Navigating the Dunes

The cities of the UAE trickle down the coast of the Arabian Gulf in populated areas, while most of the land is composed of a desert sea. Unlike waves that crash onto the shore, the waves of the dunes stay stagnant as the jeep tumbles from their crests. The driver navigates them like a sailor bends his bow with the sea. 

Just as he navigates the sand sea, Pakistani drivers also have to bend with the waves of cultures coming from all directions in Dubai, hoping that they don’t crash. In their taxis or desert safari jeeps they may have people from conservative religious backgrounds that request their silence, or they may have tipsy Westerners beg them for a conversation.  

On the day of my desert safari, Faizan said that his family understood he had to talk to women in Dubai as long as he didn’t bring those ideals home with him to Pakistan when he travels home for Dubai’s summers to participate in Pakistan's tourism.  He is able to switch on and off his strict boundaries like a light switch. Culture navigation does not concern Faizan, he worries more that he can make enough money to protect his dad’s honor as his dad pretends that he is the one paying for Faizan’s brother’s college tuition. 

“What’s the difference between your faith and others?” I asked. 

“I think people are genuinely good and occasionally mess up,” he responded. “All roads lead to heaven.”  

In a country of every religion, he has taken on the national perspective of religious tolerance which seems to play out as everyone coexisting together going to the same destination without any questions.  

In the back of the jeep the Ukranian girls turned up their music as if it could tune out doubt in anyone's mind after hearing the truth. 

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indian drivers to hear the truth and respond to the Good News of Jesus.

• Pray they would take the Gospel home to their families in their home countries and church planting movements would begin.