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.