I truly love our Sunday meetings. Sacrament meetings are so spiritual; I genuinely feel the Spirit during each Sacrament meeting every week.
I often wonder why it touches me so deeply. Is it because this little branch radiates such spirituality every time someone gives a talk? Is it because I come prepared to listen "spirit to spirit" as they speak? Or is it because we know the circumstances and humble hearts of these brothers and sisters, making their messages even more meaningful? I'm sure it's a combination of all these things, but whatever the reason, I always look forward to our Sunday meetings.
I am especially looking forward to (again) having Sunday School and Relief Society every week. Personally, I would happily return to the three-hour meeting schedule, especially here in Al Ain. Our teachers are absolutely wonderful. They prepare diligently, are incredibly knowledgeable and consistently provide inspiring and meaningful lessons.
I am continually humbled by their faith, spirituality, and devotion. They do not take their membership, the Priesthood or their callings in building up the Kingdom of God, lightly. They are such examples to me.
Moroni 6:9 And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done.
We are still only able to have church on zoom so sometimes we'll have everyone who can make it, over to the villa in the afternoon on Sundays. Because of my headaches, we haven't hosted as many gatherings recently, but I hope to start them up more regularly again. These get-togethers are always fun, lively, and a wonderful opportunity for members to visit and strengthen friendships with one another.
Fortunately, since I retired from kitchen duty several years ago, Billy and many of the branch members happily pitch in to prepare our Pancake, Spam and Egg dinners. I think if I were responsible for the cooking, it would be a disaster! Not only would it wear me out, but we probably wouldn't have many returning visitors either; I’m so out of practice that I'm not sure I could make anything truly edible anymore 😂 😂😜! Oh, I should mention that I do contribute one thing every Sunday: Fruit Salad! The members, especially the Africans, absolutely love it. It always makes my heart happy to play a small part in the joy and smiles that Sunday brunch brings 😜!
The saddest and hardest thing is that since everyone works 10-14hr days and they only get one day off a week, many of our members have to work on Sunday. Even when they request having Sunday off it does not happen. They all try to tune into at least Sacrament meeting while at work but for many this is impossible 😢. Billy has begun tape recording our speakers so they can at least watch them after work.
The youth had the opportunity to participate in a temple trip to the Thailand Temple (upper left hand picture). Through the kindness of a very generous member who anonymously covered half the cost, each participant only needed to contribute the remaining portion. It is inspiring to witness such Christlike generosity; individuals willingly giving of their means to help these young people experience something they may never have imagined possible. For many, it was the fulfillment of a dream and an opportunity to draw closer to the Lord. The trip was a deeply meaningful and spiritual experience for everyone involved ~ leaving lasting memories and strengthening faith. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples?lang=eng
I've been driving now for a few months and I can get to almost all of the member's homes safely without GPS and even to some of the malls!
These are our cute friends Jacob and Leena from India. We've gone out with them and their adorable daughter, Gianna, to Indian restaurants a couple times. Did you know in their culture they like to mostly eat everything with their hands. I think this had slipped my mind but it was so fun to do! Leena loves the church and all the lessons she has had but feels a great loyalty to the Christian orphanage, where she was raised with her siblings, and the fact that they brought her to an understanding of Jesus Christ. So at this time she just wants to enjoy the fellowship of the Saints and we love having her around us!
Here's our cute little primary class working on gifts for their Mom's (and other significant women in their small lives). Zoe, the oldest, is so very generous and would sacrifice all her cookies to make someone else happy. Kahliea, far left, top picture, is very attached to her family and no matter what she made or colored it needed to 'stay in her family'! And Zuri, the youngest, is just a rascal and keeps the rest of us laughing.
Pictures I took upon our first couple weeks here in Al Ain. I have gotten used to our beautiful city and it feels like home. I have also found that it is much more beautiful than I had first imagined.
So much has been going on. It seems like every single day there's a new emergency, crisis, or impossible situation that somehow lands on Billy's desk/text/email. At this point, we're beginning to wonder if we're being filmed for some kind of reality show 😂. This week alone, all within four days of each other: Louie started having heart problems. His wife called, and Billy had to meet them at the pharmacy and pay $250 for his medication (which he'll need every month). If we hadn't been there to cover it, he literally would have died.
