Islam

Friday evening I went to a seminar held at the amphitheater in Muscat. It was the second seminar of a two day lecture discussing Islam in relation to other religions, mainly Christianity.

The speaker was Yusuf Estes, an American (from Texas). He used to be affiliated to christianity and even involved in ministry. However, he converted to Islam. In Islam by the way they don't say 'convert' but 'revert'; but I consider it converting nevertheless. He was a scholar and it was evident that he had studied both Qu'ran and the Bible in depth.

At this seminar were about three hundred people. Of those three hundred there were approximately five non-muslim. My friend Charlie from church was there and some other Westerners (Westerners meaning: North Americans + Europeans). The scholar spoke about why he converted to Islam and what the story behind his conversion was. There was a Q&A session afterwards but I did not have a lot of questions to ask based on his speech.

At the end of the seminar there were a couple of people who wanted to convert to Islam. These were mainly Philippinos I think. It was an interesting experience to witness this. I don't know the meaning of it but the converts had to say something in Arabic. The crowd of people reacted with great happiness and many shouted "Allah akhbar" as expression of their happiness.

Comparing it to christianity it was similar to how baptism happens in some churches.

Anyway, after this all was over Charlie and I were invited to have a dinner with Yusuf Estes and some other people the next evening. It was a good opportunity to be asking some questions and we happily accepted the invitation. Since I am living in a Muslim country I might as well make the most of all the opportunities presented to learn more about the culture and the religion.

So the next evening I was expecting to have dinner with about 8-10 people and have laid back evening talking about religion.

How different it would be. The talking was there but my expectations were way off. What happened is that this was not a dinner for about 10 people. We arrived at this huge mansion. Inside must have been like a hundred people sitting on the floor. Women on one side of the room and men on the other. In the middle sat Yusuf Estes and next to him two chairs. One for Paul (an American Christian who was also invited) and one for me. Pauls wife and Charlie were seated with the women.

Being a little bit overwhelmed by all these people Yusuf started of by saying. Well Harmen (we had been introduced a couple of minutes before) what are your questions... and I thought this was going to be a relaxed evening. But we started discussing about the way that people are Justified (made righteous before God) by God. We talked about the difference between the Allah and God and god. And of course the everlasting point of discussion of Jesus being/not being the Son of God; which to Muslims is blasphemous. We talked for about an hour or so. But I don't really recall all the specifics we talked about. However, it give me a better understanding if Islam. And more over it helps me to read the Bible from a different perspective. I mean, the Bible really speaks of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. And it really boils down to what is true and what you believe. To me it has opened a whole new set of questions and attitude. I learned that I feel like being a very complacent christian often. I mean to say that I often think like I know it all. But really, I lack so much true understanding of the real meaning of so many things. So actually I am happy that I am having these discussions with Muslims around me. It will make my own faith stronger.

And I do think that there are many things that we can learn from Muslims (I am referring to the Omani that I meet here). Their hospitality is great. They have a great sense of respect. And have a very rich tradition.

Well, anyway, I hope to continue to learn more about this whole religion thing. One thing I have learned that it seems very easy and everything when it is not really a part of your life, e.g. when you live in Holland. But when you are in the middle of a different culture and religion it becomes a different situation. You cannot ignore the differences and discussions that require an answer.

Well, my break from work is over and I should head back to work. Sending you my love from a hot Oman.

time flies

Well time flies. It has been ten days already since I posted my previous post. Last week I took a training course on Supervising Food Safety in Catering business. It was a good learning experience. Hopefully I will be able to take the Advanced course as well, although I am not sure if I will be able to complete it before my leave. And I would be anxious about the exam since it is a very hard one. Anyway, I am sure that the one of last week is in the pocket. I am so grateful for the investment that the company is making in me. The generosity has been really great and even sometimes shameful. Like, I don't deserve this. But isn't that the beauty of it either? It is actually great to see how hospitable I have been received and cared for. It has shown me how God is giving. Although I don't always feel it that we he is the One caring for us. And also I am learning to see more and more the meaning of what it means that Jesus Christ has done. Especially in the light of the discussions that I have with my Muslim friends and colleagues here. In church every week when taking communion we proclaim: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. Oh! I hope and pray that everyday I will more and more understand the sweet and rich meaning of those words. Really, these words constitute and complete redemption and salvation. And they are a strong testimony. That is the awesome work that God has done. My friends, pray that we might be filled with joy and praise of this miracle. That the name of Jesus Christ may be really honored throughout the nations.

