Cumin Edition #6

Ramadan began Sunday.  The kids in my morning class showed up yawning and lethargic after having woken up before 3 am to eat and pray before their daily fast began.  This is almost a welcome change because the energy level of these middle school-aged students had been making classroom management next to impossible. The five 12 to 14 year-old girls in my class showed up with black scarves covering their heads. And one of my students even has an app on his phone that cries out the Arabic chant that calls them to prayer mid-morning. 

On the first day of Ramadan, the holiday already gave us an opportunity to build relationships and share. We broke fast with a woman that we met on the elevator barely a week before.  This woman, Lucy, lives up to the stereotypes of her people.  They are known for appearing much more religious but actually behaving more wildly.  She wears a floor-length black robe over her clothes when she goes out during the day, but she drinks, smokes, and has tattoos, which are all considered sins to them.  Lucy’s English is very weak, and I thought that we were just making a friend that would be able to teach us about the culture and with whom we could practice our K language, but we’d never be able to get deep enough in our conversation to be able to talk about eternal things.  On our third visit, after sharing our second meal with her, we got into a sp conversation.  With lots of explanations and a little acting, we carried the conversation for some time.  I even got to clearly share the Good News!  The Father proved me wrong and overcame the language barrier that I thought was impenetrable, and I’m glad He did!  She’s coming over to our house for pizza night tomorrow and we will be teaching her English a few times a week.

In this culture the list of shameful things for women seems endless.  Putting on chapstick, sweating, and texting men (even for work matters) are all considered shameful (and sensual).  People are constantly watching and judging each other.  I sometimes worry that hanging out with Lucy will ruin our reputation in the community.  But then I remember the company that our Savior kept.  And I trust Him to take care of the effects of our obedience to Him.

Praises:

If you’re reading this, I’m very thankful for you!!!

I got to share most of the Good News in class on Sunday!  Only one student (Ron) came, so we were able to have a lot of conversation.

We are making more friends that are English-speaking women!

Requests:

Please ask that we are able to have good conversations over pizza with Lucy and her husband.

 

Continue to lift of Naomi, Levi, Levi’s father, Kelly, and now Lucy, that they would seek and choose the truth.

My adult classes will finish on Thursday.  Please ask that my co-workers and I will be able to follow-up with students even after classes are over.