Eid Mubarak

Roof Top Views from our House

One of our neighborhood Mosques with loudspeakers

Mutla Ridge

Emily & Molly with the Philippine Labor Attache

Run Away House Maids Worshipping

Entertaining the children who live at the Embassy

September 25, 2009

Ramadan is behind us and this week has been the Eid holiday. Eid is the celebration of the end of Ramadan and we're told it is a bit like Christmas. Some places have "Christmas lights" strung up, and stores have sales on for the many gift shoppers. I understand presents are exchanged but I've not really seen this. I made apple pies for some of my neighbors (the criteria was just being home when we tried to deliver them.) We had a difficult time getting past the servants who answer the bell; we tried to ask for the master or madame, but there was a language barrier. Eventually, the owners would appear. One lady who was also challenged with English, invited us in. We congratulated her on the end of Ramadan and she explained they still had one more day until Eid. We were puzzled, as it had been announced that the moon was sighted and Ramadan was over. We learned that not all clerics agree (imagine that!) and it depends on when your supreme leaders sees the moon. I can't imagine this state of limbo for the cooks: we might be having 60 people for dinner tomorrow, but it might not be until the next day!

This couple hosted us in their diwania with its brightly colored fabric covered benches that ran around the room in a U-shape. These are hard as nails to sit on but pretty to the eye. They insisted on giving us drinks, even though we refused since they were still fasting. In the middle of the room where a table was ornately dressed, was a finely decorated tissue box with matching trash can? I think so, this is how they get rid of the date seeds; spit into tissue & dispose. I must admit, Robert & I are getting quite hooked on these sweet, carmelly dates...I used to think they were too much trouble to eat, but not anymore! The husband had studied for his doctorate degree in Jordan; it is easy to start conversation with such questions because they tend to have photographs that reflect their importance in plain view. We could tell quite a difference in him from men who have studied in the West. Another neighbor travels often to London and had the air of comfort with Westerners that others lack.

Since Emily had to complete her summer projects for her honors & AP classes, we needed to keep close to home and give her plenty of time for the books. She took very few hours away from her studies and at times we had to enforce a break. We planned a sleepover for 7 girls that turned out to be a lot of fun. They scrambled all the way up to the top roof one evening and got great photos of our neighborhood at dusk. The singing, and laughter of the girls was a joy to hear again. Even though Emily loves her new friends, it was bitter sweet because it made her miss her old ones who spent so many fun hours in our home in London. We added a Karaoke game to our "teen toys" and it has given many hilarious hours of choral entertainment! With Molly here to organized everything from activities to sleeping arrangements; it makes light work of parties. We were able to do a "kid swap" with Ethan and he enjoyed time away at one of the girls brother's house.

Since I last wrote, the girls joined me for a Friday morning service at the Philippine Embassy. They helped to entertain the children while the mothers worshiped and had fellowship. I was there to observe and see where I can best contribute but it was great to begin to connect with some of the ladies. One young woman was crying and in pain due to some skin lightening creme that her employer had told her to use prior to running away. (While we are lying in the sun to get darker, women here are buying cremes to whiten their skin!) She had an allergic reaction and was terribly swollen and inflamed. We took her aside to discuss this condition, then I prayed with her and have her a hug. She melted into my arms like a child and I just held her, knowing her pain went much deeper than her skin. She actually had two children of her own "back home" and was no doubt grieving that while she had sacrificed to come here, it had turned ugly and now she was stuck, waiting to be returned to her family.

During the morning, these volunteers from the Lighthouse Church provide snacks, prayer, worship, teaching, and give toiletry items and clothes to whoever needs them most. One of the volunteers was, herself, a maid but worked for a Christian family who gives her time off. In her free time, she helps here, and is earning a degree in Christian Ministry from the Lighthouse College, so she can be ready to serve when she returns home! Anna was a beautiful little angel who fluttered around tending to the needs of her sisters.

Before leaving, we were privileged to meet the Philippine Labor Attache who is responsible for this place of refuge. He gave me his cell phone number and we agreed to talk further about how I could help. The pastor at our church also encouraged me to "pray broadly" as there is a similar need at the Ethiopian Embassy but it is less accessible.

Robert & I had a very fun excursion with our Canadian friends, Harvey & Becky over the break. Their son was spending time with Ethan, and the girls were busy, so we took off in the direction of Iraq. (Relax Dad, we were still 40 miles away!) We've been here over a month and had not yet seen camels, so that had to be remedied! We drove out the "Highway of Death" where retreating Iraqi forces were bombed by the Americans during the Gulf War. We wanted to see Mutla Ridge which is the highest point in Kuwait and the place where the Iraqis had established artillery forces. It is just a rocky outcropping but since everything else here is so flat, it provides a contrast. We were not the only ones to think this; the area was dotted with young men with ATVs zipping around on the sandy hills.

In a moment of youthful zest, Robert drove "off road" in 4-wheel drive to get closer to the site.

Even in our daring mode, we only drove where there were clearly many tire prints in the sand. We wanted to avoid unexploded devices if possible! The sand slopes were so inviting, we thought we would check them out "for our kids." The sun shield turned out not to be as "fast" in the sand as hoped, and our clever kids spotted our fraud at once! Never mind, we had a blast with friends who can converse deeply, or romp like kids in the sand with us...what a gift! While driving, we came across some camel herds and tents which we could only guess about their use. We were so excited, but decided not to drive any closer in case their herders were unfriendly. As a bonus, we passed a pile of camel bones (what else could they be??) and came home with some wonderful souvenirs.

I wish I could crack the code on how to embed my photos in my blog with headers; I'm open to suggestions!