It's official...Seasons change!

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1

It's OFFICIAL! I am an official resident of the UAE! What does that mean? I received my passport back with my residence visa and my United Arab Emirates i.d.! Now I can do things like get cable/internet turned on (finally), get a phone plan, get a P.O. Box, travel out of the country (UAE) and come back with no problems, etc! It's like being a temporary citizen of this country. Your i.d. number is sort of like a social security number in the U.S.  It's required to almost everything! However, this i.d. is only valid for three years, which happens to be when my passport expires also (Side note: I got my passport back in 2009 for my first mission trip to Cambodia. Only God knew I would still need it now for my assignment/mission/season in Abu Dhabi!) I still don't know the length of my season or time here, but for.now I will keep living and walking by faith in the UAE!

My UAE i.d.

So far, my assignment here on Dalma Island is going well. I'm adjusting to the simple, quiet life, and my 3rd grade boys! This is just the third week of school, but I already see a little progress with their behavior. We still have a long way to go, but I am confident we will get there. This is truly an interesting and challenging assignment. Although my primary assignment is to teach, I know God is up to something greater! As I move around on the island and the surrounding areas "my eyes are watching God"!

Another view from the ferry!

 I don't know exactly what Halle Berry was watching for in the movie (Their Eyes Were Watching God), but I am watching His hands orchestrate my path and my journey! I don't want to miss what He's doing in my life! God constantly reminds me to believe, have faith, and seek Him daily! Whatever He has for me may or may not be in Abu Dhabi, but I must continue to diligently seek Him to find it! Here's a few of His reminders to me from this week!

His words to me!

AND NOW BREAKING NEWS FROM DELMA ISLAND!!!!

 (Fyi...The locals here spell it both ways Delma and Dalma.)

So I was cooking my first full course meal and this happened...

Almost burned up the kitchen!

My stove chord began to melt and burn inside the outlet!  Then it just went off...in the middle of cooking my first gourmet dinner! I guess my stove was trying to tell me I don't need to be doing a lot of cooking!! I agree!!! Lol! Not that I plan to anyway!Thanks to my friend, Shina, I was able to finish cooking my meal at her place. Here's the results!!

My meal: Gourmet spaghetti with sultry sausage and ravishing red meat sauce (Ragu), fresh green beans (canned), grilled cajun chicken (via microwave), and fresh baked dinner rolls (precooked by the store bakery)!! Not pictured...a leftover cake that I froze from my first baking experiment! All cooked...or should I say prepared by me!!! 😉

No worries...maintenance came and replaced the range plug...since they were the ones who installed it. It appears something on the plug was either defected or installed incorrectly. So it wasn't my cooking! But I still don't plan to cook too often! By the way...my meal turned out pretty good...if I do say so myself! And I do! Lol

As you know, September 22 was the OFFICIAL first day of fall in the U.S. While I don't think they recognize the seasons here (at least not the four seasons) it does seem to be a change in the air. I don't know if I'm trying to convince myself that fall is in the air over here or if it really is. The mornings and days don't seem as hot. It's still in the high 90s though, so fall here will still be like spring/early summer days back home! We've been told cooler days are coming, but it is the desert, so...I'll wait!

Until next time...thanks for your prayers! Keep them coming!

 I am His,
Faith Walker

Living abundantly....on purpose!

While I know that I have been sent to live in this place for a greater purpose not yet revealed to me, I also know that God desires for me to live an abundant life! I am thankful for every opportunity He gives me to enjoy His creation!

I shared in my previous post that we had our first school holiday this past week. So I took advantage of spending some time off Delma Island and enjoying my holiday break! The school year has gotten off to a good start, despite the challenges I've encountered. However, I look forward to going to school everyday and knowing that God will fulfill the purpose for which He sent me! I've shared that I have 32 3rd grade boys who are quite a handful. Even with the language barrier and behavior challenges, we are already making some progress after the first two weeks of school. God has already equipped and prepared me for this, so I know all will work together for good!

 My friend Shina and I spent the week in Dubai and Abu Dhabi! God is so awesome how He provides for His children to enjoy the life that He has called them to. His word says that He came so that I may have life, and live it more abundantly...or to the full! So as I walk out this journey, I will also enjoy this life that He has given me! For this first holiday, I enjoyed spending time on the beach and going on a desert safari in Dubai, and also spending time in the city of Abu Dhabi! Here are a few pics!

Leaving the island  for the holiday break!

