Offending People with words…
I have been so careful not to offend people on this trip by not eating enough or making an offensive facial expression at someone, but today I learned that it is just as important not to offend someone in their native tongue just because you don’t know it so well. The funny thing was that I learned this lesson backwards. I hate to say it, but I was the one offended.
We met up with Hajar (sister of Miriam2) to go to the beach but her boyfriend wouldn’t let her go without him…I imagine that’s a whole other story. So she was sitting in her office on the phone and Maria and I were across the desk talking quietly so we wouldn’t disturb her and she looks at me and says, “What is your problem!?” with her loud Arabic tone. I think she actually meant, “Is there a problem?” in a soft secretarial voice. But such a small little mistake automatically made me go on the defensive. And this was about the third or fourth time she had said something like this.
I walked out of the office discouraged and offended. I honestly thought she didn’t like me. And we were about to meet her in an hour to spend the afternoon with her after she got off work. It took much prayer and thinking about Psalm 119:165 (Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.) to get out of my bad mood, but I thank the Lord that we had a great afternoon. I also learned the importance of truly learning a language!
Shopping for swimwear…
Her family is wonderful. There were four sisters, a mother, and a grandmother and we ate lunch together and then ran errands with Hajar. We couldn’t understand what she was telling us she needed from the store but when we got there, we figured out that she was looking for a bikini…so…we helped her find one. I definitely never thought I would do that on this trip. I do not believe that she is a very good Muslim!
Jihad and Waffle…
Their actual names and Jihan and Wafa but I needed a way to remember them. We went to tea with them and a friend (Mohammed) this evening. The subject turned to why we are here on earth and then to Islam and Christianity. Mohammed was interested in sharing his thoughts but not very open to ours. Then Jihan asked if we could change the subject because she was uncomfortable with it. They are such sweet girls and I pray that God will work on their hearts.
Fatima
Please continue to pray for Fatima. We are meeting for breakfast in the morning and I pray that she will come to church with us. I love our friendship and she really means a lot to me. I want so much for her to understand what she is reading in the bible and to know the truth. I would like to ask especially that you would keep her in your prayers. Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Random Observations of the Day…
- In a Muslim culture it is socially acceptable to…
- Ask a random stranger on the side of the road for some of whatever he/she is eating…this may only apply to people from the country.
- speak in loud angry tones when you are not angry and there is no reason for such volume
- round to the nearest dirham on change from a purchase (or maybe their just ripping us all off…could be that)
- smack your sister across the back of the head when you don’t like what she says…(beware Kathryn
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