Change of Address

"You are currently using 1023 MB (99%) of your 1024 MB"
Seems that my memory space has been used up on blogger.
Therefore, I had to start a new blog at www.andyinoman.wordpress.com
See you there! :-)

The Gospel Music of Johnny Cash

A wonderful video hosted by Dan Rather
I bought this video here in Oman and love it. Here are some clips of Johnny's music that I really enjoy.
He Turned the Water into Wine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQUcCaWN3Ck
A Singer of Songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkg9u3DGuSo
"..but I can take you to a city where a man was crucified. I can tell you how He lived and I can tell you why He died. I can help proclaim the glory of this mighty King of Kings. Yes, I do it with the songs that I sing."
When The Man (Jesus) Comes Around (At His Second Coming): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10O9kUCAv40

Thanksgiving / CookBook Launching Dinner at the PCO

Pastor Michael Peppin and his wife Vinoo

Pastor Michael with his wife Vinoo and Pastor Edward with his wife Tamara

David and wife wife Fanny

Che and I have been together a year now!

Chillin and wife, Maria. Chillin won one of the raffle prizes. There were quite a few and it was good fun! (I also won one-a PCO coffee mug!)

The PCO youth who gave up their personal time to serve beverages during the event. They then returned the money they made (75 RO) back to the Lord during Friday's service!

Another banner created by Angelin!

Many songs of celebration were offered at the event!

"What's Cooking in Oman?!" A whole lot!

The PCO's (Protestant Church in Oman) first official cookbook! While it may be true that "too many cooks spoil the broth", you never can have too many cooks when putting together a congregational cookbook! ("Variety is the spice of life!")

There are recipes from all over the world in this cookbook! (and it only costs 5 RO) Proceeds to the proposed Ruwi church building. I have put 2 of my favorites here as examples. (Both being desserts of course, ha!ha!)

This friendly and selfless group of people were in charge of the "souvenir table" to help raise funds for the building project. Our Filipino Christians are so servant-hearted and self-giving as they serve the LORD here in Oman!

This Oak Cross

...from York Minster commemorates all the British who have served in Oman. (above the PCO church sidedoor in Ruwi)

"Using Our Coconuts" But Still "Going Bananas" in Salalah!!!

The Beaches of Salalah

Che at South Dahariz beach in Salalah

The beach just before arriving at Mirbat, 70 kilometers from Salalah

Wise Men from OMAN?! The Khor Rori Francincense Trail Site

It is well known that the wise men coming to see the LORD Jesus just after his birth brought gold, frankincense and myrh. Not much else is known about them. Some speculate that they came from Persia as Daniel would have left them some knowledge of the prophecies concerning the coming messiah. There are some who strongly believe that at least some of the wise men were from Oman. Frankincense is produced from the resin of the boswelia tree and Oman was most famous for exporting this over the centuries. Interesting! Some of the earliest worshippers of our LORD might have been Omani!!!

The coral can be razor-sharp and you REALLY do have to be careful!

One thing I love about Salalah-Camels are everywhere!

The Village of Mirbat

Mirbat is about 70 kms from Salalah.
A giant coffee-pot with Marbat Castle and mosque in the background

My honey at Mirbat Castle

Crowne Plaza Resort in Salalah

Sunset outside of Salalah

Oryx You Going to Protect Us or Not?! The Plight of The Arabian Oryx

This "statue" of an oryx is found by the highway on the road to Salalah. You can check out the website of Oman's Arabian Oryx Project at: http://www.oryxoman.com/

Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary is the first site EVER to be deleted from The United Nations World Heritage List. The size of the sanctuary was reduced by 90%!! To read all about it, check out this link: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/07/08/omans-oryx-sanctuary-first-site-ever-to-be-deleted-from-the-world-heritage-list/

ADAM?! Where is Adam?!

Yes, sand, sand and more sand. That sums up the whole 1000 km trip from Muscat to Salalah with occasional stops for gas on the way of course.

Adam is 295 km from Muscat. I had first guessed that the town is named after Adam, the first man created by God, but have come to learn that it most likely means "the fertile ground". One of my students is from Adam and when he asked the other students if they knew what was in Adam, some of them answered, "Yes, dirt and a petrol station!" He seemed disappointed by the answer, ha!ha!

Muttrah Souq

Sweet!

