Camels, Toyotas and Friends

(This is a LOOOOOONG one - so hang in there!)

Well, here we are - my first full day in Dubai is over - and I’ve only been awake for 12 hours!

Today was “sightseeing day”, and Raja, our host, made arrangements for us. Oh boy..... There were two women from Grain DeBle - the sponsoring organization (Catherine, the International Director, and Evelyn, her sister), Dale VonSeggen and myself.

The driver picked us up at the hotel and took us out to a little place in the middle of who-knows-where. He told us 20 minutes, and then back in the car. OK, I’m thinking, this’ll be fun - but I wonder where he’s taking us next? Well, not to rush things.

At this little stop, there were a few camels in pens, one harnessed for riding and ATV’s for riding on the dunes. Catherine chose to ride the buggies. She was the ONLY one to do so - and we have video to prove it! Dale & I both opted to ride the camels. My hat goes off to the wise men, shepherds, Mary, Joseph and anyone else in the Nativity who rode those things! Anyway, among the many people who can say they gave Dale VonSeggen a camel for his collection, few can say they’ve actually ridden one with him!

Well, our 20 minutes was up soon, and we piled back into the car, only to find out - THIS was our “Buggy” for the REAL sand dunes ride! For the next hour or so, we rode up and down the hills, sliding, gunning the engine, bouncing around, side to side, sometimes absolutely convinced we were going to roll, other times, absolutely convinced we’d left our stomachs on the last dune! It was just enough dare-devil and just enough let’s-have-a-blast to be an absolutely one-of-a-kind experience none of us can have anywhere else. Thank you, Raja! Great idea!

We stopped atop a high dune, and the view was breath-taking. I got some beautiful videos of the sand dunes at sunset. What a beautiful world we live in! It was truly amazing to stand atop this dune, feet slipping in the sand, and admire a sight that nothing else can duplicate. Have you ever looked at something and thought, “This is the only place in the world where this view is possible - and it’s RIGHT HERE!”? It was one of those moments.

We piled back in the car for the ride back to “camp”, and found that the fun had only warmed up! Majid, our driver was just getting started! The hills were hillier, and the dunes, dunier, and the slips- slippery-er... or something. That’s when we realized just how much our stomachs could handle. This would give any roller coaster competition... except it’s a 22 year old driving!

We stopped at a souvenir stand, and we all bought bottles of water - - it seems our mouths were dry! Oh, and at this point we emptied our shoes, returning a dune or two to the desert!

Thankful that the worst was over, Majid started us “homeward, and wouldn’t you know it - - off the road again! As it turns out, dinner is part of the package - and that means dinner in, well, the desert! A few small dunes away lay a true Arabian buffet. We arrived at the “compound” to find souvenir stands, photographers, who will gladly sell you your own picture, and the Middle Eastern version of appetizers. Dale & I had a cup of coffee - Arabian style, and proceeded to the tent where they had Arabian garb for you to have your photograph taken. That photo lies securely in my PERSONAL collection! lol!

The buffet was quite nice - a full selection of Middle Eastern cuisine. Every kind of salad and vegetable dish - most of which I can’t pronounce, never mind spell! There was a large selection of meats - lamb, chicken, beef, and others I did not ask, nor was I told. They all came on skewers! Normally, I’m a burger and fries kind of guy. Mickey D and I are on a first name basis. But I have to admit that this food was quite tasty, and delicious - - to say nothing of sandy! But then again, what’s a buffet in the desert without a sprinkling of sand?!

Oh yes - to drink - - what else? Coca Cola! NOW we’re talking cuisine!

The whole experience gave us a wonderful opportunity to hear the work of Grain DeBle. As it turns out, Catherine’s father had founded the work, and Evelyn’s husband took it over upon his passing. Today, Catherine is the International Director. It was fascinating to learn of the work they do. I’d tell you more, but this blog is already WAY over time!

Well, Majig finally took us back to our hotel, and we crashed for the evening. For me, the conference has begun. I’m learning much about God’s hand at work - and we’ve yet got MUCH to go. Remind me later to tell you about Raja and the people who’re coming to the conference... now THAT”s another story!

Well, it’s time to go. Camel riding in the desert... sand dune riding in the same desert... Middle Eastern buffet in the .... oh well, it was quite a day in the desert. Have you ever thanked God for the desert? I did. Today.