Besides all this I am feeling strong today. I am discovering also how much I love my family. They are these great people in life that will always be there. No matter what the circumstances my family will always be my family. How much more I long to be equipped in my heart to love people around me. Despair and failure often lead to feeling depressed. But that luckily does not change that what is true.

Furthermore I am finishing the book of the Count of Monte Christo. I have read it like ten years ago but I had forgotten most of it. It is a beautiful piece of literary art that is enjoyable to read, rich in lessons to learn and almost three inches thick :-)

Well I am going to continue with my working activities now. I am working on my project approach plan haha. Not even halve way in having completed it after having been here for over halve a year. Haha. But that is of no consequence. I will graduate this year, provided God grants me a peaceful heart.

Sending you all a big big hug and a lot of love!

work in interior

Now I am in the interior. I am learning about properly auditing our locations. It is a good learning experience. It is starting to get hotter again outside. The suns is spreading its scorching rays across the country again. In a month time it will be full time AC hopping again. From apartment to car to the office. It is 35 now outside during the day which is okay, but in a month it will be 45 again... bring out the barbecue...

eaten by a crocodile

I have been devoured by a crocodile. Luckily I had my laptop with me so I can send this message now... But don't be afraid... I will live, I heard the most effective way of overcoming an enemy is changing the system from the inside out...

Work in Oman

Work. nice and challenging. I have been working todays with the HSE team. We basically laid down the structure of all our work. We looked at our current working activities and plans and projects for the future. There is way to much work and development that needs to be done. I have no idea how we are going to manage this all. But it is good to sit together with the team and discuss all these issues. We have a clearer sense of what we are doing and how we are doing it. Now it is my task to plan make a comprehensive plan and present it all to the management this thursday. So basically I have a full day to work on that. That is not a whole lot of time. I just hope to be able to get it done properly. The good thing is that it does give a lot of satisfaction.

Anyway, it is good so see how things are going now. Setting up working systems and procedures. Getting working activities planned out. And then run the show. Maybe I will be a successful manager at some point :-)

Oh and by the by... I passed the Level 4 HACCP training that I had an exam on in the beginning of January. So that is nice.

And of course there is also the work regarding my studies. Well the good thing is that the project is not just going to be me. It will be a team effort. Now I just need to make a proper research design. Once I have done that it will all be a piece of cake :-)

Waahoo! and hooray! I am actually going to graduate this year :-D

church

Today I went to church. Just came back.

On one hand it is a really good on the other hand it also give a lot to think about, which in consequence makes it hard again. Communion is always good. Remembering that Jesus Christ died and then rose from the dead for me too. But I just don't seem to be able to fully understand the meaning of that and the consequences for my life. I mean I can fully explain it I guess, but then what. It does not always gives the joy that I wish it would give. I know I make things too complicated for myself often. So let me make things easy by the means of the liturgy that we use in church. Before communion the churh proclaims: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. I guess that keeps it pretty simple and easy to understand.

today work is okay

so work is okay today. After having been here for 5 months now, I finally have clear idea of what I am going to do for my graduation. Halleluja. God be praised. I am going to develop a HACCP manual. This is basically a food safety system for which I had acquired my training certification previously. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction and peace that I now know what I will be doing in the next couple of months. And having had my parents over and also Wicher and Anna makes it better. I feel recharged and able to reconnect with Holland more. Thinking of home is good, and puts me down to earth a bit more.

Wicher said something along the lines of 'Harmen you can handle Holland if you can travel around the world and handle these countries here'. I think that was what he said. And it makes sense. Basically, if I can handle Holland I can handle myself. I don't know if that makes sense actually. But I think that if I am able to accept life in Holland, which is not even that bad, but I just have issues there, then I can manage anywhere. I think

Well what ever.

Talk to you later

crap... still have not posted many pictures