Che and Hee-Jung in front of The Sultan's Palace

The Sultan's Palace (or The Al Alam Royal Palace) in Muscat

What do I, Andrew Brown, have in common with The Sultan's Palace? Well...we were both created in 1972!

How nice of this friendly soldier to give me permission to take his photo. What a friendly smile!

On the main gate of the palace

At the palace with my princess!

My students told me that The Sultan's Palace is known as "Al Alam" ("The Flag Palace"?!) in Arabic. It is not the only residence of His Majesty who normally lives elsewhere in Oman but it is his ceremonial palace. I was surprised to hear that it is reported to have a bowling alley in the basement!

This is Hee-Jung Lee who was one of my best students at the Catholic University of Korea in 2000. She is now traveling the world selling parts for her company. It was a real honor to show her around Muscat with Che while she was here for a few days on a business trip. Thanks for taking the time to see us, Hee-Jung, and we hope that you'll be back again sometime soon!

Can you see the fort in the distance? Al Alam Palace is surrounded by the Mirani and Jalali Forts built in the 16th century by the Portuguese.

Happy Omani National Day!

I thought this silly photo of myself from my recent trip to Salalah would be appropriate to post on Oman's 38th National Day. November 18th marks the birthday of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. The Sultanate marks National Day every year on November 18, but the holidays are traditionally given later. (on Nov 25-26 this year making it a 4 day weekend next week; Tues-Friday!)

Glass-Bottomed Boats, You Make The Rockin' World Go Round!

Che and I decided it was time for us to see the coast of Oman by boat so we went on a 4 hour boat cruise in the waters around Muscat organized by Gulf Leisure Tours. (www.gulfleisure.com )

Beauty and the boat!

A view of the Marina. Tourists buy tickets for the glass bottom boat tour in advance and are responsible for getting themselves down to the Marina by 8:15am in the morning. The boat leaves at 8:30am.

My darling at the Marina

One of the many other tour boats we saw while on tour. The kids on our boat loved passing this one and thought it looked like a pirate ship.

Che at the spot our caption dropped anchor. We swam and snorkeled here for about 30 minutes. This was the only place you could see through the glass bottom. There were so many colorful fish and we even saw some giant turtles! Sorry I wasn't able to get any good pics. I simply enjoyed my time with the love of my life and wasn't thinking of photos...

The boat kept close to shore on the way back to the Marina which was more exciting than the ride out. (They should mention that 1.5 hours of the 3.5 hour tour is an uneventful rapid ride out to the deeper part of the sea. Then again, maybe it was uneventful simply because there weren't any whales or dolphins on the day we went out...not the best season for dolphin/whale sighting someone mentioned.)

My funny Che! Leave it to her to "sneak" a photo of me videotaping, ha!ha!

The Shangri-La

My Che-the photogenic one! Seriously though, you would be amazed HOW much people are always sneaking a look at her or outright oogling her!!!

The newly renovated Al Bustan Hotel, from our boat. Another 5-star hotel here in Muscat.

A cute photo of Che at the entrance of the Marina on our way out.

Now this is what I really call traveling in style. This boat, The Al Said, (Al is arabic for "The" so I guess I just called it "The The Said"?!...) is His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Al Said's private boat, I'm told. This was later in the day docked at Mattrah Port.

The Muscat Intercontinental Hotel

The beautiful interior of the Intercontinental

From the top floor of the hotel

Che doesn't normally like getting her photo taken but she has been such a good sport letting me take so many photos of her as I told her that it's at least one way my family and friends can get acquainted with her before we wed! :-)

Most of the 5 star hotels in Oman are great places to stop in and have a coffee and snack. (and most are reasonably priced as well!) An elderly gentleman even came and played the piano in the lounge while we were there which was an added bonus of course.

Obviously not the best photo of me out there but there are 2 reasons for posting it:
1) In the spirit of "fairness" to Che who asks "Why do you post so many photos of me and almost none of you!?" She insisted on taking this photo and so I should post it to honor her.
and 2) To show people that men also can have "bad hair days", ha!ha! Seriously though, what's up with my hair poking up like that?! I guess a 3rd reason for posting it is would be for you to see more of the comfortable atmosphere in the hotel lounge. Cozy place!

Just over the doorway of the coffee shop

"Maid in Oman"

When I think about how God brought me here to Oman to meet the love of my life, (through very uncomfortable circumstances which I didn't understand at the time...) who has been working as a maid here in Oman during the past 7 years for a family at PDO (Petroleum Development Oman), it reminds me of the romantic movie, "Maid in Manhattan". Far more impressive than some entertaining storyline, God, in His sovereignty, looks out for the well-being of his servants and makes our joy complete in His perfect timing.

