Rising Star Outreach -- Day 2

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So today was the first day at the outreach.  We woke up early this morning, a little earlier that we were supposed to since I misset the alarm.  That was no fun.  They picked us up and off we went in a car without A/C for a two hour ride. (and shhhh, don't tell April, but there were no seat belts inside the car, that was a little freaky!) We finally reached the outreach and went and setup our rooms.  They are rather decent accommodation   There is even A/C in the rooms, when there is power which seems rather spotty right now.  We have to quickly unplug electronics as soon as the power goes out since it will spike when it comes on.  After a quick orientation, it was time to meet the kids.  That was really neat.  We first went to play with the UKG, the young kids.  After a few minutes of staring at the kids we jumped in and started to play with them.  They all come running up to us and grab our hands and run off with us to play a game or swing them or something.  They were a riot, they had a blast and we had a blast.  From playing tag, to swinging them, to going down the slides with them.  We were roasting, sweating, but that really did not matter cause we were truly loving these kids.  Then we took a little break, and then to play time with the entire school.  That was really neat.  Some thing as the UKG group.  They all came running up to us wanting to play something with them.  One of the kids picked up a top to a tin, like the  type of tin the Danish cookies come in, and we played frisbee with it for a very long time.  What impressed me most was that kids of all ages wanted to play and they were totally allowed to.  When one would walk up and want to participate, they would automatically allow them in to play.  No pushing them away or telling them that they could not participate.  It was 100% genuine and lovely.  This is the way it is here.  The kids all work together and get things done together.  It is really amazing.  After play time, they broke us into groups and we went to one section of kids for prayer time.  There were 20 kids in 4 houses for the boys, we can only go into the boys house.  We walked in and they were singing a Tamil song, that went on for some time.  Then we knelt in prayer with the kids.  I had the opportunity to do the opening prayer.  What a neat expirience, on a cement floor, in the middle of India, with truly humble surroundings to kneel in quite prayer to our Heavenly Father, there was a special spirit there.  Then we sang "I'm bringing home my baby bumble bee" with the kids, including an extended version that included puking up the bee and then sweeping it up, new to me, but OK :).  Then we shared with them about us.  Carl gave a story about the tiger's whisker.  Then We talked to them about respect.  Then we went around the room and each kid, if they were younger gave us their favorite animal, if they were older what they wanted to become.  In their eyes, they knew that they could become anything.  This was so neat.  This outreach provides them with more then they could ever get.  It is an amazing blessing for them and their families.  We then finished the night on top of the hostel house for dinner where we gave out highs and lows.  My low: setting the alarm for the wrong time.  My high: playing with the kids, particularly frisbee, because they were so giving of their all to others.  A trait I really need to learn in my path of Christ-like living.  

From Little Carl's thoughts:
It is a neat experience.  I watched as children with nothing played and laughed.  Sweat dripping of of my brow went almost uncontested as I played with the kids, seeing that they knew that it is what is inside that counts.  Not one unkind word was spoken in the course of the entire recess.  And the children love God with all their tiny hearts.  I know that they will be counted as the children of him.

Rising Star Outreach Trip - Day 1

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So the adventure began.  Last night Carl and I hopped on a plane bound for India.  We knew it was going to be an adventure, what awaits us, is so exciting.  We got to the airport got checked in, at the Abu Dhabi Airport.  So the pecking order for flights in Abu Dhabi is Etihad (the Abu Dhabi owned airlines) flights that are bound for western countries are out of the nice new terminal, Terminal 3.  Then western airlines fly out of the older, but still nice.  Then the India bound flights are out of the ground floor of Terminal 1.  Think of an airport circa 1975!  When we got down there, we were the only white guys in the entire building.  People kept asking where we were going, and then looked at us as if we were in the wrong area.  After the plane boarded,  the flight attendant announced that they were going to pass through the cabin with a "non-toxic" bug spray.  And sure enough the stewardess comes walking down the aisle with a can in both hands, blasting a fogger spray.  The aerosol spray got crud in my mouth it was really awful.  Throughout the flight the little girl behind me went after my chair like she was a kung fu star, and my chair was its sparring dummy.  So no sleep on that flight.  We landed in Chennai, India at 0400 in the morning.  It took over an hour to get our bags, I started to panic that we were going to be without bags for awhile.  Luckily the hotel was there to fetch us from the airport.  Carl explained to me that he could not sleep on the plane since he can't sleep on things that are motorized.  I laughed and said that you did not sleep since he was playing games and watching shows.  He was aghast that I would suggest such a thing, but he was out within two turns.  That is saying something too, since we were on Indian roads.  

When we woke up we booked a car from the hotel to take us around the city for a tour.  First we went to St. Thomas church.  There are 3 churches in the world that are said to be built on top of the remains of the Christ's apostles tombs.  This is one of them.  So we went and saw that, which was interesting.  Then off to the world's or India's largest beach, I did not understand it, and it was dirty and not that nice.  Then we went to a Shiva temple.  They were having a festival so there were people everywhere.  It was rather interesting.  We were not able to go in since there were so many people.  Hopefully on the return trip we will be able to stop there.  Then we did some shopping in random places around the city.  We found some really nice silk things for the girls and a couple of other treasures that we will be adorning the house with.  I am amazed by India, the vastness and the sea of people.  My heart goes out to the poverty state of some of the people here.  I saw a mom sleeping on the street with 3 naked kids around her.  My heart broke for her plight.  

