Greetings from the Meads!! Although it is early in the morning, the air is already warm, the skies clear, and the sun rising. I long for the view of the great valley but settle for a small courtyard with a few plants fighting to survive. Coffee is still my familiar friend as I enjoy the quiet. We are slowly learning about life in our new region. The last week was filled with new foods, new people, new places, and new traditions. I suppose that is one reason I cling to my familiar coffee mug and early morning habits.

One of the most difficult concepts for us has been changing our day of corporate worship. We have been used to joining others at church on Sundays; Friday is now the day of church and Sunday is a day of work. We did join our friends the Millers to attend a Friday morning service. As I gazed across the congregation, I smiled. What a beautiful sight! There were people of all different colors, nationalities, sizes, and shapes. We were all able to join together for the same purpose of worship. This service was done in English, but it was English tinted with various cultural influences and accents. I have joined groups where I am the only different one amidst a sea of sameness, but here I was just one of many different people. There are many congregations calling the Oasis campus home. You can find services in many different languages and traditions. Some groups are large; some groups are small. All are worshiping the same God. We look forward to joining into the fellowship here.

After church, we toured the new hospital under construction. “Wow” is all I can say! This hospital is going to be quite amazing. Construction is progressing well, I understand, with the grand opening sometime in the early-middle of 2012. I am still biding my time waiting for governmental approval of my orthopedic licensing. This time is hard on my constitution as I am not a good ‘wait-er’. You would think after all my years in Kenya I would be more patient, but I look forward to starting my work and getting to know what my practice would be. Pole, pole, as we say in Kenya (Slowly, slowly).

After a nice lunch, Stephen thought we should see some new sights. Where would be more appropriate than a camel souk (market)? Al Ain has one of the larger animal markets in the UAE. The market is situated behind a large mall. Numerous stalls protected from the sun by tinned roofs spread out before us. In addition to various camels, there were sheep, goats, and cattle. Goats were special right now, as the festival of Eid is here and they are the featured ‘guests.’

In Kenya the goats are fairly similar, but in the market you see monster sized goats with thick horns; shaggy, heavily coated goats; smaller, more familiar goats; and just plain goats. They all have one thing in common — they all have a very distinctive smell of goat. People bargained for the animals and then loaded them into vehicles. We passed.

The camels were my favorite, even if one did spit at me. The camels, too, varied in shade from a very dark brown to a light blond. People walked some around the market to show them off. Tourists like us took pictures. Camels are an amazing looking critter with their big feet, large single hump, and funny looking legs. I look forward to attending a special sporting event later — camel racing. I have heard the races are fun to watch.

After strolling the market and getting our fill of the sights and smells, we returned to the guest house. Saturday, Jana and I ventured out by cab to a shopping store called “Lulu’s.” The store had a large variety of foods and household items. Many of the foods are common in different cultures but not necessarily familiar to us. We tried an Egyptian feta but found it was more like a sour cream cheese than the feta we are used to eating. We gathered a few staples and some glassware for our use. Then we even managed to get back home without getting lost!! Yes!!

Today, Sunday, is a special holy day here in the UAE. Eid-al-Adha is the “Festival of the Sacrifice.” Please excuse my ignorance and limited knowledge of this festival; I will know more in the future. Eid starts with the men going to join together in early morning prayers. Then throughout the day people go to visit their ‘neighbors.’ The goat is symbolic of the sacrifice that was given instead of Ishmael in the Muslim faith. People are called to forgive one another and seek forgiveness. The festival is done twice each year. The first follows Ramadan and the second after the time of Hajji (pilgrimage to Mecca). The first day, the goat is prepared as a sacrifice in special ways. The next day the goat will be eaten. The preparation, cooking, and presentation have many traditions and meanings I will have to learn.

I traveled Al Ain with a group of men from Oasis Hospital to meet different rulers and benefactors. I was able to greet and shake the hand of the Sheikh of the whole eastern region. We greeted the Sheikha, wife of the first president. I shook many men’s and boys’ hands. At each stop guests were offered cardamom spiced coffee and a variety of special foods and treats. Weight gain may be a real problem for me here during Eid. The Majlis meeting rooms were quite spectacular. I tried to contain myself as a newbie tourist so as not to bring shame upon myself or Oasis.

Jana traveled with women of Oasis. She was able to sit and speak with the various women. Jana was sprayed with fragrances and tempted with chocolates and sweets. Coffee, of course, was part of her time as well. She has learned early if a person pouring coffee approaches and you do not wish more, to gently toggle your cup. That means “enough for me thanks!”

As I sat this afternoon and thought about Eid and the sacrifices being made, I considered my faith. We can agree to disagree whether Abraham was called to sacrifice Ishmael or Isaac. The major part of the question arises as to current sacrifices and forgiving your neighbor. I believe Christ is the perfect and complete sacrifice for me. I do not need to make any other to gain God’s favor. Because of my relationship with Jesus, I should forgive my neighbors and love my neighbors as Christ loves me. I don’t have to sacrifice or forgive in order to gain something; rather, I am able to because of the change within me and the grace I accepted. I am not perfect by any stretch and do not claim to be. I am just a man on a journey, traveling in His grip.