My honey with the PDO beach in the background

And here she is in front of the Sultan's Palace.
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair, and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4)

"Peace on Earth" - The Book!

With so many critical, monumental, global-scale problems: war, terrorism, poverty, disease, financial crises... there must be answers out there somewhere. There is currently a new novel recently compiled and published named "Peace on Earth".
This story just may contain the answers.
http://www.geocities.com/peaceebook/welcome.html
(Written by my good friend, Peter Fama! Check it out!)

A Visit from my Ibri Friend, Saeed

At the Shiatti Mall in Qurum. My friend, Saeed, sometimes comes to Muscat for meetings with the Ministry of Education and so we were able to hang out for a little while on his latest trip. It's always a pleasure meeting old friends!

The Omani Frankincense Market: Then and Now

400-600 Years Ago

Today

(An incense seller in a stall at the Mattrah Souq)

Farewells and "Parting Gifts"

"Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection." (Pindar)

"I am in the habit of looking not so much to the nature of a gift as to the spirit in which it is offered." (Robert Louis Stevenson)
This is the first time, in teaching at college/university, that I have classes that run for less than 15 weeks. We run classes in 8 week blocks and I have just finished teaching my 1st block at my new job. It's a much shorter length of time to get to know one's students but it's nice to have a change.
I have had a lovely group of students during the past 8 weeks and I am so happy to report that they have all passed onto the next level!!! We start our new "blocks" this coming Saturday and I'm looking forward to meeting a new group of students to teach, appreciate and love.
"The faster you go, the more students you leave behind. It doesn't matter how much or how fast you teach. The true measure is how much students have learned." (William Glasser)

Muscat in Paintings at "Bait al Baranda"

My honey at the entrance of "Bait al Baranda" ("Veranda House" in English), a lovely museum found in old Muscat near the port. The topics chosen by the museum to present the story of Muscat include: plate tectonics and scenic diversity in Muscat; ancient life in Muscat; earliest human settlements from 10,000 BC to the early Islamic era; Muscat in the words of geographers and travellers; Muscat from the 1st century to 1744 AD; Al Busaid dynasty; Muscat the challenge and the achievement and folk arts of Muscat.

CHURCHINOMAN.COM

Fellowship after 11am service in Ghala Church's "Good Shepherd Chapel". Notice my honey serving me up a plate with a coffee-what a sweetie!

A look at the Good Shepherd Chapel from the back

The Lord's Supper-Communion is served every Friday at the traditional worship service at 11am while communion is every now and then during the contemporary worship at 9am in Ghala Bosch Hall.

Carina Krogh on the piano!

Andrew (the other Andrew, ha!ha!) on the piano! (Usually someone like Carina or Andrew softly plays the piano after service while church members make their way to the back of the chapel for snacks and fellowship.)

Check out the PCO's official website at: www.churchinoman.com

Can you guess...

...what this ancient Omani artifact might be, what it was used for or what it's made of?!

Clothe Thyself

B.C. (Before Christ)

A.D. (After Christ)

A little skit performed by the singles of OCF (Oman Christian Fellowship) in Ruwi showing how Christ not only forgives our sins but seeks to clothe us with righteousness so that we might serve Him in newness of life.

"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, "Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." (Zechariah 3:3-4)
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." (Romans 13:14)

Andy's Random Pic of the Day

Song of Solomon 4:7

"...the upright shall have good things in possession."
(Proverbs 28:10)

"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar." (Proverbs 31:14)

Where in the World is Muscat, Oman?!

For those of you who don't know, there it is!

Here's a sight for sore eyes! Bumped into Deak (on the right) at church yesterday at the PCO church in Ghala. Deak and I worked together last year at Ibri College and he's now working at Nizwa University. He's showing his friend, Nick, around who is here on a short visit to Oman. Here they are with a BIG THUMBS UP for Muscat and Oman as a whole!

MUTTRAH HERITAGE at Muttrah Souk

The sight awaiting you as you enter Muttrah Souq from the direction of the nearby mosque

Talal, the friendly shopkeeper of "Muttrah Heritage". (Tel-24715414 GSM 96419177)

Talal showing me different Khanjars for sale at his shop. The brown khanjar on the left is made of camel leather and the handle of camel bone. You can buy Omani antiques, khanjars, necklaces, mujmers, coffee pots, silver, copper, brass and framing items.

