I can hear Steve somewhere behind me. He's animatedly chatting with a bunch of Philippino women. It turns out they're off to UAE for three years, leaving their families with relatives, to earn money for their kids' education. These are typical of the members of Daniel's congregation, and represent both the opportunity and problem he's got building a strong scene.
Steve's become a Boeing 777 fan, and the 2.55am Etihad one to Abu Dhabi is very nicely equipped. I snort at his unintended jet-setting snobbery. The two weeks have changed us all, I guess. Two seats next to me are empty, and I opt for getting some sleep over waiting for the warm corned beef sandwich which is promised on the in-flight menu!
Daybreak has just about arrived when we land, and soon we're travelling in Daniel and Hephzi's air-conditioned car. Huw and I stayed at their home, Burj al Barakat (Tower of Blessing), in November 2011. "You'll see why Tim came here for a five-day break on his way home from Australia," I comment to Steve. The building work that I remember has extended the new residential development further. The largest and richest of the seven Emirates, Abu Dhabi intends to stay ahead. "Oh, my days," Steve smiles, as Hephzi puts out three boxes of breakfast cereals. His tummy's still playing up, and he reckons it's been the fats used in the fried rice that's been pretty much a staple for the last week-an-a-half.
We give Daniel something of a flavour of what he's unfortunately missed in Mizoram and Myanmar. He recommends we catch up on sleep so we can enjoy the afternoon and evening. We obey without protest. After Hephzi's shepherds pie lunch, we drive to Yas Island, site of the Formula One track, Viceroy Hotel and the mind-boggling Ferrari World. But then, mind-boggling tends easily to become an an overworked adjective here: everything's world class and supersize as standard. We fill the tank with petrol: 41dirhams - just under £8. It's also hotter than I remember. Daniel confirms there's been a recent spell of temperatures running even to 50C.
Daniel's invited some folks round to Burj for an evening get-together. First to arrive is John and family, the parents of Ricky, who accompanied us around two years ago. They are all loveable, and arrive with several trays of grilled meats, nans, vegetables, and assorted fruits juices. More friends from several nations arrive. Some have only just become Christians, and an evening of fellowship is a much sought-after event even given the long working hours that most of them face each day.
Hephzi engages some of the ladies, and in the main lounge, Daniel gives a brief introduction. Clearly, informality is the key. I tell my testimony of a good new birth, baptism in the Holy Spirit, but then the real influence for stability and fruitful service - finding the Body of Christ. Steve leads us in a couple of worship songs, and by now it's 10.30pm. An hour later, several are still talking, but I'm yawning. The two guys who came late are whisked off by Hephzi for some curry and another hour's conversation with Daniel. This is one-to-one New Testament church building in a heavily circumscribed context, and it stirs us.
Steve's become a Boeing 777 fan, and the 2.55am Etihad one to Abu Dhabi is very nicely equipped. I snort at his unintended jet-setting snobbery. The two weeks have changed us all, I guess. Two seats next to me are empty, and I opt for getting some sleep over waiting for the warm corned beef sandwich which is promised on the in-flight menu!
Daybreak has just about arrived when we land, and soon we're travelling in Daniel and Hephzi's air-conditioned car. Huw and I stayed at their home, Burj al Barakat (Tower of Blessing), in November 2011. "You'll see why Tim came here for a five-day break on his way home from Australia," I comment to Steve. The building work that I remember has extended the new residential development further. The largest and richest of the seven Emirates, Abu Dhabi intends to stay ahead. "Oh, my days," Steve smiles, as Hephzi puts out three boxes of breakfast cereals. His tummy's still playing up, and he reckons it's been the fats used in the fried rice that's been pretty much a staple for the last week-an-a-half. We give Daniel something of a flavour of what he's unfortunately missed in Mizoram and Myanmar. He recommends we catch up on sleep so we can enjoy the afternoon and evening. We obey without protest. After Hephzi's shepherds pie lunch, we drive to Yas Island, site of the Formula One track, Viceroy Hotel and the mind-boggling Ferrari World. But then, mind-boggling tends easily to become an an overworked adjective here: everything's world class and supersize as standard. We fill the tank with petrol: 41dirhams - just under £8. It's also hotter than I remember. Daniel confirms there's been a recent spell of temperatures running even to 50C.
Daniel's invited some folks round to Burj for an evening get-together. First to arrive is John and family, the parents of Ricky, who accompanied us around two years ago. They are all loveable, and arrive with several trays of grilled meats, nans, vegetables, and assorted fruits juices. More friends from several nations arrive. Some have only just become Christians, and an evening of fellowship is a much sought-after event even given the long working hours that most of them face each day.
Hephzi engages some of the ladies, and in the main lounge, Daniel gives a brief introduction. Clearly, informality is the key. I tell my testimony of a good new birth, baptism in the Holy Spirit, but then the real influence for stability and fruitful service - finding the Body of Christ. Steve leads us in a couple of worship songs, and by now it's 10.30pm. An hour later, several are still talking, but I'm yawning. The two guys who came late are whisked off by Hephzi for some curry and another hour's conversation with Daniel. This is one-to-one New Testament church building in a heavily circumscribed context, and it stirs us.
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