds that were planted will be watered.  Honestly, that was one of the best things to me. To see that our new friends from the church in Tokmok already have relationships in every place we visited.. That was the best.  Ruby and Lynn Johnston, the couple who started LAMb(Leadership Activation Ministry) work hard to bring hope, education, truth and inspiration to the people of Kyrgyzstan. They motivated and challenged everyone of us on that trip...  A perfect example of not growing weary of doing good. I pray for a similar passion and purpose.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy!  And if you ever get a chance to join Samaritans Feet on a trip. I highly recommend it. Please check out their website.  Samaritansfeet.org   Also Ruby has a great blog where she chronicled our story way better than I can.  lambinternational.blogspot.com  I hope each of you will take a look at both of these websites.  They are worth a look. :)

Here we received gifts from the Mens' Disabled Home.  A dark place being transformed by a mother and daughter who love God and are being helped by LAMb. 

This little guy captured my heart. Never said a word but I pray her heard me as I told him of a  Man a long time ago who washed His friends' feet because He loved them And He loves you, too. 

This young lady hid her shoes as she waited for her turn to receiver her new shoes. Her shoes were in tatters. She was so embarrassed. The smile says it all.

The first thing we did when we arrived at any distribution location was figure out where and how we would set up. In this case, we used the stage in the small auditorium at the orphanage. 

Part of us got to serve at the Boys' prison.   

The Commandant at the prison. 

Our last night.  A celebration dinner. We ate Shashlik..Which is shishkbab marinated in vinegar and onion and grilled outside. Delicious!  So blessed to have met all these wonderful people.
It was an amazing week!  

Traveling Time

Mike and I took a few days and went to Abu Dhabi.  Our friends from Chicago were in town and we wanted to see them and hang out with Russell, too. It was a great getaway.  We got to visit church, catch  up with good friends and stroll down memory lane. Mike and I had not been back to Abu Dhabi together since we left 19 months ago. (Can't believe we have been in Doha over a year and a half now!)

My friends and I in Abu Dhabi eating lunch  served on a banana leaf.  

Next week I am leaving town again. This time to a much cooler climate and a place very unlike our home here in the Arabian Gulf. I am on a team heading to Krygyzstan for 8 days. We are going with Samaritans Feet and taking in over 600 pairs of new shoes to orphans there and delivering a message of hope to them. An interesting side note is the team is made up of many of my Abu Dhabi friends. Not only do I look forward to what we will be doing in Bishkek but I also look forward to hanging out with good friends for 8 days. Nothing like a challenging adventure to make good memories which hopefully include lots of laughter. :)  On a more serious note, I pray that God will touch the lives of the people we encounter and that He will be pleased with the work that is done.



   

Laughter is the Best Medicine

I  didn't expect to laugh while getting my vaccinations for my upcoming trip in March.  I expected the lines, the back and forth to different places, the delays..but I didn't expect to laugh.  I waited at the counter for the young lady to sign me in for my Typhoid and my DTAP or whatever it is.. As the smiling young woman, who wore a colorful head covering and beaded abaya, turned her attention to my request and my passport, she asked..When you go back to America?  Confused as to why she was asking, I shrugged and answered."In the summer, sometime..."    "Oh that too long. Too far "  Smiling I asked her, "Why?" She wanted me to bring her a kobo.  You know, a kobo. Blank stare.. What was she talking about.  But as she laughingly tried to communicate her wishes she reached up to her head and sort of made a circular motion.  Oh my gosh.  A cowboy hat! Yes. Yes! Cowboy hat!! I want whole thing.  She motioned the belt, the vest, (not sure if she wanted the gun )  and I just laughed out loud  Here I stood, surrounded by woman in abayas and men in dish dashes and there she was asking for a cowboy outfit.  I asked her where she was from. "I am bahraini, WE are different.."  Well, she certainly is. First time we have had that request.  I am still smiling.

I did get my shots, too. And then Sunday I got my Hep A. Where am I going? Well there are 11 of us from Abu Dhabi, the US and Doha(me) going to Krygystan with Samaritan's Feet. We will be delivering good news and 600 pairs of new shoes to orphans there. I am excited and at the same time, nervous. Mostly I am nervous about the cold. Very low tolerance for cold.  The other day it was 63 and I was sure it was 40. Still, mostly I am excited.

I need to save room for a Cowboy hat next time I am back in Texas.

What to do? What to do?