These are just a few of the many khanjars for sale.

There are many cute perfume bottles for sale as well!
Muttrah Souq is one of my new favorite places for hanging out in Muscat. Such a wonderful feeling to the whole place. The locals seem more accustomed to having foreigners snapping photos which makes it great for photo-taking maniacs like myself! Muttrah Souq! I'll definitely be back. Oh, yeah!

MUSCAT in the Words of Geographers and Travellers

"Muscat is well worth taking an interest in, it conceals unexpected charms for those who have an open, enquiring mind." (Louise Beguin Billecocq-Wife of the French Consul in Muscat
(1905-1908))

"The origin of the name is "maskat". It is the port for trading with Sohar. The vessels coming from India, Zanzibar and the north used to anchor in Maskat."
(Ibn Al Mujawir-Iraqi geographer (13th century))

"Muscat is a bay, like which there is none in the world. It is the bay of Oman where vessels are loaded all the year round. It is a cape located between two towns. It has fresh water and its people are humble and they like foreigners".
(Ahmed Ibn Majid-Omani navigator (1490))

"In their behaviour, both among themselves as well as with strangers, the Omanis are very polite, friendly, generous and obliging. They love virtue and bravery".
(Robert Padbrugge-Dutch East Indies Company (1672))

"One great distinguishing feature of Muscat is the respect and civility shown by all classes of its inhabitants to Europeans. the Arabs of Muscat, as far as their manners go, are very civilized". (James Silk Buckingham-English journalist (1816))

The Beauty of Muscat

By day...

And by night...


I see the moon
And the moon sees me.
God bless the moon
And God bless me!

Why Me, LORD!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UGEaWfiDGA

The Happy/Blessed Future Leaders of Oman!!!

This morning, as usual, I arrived 10 minutes early to the classroom. Two of my male students were there and one of them opened up the back door (for female students) to look outside. I never noticed before just how close we were to the mosque from our class so I asked the gentlemen if they would like to have their photo taken. The gentleman on the right is "Mubarek" which means "Blessed" or "Happy" in Arabic. My student on the left is "Khalfan" which means "successor" or "leader"...So there you have it- together they are "the happy, blessed future leaders of Oman!!!" Seriously though, it is a real honor to teach such a great group of young people, knowing that many of them will indeed be in chief positions of the government, leading their country forward. Wow! What an extreme privilege!

Job 12:22

Psalm 112:4

Psalm 91:5-6

Psalm 139:11-12

Isaiah 9:2

Psalm 88:12-13
John 8:12

The coastal town of Qurayyat/Quriyat

Quriyat is a pleasant little coastal town about 150 kms from Muscat (on quite a dangerous road).


Many tour books have NOTHING written about Quiriyat and if they do, it's mostly just directions through the town in order to get to Sur from Muscat.

"We won't mince words here: there isn't much to see on the island road from Muscat to Sur, but it does provide variety and an alternate return route for your trip down the coast." (from Oman Off-Road)

In town, the main attractions are the fort (which is just over 150 years old), and a Shareestha tree just outside (which is thought to be older than the fort). There are mangroves, which are a great habitat for marine and birdlife. Just offshore is a small island with a watchtower-which is accessible on foot during low tide.


Talk about gorgeous! (And the sunset aint half bad either! ;-))



Proof that goats will eat anything!

My honey was a big hit in Qurayyat. All the village girls loved the idea of a photo with her as you can see by their faces! I never would have been able to get such a photo by myself as women/children are very reluctant to allow a foreign male to take their photo.

Sunset in the charming town of Quriyat

Can't Shake that "Touristy Feeling"!

It's great being in Muscat; never more than a 20 minute drive to the beach and touristy symbols like this fort with cannons at just about every round about.

Here are some pretty thought-provoking quotes about travel from "The Traveler's Journal" which some family members bought for me before coming to Oman last year:

"The real voyage of discovery is not in discovering new lands but in seeing with new eyes." (Marcel Proust)

"Since life is short and the world is wide, the sooner you start exploring the better." (Simon Raven)

"I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment." (Hilaire Belloc)

"It is never down in any map; true places never are." (Herman Melville)

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey." (Babs Hoffman)

"I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad." (George Bernard Shaw)

"Travel tip: Be the person you would most like to travel with."

