An Adventist volunteer group in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, received a certificate of thanks and appreciation for their participation in a food distribution initiative during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The certificate of appreciation, issued on May 21, 2024, commended Nievelyn Sison, the group leader, for their exceptional dedication to the "Ramadan Aman 10" initiative, which involved distributing meals to break the fast.

Ramadan fasting (Sawm), one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith, is when Muslims worldwide observe prayer (Salah), reflection, and community. They believe that during this month the Qur'an was revealed, providing divine guidance and salvation for Muslims. Throughout the month, they fast from sunrise until sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and negative behaviors. At the end of each day, they break their fast with dates and water, followed by the evening prayer and an Iftar meal.

A group of Adventists from the Dubai Visayan Seventh-day Adventist Church had been praying for opportunities to engage with their community. Maria, a church member, suggested they could volunteer to distribute Iftar meals during Ramadan. The group embraced the idea, and several members registered online to volunteer.

Initially, only a few members participated, but their enthusiasm and shared experiences encouraged more members to join. Soon, other Adventist groups from Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah also got involved.

"The assignment was divided into two parts ... Volunteers would first fill the Iftar boxes, then distribute them at major road intersections in the evening to ensure everyone had a proper Iftar," said Sison.

The group volunteered under the "Ramadan Aman 10" initiative, led by The Ataa Hamdan Volunteer Team and sponsored by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. They committed to volunteering for all 30 days of Ramadan. Sison noted that Adventists stood out, especially on weekends when other volunteers had other commitments.

Throughout the month, the group distributed 500-600 Iftar food packages daily. They also had the opportunity to meet various community members, organizers from The Ataa Hamdan Volunteer Team, Dubai Police, and high-ranking officials who occasionally joined the volunteers.

Sison recounted a memorable encounter at Dubai Hospital when a lady came to her very excitedly and thanked her. “What are you thanking me for?” Sison asked. “I cannot forget your act of kindness in distributing Iftar during Ramadan,” replied the lady.

"It was a blessing to see people recognizing us and associating us with kindness to the community," Sison shared.

The volunteering effort also helped reconnect a former church member who had stopped attending services. Sison emphasized the importance of being relevant in surrounding communities and encouraged others to seek opportunities to serve.

“If we seek to be relevant in our surrounding communities, we need to prayerfully look around us, see the needs, and step in to fill the gap. There are lots of opportunities all around us. I wish we would all get involved and share the joy of serving our surrounding communities,” concluded Sison.

This article was provided by the Middle East and North Africa Union Mission.