Here it is nearly the end of January 2014.  I think I have been battling the post holiday blues. For two weeks I have told myself that I need to write an update. I just kept putting it off. And putting it off. After Sallie flew out last week I felt like crawling under the covers and hiding for awhile. It is so fun when all of us are together.  But then when everyone is gone.. CRASH.  Robert and Mike and I just rattle around in this big ol villa hoping we find something that someone left behind. Ok, enough feeling sorry for myself..  It's something that all of us with kids living so far away have to deal with.  I need to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. :)
Sallie is back in Dallas. Started her classes this week. Ryan is all moved in to his new place with a new roommate and new job in Austin. Russell is working hard back in Abu Dhabi. Robert's classes started two weeks ago and his school is going strong.
Something that occurred to me yesterday as a good friend and I discussed missing our kids. The conversation naturally went to "So what are your plans for the summer?" Her husbands company already asked him to give them his vacation dates..  Ok, it is only January!  Neither one of us realized how much of our mental processes would go to trying to figure out trip dates, times, flights, etc. We laughed and talked about it for awhile. Neither one of us knows how it will play out. She  has to fly to one place and get her son who will then be packing up and moving to University somewhere..shoudl they fly? or rent a car and drive? when should they go? how long and what is more cost effective? but also they only have a certain amount of time and then moving his stuff.. and and. I smiled and said yes, so confusing.  And to figure it all out in January. Ha. Most of the time I can't remember what day it is, much less planning for the summer.  Sallie will take classes this summer. So I need her break times. Ryan is working full time so when do we go see him? When can Mike take off without too much crazy happening at work? and Robert's school isn't out until the end of June but we don't know when it starts in the fall.  Well, at some point Mike and I will sit and figure it out.  And we miss everyone so much.
As I reread this it makes me smile. We are so blessed with the fact that we can fly home and see everyone. I'm very grateful.  I just wish I didn't have to figure out the details. :) I'm just not good at details. Never have been. People I love, details I dislike very much. On the bright side, hey, it's only January! I can surely figure this out!

We miss them so much... Summer seems very far away.  

Togetherness

I returned to Doha first. Sallie came in later that evening. Mike arrived the next day.  Ryan two days later. At one point I was sure I would forget who was supposed to be where and when they were supposed to be there. The day after Sallie arrived in Doha, she, Robert and his buddy Adrian flew to Abu Dhabi.  Both kids wanted to see their friends there and that was part of their Christmas present. Then Russell flew back here with them on December 24th and finally! after 12 months we were all 6 of us together again! For me that was the best part of Christmas. I know that with Ryan now working in Austin at the Mariott(starting Jan. 5) and Russell working hard in Abu Dhabi and Sallie in Dallas in College, well, it will be harder and harder to have the 6 of us together.  So it was a quiet Christmas but just right. Now Ryan is in Abu Dhabi seeing his friends for a few days and hanging out some more with Russell. He will head back here on the 1st then off to start his new job. Very excited for him.

As 2013 winds down, I think back through the months that flew by.  The sadness of my brother's sudden death combined with the joy and peace of knowing he knew Jesus. Celebrating 30 years of marriage with my best friend. Sallie's graduation from high school. The many friends who came to see us. The many friends we were able to visit. Our niece's wedding in Kansas. Sallie getting her driver's license and starting college in Dallas. Leaving her there with good friends to help her get reacquainted with American life. Robert starting traditional school here in Doha. Russell moving to Abu Dhabi. Thanksgiving with good friends here in Doha. Then like a bookend to my year, another sad but wonderful celebration  of Mom Hildebrands homegoing... What a precious time that was to be with family and remember her. (So glad we had the summer wedding with almost all of us there.)

So here I am. In that pause between Christmas and New Years. It was a great year. Not an easy one, no, but still a very good year. I just started reading One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. That's my hope for 2014..to see and name the wonderful gifts in my life.

And I'm starting with family.  and friends. and...

Thanksgiving at the Mitchell's with many of our Doha friends

Before they headed to Abu Dhabi for New Year's

Christmas Dinner

Four Wheeling fun in the Desert. Apparently Ryan also tried flying but we didn't get a picture.

My kids complain that I take too many pictuers. tough.

Goodbye, Mom

I'm waiting to hear today if Mike, stranded in ice-locked Dallas will make it out of their today. We had his flight to Wichita all booked but didn't plan on the ice storm of all ice storms.  He is on his way to Kansas.

Here we are minus Russell. We were all in Kansas to celebrate Mom's 80th birthday. 

 We got the news early last Thursday morning that Mom Hildebrand passed away.  Another one of those gut wrenching, it is hard to be so far away, phone calls. Mike went into work late and I worked on his flights out of here. His coworkers were so kind. A parade of folks passing thru the office to offer their condolences.
As a daughter in law, and member of this terrific family for 30 plus years, here are some of my thoughts on this strong, intelligent, kind woman. From my first visit in 1981 she made me feel welcome and included. I think one time I asked her about what she thought of me those first visits, ha ha.. the city girl who could not sew, cook, play piano, garden, etc. etc... But she never made me feel that I was  anything LESS... ( I may have felt those beginning years, but not from her! :) ) My favorite memories are the ones of my summers at her place. I didn't see much of my grandparents growing up so I wanted my boys to have time with their cousins and grandmother. I would take the kids up to Stafford and we would just stay for two or three weeks. We had so much fun. Mike would come join us and I loved those times.  The boys would play in the sprinkler or wash the toy trucks their dad had played with as a boy, and mom and I spent many hours on the front porch. Or maybe all of us would head to Mary and Norman's and get rides in the tractors. Including me. Mom and I had lots of long talks during those summer evenings. Or those glorious summer mornings. There were pizza nights, dinners with all the cousins, vacation bible school, and even a trip to Dodge City to see Mom's childhood home.
 Mom H welcomed me and so many others into her home.  The Hildebrand Hotel just off Hwy 50 was open for so many friends traveling East to West and West to East.  But more than that, all of us were welcomed into her heart.
I will fly to Kansas on Thursday. Then the family will all come together on Saturday and celebrate a woman who walked with the Lord and is now rejoicing in heaven with Him. And as great as that is, we are still sad and will miss her very, very much.
Iolene Hildebrand. We love you.