Friday night at 11:00 p.m., we got a call from a young sister whose husband had punched her in the face, slammed her head into a wall, kicked her, and tried to strangle her. So naturally, we brought her and her kitty 😦 to the villa, comforted her, and put her to bed.
Saturday morning, I spent over an hour with her while she explained that she definitely wanted a divorce because this wasn't the first time he'd done this. Then that evening, when she was feeling lonely and missing him, I spent another three hours talking with her about Heavenly Father, self-worth and what her husband would almost certainly do the next time. But in the end, she decided she wanted to go back to him. So less than 24 hours after rescuing her, we drove her home. Fortunately, he promised 😒 he'd never do it again, so we're all set there 😣. Good Grief 😰.
Then yesterday morning, we discovered that one of our sweet sisters had been in the hospital for the last two weeks with a blood clot in her brain 😦. We'd been trying to contact her the entire time, but she never responded; we had already decided we would go check on her today since she lives out on the vegetation hydrophobic farm and rarely comes into town. Then that morning Billy got a text from her saying she'd been in the hospital. So off we went to visit her there. She had surgery and is doing ok; there is still a little leakage so they are monitoring her closely. The temperature was 113F outside and as we were walking from the car to the hospital I literally thought I was going to pass out. Wow ~ I've been in a lot of hot places but this takes the cake (our shower and water temperature is hot even when we turn it on cold)! After our visit Billy left me inside the hospital and went and got the car ~ he is even taking care of ME full time 😉.
The funny thing is that these three incidents sound like an exceptionally bizarre week. But honestly, they don't feel exceptional anymore. This is what life seems to be like Each day. Every week. Every month. But as I have mentioned before ~ this is what we are here for!
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not 😉." Galatians 6:9
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Sunshine, Gabriel and Rob/Ram and Alma/Kennedy/Louie, Bill/
Louie (lumie-dog),Rochelle, Mag/Jamie and Alma/Little Lehi! |
The good news (always good news to be had) is that Sunday was actually really nice. After Sacrament meeting, Billy asked the Sunday School president, "Who is teaching today?". He was informed that it was the fifth Sunday, which meant Billy was teaching. Fortunately, I had just started a Patriarchal Blessing WhatsApp group for the twelve members who haven't received their blessings yet and Billy had recently listened to President Monson's talk on patriarchal blessings. So between the two of us, we were able to pull off the hour without a hitch. I am loving learning about each of our lineages through the 12 tribes of Israel; it is so fascinating to me!
Then we had everyone over to the villa for brunch at 5:00 p.m. I picked up Mag and brought her and the two baby boys to the Villa. Billy picked up Sunshine and Hygiene. A few others came as well, (those that had cars) and it turned into a truly lovely evening. Unfortunately, Mag's husband, Kennedy, raided our refrigerator and drank my entire carton of grape juice (a rare luxury that I had been saving) along with Billy's Snickers bar. Oh, and I forgot to mention that they're separated now, so that's another little situation we're helping navigate. Billy is also working tirelessly (literally 6 to 9 hours weekly) on getting birth certificates for their two babies and then passports so Mag and the boys can eventually return home to Nigeria.
At 6:30 we slipped out so we could watch our Grandson, Jude York (Mindy's 3rd), give his homecoming talk. He served for two years in Guatemala. His two brothers flew in from BYU to surprise him. Their Dad, Jakob, conducted the meeting, then Luke spoke, then Kobes and Jude was the concluding speaker. Needless to say, it was phenomenal. Tate, the youngest, gave the closing prayer (fyi - I snapped his pic before he started praying 😇). Tate will be serving in Brazil next month for 2 years (same exact mission where Marcie served)! #cutiepatooties
Then on Monday 3 members needed some food from the food pantry (can't understand why they forgot to grab it on Sunday 🤔); we bagged up some items and ran by the store and delivered it to their door. Besides being a Taxi service we have become an Uber Eats driver as well ~ only difference is our tips are in blessings
! While we were at the mall we ran across these sweet little muslim girls all decked out in their Khimar (head covering) and Abaya (a long loose dress). Beautiful! Also, Billy found a Thai restaurant where I'm indulging weekly in some good ole Mango and Sticky Rice . . . Dilly-icious 😋.
