Al Ain ~ Our Joyful Departure/Arrival Begins #2

 ~ We are off ~ 

Our renter—let’s call him Cameron —rose early Saturday morning at 4:00 a.m. to take us to the airport. We said our goodbyes and checked in, with a little last-minute shuffling of weight distribution (Billy’s… not mine 😉).

We arrived a full hour and a half early, which gave us plenty of time to get through security—though had our TSA status actually made it onto our tickets, it would’ve taken about half the time 🤔.

Anyhoooo, we boarded the plane and our 3½-hour flight to Chicago went fairly quickly, thanks to the Christmas sleeping masks and blankets from Willie & Grace. We both managed to get some much needed sleep 😴. Unfortunately, that would be the only sleep we’d get for quite a while. 

The next 13 hours were not nearly as kind. I’m not sure why sleep was impossible, but for me it didn’t help being squished between two men—even after losing 20 pounds. The gentleman by the window was very friendly…and also battling an upset stomach, which meant he was up and down quite a bit. Sadly, during the final three hours, I’m afraid he didn’t quite make it to the restroom in time 💩.The smell radiating from his seat nearly did me in. Billy thought I was feeling extra snuggly, but really I was just trying to breathe air from his side of the row. (Sorry—TMI.)

We arrived to a beautiful day in Abu Dhabi and were greeted by the most wonderful couple alive: President and Sister Ashby. From the moment we hopped in the car, Sister Ashby and I talked nonstop—just like the men up front! It instantly felt like we’d known them our whole lives. They filled us in on everything: the branch, the villa, the community—and we hit the ground running. Once we got home…well, let’s just say we crashed hard 😴.

The next morning we woke up to the most delicious smells. Sister Ashby is a fabulous cook, and breakfast included muffins, omelets, and juice. It was comforting to learn that almost every food we can imagine is available here in Al Ain. I also discovered my new favorite chocolate date treat, "Camel" (pictured above)—absolutely divine.

After breakfast, we headed out to a few stores and drove past other places we’ll need to become familiar with. We also stopped at the mall, which immediately reminded us of the malls in Thailand—huge, impressive, and very expensive. The Ashbys left us there to get our new phone while they went off to order a stack of pizzas.

The FUN FAMILY NIGHT begins:

Each member of our branch has a different work schedule. Most work twelve-hour days with only one day off each week. This makes it difficult to meet as a full group, especially since many are required to work on Sundays.

Our branch is very small—about 30 to 45 people total. We have just three Primary kids, two young men, and one young woman. The members are from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Nigeria, with a couple of American expats mixed in. It’s going to be a joy getting to know them, hearing their stories, and sharing testimonies and love across so many cultures.

Our little Branch community is one of the sweetest groups of people you could ever meet. They are loving, warm, and genuinely good.

This assignment is already so different. We’re excited to be here, but it’s also been a bit of a shocker. Billy has been asked to serve as Branch President, which is a big mantle and a heavy burden. That means lots more praying on both our parts. 

What has been the hardest—and most eye-opening—part is the poverty. It feels so strange to come from a place with bishop’s storehouses everywhere, yet have branch members here who sometimes go to bed hungry. These are not people trying to take advantage of anything; they are faithful, righteous, hardworking members who sacrifice deeply for their families. Many came here believing they would earn enough to live, save a little, and send money home. That’s what they were promised—but for many, it simply isn’t true. Some work and then don’t even get paid. It’s heartbreaking; it may be better for Filipino nurses, but for others, it’s nuts.

We will do everything we can to make sure our members don’t go hungry while we’re here. What happens after we leave, I don’t know—but these people are so good and so deserving.

This mission is going to require us to become as spiritual as possible. It’s sad, humbling, and deeply meaningful all at once. Truly interesting—to say the least.

Mosiah 4:16–18

And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand… But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent.

For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have…?