Enjoying the beach in Dubai!

My Abu Dhabi sister-friends!

Breakfast with friends!

It's an Arab thing!

Teachers in turbans! 

Just sitting on a rock...in the desert!

Sand dune bashing in a land cruiser!

Then God created the sun...

Meeting new people in the desert!

First camel ride!

First time posing with a falcon!
Say hello to my little friend!

Ready to do what I love to do...eat!

 First Arabian barbeque!

View of city from a mall in Abu Dhabi!

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10
Grateful!



The last day of our holiday get away we experienced our first church service in Abu Dhabi! As I shared in a previous post, there are no churches on Delma Island. They have mosques, but no churches (at least I haven't found one). So while in Abu Dhabi, we were excited about being able to fellowship with other believers....of many different nationalities!! One church, one Spirit, one faith, one God!!! We enjoyed the worship and the word! Here is a pic of us after the service! Feeling thankful and blessed!

The highlight of my first holiday get away happened while Shina and I were eating lunch in the mall on Thursday! I don't have a picture of this moment to share, but the memory will forever be in my heart! As we were eating our burgers and just talking about our current situation, God gave Shina a message to deliver to me! Although we've spent alot of time over this past month and have shared much, there's a lot I have not shared with her. The message she gave me was very specific concerning some things I have not shared! Only God could have revealed that message to her! With a face full of tears, I just sat there in awe of God once again! Even when I don't understand His purpose, I still trust His plans! I know they are both great!

I am His,

Faith Walker

A Sunday of Firsts

Written on Sunday, September 11, 2016

I arrived in Abu Dhabi almost one month ago on Sunday, August 14, 2016. Since my arrival, I have been working on Sundays (since the weekend here is Friday and Saturday).  Today was the first Sunday that I didn’t have to go to work because we are off for the Eid holiday. This is a major Muslim religious holiday when they celebrate the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham to christians) who offered up his son as a sacrifice. Muslims recognize Allah as their god. So we are out for our first school holiday. The schools are out according to the moon. I’m not sure how they determine it, but this year we have the whole week off (Sunday through Thursday).  Including the weekend before and after, we have a total of nine days off! I was told by a fellow American who has been here six years that this is the first time in her six years here that they’ve been off for the whole week. Usually they only get two or three days off. Of course I take it personal that God gave them a week this time just because He knew I (and my friend Shina) needed it! So I am giving thanks to my God for allowing us to have a week off to relax and recuperate from the first two weeks of school! While I am learning to be content in my current location, I am looking forward to spending a few days off the island. I’m sure I will have pics of more than just sand and villas to post next time!

Here's a picture from the Eid program at school where the students were acting out the Hajj which is what takes during this holiday. They marched around chanting a prayer to Allah. Some of my boys participated as pilgrims making the journey to Mecca for the celebration. The ladies in the black dress called "abayas" are teachers. This is their everyday attire. Some fully cover their faces and some partially. Some only cover their heads. 

One of the things I miss about my Sunday mornings at home is going to worship with my Northshore Worship Center family! I miss seeing my sisters and brothers in Christ and receiving warm hugs of love from them! I can’t wait to get my internet set up at home so I can at least listen to my pastor’s sermons on youtube. I was told that there are no churches on Delma Island (and I haven’t seen any), but that some people have church in their homes (I haven’t found anyone who does). So I haven’t been to a church since I’ve been here. But thank God I know I don’t have to “go to church” to “have church”! Anytime I spend time with God, I have church! And that’s just what I did in my living room this Sunday morning! No praise team, no pulpit, no pastor….just me, myself, and I making a joyful noise to the Lord! Although I spend time with God daily, I guess you can say today was my first Sunday church service on Delma Island! While I’m off the island for the holiday break, I do plan to find a church to attend for the first time while in Abu Dhabi!

After having church (in my living room), I decided to do something else for the first time! I decided to cook me some breakfast for the first time on my new stove! I took the picture below to capture the moment!

I fried an egg! LOL!!

Also, my friend Shina and I had planned to have our first Sunday dinner at her place. For those of you who know me, you know that I’m not trying to be cooking too much. So the plan was for Shina to cook and I would come eat and wash the dishes! But I did contribute to the dinner. So I used my oven for the first time on today also to bake garlic knots (I mean I warmed them up) and a cake (with a little help from good ‘ole Betty Crocker)! LOL! Yep, Betty is over here too! 

