A week with the Groves Family!

We were very blessed to have our good friends come visit us last week! Dennis & Shannon brought their four kids with them!

It was so encouraging to introduce them to our Arab friends and show them around our island! Their faith and trust in God is also an encouragement to us!









We had hoped that they would have a full experience of life here in the Middle East and they sure did! The first day they took a tour with Tim at the Grand Mosque. This mosque is big, but nothing compared to the huge mosque in Abu Dhabi!

These two boys went to the park to play with Keeley, Faith and I while the rest of our group was at the mosque. It was fun for the kids to be together!! I couldn't help but to smile when Seth said to Joseph, "You're my BFF!"Aww!

The guys got to spend some time at Tim's friends' house. They played ping pong and got to hear about how life has changed in the last year.

I wasn't there for this experience, but I loved hearing about it! The picture of a man playing ping pong in a dress (thobe) made me laugh! haha!

We took them to our favorite Arab restaurant, Muhammed Noor!

They got to experience eating on the floor with their hands! The best part was the wonderful food, grilled chicken and rice!

One night after Tim was finished teaching we dropped by the institute to see it! They liked seeing Teacher Tim in action!

Shannon joined me one morning at my community group. This group meets once a week to practice speaking English. We literally laughed and cried as we talked with these sweet ladies!

We visited in the home of one of my new Arab friends and Keeley really hit it off with the daughter! The instant connection that these girls had was really sweet!

One afternoon we left Zach at home with the younger kids during nap time. The rest of us went on a tour of the Shia Mosque in our village. It was very interesting to see the differences between the Sunni and Shia Mosques.

This is the inside of a Shia religious gathering place where they celebrate and mourn.

On Friday afternoon we went to a new park! It was packed!! Keeley asked, "Is it weird if I wear the Abaaya and Sheilah?" I said, "Not in the Middle East!" :)

The park is right on the water and was beautiful at sunset!

Keeley loved wearing the Abaaya and Sheilah! She would walk up to people and greet them in Arabic. It melted the hearts of people who saw her!

I didn't realize how much fun it would be for our kiddos to play with Seth and Keeley! I'm so glad they came with their family...what a blessing they were!

The guys went to the Mejilis (sitting room) for men that's close to our house. They had lunch together and talked about deep things. I've never been there since it's only for men, so I loved hearing about it and seeing the picures!

Can you tell which one is Keeley in this picture on the boat?

The evening before they left Keeley & Shannon met Keeley's friends down by the coast for some fun! They rode on the boat and took pictures together. I'm sure that these sweet Arab girls will never forget Keeley!

Seth, Joseph, and Faith were never very far from each other. They had so much fun together!

Keeley, Shannon & I went to one of my friends' house to get henna!

My friend did a great job!

While the men were at the Mejilis, the ladies and the kids went to have lunch at my friend's house. It was a traditional meal of rice and fish. My friend is a great cook!!

Joseph learned a lot from Seth about using the computer...he's a pro!

Faith really likes Zach!

One evening some of our American friends came over to hang out! That was fun too!

Andrew is so great with kids. Joseph & Faith were very comfortable with him.

These four kids got little rugs while we were rug shopping! So cute!