I am so happy to be here with my boy, for an opportunity to serve those who cannot do for themselves.  I hope and pray for the spririt of the Lord to be with us for the next week.  Thanks to all who are supporting from home. 

Tomorrow we are going to be meet up with the Rising Star Outreach group and off to the colonies, the real service begins tomorrow.  For now, it is sleepy time, cause tomorrow is going to be a long day.

Camping in Oman

Carl's scout troop was doing a camping trip to Oman and we decided to make it a family trip.  We had a lot of fun and we are excited to do a lot more camping in this area.  

We had to do a clean up when we arrived as the people here don't tend to pick up after themselves.  I was really saddened by the amount of trash just left out in the dessert.

There was an incredible sunset.  Carl and I sat out under the stars and I have never seen them so clearly.  Looking up at the starry night I could see why people made up stories about the stars. We saw some falling stars and the North Star has never been so beautiful and bright in my remembrance. 

 I saw the biggest coolest beetle ever and the girls and I captured it.  He may not seem big but just imagine that he is as big as this bowl bottom.  We saw snake, scorpion, fox, gazelle, beetle, and of course camel tracks.  In the morning when we woke up there were camel droppings all around our tents and tracks.  Carl says he remembered hearing something in the night, I wish we had woken up and gotten some pictures. 

In the morning he went up with the girls and climbed the mountain and they saw Camels in the distance.  

Indoor ski park

When we arrived at the mall (yes the snowpark is in a mall) we were starving, on the way to the food court  we saw a sign for the Shake Shack.  I had been at the one in New York and it was sooo good so we had to try it in Dubai.  It was delicious, the burgers were super yummy.  The fries and shake were only ok but to get a good burger in the ME is something to celebrate.  We had to see where you can see snow in the dessert.  We showed up in shorts and got suited up and went in.  There were ice sculptures, tubing and rides in large plastic "snowballs".  It was a lot of fun although it felt more like an ice park with shaved ice on top.  The kids had a blast but they finally started to complain about the freezing toes and hands.

Iftar Dinner during Ramadan

Ramadan is a time of fasting during the day for the Muslims, it lasts for a full moon cycle. At sundown they break their fast at Iftar. We have to remember not to eat or drink anything in public. Lil' Carl has two muslim friends form Jordan who would come over and we would try to be respectful of their fast. Carl shared with them that he understood what it was like to fast since we fast the first Sabath of each month. Similar to when we fast they use this time to do service and charity. We took the kids to an Iftar tent and had a great time. The food was unremarkable but the experience was fun. The girls and I got our hands decorated with Henna.
 

Aquarium in the mall

We went to Dubai for the day and had a great time in the Aquarium at the mall.  It is the largest viewing window in the world.  On the way there we also saw the tallest building in the world.  When it cools down we look forward to going to the fastest roller coaster in the world.  It was a lot of fun!  Apparently the Mall that it is in is the largest mall in the world also.  That made me even more excited to exit it once we were done with the aquarium, way to many people.  It took us an hour and a half just to exit the parking garage which is frustrating since we only live an hour and half away.

Landed and getting settled

Our trip here was full of tears, excitement, exhaustion, throw up, more exhaustion, relief and joy.  Leaving my parents was very sad, knowing it will be some time before we see them again (I am hoping they come for Madison's baptism in a year) it was very hard to leave them.  The kids were having such a great time there but it was time to leave.  We were also sad to leave our sweet Aussie Yoshi but we are looking forward to him joining us soon.  Then there was the long plane ride, I mean really, really long.  We arrived though and we were happy to be reunited with Carl and start the transition to our new home.  It has been quite a bit of work but we have unpacked and there are only a few boxes left (I am staying out of the study, the room where all random boxes and items have gone).  We had a great first week of spending our days at the pool and relaxing.  The kids met the other children in the compound and there seems to be someone for everyone.  Church is great, our ward reminds me of the branch in Bahrain, diverse, loving, caring and friendly, I am looking forward to getting to know everyone better.  Carl is really happy with his job and we love our new place.  We have hit up IKEA quite a bit and still need to get some things.

This last week we went to go to the pool and it was green, I mean slimy green.  We were all very dissapointed and were even more so a couple of days later when the problem still wasn't fixed.  Apparently the part that is needed is coming from Saudi and seeing how it is Ramadan where everything has odd hours and goes slower here I am not sure when the pool will be up and running again so this week we have been a little more stir crazy.  I have not yet ventured out on my own, that is something I am looking forward to doing without the kids in tow.  I think they are looking forward to school starting more than I am, they are ready to meet some new friends.  The kids also talked us into getting two kittens which I was surprised that I actually kind of like as long as they stay out of my couches.  They found a tear in the lining under one of the sections of my couch and climbed up in it to nap, I am not ok with this.  Carl bought fabric and we will be fixing it tonight. 

For the first time we have actually bought curtains!  I am so excited!  Carl had picked out the ones for the bedrooms but he left the living room for me and I had so much fun picking out the fabric and style.  I will post pictures when they are finished. 

Other than that we are hanging out and enjoying being together shile trying to arrange things in the villa and really hoping the pool gets fixed soon!  The plan is to post once a week and I will include pictures and videow of all the crazy, fun adventures of the agren family....