Qatar: The First Six Months

Hello Friends!

I will be making my way back to America in a few weeks so I thought it was time to post a note about the first half of my Middle Eastern adventure.

The first 4 months were a little tough. I was working but delays in getting my permanent work VISA, driver's license and enrolling in school created a very frustrating time for me. I really began to wonder if I had made a terrible mistake...then, God.

A couple months after arriving I found out about a Christian Fellowship that meets on a weekly basis. I still didn't have my license so I walked an hour each way to attend the services. I did not mind though because it was really encouraging to worship with other believers. I needed the fellowship and as many of you know there are people in the world that walk much further under far worse conditions to get to church...so all in all it was not so bad.

On January 16, 2010 I finally started Arabic classes at Qatar University. It is a condensed program but we have a fantastic professor who guides us through the material. Within a few weeks I could basically read Arabic, I just didn't have the vocabulary to give the words meaning! As of right now we just finished the first level and will begin the second in a couple of weeks. I am able to communicate basic greetings and carry general day-to-day kinds of conversations. Obviously, I have a long way to go yet, but I am loving it.

During the first week of February I found out about an Arabic Fellowship that meets on a weekly basis as well. It took some digging but I was able to get permission from a member to attend. The first service was amazing. It is an odd thing to worship in Arabic. I guess it is because I has compartmentalized everything Arabic to be associated with Islam...when this was clearly not the case as they were singing to and about Jesus. Needless to say it was an expereince I won't soon forget. I have been attending regularly and last week I met a man that was born in Bethlehem but had moved to Qatar 40 years ago. As much as I tried to use my Arabic...he insisted on speaking in English!

So now, everything seems to be working out. I have my work VISA, passed the driving exam on the 2nd try to finally get my license, been taking the classes I came here to take and I am coming home soon. I even have several Muslim friends now. While witnessing and evangelism are sticky subjects around here, I am confident that the Gospel is being shared even if only through casual conversation in friendship.

We had a Jordanian Pastor come and speak for a couple weeks and I will never forget what he said about missions, "When people hear the song of your life, they will ask for the words." He does not have to tell people he is a Christian, they just know. His actions tell them that he is different and that there is something about his life that they do not have. He ministers specifically to Iraqi refugee women and children living in Northern Jordan by providing food, water, clothing and even goats to meet their basic needs.

The point? Christian ministry goes on all over in many ways we will never hear about. This Jordanian Pastor may never have a huge church auditiorium filled with thousands of congregants but he is doing his part to change the landscape of eternity in a place where few would even dare to go. He is a modern missionary hero who is reaching people that most of us didn't even know existed. May God bless him and his family.

As I said, I will be heading home soon but I am coming back for the second half of my adventure...and then...well we will just have to see.

What? Burger King delivers?

That is right...as does McDonalds, Hardees, of course Pizza Hut...just about everybody - one of the many unique things that I have found interesting about Qatar.

I live in the capital city surrounded by skyscrapers and water. It is very beautiful and I am glad the company has rented our accomodations here. The difficult thing is that we work about an hour away from where we live...with traffic it is easy a 90 min commute. Our work day starts at 5:45 am so we have to leave our apartment between 3:30 and 4:00 am. There is extra time coming in because of base security...go figure! :-)

This picture is looking out my living room window:

Right now we are watching the Muslims celebrate Ramadan - the holy month in which they fast during the day and eat all night. This means all the restaurants and stores are closed during the day...the exception is the grocery store. We can buy food during the day but we are not allowed to eat or drink in public. The good news is that this celebration ends with a 3-day holiday called Eid...since we are under Qatari labor laws, we also get the 3-days off. The start and end of the 3 days is determined by the moon...so it will either be this Sat-Mon or Sun-Tue, we are not sure yet. Regardless, it is 3 days to really explore Doha.

So far I have been to the City Center mall where there is a bowling alley and an ice skating rink...both of which I have not tried yet. But I will soon!

So far, honestly it has been mostly work, but I am slowly becoming acquainted with the area and have plans to begin venturing out more and more. As far as language school, I have been in contact with Qatar University and they offer several options for classes. I will have to wait until my work schedule is settled before I sign up and pay the tuition fees..this too will come in time.

Prayer Requests:

The requirements for Westerners to get a driver's license has changed recently and now it is very hard. It will be awful for me if I am unable to obtain one...this is very important.

Thank you.

Or...

