It all started with I-Hop

it was the first church fellowship mano and i dared to go where we really do not know anyone. it was i-HOP, a weekly prayer meeting during ramadan (Oct 2007). the church coordinator hooked us up with others based on location. it was funny actually, coz the first email said "manoleth, you will meet with tetch", coz i guess we were the only ones who registered for deira area. after a few more days, names were added, until it became 5 of us. there i met the wonderful couple brett and kate (aussies) and the opinionated constance (singaporean). and that first meeting sealed a good friendship....

for almost 2-3 weeks, we met up in brett and kate's house (thanks for the hospitality), and after that, we have always kept in touch-- whether we bump into each other in the church, or we'd go to mercato for lunch or KFC twisters after the service, and oh yeah, the movie night at brett and kate's house where we watched National Treasure. all throughout those months, we've shared our conversion stories, work tales, culture, and so many other things under the sun. we were also together for mano's baptism at the jumeirah beach; in one shoebox ministry; and then the church christmas bonfire. two weeks ago, we had a nice movie night ("Feast of Love") and coffee talk at grand hyatt... and guess what, we all love Alias (and kate is Jen Garner's dead ringer, mind you!). i guess constance and now esther, will watch it too, if they find the time ;)



i've always been endeared to brett and kate's warm and sunny disposition, as opposed to my biased view of aussies... very humble people despite their (literal) towering statures... a couple who has their own brand of sweetness... a couple always on the go for outdoor adventures (very melbourne-y huh, if there's word like that)... a cool and sensitive couple i must say!

constance strikes me as quite a feisty girl, well opinionated despite being the then sickly one-half of twin sisters. she's the typical singaporean who knows what she likes, goes for it and grabs it. and yes, fast talker and fast mover. one thing she strongly impressed in me was letting go fully of my dreams and unknown future into the able hands of our sovereign and loving Father.

we know how hard it is to get good pals here in this transitory and quite superficial world of UAE, but you guys, you're one of my rare prized catches!

Friends are genuine gems from our great Father who knows our needs-- especially for us who are miles away from home ;)