This is just a glimpse of our MAY calendar (I am still behind on my emails so things might not be corresponding exactly with the information above):
Fri 5/1/26 6pm- FHE at DeLeon's James candy/headache /Sheila visit w/billy
Sat 5/2/26 MIGRAINE /Sinclair Swim Raymond 34 BAPTISM
Sun 5/3/26 church Fast/testimony meeting.
11 Hospital 5pm neurologist/headache1hr ~ no pain
Mon 5/4/26 ~ 7am Kennedy JAMES Bday 42, SHEILA/CARLA, little headache/Sacrament boys/carla
Tues 5/5/26 - 10:15 Billy surgery CANCER thigh /4:15 - Teena, Gayon patio/priesthood lesson/ aura headache/5pm Zoom w/welfare
Wed 5/6/26 Dubai airport /Food/headache
Thurs 5/7/26 PRIMARY cookies/necklaces/ Cheza 7pm Raymond priesthood/ food/headache
Fri 5/8/26 10:30 Dermo Billy Cancer appt / 12 pm Visit Kat/headache
Sat 5/9/26 headache rest all day
Sun 5/10/26 Mother's Day/headache fuzzy
Mon 5/11/26 10am CARLA Embassy & CAR Abu Dhabi / 6pm Joshua Sacrament. headache fuzzy
Tues 5/12/26 4:15 Teena/Gayon put out pest sprinkles/sheila money/headache
Wed 5/13/26 BDAY Mary/Miles '17 headache
Thur 5/14/26 BDAY Isla - Van Morosels visit /Marcie GRADUATION /piercing headache
11:45 Dermo 7:30 stake activity virtual / 4pm PRIMARY Grandma's
Fri 5/15/26 5pm pastor Samuel/baby headache
12pm Kat and Josh ??? 6pm Sheila/Carla sleepover
Sat 5/16/26 8am/12:45pm Sheila airport / 7pm Brian/jennifer Bday BRANCH ACTIVITY/baby headache
Sun 5/17/26 Jay talk in church Conversions/ SS Deuteronomy 6:1–9;
Mon 5/18/26 BDAY Kenny '89 /3 delivery Food/ tiny headache
Tues 5/19/26 12:30 dr Dermo Billy/12:30 jamie neurosurgeon /gave$200 dirham to Teena
Wed 5/20/26 headache rest
Thur 5/21/26 9am Weir zoom, Mag signature? 11:40am ophthalmologist, EYE DROPS LEFT EYE, BDAY Scarlett / 4pm PRIMARY
Fri 5/22/26 BDAY Willie - 1984 Sheep movie
4:30 youth&leaders water activity
Sat 5/23/26 BDAY Malcolm '24 Abu Dhabi - 11:30 Armando patriarchal blessing.
Sun 5/24/26 - Church-High Council /Brian Jennifer dinner
Mon 5/25/26 - Billy Louie medicine
Tues 5/26/26 Billy Kennedy- mag separated. hygiene temple lesson 6:30 zone meeting
Wed 5/27/26 - Billy Kennedy
Thur 5/28/26 -4pm PRIMARY
BDAY Emma- 2019 MOVIES, Taonga, hygiene, ram, rod, Raymond, Prince.
Fri 5/29/26 -1pm Ram/Rod and 4pm Taonga 5pm park youth activity
store for Sunday, PICK UP TEENA violence 11pm
Sat 5/30/26 - SHOT, 11:30 Billy stitches out. Lulu, patriarchal WhatsApp group, Teena went home
Sun 5/31/26 - Jude homecoming, Sandra baptism, fast and testimony 4pm Dinner at Villa 8pm BISHOPRIC MEETING. Hygiene interview Kofoed/Billy. Mag/Kennedy, Brian/Jennifer, Gabriel, Sunshine, Ram/Rob, Rochelle/Louie.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58
