Happy Days!

 

 
October was crazy busy! October 3 was the start of our 10 day Eid vacation.  Russell came to visit us from Doha with his then girlfriend, Talitha.  I say then..because she is now his fiancee! We knew this was coming as we had all been talking about it. We just didn't know when he was going to pop the question.  As part of their visit we took them to Sheikh Faisal's museum for pictures.  This is my favorite museum in Qatar.  The Sheikh is a major collector of just about everything. His museum is constantly expanding with items he finds from all over the world. It is a fun place to visit and you never see it all. He has 100s of cars inside,  dhow boats, and even houses he brought from Syria that he rebuilt inside the museum.  Our friend Maureen came to take pictures and it was a fun morning.  The actual question was asked a week later as Russell and Talitha were at the park in Abu Dhabi. Mike and I are very happy she said yes! And so is Russell. :)

The date is set for January in Abu Dhabi.  Kind of funny to be at this next stage for us.  Never in a million years did we think we would be here in the Middle East planning our eldest son's wedding to a beautiful young lady from South Africa. God works in wonderful ways.  It's going to be a busy fall!

Changes in September

My neighbor and I hardly contained our smiles the other day as we chatted about the heat finally starting to break.  Last night several ladies sat outside next door and caught up with each other. Heat breaking, sitting outside...It's time for our favorite season in Qatar_ Not Summer.  This week Mike and Robert and I ate our first dinner on the back patio. This morning Mike and I drank the " first" coffee out there.

First day of 11th Grade??? Not so fast !!

Every day I drive thru 5 roundabouts to get Robert to school. 

  September is also the first month when traffic is back in full swing in Doha. In the summer months Mike leaves the house and in less than 15 minutes he is at work. Starting in September it takes about 40 minutes. The other day my school run for Robert took 50 minutes, just getting him there. In early August it takes 12 minutes. The round trip was a record breaker..Walked out the door and 90 minutes later walked back in. I was numb.

My friend Alisa and I turned a corner while running errands the other day and audibly gasped when we saw the street lined with Cement trucks on both sides. Would we ever get through???

On the other hand, and more importantly,  by September the best part of  Doha is also back in full swing. Friends have returned from far flung places and once again we are together.

Lunch at Fuddruckers for Clint's Birthday!

 I must add that although we are thankful for cooler weather and fun reunions, many of us living here are concerned about the horrible events in our region and the escalation of violence around us. It is not our safety that concerns us but the safety of people... the women, children and men who are facing such terrible things. Please pray for them.  

Home to Home

Sallie was baptized this summer.  A special time. 

A couple of days ago I decided it was time to clear off my floral,  summer table cloth( a lovely birthday gift from a dear friend here in Doha) and replace it with something more fallish.  It is still getting up to 110 or so here on some days but we know change is right around the corner. So I took off my flower centerpiece and pulled out my browns and oranges. A couple of pumpkin candles and I'm ready for a change!

I thought about my summer as I put the table stuff away.  It was a great summer.  Full of time with friends. Time to catch up with their lives and catch them up with mine. Time  to laugh and cry over the various good things going on and the hard things that  happened as well. Hugging Sallie's neck as we talked on her couch in the new place she and her roommates will be in for the next year.  Just having time with her that was relaxed and easy.  We loved the movie Hundred Foot Journey. Both of us laughing over the cultural clashes between India and France. We loved finding cute things for the house and setting things up. Mike and Robert set up the big speakers for a stereo for the girls... Oh boy!  It was so good to see Ryan in Austin.  I feel more connected having been in his house and having met his roommate. My heart was full as he cooked us a meal in his kitchen. My stomach was full, too. He really is a great cook. And to be with my sister and her hubby, Adrian and my niece , Tiffyn made the week in Austin perfect.  Ok, not perfect because it went by WAY too fast but wonderful, nevertheless.

My terrific sister and amazing niece. 

It's a strange thing this  "Expat Living",    Being torn between two worlds and connected deeply to both of them can kind of make a person feel schizophrenic at times. As my friend here in Doha said to me when we hugged after not seeing each other for nearly 3 months, "Mattie, it's kind of like having that second child. You can't imagine loving another baby as much as you love that first one. But then ..you do!  I love my US life and all so much and yet I find life here is wonderful, too. And to be blessed with a whole extra set of amazing friends!" She's right. Both of my lives are rich, and meaningful, and challenging, and full. Both are very, very different. But both are exraordinary. I'm so thankful. So blessed.

One of the very special things I  missed by being in Doha.. Pat became a grandmother. ( And so did Susan, and Anita, and...)  

As Robert and I stood in the DFW security line I noticed he seemed pensive. "Are you ok?" "I guess so, I just feel sad." "I know, me too. This is the hardest part, isn't it. It's like we know when we go thru that gate we have said goodbye. No turning back..and yet, we're so ready to be home with Dad and back to our lives..." "Yeah. This is the hardest time. When you still have a choice..." And once we were on the plane? We were fine. Ready to be home in Doha. Missing our home in Dallas. Yep. schizophrenic. :)

  .

Robert, Sallie and Lolo enjoying the puppies at Debi's house.  

Good friends moving Sallie's couch to her the new place.   

Chef Extraordinaire...Austin, Texas

Our time was short but oh so sweet. 

