#23 Al Ain ~ Raymond's Baptism/Kennedy&Mag

We began our day with a little message to everyone about carpooling: "Please let President know *as soon as possible* if you’d like a ride to Raymond’s baptism today! It will be at the Sinclair's and there will be a water activity with ice cream from 4:30–6:30pm and then Raymond’s baptism at 7:00pm. Our loaner car only seats 5 (not 7), so we will have to plan multiple trips to accommodate everyone; so you'll need to let us know ahead of time. President will be driving between 3:00–6:00pm to organize and schedule everyone's pickup times, then we will leave at 6:00pm to head straight to the baptism". 

The kids spent a couple hours in the pool and had a blast as everyone visited and ate ice cream! They all got cooled off and the pool was the perfect size and perfect temperature!

The Baptism of Raymond Sanceda Talabis

May 2nd, 2026

What a beautiful day for a Baptism 💙😇💙! Raymond and his wife, Cheza (who has been a member her whole life is strong and faithful, served a mission and is one of our RS teachers) grew up in the Philippines. They have a son, Prince, who is the Deacons Quorum President and they have a little daughter, Elli, who reminds us our granddaughter, Dolly.  They are a beautiful family and Raymond has been reading the Book of Mormon to Prince each night, since . . . forever. One day Billy asked Raymond what was keeping him from joining the church; Raymond always attends all the activities and watches church through zoom with his family each Sunday. Billy found out that Raymond was addicted to vaping so Billy figured that could be an easy fix and bought him some nicotine patches and gum. Raymond threw away his vaping pen that next week, we gave him the missionary discussions and he was baptized the next month! What a wonderful blessing for him and his sweet family! We are so very excited for them. 

Just about everyone in the Branch came out to support Raymond in this most joyous occasion! Since Billy was carpooling he didn't go for a swim 😆 but managed to get everyone there for the Baptism even with a few more trips than normal!

There was delicious food and lots of socializing and the making of beautiful memories. It truly was a glorious day for everyone.

The following month Billy, me and Hygine visited with Raymond and his family and Billy conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon Raymond and ordained him a priest. Now Raymond can administer the Sacrament bread and water to his family each Sunday while Prince prepares and passes it. This is such a huge blessing for this beautiful family. Now Raymond and Prince team-teach Elders Quorum once a month! Next year they are ecstatic to be able to go to the Temple and be sealed together forever as a family 🥰. In the left, middle picture Ellie is gently bringing the back of my hand to her forehead while saying “mano po.” In the Philippines, this gesture is called “mano” or “pagmamano.” It roughly conveys: “I respect you.” It’s somewhat comparable to the "wai" in Thailand or bowing to an elder in some other cultures, but it has a distinctly Filipino cultural meaning. It is the cutest thing in the world when Ellie does this to us and others in the Branch each time we see her. Whenever we visit them I always bring Ellie a bunch of Primary things from the previous month, which she loves. Previously, Billy had driven and stayed with Raymond at the driving facility to help him get his Driver's license. Fortunately, Raymond had the best instructor that wouldn't let him take the actual test until Raymond knew all the rules and could pass the test with flying colors. Billy has arranged now for Gabriel to have this same instructor at the end of the month so he will also be able to pass the test 🤗🥳🤨!

The pictures in the upper left corner is Hygine's wife, Joy, with her Pharmacy all set up. It will take awhile for her to make a profit but she is very busy getting inventory and her business established.  One night we had to run errands and Hygine needed a few things so we brought him along. Hygine has had a lot of stomach problems over the last few months and Billy has picked him up and taken him to the hospital with no real solution.  We think it has finally been figured out. Many times when Billy is with Hygine he has Billy take him to this meat place that Billy says is pretty disgusting, alas, the last Dr gave Hygine some 'worm' medicine 😳 so at this point we are hoping that Hygine will stay away from this particular store 😛. Kennedy, lower right corner pic, got a new job so he wanted us to come see him at work! Kennedy (Mag's husband) has his Bachelor's Degree in Finance but he has proven to make a mean hamburger at his current job at the Black Gloves. We ordered "the works" and with every serving you get a pair of black gloves. I haven't figured that out but it's a fun concept. the food was great!

