New Territory (Natova)

In June 2011, during my lunch breaks I was reading the “Prayer of Jabez” by Bruce Wikinson.  I think this is one of those classic books everyone should keep in their home library and re-read from time to time (also, “Who Moved My Cheese,” by Spencer Johnson M.D is a great one as well).  Anyhow, this was my second time reading the “Prayer of Jebez,” and I found it to be just as exciting and fascinating as before. So, for those of you who do not know the Prayer of Jabez, it goes like this:

The book goes in to each line and explains what Jabez meant when he prayed this prayer. Most people think he was asking for a financial blessing but there are other ways a person’s territory can be expanded such as in ministry by having greater opportunities to do more for Christ. I hope I didn’t spoil the book for you, but there is so much more in the book then what I just mentioned. So, please go buy it or check it out of your nearest library. I hope I get royalties from this promotion. Okay back to my story.

 Every day while reading the book I would pray God would enlarge my territory and bless me indeed.  Two days after finishing the book Ray received an email about teaching in Abu Dhabi. He called me at work and asked me what I thought. My response was, I’ll go wherever you are”. Just like a good wife, right. Actually, I didn’t think he would follow through with it so I could have said anything. As you know, we’re in Abu Dhabi right now so I will never underestimate him again.  Of course, we talked about it more and weighed our current situation before deciding to move to Abu Dhabi (the expanded territory). At the time, I didn’t put two and two together that the prayer I was praying was being put in action.  Just like the old saying goes, “Be careful what you ask for because you might just get it.” 

As the days went on I began to think about our spiritual life and how it would be affected living in Abu Dhabi where the country is majority Islamic. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to practice my religion or attend church. Plus, Ray and I loved our church in Jacksonville and for wives it usually difficult to find a church home where both of you are happy. Therefore, moving was a big decision for more me. My solution of course was internet church and Pandora for praise and worship. A girl has to do, what a girl has to do. Luckily, Pastor Stovall’s messages are online for FREE so we could continue under his teachings. I know you could probably see me clapping my hands and leading all the songs with perfect pitch in my living room, but I’m really having a good time. 

Within in the first two weeks after I arrived to Abu Dhabi, Ray and I ran into a couple on our floor (we’ve mentioned them before in earlier posts.) They were coming back from church so they gave us a program of the service. I was a bit shocked because I thought like most people we couldn’t practice our religion here and if we wanted to, we would have to hide and sneak around to do so. Gratefully, this is not the case here in Abu Dhabi. The UAE has really embraced the different religions and we can openly practice our faith. Okay let’s be clear now, you can’t stand on the street corner preaching or openly try to recruit people. This would actually land you in big trouble with the law. 

Sadly, as for the program, I placed it in my purse where it remained for several weeks, but finally my curiosity got the best of me so I went to the website to check things out.  The church name is Evangelical Community Church of Abu Dhabi (ECC). Their services are held on Fridays because this is the national holy day instead of Sunday in the UAE and other Islamic countries. I went to their website to see what they believe and teach. Plus, I wanted to test out a sermon or two to see if it was a good fit. I listened online and it was completely boring so I talked with my friends who were attending services there and got their opinion. After convincing me to attend, I went to my first international service.  It was mid-December and the church was packed. We could barely find a seat. I ended up sitting right next to the first lady who coughed on me the entire service.  She also played the piano. After, I sat down I scanned the congregation. I saw people from all over the world. It was an awesome experience being able to worship Christ in a foreign land amongst people from many different backgrounds and cultures. Worship service was going on at the time so I attempted to join in by reading the lyrics on the screen. 