Ramadan Kareem Pie

Today, all over the world, Muslims begin their month long daylight fast-Ramadan.  People will greet each other with Ramadan Kareem..meaning Generous Ramadan. It is a time for generosity to others. Robert and I will only be here for 3 days of it as our flight to Dallas is Wednesday.   Even so, we felt the anticipation all around us, as well as the looming dread for many.  Traffic gets better and worse. As the day starts later for many, the drive into work for Mike today took less than 20 minutes-versus the usual 50 or so. The rush on the grocery stores surpasses the US equal at Thanksgiving or even, dare I say it, Black Friday.  Cars patrolling the parking gatages and parked along the walls, food sold out on the shelves, and so on. No eating or drinking during daylight hours, which for the Gulf Region is about 14 or so.  But after evening prayer time...families and friends gather all over the city to break the fast together.

Last night I went out to the pool for one last chat with my friends who are out there every evening smoking Shisha.(I call them the Shisha Ladies.)  I had a Key Lime Pie to share with them. (The pie,lest you think I have transformed in someway to a pie baker... was a gift from our friends Andy and Colleen.).The group has shrunk as many have left for summer.  But three of us sat and chatted. It was a sweet time. I asked my friends what Ramadan meant to them personally. Is it just a tradition like many think of Christmas.. a holiday of family and friends but one which has lost its spiritual significance? Or do they see it as a special time to seek God ? Both shared how for them it is truly a time of spiritual renewal and they get frustrated with the many who don't keep a right attitude of reverence.  We talked for quite awhile, enjoying the pie and sharing our religious perspectives with each other.  I was happy to leave the pie with them as I returned to the house. I love Andy's pies..but oh my gosh, the calories!!! :) It was a nice evening.

I came back to the villa to find Mike and Russell visiting on the back patio. Russell was on a visa run from Abu Dhabi and we gladly spent a few days with him. Robert and I were thinking the week would drag by until we leave for Dallas..So Russell came and spiced things up.  While here, Russell received the news that he has a job in Dubai! Great news. It is nice having him over in this part of the world. If only we didn't miss Sallie and Ryan so much. Splintered might describe how we feel many days. But also, we know we are blessed. We have great kids and enjoy them whenever we can be together!

Enjoying early morning visit on the patio. Fan going full blast but still breathable. 

Last lunch in public . Mr. Taco is a favorite for the Hildebrands.

Others like Mr. Taco as well. The mall was hopping!

 

Overwhelmed

Cousins Catching Up 

As the first day of summer rolled to an end yesterday, I told myself I needed to blog!  But here it is, the next morning, and I am just sitting down.  Normally, I would be upstairs waking Robert..BUT Thursday was his last day of school! Finally!   His buddies have all been out for at least a week, some of them for two weeks. We plodded along though and now we are finished. I intentionally said "we" here as I think I may be more excited than Robert. :)  A break from the drive to and from and to and from will be nice.

Although school just finished we actually started our summer holidays a couple of weeks ago ourselves.  We went to Abu Dhabi one more time to say good bye to good friends-the Heaths, the Eichhorsts,and the Pages.  We decided missing one school day so close to the end was not too major. (As it turned out, there was no school that Thursday.) The weekend was filled with lots of hellos and goodbyes... Good byes to two of our favorite Canadian families still there, and the Joe and Jean Page who are returning to the US after umpteen years serving faithfully and whole heartedly in the Middle East.  Hellos to Russell, who just returned from his trip to Texas, and to Martin, my nephew!!! He is in Dubai until sometime this fall.  It was great to see him. I'm ashamed to say it had been 5 years!  (and longer since I've seen my niece...but this summer I will take care of that!)  

Good bye luncheion for the Heaths. Lots of old friends reunited. We flew in from Doha. The Kenneys flew in from Oman and the Pages were back from Arizona to say good bye to Abu Dhabi. 

Because I have been writing this for many years..going on seven, to be exact, I know sometimes I repeat myself.( The years combined with my age, probably)  But, anyway, this expat life is rewarding and challenging.  The challenges involve living so far from family, especially when the kids return to the home country, operating under different rules and customs, the details of the here and the there, and so on...and over it all, the challenge of saying goodbye after goodbye. As I looked around that luncheon group in Abu Dhabi, I was overwhelmed with the feelings of  what those people came to mean to us in the 5 years we were there. This was the group who was there for my dad's death so soon after our arrival. My mom's death, 3 months later, Mike's trials at work and job searches and finds, Russell's sudden exit from Afghanistan... and so much more.  There were some folks absent but be sure they were talked about and missed.  It was a sweet time of laughter, memories and tears. 

As we begin our third summer in Doha.  We see the friendships developing, the shared experiences, both good and bad, being carried and celebrated with our newer friends here.  We feel the support so needed when you are accosted by the challenges and the tough times, and the differences. We are reminded again that wherever we go He is here.  Bringing His family together to support each other and then moving them on to what is next for them. For us. Yes, it is rich. 

And reading these words,  I am overwhelmed again.  To be blessed like we were in Abu Dhabi. To find that again right here in Doha...  and to know, that in less than two weeks we will be in the US with the same thing all around us.  Family and friends who help carry the burdens, celebrate the joys, and share the journey.

Rewarding and challenging. Life. 

Here's to summertime! 

    

  

 

Last day as a high school Sophomore!

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!