Here are Kennedy, Mag, Alma and Lehi (they have a daughter in Nigeria that I think is 9 or 10)!  We've had quite a chapter (or perhaps a novel is more accurate) with this little family. If you remember the first 5 months after we arrived Billy was going out at least every other day and spending 6 to 9 hours weekly helping get birth certificates for these 2 little babies. He had also gotten Kennedy a work visa and the family has been helped monthly from the food pantry. The whole situation came to a head shortly after the Birth Certificates were received. Before I begin that, though, I must tell you about a little funny incident that happened at the Nigerian Embassy on one of Billy and Kennedy's trips there. At the embassy there were a ton of Nigerians outside waiting and just hanging out because they are trying to get extensions on their passports or other issues. As Bill and Kennedy were leaving a woman shouted at Kennedy and said something in his language; Billy knew it must have been something derogatory just from the lady's tone of voice but Kennedy didn't want to tell Billy what she said. After Billy kept coaxing him, Kennedy finally told him that she said, "Tell your white man to buy us some food" 😂😂😂! Kennedy was embarrassed but Billy thought that it was hilarious and told Kennedy that that was the first time that he felt totally discriminated against 😆!

Now back to the saga. So after all the hours, energy and effort of getting these 2 little boys birth certificates, Kennedy told Mag that he needed to take the boys to get their passport pictures so she and the boys could go home to Nigeria (I guess I haven't mentioned this before but Mag has been here for the last 3+ years without her visa so technically she is not legal and will be thrown in prison if she is caught without a current ID card). So, of course, after finding out there was no record whatsoever for the two boys this became Billy's top priority and why it was so important for him to work nonstop at first and use whatever time it took to get the boys their birth certificate and then getting Mag and the boys passports and get them back to Nigeria. There are huge penalties along with prison sentences if you are not here legally but every so often the UAE will grant an "Out-pass" where you can leave the country without penalties but you have to leave within 7 days. So that was the next step 🤗! 

Unfortunately, when Kennedy told Mag all of this she refused to leave.  Her biggest worry was that without any money (and she and Kennedy have been fighting for the last few months and trying to live separately then together without talking) she would go home to Nigeria and her and the boys would starve; which is totally understandable and scary, especially with them not getting along. And, honestly, I would much rather live here than in Africa or the Philippines just because the living conditions are better than the places that they live in back home. It's hard to even imagine that back home is worse than the hovel they call home here but surprisingly enough here in Al Ain it is so much better. But . . . they cannot be here without an ID card so there isn't any other choice. I decided to write and explain the whole situation to Mag. Here is the very difficult letter that I had to write to her (her falling under my jurisdiction).

"Honey, 

1. I do not want to disappoint you, but I need to be very clear that it is no longer possible for you and the boys to remain in the UAE after the end of August.

2. Now that both boys have received their birth certificates, Kennedy will take them to receive their immunization shots. Once that process is completed, preparations must be finalized for you and the boys to get passports and return home to Nigeria.

3. Your airline tickets need to be arranged now so that Kennedy can sign the "No Objection Certificate", which is required for you to travel with the boys with the other spouse's permission. This is where it gets tricky.

4. I know you want to stay and have Kennedy take the boys home but if that is the case then YOU would have to go to the embassy and sign the "No Objection Certificate" in order for Kennedy to take them home. And, unfortunately, if you go to the Embassy to sign the form, because you do not have a current Visa, you would be arrested.

5. And because of this, the only way the boys can get home is if you take them. It is impossible for you to get your own Visa.

6. You will need to go home for at least one or 2 years. During this time get on pathways and learn a skill (like nursing) that will enable you to come back and make money. Right now that is the only solution.

