Intersting..

My friend Jordan and his wife are living in Africa for the time being. They are with an organization called goEd (i think) I don't know much about it, but I really enjoy hearing about their experiences. Here is just one that I thought was very unique and it broke my heart a little.

Washing my hands 3 times, feet three times, legs, arms, face, nose, and hair three times I prepared to walk into a Muslim mosque. Stop. I know what you are thinking... one of two things: 1) Why in the world would you, a Christian, go into an 'evil' place like a Muslim mosque., or 2) you may be judging, as I first judged some of our students when they first came back and told me about their experience of going. How could you do that? My answer is LOVE.

I know that you don't have to go to 'dangerous' places to show Love. I also know that everyone shares Love in different ways. One thing I do know is that sometimes love means stepping outside of our comfort zone to look into the lives of others. I am sharing this to say, Muslims are actually really great people with beautiful hearts, capable of incredible friendships and providing 'out of this world' hospitality to their neighbors. It is their faith which is wrong. They are just ordinary, everyday people. Not all terrorist. Not all evil.

It was Friday morning, February 25, 2011 @ 5am in the morning. First Muslim Mosque of the day. I went with two students to experience just a hint of what it means to be Muslim. Muslims meet for prayer 5 times a day. They are very dedicated to their faith. We met up with a friend, named Josef, that the students had made, he walked us through the cleansing process (washing the body) before entering into the Mosque. Without shoes, and as our feet, hands, legs, arms, and face all air dried we walked slowly without noise into a room with columns and large rugs covering the floor. Immediately we found our spots for prayer and began to follow Josef as he stood, knelt, and lay prostrate before their God. Although our motions were identical or close to identical with the Muslims in the room, our prayers were different. I prayed that God would use this experience to teach me, to give me a hint of the bondage they were in, to give me a larger heart for the Muslims and to open doors for ministry with Muslims.

We spent about 6-7 minutes in prayer then we all walked to the front and entered into prayer again with the Imam (the Mosque leader). After about 5 minutes we sat on our bottoms as the Imam began to speak in arabic and translating into Lugandan (the common language in the area). We sat for about 20 minutes with no translation. Our friend Josef handed us two books. One was Islamic Cures (which had all the remedy prayers to cure anything) and the other one was a Muslim prayer book. I read through the prayer book and began to tune out the words of the Imam. Not that I could understand anyways. The prayer book had many prayers pleading for Alla "god" to see them pure, praying for god to not look down on them as ignorant, then in the parentheses, (as you look down on the Jews and Christians). This sort of slander toward the Jews and Christian was carried throughout many of the prayers I read. As Christians, we shouldn't get mad about this but recognize how drilled into Islamic beliefs it is to NOT be like the Christians.

The Imam finished, and then asked us three to come sit with him--he knew English. Many others in the Mosque came and sat around us to listen in. At this point he did not know our faith. He shared with us the ignorance of the Christians. How they can just laugh about how shallow Christian thoughts are. He shared the same stories we learned in Sunday school. He told us about Adam and Eve, about Mary and Joseph. He told us about how God and Marie had a son together. His name was Jesus. Then from that point doctrine and scriptures began to branch out and diversify. He told us that Jesus was JUST a prophet, still JUST human. He told us that Christians worship Jesus because He didn't have a father. Because God was his only father, but then he said--Adam also did not have a father. God was his only father and nobody worships him. This was an argument that I never heard before, but I remembered that Jesus was pure from conception to death and though resurrection. I remembered the need for one living and pure sacrifice for sin. Again I was hit with the fact that Muslims preach against Christians in a way that devalues our Faith. Then I thought, no wonder why it is so difficult for a Muslim to come to know Christ. It is a religion that binds people. Literally laughing at other religions, making them seem inadequate. When this happens you don't even need to put bars around their faith, they enjoy their unknowing imprisonment. And in fact, in Muslim religion it is considered a sin to ask hard questions about God. Question that could cause a Muslim to stumble, or fall out of faith are recognized as sin. Humans needn't worry about such matters. Again they wont even ask the hard question that would lead them to Christianity because they fear they will be cast into hell.

