Here is a letter and some pictures from two of our members. They are doing ministry in Yemen.
Dear family and friends,
We would like to begin this letter with this quote. “If we have the true religion of the Bible, we shall feel that a debt of love, kindness, and interest is due to Christ in behalf of His brethren: and we can do no less than to show our gratitude for His immeasurable love to us while we were sinners unworthy of His grace, by having a deep interest and unselfish love for those who are our brethren and who are less fortunate than ourselves” (Welfare Ministry 35). Our visit in Yemen has been a crazy adventure filled with different experiences that we would like to share with you.
We began our adventure with a safe arrival in Sana’a, Yemen. A few fears with luggage being stolen in the airport and being chosen amongst others as the targets of burglary welcomed us. The culture and faith barrier soon was seen and we realized of how far we were from 76059. In the end we left the airport safely, with nothing missing and we were welcomed with the warmth of Hanan’s family who drove us to what would become our home for the summer.
After a few days of getting over our jet lag, we visited the office of ADRA Yemen. We met the staff and got to know a bit of what daily life in the office of ADRA is like. We were very impressed by the friendliness of the staff and we felt welcomed as part of the team. After an official tour of the office, we began our work by getting a thorough explanation of the vision and goals of ADRA Yemen and what activities are done to accomplish them. We were introduced to projects we would be visiting in the days to come and were overwhelmed by the real life cases that exist within ADRA. Of course, there was no better person to explain things than the country director for ADRA Yemen, Nagi Khalil. He really explained the management of ADRA and answered a few questions for us.
We spent a few days in Sana’a and were able to participate in a surprise birthday party and in a local hash which is a traditional British outdoor activity that is practiced all over the world. We hiked to the top of a mountain and were met by sunset before the expected time, which meant that our hike to the bottom of the mountain would be in complete darkness. With a few slips along the way and the fear of being lost we finally arrived safely to where the rest of the team was waiting.
True adventure began for us on our trip to Aden, which is located on the coast of Yemen along the Gulf of Aden. We traveled with Hanan’s dad by bus. What was to take us five hours was extended to an eight-hour trip because of the many stops along to way to pick up others. We arrived in Aden at night, picked up some food, and found a hotel to rest for the night. In the morning we met the staff of the ADRA office in Aden and joined them for their daily meeting, which is called “Good Morning.” As we got to know each member and what they do we immediately connected with the staff in no time. Our meetings back in Sana’a were an introduction to the cases that ADRA works with, and our time in Aden allowed these cases to come to life as we witnessed the social counselors advising and assisting the different people who came for help. The reason we mention that we immediately felt a difference in the staff was because these people met with the actual refugees and the different crisises in life that have to be assisted. We were given a tour of the local projects which included, social counseling for refugees who were attempting to reestablish their lives in Yemen, a kindergarten for the children of the refugees, a community center which provided income generation for young women by teaching them skills like sewing, needlework and computers skills, and the local school which ADRA is involved in by supporting the students.
Our next trip was from the city of Aden to the refugee camp, which is located two hours away, in what we called the real middle of nowhere. Truly it requires a person’s presence in this camp to fully grasp the reality of life in a refugee camp. There are currently 14,400 Somalian refugees and 800 Ethiopians who claim political asylum in the camp. Meeting the staff and eating a beautiful lunch welcomed our first day in the camp. We met with several of the community workers who are both staff and refugees. Some had spent sixteen years living in different camps with the hope that their life will become better, but when that will happen, they do not know. The dreams and plans of these young people have made it so hard to imagine the life that millions live, having to make daily decisions on how to survive for one day rather than plan for the future. It truly made us realize the many blessings that we have from the Lord and it reminded us of how much prayer millions around the world need.
Although our time in the refugee camp was filled with images of misery, this experience has allowed us to look at the future and make our plans in a way which will lead us to make a difference to those suffering around the world and to make them a big part of our lives. It is hard to forget a mother with tears in her eyes who looked to us for help to feed her child, and all we had to offer was encouraging words. Also, we a young girl who in her eyes has no reason for living after making a great mistake. These people will always remain in our lives and we will meet many more in the project we have left to visit, but as for our experience so far in Yemen, we have only the Lord to thank for His goodness and love which is seen in many ways.
