A Hurricane in the Desert?!

It's true! Ten years ago today our family was getting packed and ready to leave Oman for America when Hurricane (or Cyclones as they are named here) Gonu hit the coast of Oman. Only a catagory 1 when it landed, it still devastated the coastline, homes, busineses and people.
Our house was all packed up and ready for the shipment to leave when we had to evacuate and stay with friends who lived more inland. For three days rain battered down, came in windows and flooded the whole area. The last week of school was cancelled and saying goodbye to friends was gone forever. Our days were spent moping the stairs and floors in our friends' house as the water poured in. For a country used to rain a few times a year, this was devastating!
Roads became rivers and cars literally were floating down the road. Infact, My Sweet was on the phone to his boss when he heard him say, "There goes my car!" It was swimming down the river that once was a road, never to be found again!
Power was cut and there was no clean water. It was a terrible week in the scorching temperatures with no air conditioning or fresh water. The army arrived and supplied each neighborhood with bottles of water but nothing could be done about the lack of electricity. It was chaos.
Once the rain stopped for a bit we thought the worst was over and took our kiddos and the family we were living with out for a drive. We wanted to check on the church building so crossed over the Wadi (usually a dry river bed). We parked on the road over the Wadi fascinated by the water gushing underneath us-such a treat for our Kiddos after 2 years of seeing very little rain. The church looked fine, just an inch or two of water in the parking lot so we left and headed for our friends' home. 

The Calm after the storm..

But the water began pouring over the roads...

We had crossed this road just in time...

The Wadi water beginning to rise...

Within 5 minutes it was all to change. The rain began again and the Wadi could not hold all the water. In an instant the water flooded over the road and broke in two! Cars plunged down from the bridge into the raging water. We were saved 10 years ago today.

The exact spot where we had stopped the car  to watch the water 24 hours before..

So we remember this day with thankfulness for us but also with sadness for those who lost everything, including their lives. 
The memories of those days will last forever. The Sultan in his generosity recompensed those who lost things. He even paid for the church building to be repaired and restored.

When sand and water mix in a hurricane..

The Church entrance..

Sand filling half the church...

The Sound Booth & Chairs!

Almost touching the speakers..

It was a time never to be forgotten.