Okay, so just when you think you have the plan set, God goes and changes everything. I have taken a job working in Qatar. It is just about in the center of the 10/40 window - amazing! This job will provide the opportunity to live in the Middle East and I have been given permission to study the language in my free time. So there it is...He calls, He moves, He provides...all we have to do is obey! Also, since I am working for a defense contracting company I am pretty free to write about my experiences. The day will come when I will not be able to be so free flowing with the blogs, but this go-round is official so I can talk to my hearts content.

Where is Qatar? Well, here is a map...

As you can see it is a tiny peninsula sticking off the side of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. I will be living in the capital city of Doha. I am so excited to meet the people and begin to learn the very difficult language of Arabic. Everything before me is a complete mystery...but I cannot wait to begin blogging my Mid-East experiences.

Eyes set on the uttermost

Nearly a year later and the thought of the 10/40 window still consumes most of my day. I have clear direction from the Lord that a move is coming...now it is Isaiah 40:31 time. I used to want to do something with my life that would change the world, but now I want to do something with my life that will change eternity. Our country getting all turned around, it seems we are no longer "We the people", now we are "We the dependents of the US government" and this saddens me. While fighting for our country is noble and needful...something pulls my sight to the needs of the world. The thought of women being so tormented that they do not feel worthy enough to even look at a man makes my blood boil. Women and children cast aside like unwanted dirty laundry is something worth fighting for and the pioneer in me wants to at least try to make their lives better.
The first step is a trip to a particular location to determine if humanitarian efforts will be received. This comes this summer. Then, I will raise support for the cause, followed by language school and eventually an education/aid station for women and children. How all of this is going to pan out is anybody's guess but I have faith to believe that God is going to move on behalf of His people and allow us to help them. More to come!

New Life

We added a new member to our family. It is amazing to me that no matter how difficult situations get, the moment a new baby comes it brings everything into focus. Holding this little guy this morning...just a few days old...seemed to breathe new life right into me. What amazing possibilities there are for him! And I hope his mother would not mind me telling you this...but she considered abortion. Why? Well, the world told her that life would be easier without him. They may be right...it might have been easier without him. But all it took was one look at his precious little face and this dear mother fell in love with him. That supreme love is worth all the sleepless nights, and difficulties that are coming to her. She knows she made the right decision. Life - what a gift we have - Let us praise God today for life and decide to lay it as an offering before Him. God Bless!

Learning to Love

1 Corinthians 13 is commonly known as the "love" chapter in the Bible. The KJV translators chose to use the word "charity" but the root word still means love. I prefer to read the passage inserting the word love where I see charity. I relate to love more easily than I relate to charity - though it is clear the words are interchangeable.

The first 3 verses of 1 Corinthians 13 reads: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing."

This passage has been resonating in my soul for days. Every person who seeks to minister to others must take these verses to heart and determine to pepper all ministry with its message. As I work with the ladies at the mission I see that it does not matter how much of the Bible I know, how much I understand, how much faith I have or even the sacrifice that is made to work there...but the thing that will stand out and make a difference is if I can love them. This leads us to Jesus' supreme message...love the Lord your God with all your heart - AND love your neighbor as yourself.
To this God says to me, "Kim, you must invest your life into their lives...care about the things they care about...find out what matters to them and let it matter to you - Kim, determine to love them unconditionally." Submitting to this plea I have found a joy for ministry that I never knew was possible. I cannot wait to get to work, cannot wait to see them and find out what God has been doing in their lives. Every missionary, pastor, and Gospel laborer must strive to keep love at the heart of every message. God says anything less than love...is nothing.

Being Misunderstood

It seems attacks have been coming from all sides the last few days. The more I try to defend and explain my position the more misunderstanding enters my life. As I laid on the couch last night sulking in self-pity the Lord reminded me that part of surrender is surrendering my right to be understood. Hmmm....not exactly the comfort I was looking for but definitely the comfort I needed. Below is a list of "rights" that must be surrendered if we are going to truly walk in humility before Him.

My right to be understood
My right to possessions
My right to have acceptance
My right to be successful
My right to have pleasant circumstances
My right to presume on the will of God
My right to life itself
My right to beauty or strength
My right to have friendships
My right to be heard
My right to take up offense
My right to be right...ouch!

Certainly not a comprehensive list but I think you get the idea. How much better we would get along if we all just released our right to have rights and surrendered all to Jesus.