Tonight we received a BLESSING that brought tears to ALL of our eyes (Hayden and Riley included).
However, before showing you the BLESSING, we need to give a little history.
Our adventure in a foreign land among MANY foreigners from all across the world has opened our eyes and hearts to new discoveries. Discoveries about people, cultures and ourselves.
Since being here, our hearts have been bent towards the workers. They are the true servants of this land. Some are more accurately defined as slaves. While others, have come to the UAE because working here for less than 1000 dirhams ($273 U.S.) a month is better than the life their own countries have to offer.
We find ourselves being drawn to these people on a daily basis. Whether it be the 5 that surround you when you are simply looking at washer or a stove. Or the ladies that live inside our schools and clean up after us. Or our dear friends, Cliff and Jimi, the doormen at our first hotel who knew us by name immediately and served us as if they desired nothing more than to take care of our every need. Or our favorite waiters, Rowell and the sweet girl I have NO IDEA how to pronounce or spell her name, at 'Lil Italianos.
These people have NOTHING--especially in comparison to those whose country this belongs to. Yet, they have the BIGGEST hearts and the smiles that melt your heart! They know you by name and remember things you've told them from previous conversations. Bottom line: THEY CARE! They serve with a smile. They still smile even when they are doing the nasty jobs none of us want to do. They make eye contact with you. These are the ones that don't look THROUGH you as if you are less than or don't even exist. AND YET they treat those that snub them, run over them, ignore them and act as if they are less than human with the same servant's heart and ear to ear smiles.
Are we humbled? Yes.
Have we said more than once---"Think about this----even on our WORST day, we have it soooo much better than that busload of people driving to the Workers Compound that just worked 18 hours straight."
Yes we have.
Here we have constant reminders that wealth does NOT make you happy.
I wish you could see the faces.
Reminders of what TRUE servant's hearts look like and act like.
I wish you could see THEIR faces. The two are night and day.
Reminders of who we WANT to be like and who we pray we NEVER resemble.
We could go on and on with stories. But it is WORTH NOTING that our Filapino, Ugandan, and Bangladesh friends have touched our lives to the very core.
Tonight, Rowell, our waiter friend (he is our friend we mentioned in an earlier post that asked Greg's permission to shake my hand and ask my name) ran out of the restaurant to catch me. He had a gift to give us. Here it is:
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However, before showing you the BLESSING, we need to give a little history.
Our adventure in a foreign land among MANY foreigners from all across the world has opened our eyes and hearts to new discoveries. Discoveries about people, cultures and ourselves.
Since being here, our hearts have been bent towards the workers. They are the true servants of this land. Some are more accurately defined as slaves. While others, have come to the UAE because working here for less than 1000 dirhams ($273 U.S.) a month is better than the life their own countries have to offer.
We find ourselves being drawn to these people on a daily basis. Whether it be the 5 that surround you when you are simply looking at washer or a stove. Or the ladies that live inside our schools and clean up after us. Or our dear friends, Cliff and Jimi, the doormen at our first hotel who knew us by name immediately and served us as if they desired nothing more than to take care of our every need. Or our favorite waiters, Rowell and the sweet girl I have NO IDEA how to pronounce or spell her name, at 'Lil Italianos.
These people have NOTHING--especially in comparison to those whose country this belongs to. Yet, they have the BIGGEST hearts and the smiles that melt your heart! They know you by name and remember things you've told them from previous conversations. Bottom line: THEY CARE! They serve with a smile. They still smile even when they are doing the nasty jobs none of us want to do. They make eye contact with you. These are the ones that don't look THROUGH you as if you are less than or don't even exist. AND YET they treat those that snub them, run over them, ignore them and act as if they are less than human with the same servant's heart and ear to ear smiles.
Are we humbled? Yes.
Have we said more than once---"Think about this----even on our WORST day, we have it soooo much better than that busload of people driving to the Workers Compound that just worked 18 hours straight."
Yes we have.
Here we have constant reminders that wealth does NOT make you happy.
I wish you could see the faces.
Reminders of what TRUE servant's hearts look like and act like.
I wish you could see THEIR faces. The two are night and day.
Reminders of who we WANT to be like and who we pray we NEVER resemble.
We could go on and on with stories. But it is WORTH NOTING that our Filapino, Ugandan, and Bangladesh friends have touched our lives to the very core.
Tonight, Rowell, our waiter friend (he is our friend we mentioned in an earlier post that asked Greg's permission to shake my hand and ask my name) ran out of the restaurant to catch me. He had a gift to give us. Here it is:
As we walked away, tears were in all of our eyes and Hayden even said "that made me cry Mom"..
Let this challenge you as it has already challenged us:
Look for ways to SERVE others rather than be taken care of.
Do your SERVICE with a SMILE and not just for show but because you CARE.
Look AT people ----not THROUGH them.
Because EVERYthing you do/say
----good OR bad-----
MATTERS !!!
......and leaves a LASTING IMPRESSION!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! What a profound post. I would love to serve my family in that way. But, I get all hot and bothered when I don't get gratitude or praise for it.
ReplyDeleteI could learn a lot from your new friends.
BTW UGA is getting slaughtered by SC!
And tears are in my eyes as well! Love and miss y'all!!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a statement of faith and testimony. One day I hope you get a chance to lead him to Christ because you are definitely showing him Jesus through your heart right now!
ReplyDelete