dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:3-7.
Sometimes in life we burry a desire and a dream and go through times where we would rather not answer the call of our heart and the desires of our soul. For me, the past three years have been just that. But now, after many tears and some very long nights, God’s healing has done it work. He has put my feet back under me and it is with great excitement that I accept this next assignment He has given me.
It is my great pleasure to announce that I have accepted a job overseas at the Oasis Hospital in the city of Al Ain, Abu Dhabi that is located in the United Arab Emirates. This decision has been made after many months of prayer, counsel, and thought. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind and heart that this is where our Father has called me to live out the next chapter of my life and it is with great humility that I accept the task that He has given me.
I will be joining Father Andrew Brummett, his wife Jessica, and their three young daughters there as well and will be assisting them where needed as they seek to follow their call in building the Chapel of the Living Water which is a congregation of the Episcopal Missionary Church.
I began the extensive amounts of paperwork this week and the entire process of visas and licensure is expected to take approximately six months at which time I will be leaving. In the months up to this time I will be making an effort to visit as many friends and family as possible and I ask for your prayers for my safety and sanity during this time. Also, I ask that you lift the Brummetts up as they leave to begin their work in mid-January.
The Oasis Hospital is a Christian Hospital that is now owned by CURE International and is the first private hospital accredited with the Joint Commission International in the UAE. This hospital was started in 1960 at the request of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and at this time is currently being expanded due to a very generous grant given by two of his sons, the current President and his brother, the Crown Prince. Drs. Pat and Mary Kennedy, along with a small team, started the original hospital and at that time the infant mortality rate was 50% and the maternal mortality rate was at 35%. The hospital was built in Al Ain, which is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the dessert and many of the natives would come from miles around to be treated by these doctors and their staff. Through introducing simple hygiene and infection control they were blessed with significant improvements in the health of those they cared for. At this time the infant mortality rate is less than 1% and maternal mortality is almost unheard of.
I am very honored to be able to accept this assignment and the make this journey. Over the years I have often wished to be able to do something like this and at last God has given me my adventure. He has asked this of me and I willingly accept His call and fully trust Him with my safekeeping. I have no doubt that this will be one of the hardest things I have ever done but His mercy and strength will be with me every step of the way. I will miss those I leave behind here without a doubt but it is with the full blessing of my family and those dearest and closest of friends that I have made my decision.
He has called. I have answered. His will be done.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope.” ~Jeremiah 29:11.
