In line with our church theme for this year which is “Let us go on to maturity”, Word International Al – Ain continues it’s commitment to bring God’s word to the nations and hope to our dying world. In this issue we highlight one of WIN - Al Ain’s small group, the Buraimi Outreach, and discover how God has used the lives of our brethren to extend His work even in Oman and win souls for Him. We thank Bro. Don Joaquin and Bro. Ruel Cabusas for taking some time to share to us how God is working in Buraimi.
How and when did the Buraimi outreach started?
Bro. Don: It all started when my brother in law Bro. Eugene stayed in Buraimi for the first time to renew his visit visa. Before going to Buraimi, Bro. Eugene had just accepted the Lord during our regular worship service with our then special guest speaker Ptr. James Lottering. With passion and excitement to know about the Lord, he continued to become active by attending our regular small group, the Khabisi Group and he started testifying that the Lord is indeed real, alive and good. To make the story short, his eagerness to seek and know the Lord continued in Buraimi as he went for his exit last December 2008.Through that situation, Bro. Eugene together with a Christian couple who were also in Buraimi to renew their visa and whom he considered like parents and with some other stranded friends, came together to spend some time fellowshipping together for almost everyday.
Where did the inspiration to start an outreach in Buraimi come from?
Bro. Don: It all started in our small group, together with Bro. Ruel, Bro. Roosevelt and Sis. Martha. Because of the situation that we've seen when me and my wife Sis. Julie visited Bro. Eugene to supply him with some foods in Buraimi, we felt the need of our kababayans not only for the material things but most especially for their spiritual need. They need Jesus more than anything else. I've shared this to our small group and we felt the burden to share God’s good news to them. We first prayed and declared Buraimi as for Christ before we went to bring our regular Bible study there instead of having it in Al Ain, just to have a change of ambiance.
Bro. Ruel: At first our group's intention was only to visit Bro. Eugene in Buraimi. But God has placed in our hearts the burden of starting a Bible study after we have seen their pitiful situation. They were confined in one small hotel room that probably measured 2 x 3 meters receiving room and a small bedroom. There were around 8 persons in that room. After hearing their testimonies and cries, our desire to reach them out increased.
Bro. Don: And by God's grace, our first Bible study in Buraimi which was conducted inside a small room in a hotel was a breakthrough. Six souls accepted Christ....and this was the start of God's mighty touch until now.
Bro. Ruel: We decided to visit them regularly to conduct a Bible study and bring whatever food or anything that our small group has contributed. We also invited Pastor Edward and Sis. Marlene to join us and personally see the situation.
Can you please give us some testimonies of how the Lord has blessed the outreach in Buraimi and how it has helped change the lives of the people you have encountered there.
Bro. Ruel: In the last 2 or 3 months since the Buraimi Outreach started, many lost souls have accepted Jesus Christ and many sinners had repented. Most of them were victims of illegal recruitment and broken promises by their employers. Some of them have stayed in Buraimi for months and still hoping to find a job here in UAE or in Oman. Some have been forced to become a prostitute just to earn money for their food and for their hotel rental. You will really see in their eyes the tears of desperation, pain, frustrations, hopelessness and many other negative emotions that you can name. After we shared the situation in Buraimi and though our church prayers, some of our small groups gave their support. The YA's brought boxes of gifts during Christmas and they witnessed to those who came to the Lord that night. The Khabisi Small Group with Sis. Bing also went to visit them and brought some food and they had a chance to talk to some of the people there as well. We have raised some amount also for the plane ticket of one of the longest stranded mother with her 3 kids who was also from the hometown of Sis. Thelma in the Philippines. We gave them as well some financial help for their transport and pasalubong for their kids. All of our prayers were answered by our God by sending them all out of Buraimi. Some of them were sent back home to the Philippines, some in Dubai and some are now happily working in Oman. We heard news that some of them are now regular church goers but some stopped communicating to us. But I believe the important thing is that we responded to God's calling and we obeyed Him by sowing seeds in their lives. I know that wherever they are they will always remember their experience in Buraimi and they have felt the love of God through our church.
So far, how has the Buraimi Outreach progressed?
Bro. Ruel: Our outreach stopped for a while until Sis. Janice who went to Buraimi for her exit to renew her visa came to our knowledge. We again organized a trip there and informed her that we are coming and will conduct a Bible study. This happened on May 8, 2009. Again we met many stranded Filipinos and some of them are among the 137 drivers who were promised jobs in Dubai. They were also in tears when they shared that their debts are now almost half a million due to high interest rates. On our second visit last Friday, we were amazed because they were happy even though they were in the midst of this situation. They said that they are very thankful despite of what happened to them because if not for it they will not probably come to know Jesus Christ and have a serious relationship with Him. And the great thing that God has done in that place, He touched the heart of Ms. Divina, the hotel manager and she is now regularly giving us a room for our Friday Bible study/fellowship in that hotel for free, all for God's Glory! Our church plans to get a place in order for us to have an office and a place where we can bring our attendees is now being provided for free. Let's us only pray that this arrangement will continue.
Some photos during the May 8, 2009 Bible Study conducted by the group at Buraimi, OmanIncluded in the photos are Bro. Ruel, Bro. Jun, Sis. Martha, Sis. Rose, Sis. Janiz and Sis. Thelma
How can you encourage our brethren to take part in this outreach?
Bro. Ruel: First we are asking for your prayers that God may send more workers to conduct Bible studies and lead the singing/worship as we can't do this all alone. If God is touching you to give something like food, noodles, rice, toiletries, or anything that you think will be a blessing, we are most willing to transport it to them. We are not encouraging money because they are baby Christians, and they might use it for something that is not pleasing to the Lord not unless their problems are for the hotel's rental, visa or plane tickets.
Thank you our brothers and sisters! Just remember, God has blessed us to become a blessing to others as well.
Lastly, I encourage everyone in our church to be part of the outreach if you can come and visit them in Buraimi for you to personally see their situation.
May God be glorified for all of these. Our reward is in heaven.
