Greetings from the Meads!  Today the weather is warm, but there is a gently blowing breeze keeping life pleasant. Friday is our Sabbath, which I am finding still a bit confusing. Tomorrow as a Saturday is nice, but then on Sunday to return to work does not seem right. I am sure I will slowly catch on to the schedule of life here in the UAE.

Jana and I had a very interesting week. Monday, Jana again went with some Oasis ladies on Eid visits. She returned home after a long but pleasant day, tired and smelling of multiple perfumes. That evening was my turn to leave and go for an Eid feast.

I joined an Oasis men’s group and traveled to the home of one of the hospital’s adviser board members. What I saw of the home was amazing. We entered the Majlis meeting area. Around the periphery of the room were seated men in striking Arabic outfits. I shook many hands and was greeted by warm smiles. Small cups of coffee were brought and conversation proceeded. I was seated next to a CURE ENT doctor who is from Hungary. We had not met and enjoyed talking together. I learned he spoke Hungarian, Russian, English, German, and was learning Arabic. We Americans struggle often with a single language—I include myself of course. I was called over to officially meet different members of the group. The host is an avid hunter and travels often to Tanzania. He had a gorgeous mount of a large Cape Buffalo head and neck. He was a proud but humble hunter!

After what was deemed the appropriate time, we went into the large dining area. The table easily held our 40-50 guests. As a part of Eid, the Emirates prepare the goat in a special way. I asked for the ‘recipe.’ You may wish to copy this down for your next large party.

First, you dig a pit 6-8 meters deep. Yes, that is more than 20 feet. I suppose you could make it deeper if you needed to for a major event. Then you place a ‘large’ amount of wood in the bottom. He was a little vague on what ‘large amount’ meant, so feel free to take liberties here. The fire is started. While the fire develops the goat is prepared. I will assume you remember the basics of killing and preparing the goat from previous letters. Now you have several washed and seasoned goats ready for cooking. Important for your party, you must decide how many goats you will need. You do not wish to run out; that would not be pleasant. Are big eaters coming? Are your goats small or large? Do you want goat left over for the next few weeks? These are key questions for the party planner.

Now you have seasoned the goat well. Take fragrant leaves like citrus, mango, young palm, rosemary, oregano, etc. and cover the goat with these. You take palm leaves to hold the seasonings and leaves around the meat. Add some fresh dates to the packages and bind the palm packages firmly. Repeat for each goat until you have a nice pile. I suppose you could do a camel or a cow if you wished, but the traditional meat is goat.

By now the fire has beautiful coals in the base of our pit. The bundles of meat are gently tossed onto the coals filling the pit. A clay cover is placed over the cooking pit and then all is covered in dirt. The Sheikh recommended starting the cooking about 10PM the night before and planning to uncover the bundles around 2-3PM the afternoon of the feast. Got it?

We wandered along a buffet of delicacies to fill our plates. The meat literally fell apart. Huge mounds of rice, bowls of yogurt with some sort of green seasoning mixed within, specially seasoned rice with almonds, vegetables, and more. Then while at table someone came by and told me I “needed” some special sauce. The sauce was fragrant oil that was indeed special on the fluffy white rice. Piles of flat breads were on the table. Where to start? I loved it all! The meat tasted like no goat I have ever eaten. The meat was flavor filled and tender. Rip a piece of bread, grab a hunk of goat and vegetables, bite, and then just relax and enjoy. I sat next to Trae, who speaks Arabic, and on both sides of us, men of the UAE. We learned about each other, work, families, fun, and other things. The dinner was solely a male gathering. I heard stories of hunting, off road adventures, crashes, and travels—a good guys’ night.

When all had eaten too much, we returned to the Majlis for tea. I was able to meet a few more men then as well. Later we wandered home. I truly enjoyed the night and people, and learned a new cooking method for later use.

Tuesday we left on another adventure. Jana and I have been in many places since leaving Kenya. We traveled during our US time from as far east as Maryland to as far west as Nevada. We traveled around Michigan seeing friends, family, and sights. We flew into Atlanta on our way to San Palo Sula, Honduras. Within Honduras we traveled by bus to Copan and the Mayan ruins. Later we left via Chicago to London and then on to Dubai, UAE. From there we drove across the desert to Al Ain. Now where? Tuesday evening about 7PM we took the hospital vehicle and were driven to Dubai airport. We accompanied Dr. Niles (internal medicine), Trae, and his wife Jessie to visit a previous Oasis patient and then run a couple clinics. We boarded the plane at 11:30PM and flew 3 hours north and west. Do you have your map out? First, find Dubai on the southeast side of the Saudi peninsula. Then we flew north and west. Got it? We finally landed in Erbil, Kurdistan. Jana and I had never been in Kurdistan and in reality did not know much about it. All I remember was the battles of Kurds.

We gained an hour, but passport control, luggage, a bus ride to get outside the airport — all took significant time. We were greeted by the patient’s family and our host, a woman from Texas. We settled into a short night at a gorgeous hotel. The next day clinic was to start at 9AM; the time was nearly 3AM. I wish we could have enjoyed the hotel more.

The Kurdistan trip was brief, arriving early Wednesday and returning to Al Ain late Thursday. We had a great time. Today will not do the trip justice. Instead I will close and ask you to pray that Kurdistan will be left in peace. The area we visited was situated in beautiful rolling hills. The vast majority of the roads and building were new within the last few years. The people are a handsome group but have faced much adversity. Jana and I loved the family we met there. The American woman is performing awesome work in a difficult place. I was able to see and greet kids and adults.

From Kenya to the US to Honduras to the UK to the UAE and now Kurdistan, I have met people of many faiths, colors, shapes, and sizes. All have struggles; all have needs. Jana and I know for now we are called to serve in this new region of the world. We have had and will have struggles. We are not sure what this life service will look like, but we do know we serve an awesome, loving God. For God so loved the world that He gave His Son… So, we focus ahead and precede boldly in His grip.