It wasn't but a few minutes that they told us that we could become Muslim and join them in their faith, they went around and asked us individually and aloud if we would. I said "I can't" that was followed by the two students repeating "I can't". The Imam repeated the question then asked, "why can't you?" I replied I believe in Jesus Christ.

in Conclusion, or my attempt to keeping this somewhat short, this experienced opened my eyes and heart to the bondage that Muslims are in, it gave me a deeper understanding of the Muslim minds, and it helped me to recognize Muslims as human, not just terrorist as so heavily believed in the United States. All of this to say that the most important things Christians can do is to know our Bible, to study it daily, to pray, and most importantly to Love. Love is the most crucial proof of our Faith. The world needs Christ. The world needs LOVE.

It makes me so sad that these people are living in bondage like that. In Holland there are many Muslims. And while I don't think badly of them, I unconsciously judge them. I have a little bit of hatred toward them for what they did to my country. And to be honest, I'm a little leery when I'm around one. Because now my brain has a prejudice against them, and it automatically thinks that they are all bad. I know this is ridiculous because not all Muslims are bad. Just like not all teenage girls get pregnant. But sometimes I just can't help it. And it is not something I'm proud of. But after reading Jordan's blog, I honestly feel nothing but pity and sadness for them. They are literally being brainwashed, and they don't even know it. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to love and be loved a loving God. To be saved by a merciful God. And to be held in the arms of a compassionate God.

Quiet???

So it's nearly 10am on a Saturday morning here in Wassenaar. (in case you want to know how to pronounce it you say Vas-naar) anyway. The family has left for a fun filled ski trip and left me with the dog. I have no plans for the next several days that they are away. Its going to be grand. I kicked off my weekend with a lovely bath. Now, for most of you that might not be a big deal, but for me.. that is bliss. They have 2 bathtubs in the house but 1 is in the parents bathroom and the other is in the kids bathroom so neither are good for me to use. Instead I take a shower in my bathroom with no shower door. Seriously. No shower door. Its so funny! My showerhead is attached to the wall across from my mirror in the bathroom. It cracks me up. If I were a man this would be optimal for shaving my face, but since I don't shave my face it works nicely when removing makeup in the shower. Lol. Anyway, back to the bath. It was lovely. And in honor of "National Wine Day" yesterday I uncorked a bottle of red wine and had a glass while watching Everybody Loves Raymond. I would call my 1st day a great success. Perhaps today I will whip up a batch of Chocolate Chip cookies with my last bag of chocolate chips.. mmmmm yes... That does sound good. Later this week I plan on taking a trip to Rotterdam. I hear its pretty cool. Apparently there are a lot of boats that go in and out of there so if nothing else, it will be neat to look at the boats. Also I plan on going to one of the biggest open air markets in Europe. Guess where it is? Right here in the Hauge!!! I had no idea it was so close! I literally live about 30 min biking distance. I'm pretty excited. You may laugh at me, but honestly I love love love the markets here. You can get so much for so cheap! One of my favorite things to do is go somewhere on a Saturday (b/c that is when most towns have their market) wander around the town and then poke around the tents at the market and get some fresh fruit or veggies or something to eat. I haven't been brave enough to get the fish just yet.. and maybe I never will be.. I think I'll save the fish to get at the meat store and cook it at home.

Also this week I'm hopefully getting my train ticket to go to PARIS!!!! Whooo-hoooo!!!!! I'm seriously so so soooo excited about going next month!!! I have these visions off seeing the Eiffel tower and the Louvre and all the painters on the sidewalks and then sitting at an outdoor cafe drinking some French wine. I know its silly, but dang I hope the weather is nice so I can have a fantastic Paris experience! :o)

Well, this blog is kind of meaningless, it was more of a "I'm bored and I'm putting off cleaning my room so I'll post a blog" kind of blog... hope everyone is doing well!

Happy Weekend Everybody!

