Aint Trek Beach Clean Up

One Sunday last month, our hiking group went back to the Aint Trek with the goal of taking trash bags to clean up the beaches.  The beaches get lots of trash washed up on them.  Lots and lots and lots of bottles along with some wood, rope, shoes, and about 3 straws.

From the ridge line looking down on the beaches.  The beach to the right of the nearest point is where we cleaned up.

Scuba Diving in Oman

While my dad was in town, we had to go scuba diving as he is the reason I became scuba certified in the first place.  Scuba diving is my second most expensive hobby as it will cost $100+ each excursion + cost to get there + you should dive once a year to stay current or else your dive company may not let you dive without doing a re-cert.  My most expensive hobby?  Traveling.

There are some great diving locations in Oman, and they are not packed with tourists.  If you leave from al Mouj or Mussanah, you will most likely be diving at Daymaniyat Islands.  If you leave from Marina Bandar al Rowdha (like we did), you will either be diving at Bandar Khairan (where there is a ship wreck) or at Fahal Island (which is where we went).

I was very excited to go to Fahal Island or "Shark Island" as it is referred to typically.  This is not because of sharks there.  In fact, we didn't see any sharks.  Children have taken to calling it Shark Island because it looks a bit like a shark sitting in the water way off Shatti beach.

The Beauty of Protestant Church Oman

Protestant Church Oman (PCO) is an imperfect church.  It is filled with people who sin... daily.  It is even led by imperfect sinners.  And yet, I am also a sinner.

From my seat at the back running the computer, I can see all the various people and cultural styles.  It's hard to capture it in a photo, though.

If I were in the States, I probably wouldn't choose PCO.  It would be a mistake.  I wouldn't choose it mainly because it's not a Baptist church, and my beliefs do line up with Baptists.  I'm also not a fan of responsive readings.  I don't get it.  It doesn't add anything to my worship experience.  In fact, it occasionally detracts when I'm distracted by thinking about why I don't want to say, "I believe in the holy catholic Church."  And yet, PCO is where we choose to spend our Friday mornings.  I'm learning the flow of the service.  I appreciate the Bible readings and the designated intercessory prayer time (most of the time).