"The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see." (G.K. Chesterton)

"When a traveler returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath traveled altogether behind him." (Francis Bacon)

"Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen." (Benjamin Disraeli)

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." (St. Augustine)

"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." (Miriam Beard)

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." (Robert Frost)

"He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left." (Chinese Proverb)

"It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end." (Ursula LeGuin)

"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears." (Glen Clark)

My Heart is in Her Hands!

The love of my life, Che, holding a heart-shaped cake that I bought at Ghala Church's bake sale to help support the youth group there. Gotta love bake sales!!!

New Job, New Colleagues, New Beginning!

At the Intercontinental Hotel in Muscat


Anna, Jackie, Conor and Sandra in the main lounge of the Intercontinental


Jackie, Anna, Conor, Louise and Sandra

Read a Banned Book

"The American Library Association has designated this week as Banned Books Week in celebration of the freedom to read and to express one's opinion "even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular."

The Bible is the all-time bestselling book, but in some parts of the world it is banned because it's considered dangerous. The Bible is dangerous, however, only to those who fear findng out they are wrong. It's dangerous to those who exploit the weak and the innocent, who use force to keep others enslaved in poverty and ignorance, who don't want to give up their favorite sin, who believe that salvation can be found apart from Christ.

No one wants to be told they are wrong. No one wants to hear that their behavior is putting themselves and those they love in danger or that God's patience will eventually wear out. Yet that was the message God told Jeremiah to write (Jer. 36:2). When His message was read to King Jehoiakim, the king cut up the scroll and threw it into the fire (verse 23).

The only way to know we are right is to be willing to discover where we are wrong. Read the all-time bestselling banned book, and let it reveal to you the truth about God-and about yourself."

(from Our Daily Bread)

"Write...all the words that I have spoken to you...that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin." (Jeremiah 36:2-3)

ARISE and be counted!

These pictures are from the 24th anniversary celebration of OCF (Oman Christian Fellowship). This event took place on Tuesday, Sept. 30th, 2008 in Ruwi Church Compound from 8 to 10pm.

EID MUBARAK!!!

Today we begin a 6 day holiday from Tuesday to Sunday to celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan. Here is a cute email I received from one of my students:

Hello; My best teacher

I m your student in section XX, My name is XX.

I like you when you teaching me in the class. I want to tell you about EID in me village. In EID we wearing new clothes and shoes.

Also, We going to prey in the mousqe at 6:50. And the women go to cook some food such as: haris, rice and kabisa.

I hope you are very happy to know some information about EID in my village.

with regards.

I don't plan on going on any long trips or anything during this short break. I'm just going to relax, meet a few close friends, spend more time with Che, do a lot of reading and try to organize things that I have neglected over the past several months. How nice to be on holiday!!!

Home SWEET Home!!!

The Living Room


and adjoining bathroom


The Kitchen


Dining Room


The Master Bedroom


and adjoining bathroom


With 2 bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, a lovely living room with new furniture, a dining room and 3 bathrooms, my sponsors have been more than generous in providing my current apartment.
"...do not trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;" (1 Timothy 6:17)
The spare room is not yet "presentable" so it will be shown at a future date...where hopefully family members or friends will be able to stay when visiting in the not too distant future!

Birthdays: Much Ado about NOTHING!

Birthdays are nothing to lose one's head over.
I had a wonderful birthday about a month ago.

There is nothing more wonderful than being with the love of your life on such a day.

On the other hand, over the years I've had birthday celebrations surrounded by people and many gifts and never felt lonelier.

We live in a society/time of "exalting self" where people make a BIG deal about THEIR OWN birthday (inviting others to a party they themselves prepare! or telling everyone they know not to forget their birthday weeks and weeks in advance!)
"Me! Me! Me! Me! Mine! Mine! Mine!
But enough about "ME"! What do YOU think about ME?!"
In the Bible, there are only 3 mentions of the word "birthday" describing 2 different stories of birthdays; one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.
Pharoah's in the Old and Herod's in the New. In both cases, someone "loses their head" because 2 proud men lost their heads in celebrating their own birthday.
"And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharoah's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them." (Genesis 40:20-22)
"But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger (large platter). And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison." (Matthew 14:6-10) (Also, recorded in Mark 6:21-27)
The point is, "Don't lose your head worrying about your own birthday. Why not instead try to make an effort to make more of a big deal over others' birthdays?!"
(Put self on the shelf!)

Sign of the Day