7. After the "No Objection Certificate" is signed we will take all necessary paperwork to the embassy and apply for a "Transit Out-Pass" so that you don't have to pay the accumulated fines of 54,750 durham ~ 50 durham for every day you have been here not legally ($15,000 ~ friends, you know I say 'not' legal on purpose).

8. We will hopefully be able to request an "Exit Pass for Deportation" as well, which will allow you to leave without facing imprisonment.

9. Unfortunately, there is no option for extending your stay in the UAE past the end of August.

10. We also found out that the church can no longer continue providing food, supplies or financial support while you remain here not legal, doing so would expose the church to serious legal consequences for assisting someone who is residing in the country not legally. We would be aiding and abetting a not legal immigrant. The ramifications for the church would be detrimental.

11. In addition, President and I are no longer in a position to provide further financial assistance other than helping with your airline tickets to get you home. We have already spent substantially more than we originally intended while residing here and many of those resources have been used to assist you and the boys.

12. President has also devoted a significant amount of time and effort in helping with your documents, legal matters, appointments, and arrangements for your return home.

13. We will make your travel arrangements at the beginning of August when we return from our 10-day leave. At that time, you and the boys must be prepared to depart the UAE and return to Nigeria by the end of August.

14. We will continue helping you with the necessary supplies that you need until the end of August.

15. Kennedy will also assist in finding you a place to stay in Nigeria.

We care about your well-being and want to see this process completed safely and legally. Your cooperation in making these arrangements is necessary. We do love you and the boys, Mag, and wish it were possible for you to stay, but our hands are tied as well and there is no other way that this can be resolved. With all our love, a heavy heart, and hope for the future, Sister Jamie"

Well, as you can imagine that went as well as a porcupine at a balloon party.  Mag went ballistic. She called and left voice messages with at least 3 members who then got in touch with me (like at 6am). Most of them had no idea what she was saying, let alone talking about. Finally, she texted me back because I couldn't understand the voice messages and we went back and forth a few times and then she vanished. Yep, she took off with the boys and went to Dubai and stayed at a friend's house.  We still communicated back and forth some and even though she wasn't mad at me (more mad at Kennedy) she just refused to go home to Nigeria or Al Ain. About 2 weeks later she told me, 

"Mummy not this month I we let you know." and "Hello Mom, yes, I will go back to Nigeria, but not at this moment. I need some time to sort things out first, especially to get an apartment and secure a safe place to stay. Right now, I don’t have anywhere stable to live, and I can’t return with my kids without having proper arrangements in place. When everything is ready, I will let you know. Thank you very much for your understanding. I really appreciate it."

Mag and the boys came back home and Kennedy had to stay there, too, because he had nowhere else to go. He keeps losing his jobs but he's really good at finding other ones. He will work 2 jobs just trying to save enough money to send Mag and the boys home to Nigeria with some money so she can start up some sort of business and survive. It's been interesting to say the least. We worry mostly about the boys. They need to interact with other children and be able to play outside and be free.

Unfortunately, this had to be done; last year when Sunshine and Hygine were riding with President Ashby they were pulled over and both the boys were required to show the officer their UAE ID's. Had Mag been in the car everyone would have been thrown in prison.  No exceptions. 

Kennedy is a hard worker but I'm afraid that when his visa runs out there won't be money to renew it and no work place wants to pay for it. It's hard to imagine this being better than their home country but it is. I just feel bad for the two baby boys.

Mag is still on our group chat which actually makes me glad. I was happy she was at least getting all our messages and staying connected in that regard. Kennedy is supposed to get photos of the boys for passports but he can never get them away from her to do that. There is supposed to be a time when the UAE will let non legal residents go home without a penalty but I don't know when that is and even if we did know when that was, it might not be enough time for them to get their passports. It's a pickle.

Doctrine and Covenants 104:17 

“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.”

Heavenly Father has blessed us with resources and opportunities, but He has also given us the gift of agency. Sometimes, in our desire to help others, we may give so much that we unintentionally prevent them from learning to make wise choices and become self-reliant.