On the Bright Side

Lunch at The Burgerry. We are enjoying it but the sun is bright as seen by poor Robert's squint. :)

With the hassles of  getting resident permits/visas in this part of the world come certain benefits as well.  Like having Russell come to see us last weekend as he doesn't have his visa yet.  We picked him up Thursday night at the airport and just had a fun couple of days hanging out. Although he has said that Doha is not his favorite place we did manage to give him a more positive opinion by introducing him to two new restaurants that we found. :)Mr. Taco is new and right by our house.  Great Mexican food with homemade tortillas and salsa. Another new favorite? The Burgerry. Great Burgers and Shakes with outside eating. The servers are all from Eastern Europe but they make great burgers! Russell will be back for Thanksgiving. First one we have had with him in 6 years.  Sallie and Ryan celebrating together with Diana and Adrian in El Paso.  All of us looking forward to family time together. On both sides of the world.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.

Isn't this a great tree? 

Aspire Tower. Doha landmark. Without it I would get lost way more often than I already do. 

@ HolidaysareHere!

Everyone is taking deep breaths over here. The heat is finally breaking. It isn't that knock- you- over blast these days when you walk outside.  And with that slightly fresher air come the Fall holidays. Robert went to a youth group Halloween party as Charlie Brown.  Possibly the first Halloween costume I have ever put together. Still am not a halloween fan, by the way, but Robert is our 4th and, yes, he wore a costume.Just not a whole lot of extra fun over here.
Of course, we may be pushing the cooler temperatures just a bit. Mike was so anxious to try out our new fire pit on our little back patio that he got wood and made a fire in it last night.  I laughed when I saw the beads of sweat on his forehead as he chopped the wood( a wooden pallet taken from the fruit market by our house).  "Are we maybe rushing this fire thing just a bit? " Still, we enjoyed the fire with our friends... And will enjoy it more as the season progresses. :)
Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. We will gather with several friends to celebrate and thank God for His provision here and for the many blessings we have in our lives..here and there. Today I will go to the AWA (American Women's Association) Christmas Bazaar. Always fun to browse around and find things from all over the world.
Happy Fall, Everyone!

Fun in Oman

To celebrate Eid we flew to Oman to spend time with Jeff and Mary and Russell. It was such a fun week.  Russell had never been to Oman so it was fun for him to see another Gulf country. Oman is especially beautiful with its mountains, beaches and history. 

The Bahla fort was built during the medieval islamic period sometime between the 12th and 15th centuries. It is surrounded by a ruins of a village from the same era. Russell hoped to see a Jinn. No luck. 

It is so fun having Russell back in this part of the world!!   

Meals on Wheels

It's Eid al Adha this week. The time of year when Muslims all over the world celebrate Abraham's sacrifice and obedience before God.  As part of the celebration there are family meals which include meat from a sheep.. just slaughtered.  So all over town one can see animals on their way to the slaughterhouses. I snapped this poor fellow on the way home from dropping Robert at school yesterday.

Mike and Robert have the whole week off!  Tomorrow we are going to see the Kenney's in Oman. We can't wait. I heard on the news that One million people will be going thru the Doha airport in the next 10 days. Needless to say, we are going to get there at least 3 hours early tomorrow. :) On Thursday people abandoned their cars and ended up walking to the airport. Yep. It is a crazy time in the Gulf region.    

Last and First

We had another first in September. In fact we had a couple of other firsts besides Robert's first day of a bricks and mortar school experience....

And we had a Last as well.  Grace Fellowship, our church here in Doha, held its last worship service in the villa where it all started like 9 years ago. Although the Hildebrands have only been attending for a little over a year, we still felt the emotion of change and goodbyes.  Many families here helped start this church and it was difficult to say good bye to a place that held so many great memories for them. We are thankful to have had these months here getting to know the way it was and being part of the way it is going to be.

Grace Fellowship Doha, Qatar

Thanking God for many great years here, and His provision.



   

And on Friday Sept. 27, we celebrated our first service in the new building. This buildiing is located in an area called the Religious Complex outside of Doha. There are several other churches out there, including the Catholic church, the Orthodox church,  and I don't even know who else. Our building is shared by many other denominations. If Friday was any indication it's going to be a busy place all week long.

Welcome to the new building!

Relaxing with Lori and Ibrahim

To celebrate Mike and Robert and I joined some dear friends for our first visit to the Sealine Beach Resort here in Doha.

Daniel buries Robert

 

Where Robert received his first jelly fish sting!  Hope it's not the last time Robert gets in the water here...but I wouldn't blame him. :)