cool conversation

I had the most intersting conversation tonight with Maarten's step mom. Pien has to do a report on the bombing of Rotterdam (which I had no idea about) so she asked her grandpa if he had any stories from when that happened. So while he is telling her all about that Linda ( his wife) starts telling me what it was like for her during WWII. SO intersting!! She starts telling me about how when the air raid siren went off she and her mom would tip the couch over and hide under it since they didn't have a bomb shelter, in fact she was living in 4 different towns that got bombed during the course of the war. Can you imagine?? You leave to get away from it and then get bombed again. What a shame. Anyway, so she was telling me about being stuck at a train station because the siren went off again and the trains stopped running and how she and her parents had to walk several miles back to a relative's house that they were visiting. And how she would see German and American soldiers on a regular basis. And after they moved to the next area she and her friend would walk through the fields were the soldiers were and they would see where the trenches were and where the tents were and they would find pieces of shrapnel on the ground but they weren't allowed to touch anything they just had to walk past it all. I mean.. it was so so interesting talking to this lady and hearing her first hand experiences. Sure I read about the war in my history text books and yes I've seen the "Band of Brothers" HBO specials, but to hear a real life experience from the other side of the world where the war was actually taking place. Guys, it was truly remarkable. It made me so hungry to learn more about this area's history. The family is going to France for 10 days to ski and I think that while they are gone I might just take a few little history day trips. I mean, I am living in an area where there is so much history. Gosh. I still can't believe that conversation. Seeing her remember those memories and being so willing to share them, it was a precious gem. Certainly an added blessing to my day!

Thankful

I think God is trying to teach me to be thankful for the small gestures of kindness. And I think that I'm FINALLY picking up on this lesson. Maybe it's because I've struggled for a few months and I'm sick of it and I'm just looking for the good and choosing to be grateful or maybe it's because more gestures are being made. Regardless I'm extremely grateful for small gestures of kindness. Maybe it comes in a quick "thank you" or it comes in a nice random text message or maybe it comes from an appreciative look. Whatever form it comes in, I'm really learning to be grateful for those precious moments. I'm learning that it doesn't have to be a huge display of appreciation or a big horray, I think you are great. Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes. Well anyway. Just wanted to share my "ah-ha" moment. I know it's lame. But I'm a person who craves praise for a job well done. And I don't always get it. But lately, God is showing me that I should just shut up and be grateful for the little praises and realize that my worth is not in human praise. Really, as long as I do what He wants who cares what anyone else wants. So AH-HA! That is my moment :o)

Also, as a side note. This weekend I hung out with 2 little American boys. Super cute little boys by the way! :o) Anyway, the phone rang a few times while we were hanging out and it was American people calling and we watched English movies and played American games, ate mac and cheese, made yummy cookies and then then the parents got home so we were talking and for a brief moment I forgot I was in Holland. Surrounded by all this Americaness I truly forgot that I was somewhere else. It was kind of funny actually. And then I got on my bike and rode in the crazy wind. That's when I realized, oh ya.. I'm DEFIANTLY not in the states. Lol. Well guys. I'm going to take a little nap before the Super Bowl starts. Yes, I'm going to get up and watch it until at least 1/2 time. I mean, why not. I have access to a huge tv with ESPN America, I might as well right? Oh and I also have access to Slingplayer which allows me to race to the computer during the commercials and watch all the good commercials.. thank goodness for family that lives nearby! I can have all the American comforts less than 2 miles from where I live :o)

long time no talk

Hey guys!

Well, I realized that I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. Mostly because there really isn't much to post about. I've just been doing my daily routines and hanging out with the girls on the weekends. I went to Amsterdam on Sunday because it was fashion week last week and Sunday was the last day. So Rachel and I decided to see if there was anything cool going on up there. We saw about a million people, but not much else. It was a good weekend for the "coffee shops" though. Every single one that we passed was full. It kind of made me laugh, however by the time we left I did have quite the headache, and we didn't even go into any of them. Yuck.

Yesterday I went to A'dam again to meet up with a friend. Actually, he's Josh's friend. But hes in town for a business convention and asked me if I'd show him around. So I did. All the back streets and side streets of A'dam on the way to the Van Gogh museum. I really just wanted him to have the "Scenic tour" :o) Next time I'll bring a map with all the street names on it and try and stay in the center part all the way to the museum. haha. oh well. It made for good laughs and I'm sure he'll go back and tell Josh to never go anywhere with me unless I have a really good map :o)

Things have been pretty good here with the family. We've had a good last couple of weeks. Only one hick-up so I'm grateful for that. Pien has her big test this week. Poor girl. This test determines what middle school she gets into, which determines what high school she gets into, which ultimately is a deciding factor for what college she goes to. But no pressure right? I sure hope she does well!!

Well guys. Not much else new. You can pray that my Visa situation gets worked out. Apparently they were missing some paperwork so it got denied. But we are trying to get it worked out. Hopefully I don't get deported in the meantime! Although, it would make for a good story later. :o)

Have a great rest of your week!!