Day 2

Just finished Day 2 of our trip!

This morning, after some group devo time, the ladies went to a salon, where we were able to chat with the Chinese ladies who worked there, along with getting our nails and hair done. The spa was in a villa and the decor was simple, yet tasteful. The owner, as well as most of her staff, are Christians. The owner came from a Christian family and wanted to start a Bible study when she arrived in the UAE. She then recruited other Chinese ladies from China to work at her salon and join her Bible study group, and through her, most of them came to believe in our God. This story is just so inspirational and she has really become successful thanks to God's plan for her, as the salon that we went to today was already her second one in Abu Dhabi!

After our relaxing morning, we headed off to one of Abu Dhabi's many international schools. I love the architecture of these schools! They really utilize the nature around them and make use of all the outdoor space, with playspaces, picnic tables, sun canopies, and more. The kids' uniforms were remarkably similar to my own, with green bottoms and white tops. This particular school was also an IB school, which brought me back to my own years spent from grade 2 to 8 in an IB-oriented education system. Overall, I really enjoyed this school because it was relatable to me and similar to my own Canadian education.

We lunched at the Bricco Cafe, an Italin-style cafe with the most spectacular view of the ocean. Not only was the eye candy great, but the food was also delicious: I had a fettucine bolognese and a peach iced tea. We then took a nice stroll alongside the water.

The last two members of our team also arrived today, after a calm flight with no delays. Upon their arrival, we headed out for dinner. We dined at Joumieh. We had pitas, hummus, veggies, and different forms of meat, from lamb chops to chicken shawarma. However, the pièce de résistance was without a doubt the fruit cocktail: three different flavours of fruit smoothie, with a variety of fruit, such as apples, mangos and kiwis, and finally, topped off with some clotted cream and pistachio. It was definitely one of the best, and healthiest, desserts I've ever consumed! This dinner was not all fun and sunshines though. We also had to get to our first complete team meeting in Abu Dhabi, discussing our busy schedules for the next few days, as well as prayer requests and items of thanksgiving.

Today was a good day to relax, get over an jet lag, experience and try new things, and get our whole team together. Tomorrow, we start real team training in Al Ain. Wish us luck! 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers!

-Lydia :)