Loving someone doesn’t always mean continuing to provide everything they need. Sometimes love means setting boundaries, allowing natural consequences and encouraging them to take responsibility for their choices.

As we help others we are trying to seek the wisdom to know when to give, how to give, and how to help in ways that strengthen rather than weaken.

Weird sad situation. 

#22 Fujairah/Red hat/Hygine/fun times

Let's see what has been going on this week 🤔!

We decided to go to Fujairah on Friday to see, if by chance, the hotel had found my red fuzzy hat. We left that afternoon and drove 1.45 hrs, found the Palace Resort Hotel, but, unfortunately, they didn't have my hat 😢. They were so nice and wonderful and tried so hard to locate it. I left my information just in case someone locates it someday. The far right middle pic is a picture of the mosque in Fujairah ~ it is so beautiful. After Fujairah we drove to Dubai and stayed at the nicest hotel by the airport (only $35 a night 🤗) and it was soooo nice! We settled in and we both slept soundly (no worries about Branch business except we had to tell Sophia that we couldn't give her a ride home from work today; she has been asking daily all week long, and we have been obliging) but we couldn't since we were out of town 😐. We woke up refreshed and headed for the airport to pick up Hygine! Temp was 106F; looks like a scorcher of a day. Hygine filled us in on his wife, Joy, her pharmacy, the teary goodbyes when Hygine had to leave, especially his little boy, Devine (2.5 yrs) and it was so sad. This trip was the first time Hygine got to meet Devine as Joy was pregnant when he first arrived in the UAE and he hasn't been home since. Then he filled us in on his conversation with Joy about his temple garments; when Joy was asking Hygine about his temple garments he told her it was a secret and she can't know about them until she goes to the temple 😂 ! I'm going to send her this article so she will understand that it's not secretive but sacred: 

The LDS temple garment is sacred clothing worn under ordinary clothes by adult members who have received the temple endowment. It isn't considered magical or something that automatically protects a person from harm. Rather, Church teachings describe it as a physical reminder of covenants, commitment to Jesus Christ, modesty, and God's promised spiritual protection. 

A particularly simple phrase from the First Presidency is that wearing it is “an outward expression of an inner commitment to follow Him.”

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/temple-garment-faq?lang=eng&utm_source=chatgpt.com

Another story Hygine was telling us about was when Joy found out that Hygine had to get a shot in the bum by a female nurse, Joy didn't like that.  Hygine says, "I make sure no one gets the wrong idea from me and that I am a married man"😂. He says the only lady that can ever touch him besides Joy or get close to him is the nurse for a shot, but she said he should request a male nurse or have the doctor do it 😉. This might not seem funny, and maybe you had to be there, but when he says it, it's hilarious! Hygine really is soooo funny. I mean really funny. He is smart and witty and fast with funny remarks like the one above. He just has the cutest personality. He would fit in with our kids very nicely! I'm sad he has to be away from his family but it is really good to have him back. 

We dropped an item off at his friend's place (from his mom) then we stopped at the Rove Beach Resort to check, if by chance, they had seen my hat. No luck. Then we had one more stop to drop something off for Hygine then eat and drive home. Hygine was pretty exhausted so he got a few minutes of sleep whenever we were driving. We got to Al Ain and there was a 3rd stop we needed to make for Hygine to drop something off ~ then home. 

The termites were still there waiting for us ~ so gross. I mean it makes me want to throw up. Worse than the ants. I thought I plugged the holes and the exterminator killed them but then Billy went into his whole office and it was totally infested with termites, again. Finally they came yesterday and drilled holes and squirted poison in the walls. They left a disgusting mess all over the downstairs but I guess cleaning up after themselves is not part of their job description. That was all for that day. We'll see if Billy has to go out and help anyone tonight!