Now, I’ve attended many different worship services in my time from one base drum to a full Christian rock band every Sunday so I believed I’m able to worship under any circumstances. However, I wasn’t use to the violins and the song choices. I tried to catch on the best I could. Nevertheless, right when I began to give up I heard the beginning lyrics to “Come all ye Faithful,” and that’s when the congregation took on their full sound singing loud and confident. I stopped singing for a moment just to listen to the worship coming from the crowd. A sound that brought confront to my soul. This was absolutely the best part of the service. The message went forth and then all the visitors had the opportunity to tell their name, how long they been in Abu Dhabi and where they were from. The counties were widespread from the UK to Africa, Philippines to India and so on. I know there are Christians all over the world but for the first time being out of the segregated, boxed in services I attended in the past it was quite refreshing to fellowship with Christians from all walks of life, culture and backgrounds. Not to completely bash church in the US but sometimes it good to try new things, to grow, expand or even to enlarge our territory a bit. I left the church feeling good even though the message wasn’t to my opinion the best, but I may have to work with what I have.  

The next service I remember attending was the Christmas service it started out great because I was able to sing along. They had a cute rendition of Jingle bells using Jesus Saves instead. We all stood up and shook our keys while singing Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves. I can’t remember the rest of the song. So like I said it started off great. However, ended horribly. The pastor started off saying he preaches the same Christmas message every year so I thought great it must be a pretty darn good message. Not so. The message was about the Christmas story but the things he focused on were either irrelevant or confusing. After the service was over, I asked my friends if they understood the purpose of the message and they too were frustrated by the experience. I left shaking my head.  Oh, how I wished my brother (Trey) was here to shake this place up. This was the last time I attended the service at ECC. 

I no longer attended services at ECC so I started the church hunt again. While at another game night with a group of friends I ran into a African American British lady who had a similar problem with the message and the praise and worship at ECC. She found a church at one of the nearby malls and suggested I try it out. I went to one service and it was great. The message was good. The pastor was on a series about the spiritual gifts and the music was closer to what I was use to. The church was mainly run by Pilipino leadership. I only attended this church once because the time was so early and I have a job now which prevents me from doing a lot of things. However, during my short time at ECC I found out about a women’s bible study group. 

After careful thought and long procrastination I filled out the registration and signed up.  There were several studies being offered therefore, I selected “The Vision of His Glory,” by Anne Graham- Lotz. It was a six week study held once a week at a member’s home. I attended the first study and like always I was the only Black person. I was shocked only because there were other Black people in church and actually the lady passing out the information was Black at least that’s what I thought.  You know sometimes I’m not even sure anymore especially here, but that is another blog. Anyway, I was only looking for something in common with the lady from the first impression. After, I didn’t receive this I found myself in a room of well to do house wives with majority of their husbands in the oil business. Now, this was a challenge because I needed to establish a common ground. Thank God for Jesus.  The ladies were great. We would come in and have coffee and tea while chatting with one another before starting the lesson.  After watching our video and going over homework we would have tea and coffee again with all the yummy dishes everyone brought for the pot luck. I really enjoy my time with ladies. 

The lesson itself was intense it was completely based in Revelations. Okay, I wasn’t expecting that. We had to analyze each verse in our homework. Most days I was just lost. It’s my first study and it’s in Revelation, what is this? Ray would laugh at me because I would spend hours trying to do my homework.  Now, that the study is over I really miss the group.

I’m now in my second bible study group. At the end of our first semester the church offered us another set of studies to choose from, “Stepping Up” by Beth Moore or “Lord, Teach Me to Pray,” I’m not sure of the author.  I chose “Stepping Up”.  “Stepping Up,” focuses on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134), the pilgrimage to the festivals in Jerusalem.  So far, I’m really enjoying the course. I’m with a different group of ladies due to the course I selected this term. The condo we’re meeting at is fabulous. You know when to come to someone’s home and it’s very nice and expensive you take your shoes off at the door. Well, in this case I wasn’t sure if I should take my whole outfit off!   Her living room was draped in silver and white with baby blue accents, along with lots of bling trimming the pillows and art work.  One side of the condo was floor to ceiling windows and the size of the entire place was huge and very well decorated. The oil money is working out very well for them. 

I’m enjoying the new territory God has placed me in and all the new people I have developed relationships with while in Abu Dhabi.  No matter their background, age or race our journey in knowing God and ourselves better are one in the same.   Blessings everyone, blessings!