Ramadan Kareem

August 23

Ramadan Kareem!

The moon played hide and seek with the holy men resulting in the delay of Ramadan by one day. This meant we were able to go to lunch on Friday after chuch with some new friends. Tom works for the State Department and speaks Arabic, so his family has lived all over the Middle East. They took us to their favorite Lebanese restaurant which serves family style. We all loved the cuisine as well as the company of this lovely family of 6.

In anticipation of Ramadan, I baked cookies (tricky, without a mixer & only a cake pan for baking) and made some tomato relish to share with neighbors. I wrapped things the best I could: Styrofoam & tin foil! Molly helped me make "Ramadan Kareem" cards to wish our neighbors a blessed Ramadan and introduce ourselves. After much discussion, it was decided Robert would initially go alone since we noticed with the next door neighbors, only men answer the door.

Across the street, the man was out, so the lady (Braheim) greeted him warmly and thanked him. The man behind us invited Robert in. An hour later as I was wondering if he'd been kidnapped, I texted him to see if he was okay; he answered "tea" and I knew he was in good hands! Hussein was visiting with his brother but they welcomed Robert in & offered him tea.

On Saturday, we were not feeling so adventuresome with the 115 degree weather and the steam bath going on...only Molly ventured out to spend time with her new friend. Mid afternoon, the bell rang & the lady Robert had taken cookies to was at our door with her daughter and a Ramadan gift for us. I'd hate to compare the humble presentation of our gift to hers; it was a silver lidded bowl of traditional desert which was similar to a jellied cranberry sauce. The card she gave us was gorgeous, it was lace trimmed & had a packet of something (seeds?) attached and was in English. They had written the warmest thanks and "welcome to the neighborhood" greeting inside...I was so touched by their sincerity. They explained they were still cooking for the first night of Ramadan and couldn't stay, but they came in briefly and I showed them the lower floor of the house (I'm learning this "tour" is quite common.) In his desire to be hospitable, Robert offered them a drink!!! The daughter smiled and replied that they were fasting and he was SOOOO embarrassed! We are tying SO hard to get in sync with this culture and when we pulled that FAUX PAS after instructing the kids on not offending during Ramadan...we ALL had quite a good laugh at ourselves. I think we must provide our host country nationals some humor as well, while we trip all over ourselves trying to "blend in."

It was so timely that I had just read this from I Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

We all needed this reminder of why we submit to authorities even when we personally enjoy the freedoms that come through knowing Christ. To abstain from even sipping a water bottle in public for a month when it is 115 outside seems absurd unless we understand that it is honoring to God and respectful to those we're here to love....NOT TO MENTION, that we don't want to be cited by the police! It is truly no joking matter, this is taken very seriously here. Restaurants are closed and any eating & drinking that is done must be done behind locked doors.

About 5pm, Kefaya sent her sweet maid, Bunshee, over with a sampler plate of the delicacies they were making for their feast tonight after sunset. I learned that since all of their meat must be "halal" (like Kosher for Jews) it is drained completely of blood, so may not be as flavorful. They compensate by the seasonings & cooking methods which make it very tasty. The meat patties she brought were grilled and delicious, the stuffed vine leaves were different than Greek ones and excellent, and the rice and potato balls were unusual but deep fat fried.

I am so thankful to be finding favor with our neighbors. I pray for divine appointments and ongoing friendships with these dear Kuwaitis. I feel so humbled, so honored to be here. Pray that I'll be able to invest my time here in things eternal. Isn't God just so.........Oh I wish I could describe him!!!