We are back home in Sana’a. We have read a few emails and talked to some family. Today we will attend a Yemeni Sana’anian wedding. We’ll spend a few days here before our next trip. As we know that most of us are all over the world serving in different ways, we hope and pray that the will of God is being manifested in each of our lives. We thank you for your warm emails and we encourage you to keep the faith and do what the Lord has called us to do. We miss you all and we send you our best wishes.
Love,
Hanan and Eileen
PICTURES
Traditional houses built on the mountains of Yemen
Here are buildings in the old city of Sana’a, Yemen. Muslim mosques are visible throughout the city.
These are children of the refugees who are reestablishing their lives in Yemen. The children are attending the kindergarten class that is provided by ADRA.
Here is the real middle of nowhere. This is on the road to the refugee camp.
Different organizations that collaborate to sustain the Kharaz Refugee Camp in Yemen
Somalian refugees walking
Hanan and Eileen with the youth leaders of the refugee camp
Hanan and Eileen wearing a hijab, which is the covering for women
Hanan and Eileen with the ADRA leaders in Aden, Yemen
Hanan and Eileen enjoying the beach in Aden, Yemen
Hanan and Eileen
27 responses so far ↓
Juliana Pachon // May 29, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I think you ladies are having a wonderful experience, I will be praying for inspirational thoughts, words, and active work that the Holy Spirit would inspire you in order to complete the special work to do there. Light of the world!!! Don’t forget to be strong and of a courage…Joshua 1
kevin neave // May 29, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Eileen!!! Hannan!!! How have you guys been? Hope you guys are having a lot of fun over there!!!! it looks awsome and you guys look so kewl in your hijabs!! Well love you guys. Take care and keep spreading the word of God!!
Harrelson Watson // May 30, 2007 at 8:00 am
May God bless and keep you as you live for Him!
tita juarez // May 30, 2007 at 8:47 am
Eileen, I am just in awe at the amazing work you are doing for our Lord. Hanan, nice to meet you by e-mail. Ladies, you are truly an example to our youth with the mission you have before you. May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you safe in this trip, and may HE give you strength, words of encouragement to the people, and WISDOM. That’s my prayer for you all. I see the LOVE that you have already. That gift was given to you all from God a long time ago. I’m happy that you all have put it to work for HIM. Eileen, you have truly opened my eyes more to ADRA work outside our country. I will definitely give more $$$$ this year to ADRA. How long are you going to be there? Keep in touch and send all the pictures you have. I love to see this mission work. I will share tonight at our church prayer service and lift your names in prayer. Love you, take care….tita - Del Rio, Texas
diandra iracheta // May 30, 2007 at 10:10 am
miss eileen,
thanks for the great pictures, so proud of you, but not at all surprised by all the great work and effort you are putting out there!! hope to see you soon….stay green!
Miguel // May 30, 2007 at 11:58 am
I must say it makes me jealous and happy to read your update =). May God keep that vision ever before you and enable you to play your part in the hastening of His second coming.
Thank you both for sharing again!
-Miguel
Rebel Foster // May 30, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Eileen - I am so proud of the work you and Hanan are doing. I’m sure that your dedication and selfless work will continue to be a rewarding and lasting part of your life. I would like your permission to forward your e-mail to our local newspaper for possible publication. Once a proud teacher of an amazing student, always a proud teacher. May the Lord bless you for your wonderful work. Rebel
Pastor Marshall Gonzales // May 30, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Eileen - What a tremendous blessing! How wonderful to be ministering to the people there and God ministering through you and to you. What you are doing is real ministry. You will not be the same, nor will you look at people the same. My prayers are with all of you.
Blessings,
Pastor Marshall Gonzales
Cecil Sauls // May 30, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Eileen what a blessing you are. I wondered what you did after Pathfinders. May the Lord guide you and protect you as you and Hanan work for Him. I will be praying for both of you. May this reach other young people and encourage them to go forward for Jesus. God Bless you.
Mahalia // May 30, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Just remember to make it to the American Airport now when the time comes.:) Great Job! Wish I was there!
Love and Prayers,
Mahalia
Amy // May 30, 2007 at 4:28 pm
wow you two look cute wearing a hijab!
Phoebs // May 30, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Hey ladies!! I miss you all sooooo much! I’m so sorry that I missed your phone call the other day! I was so sad! I’m working on getting Skype, though, so hopefully, soon we’ll be able to talk.