Here’s a picture of me and my dishes! I must say they both turned out pretty good. However, the cake did get a little dark brown on the bottom. I think it was something wrong with the oven temperature or something! Hehehe!!!

Yes, I'm representing for the Steelers on this Sunday!
Shout out to all my real Steelers fans!
No hating!

Here’s a picture of today’s dinner by Shina: fried cabbage, beef steak, potatoes, and garlic knots (by yours truly). My new friend can cook too! Not only did God provide me with my own personal stylist, but she’s now my personal chef! Oh how He loves me!!!!!  

Just wanted to share with you my Sunday of firsts! That's all!

Life on Delma Island...a new thing!

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye now know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

In my previous post, I’ve shared that I live in a VERY REMOTE part of the western region of Abu Dhabi. What I didn’t share is that…not only is this place VERY REMOTE, but it is actually on an island out in the Persian Gulf (referred to by Arabs as the Arabian Gulf). Yes, not only did God send me to live and teach in the desert, but He sent me to the desert on an island…DELMA ISLAND! It is considered the REMOTE REMOTE part of Abu Dhabi. You actually have to catch a ferry to get here, which takes about an hour and a half from the port. After taking the ferry, it’s still a 2 ½ to 3 hour drive to get back to the city of Abu Dhabi by car or bus. I still am not sure of God's purpose for bringing me here, but i believe He must have a really GREAT PURPOSE! 

Below are some pictures I took at the port while waiting to return to the island after my recent visit to Abu Dhabi the city.

The ferry!

The town on Delma Island is very rural and nothing fancy. Most of the businesses are locally owned, and don’t offer much. Most of the islanders travel by ferry to a nearby city  to go shopping and to get things that are not available on the island. Although there are a few places you can buy food, there are no regular fast food restaurants on the island. The closest to fast food you can get here is Crispy Bites, a knock-off of Kentucky Fried Chicken, that is located at the gas station. The best thing about it is they deliver! And yes, they know my name already! LOL! The hospital is even considered one of the best places to get a hot cooked meal. Imagine that! Living here truly makes you appreciate the little things that we sometimes take for granted. But like Paul, I am learning to be content with my current circumstances. My hope and faith is in knowing that God has a greater purpose for sending me here! The past few weeks have definitely been a challenge adjusting to the different culture, people, way of life, and even the school children. As expected, things are quite different than in they are back in the U. S. However, the experience is really an eye opener!

At this time, I do not have a car. Actually, there really is no need for me to get a car. They do have public buses that can get me to where I need to go, which isn’t far from where I live.  Some people rent/lease a car. That may be something I might do in the future, but I’m good with using their public transportation for now. I travel to school on the public bus, and a school bus drops some of the teachers off after school. Most of the teachers at my school live in the teaching housing that is provided by the Abu Dhabi Education Council.

Below is a picture of the two teacher buildings.

My flat/apartment is in the one on the left.

Some of the local teachers live in villas, but most are housed here.  There’s nothing fancy about my housing. Right now I only have a bedroom set, and appliances. It will take time to get settled in and make it more “homely”, but I’m in no rush. I’m just thankful to be in my own place (unlike some of the other new teachers who are still living out of a hotel).

Here are just a few pics of my daily view…to and from school. 

Sand and the sunrise!

Villas/homes that all look the same! Some a little newer than others.

Mountains of sand!

More villas/homes!

My school (before the kids and buses arrive)!

This is a back view of the Delma Island Mall…….at least that’s what they consider it to be. 

It can be seen from the parking lot of the teacher buildings. It’s actually a run down building with a few small shops inside and around the outside that aren’t very appealing to the eyes. It does include the only grocery store on the island that doesn’t stock much on the shelves. So, as you can see, there’s not much for me to take pictures of around here. It’s a very different view than the city life of Abu Dhabi. A get away to Abu Dhabi on the weekends is something to look forward to! However, I still see the hand of God in my placement on this island! 

With all the challenges that I face each day, I still have my faith to keep me grounded! I know God is with me and I know that He will never forsake me! I don’t have much in my new home right now, but on my night stand are a few things given to me by some special people (you know who you are)! Each of these items are small reminders of home and that God is with me! I just have to keep "walking by faith"! In the center is a glass globe with my mother’s ashes. Yes, she is here with me in on Delma Island too! Some days I wish I could just call home and hear her voice!

God is definitely doing a "new thing" in my life! I look forward to all that will "spring forth" as I continue this journey! Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

I am His,

Faith Walker