One of the members asked to use our house for their child's birthday party. Of course, we said yes but it went a little further when they wanted us to pick them up Friday to decorate and also pick up their friends then on Saturday to pick them up, other members and another friend. He asked Sheila to make the cake, which Sheila is in a very precarious working environment so this is a big ask. Anyhooo, so even if Sheila is making the cake who is expected to pick it up??? You got it . . . us. Not this time. We've been more than happy to go pick up anyone who needs a ride to church/church activity or Dubai/Abu Dhabi for airport runs or immigration runs but in this situation he is asking a little bit too much to the point of thinking that we are like being a taxi service and have nothing better to do with our time. Our first tough love assignment 😦.

I don't know of any other culture that throws parties like the Filipino's. Since over half our ward is Filipino we have had many great activities with them.

There were games, singing, dancing and a TON of food! It was a real "family" gathering which we now understand that if one person is invited to something it means the whole family should attend!

It was the party of all parties!

It seems like we have Zone Conference with the other senior service volunteers 'every' month but I think it is quarterly. This one was an extra special one because our friends, Tod and Carlene Schulthess (middle, middle picture), from our Alpine Ward, have arrived in Kuwait and joined us at Zone Conference! Such a fun delight! We'll get to see them in Jordan, in October, for our next Zone Conference!

I love to take the kids to a place called Grandma's House for our Primary's Super Activity! It is the cutest place and both Teena and Sophia (from our Branch) work there so they know the kids real well. It's an enclosed place so no worries that anyone will escape and it's large enough that there is something for everyone to do.

We spend about 3 hours there and have dinner. They offer pizza, nuggets or waffles for the kids which are all very delicious! Usually the whole family joins in so we make sure and get enough food for everyone!

All the kids in our branch are invited (even the babies) and the only hard part is when it is time to leave we have a really difficult time with Alma; he will start crying and screaming the minute he knows we're going home. Then he cries and screams the whole way home in the car until we drop him off at his door. I sympathize with him for the first 10 minutes but the next 20 it gets a little hard on the ears. We just have to ignore his outburst.  I completely understand how he must feel, he is stuck in his little home which is only a little bigger than the size of a California king bed with a twin bed sized kitchen and a 1/2 twin bed sized bathroom. Pretty sad 🙁.

These last 3 bottom pictures are a place in the mall where on Tuesdays it's just 1 dirham for each ride or activity (about 30 cents). We'd love to take the primary kids here but it really isn't an enclosed area and I can just see one of our little kids escaping and them being lost for hours in this humongous mall.

Another misc collage ~ The first picture is me and Jennifer getting a wonderful massage. Sometimes it's nice to pamper yourself and as long as I ask them beforehand where to be soft and where to be extra hard, I love the massage! But too often they get the instructions mixed up then I am in for a very painful night.

Since we make a few trips back and forth to Abu Dhabi and Dubai sporadically; for job interviews for the members, airport runs, visa papers, etc.—I made just a little baggie of “critical things” if we are staying overnight that I can just grab and take with me. It makes packing a whole lot easier when I don't have to think about what I need each time.

We have a total of six large rugs in the living room, entry, and primary room. They were getting a bit dirty, so we saw this truck advertising carpet cleaning. They came out and got our rugs and cleaned them for us. I think it was a couple hundred dollars to have them all done, but they were definitely in need of it!

Then there is this store where these large carpets are only $10. WOW! So fun! This one is in the guest room and I want to get one for our bedroom. 

The next picture doesn't look too appealing, but this was a scrumptious dessert with noodle dough, strawberries and bananas. It was SO good! Above that is a little text about Louie needing some tooth medicine; we get texts like this all the time. This is why we feel like parents to many of our members (his wife is a nurse 🤔)! The next picture shows how very close we are to the Oman border. It's pretty amazing to realize how close we are to another country, which, by the way, has a fence between the two borders like most countries do 😉!

Then there are, once again, more white cars 😂. Have I mentioned that our white car’s A/C kept going out so we got a different rental and guess what color it is  . . . nope not white, it's black!

And finally, there is me and my Nook. I bring it everywhere I go so I can read anywhere I am at. This has become a staple (along with my pumpkin seeds)!

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 — There is “a time to laugh” and “a time to weep”; seasons of joy and sadness naturally come and go.