I am so excited about all that you are getting to do! I wish that I could be there with you! I luv you ladies and am praying for you. Keep Jesus first. Remember Psalms 9:10, one of my new favorite verses. 
. . . . Keep smiling for Jesus. You ladies are doing a WONDERFUL job!!!
Chelsea Serrano-Piche // May 30, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Eileen you’re amazing.
Your efforts are not unseen and your work is greatly appreciated. You are doing what most people wish to do in their lifetime: experience the world. Keep on truckin’!
Hitham // May 31, 2007 at 12:00 am
Hey!!!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,”plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future. Continue and God will be with you. May God bless you and take care of yourself. I missed you so so so so much Hanan and I’m so sorry for not writing to you from along time. Say hi and pray for me and I’ll do the same for both of you.
Pearline Sickler, Texas Youth Ministries // May 31, 2007 at 11:41 am
Eileen & Hanan,
What an experience you must be having. God has truely led you there, and our prayers are with you, that you can make a difference because of your ministry there. Truely a Step in Faith !! Thanks for giving of yourselves, and your willingness to share the gospel with others. What an inspiration to all of us back home.
As they say, “Once a Pathfinder, always a Pathfinder”. Keep the faith! God Bless!
Ray Jordan // May 31, 2007 at 11:41 am
Nice to hear from you yet again. Hope things are still going well. My continued prayers are with you. Let us know how the situation with the airline tickets resolved itself.
Your brother in Christ,
May Rond
Uzziel Maldonado // May 31, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Hello Ladies,
Wow! I am glad to hear that you are doing well. I did not know that you were there already. I will be praying for you. I know that God has provided for you to be there and therefore He has a divine plan for you there. May you be a blessing to others and do not forget that you have a family in Texas that cares for you.
Sincerely,
Uzziel Maldonado
Warren Ashworth // Jun 1, 2007 at 9:11 am
Dear Hanan and Eileen,
You look striking in your hijabs, a reminder to us that you are in a very different world than our own. I’m so happy for you both to have time together and do the Lord’s work in such a fascinating place and culture. May He guide and bless you in all you do.
Have a blessed Sabbath!!
With love,
Warren Ashworth
Jennifer Castillo // Jun 3, 2007 at 1:15 am
hey i just wanted to wish ya’ll the best and i am glad you are out doing the work of the Lord..i hope you come bk with awesome experiences..god bless ya’ll and may he keep you safe..
jenny
Natasha Amosenkova // Jun 3, 2007 at 12:39 pm
It was very pleasant for me to see all these pictures here and read about this. I’m glad for both of you. You really have a great blessing from God to see all our world and to enjoy the time and people which you visit. Remember what you talk about. God bless you. May God accept your work like as honoring him.
Melody // Jun 4, 2007 at 8:13 am
Hey Hanan, It is sooo exciting to see what God is doing in your life! Thanks for keeping me updated! I’m praying for you!
PS: I never heard of Yemen before I met you! But we still have the souvenirs you gave us from there, so we wont forget you now!
Greg Vidaurri // Jun 7, 2007 at 8:18 am
Guys, this is soo amazing and inspiring. Eileen, I am so glad that you have been able to experience something as remarkable as this. I always knew that you would see the world! Keep up the good work y’all! Take care and God bless.
Gladys // Jun 7, 2007 at 9:07 am
miss E-I-LEEEN!! miss HA-NAAN! ja..ahh. it looks so exciting and at the same time so spiritually demanding… You are always in my prayers!!
ivan bielma // Jun 8, 2007 at 11:10 pm
You are doing a beautiful, wonderful, exciting work. I miss you and I keep you in my prayers. Keep doing whatever you need to do for the lord will be with you…
God bless you.
julie // Jun 10, 2007 at 10:08 pm
hey eileen your pics loook soo cute it looked like if you guys had fuunn lol well im glad your ok say hi to hanan lol well see you laters love ya take cares bye
Sis Pritchett // Jun 16, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Hanan -God bless you and Eileen .So wonderful to see how and where you are being used in God’s vineyard. We’ll continue to pray for you and your friend. Be strong and of good courage. Thanks for sharing
haniel burton // Jul 4, 2007 at 8:21 pm
wow i had no idea u were in another country doing missionary work, its nice to hear about u and all the good stuff you’re doing over there, well ttyl and take care.
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