“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”
Camille Pissarro
When I was living in Aida with my Muslim family we had the opportunity to participate in Ramadan. Ramadan is the most important month in the Islamic calendar. During this month all around the world Muslims fast from sunrise (Suhoor) to sunset (Iftar). Between sunrise and sunset you are not allowed to eat or drink anything (including water), until the breaking of the fast of Iftar (which is between 7-7:30pm).
For the remainder of my time here I chose to fast for 2 weeks. Every night before I broke fast I would hear the call to prayer at the mosque where Muslims go and pray. One thing I noticed is the quietness outside, as all the Muslim families have gathered inside to eat. It’s kind of funny because Bethlehem streets are not quiet at all, it can be very loud at times with all the horns from the taxis. But after Iftar begins, it’s completely quiet and I find that beautiful. I’ve gotten to sit in silence during some of my dinners, listening to the quietness of the streets. The fellowship and solidarity Muslims have with one another during Ramadan is amazing to be able to watch and experience some of it with them.
I’ve seen God work during my fasting as it has given me the opportunity to spend a lot more time in prayer. I’ve experienced the various ways people pray here and it’s remarkable. From looking at my host sister wear her beautiful dress and hijab and watching her bow down in her prayer time. To praying with my host brother and hearing the profound way he starts his prayers with, “Dear God, I’m praying to you because I love you..” And then to listening to my host mom pray in Arabic for my family in Aida and all the other Muslims in Palestine. Even though I can’t understand what she is praying, it’s like I can still feel the love she is saying to God with her soft spoken voice as she prays. These have been some of my favorite moments I’ve experienced during my time of fasting.
Fasting has also humbled me in a different way. It’s taught me as a broken human being I will always have within me this deep hunger, searching to find what can fill it. Life is all about what we look to fill us. Through fasting I’ve been reminded constantly of God’s abundant mercy and grace as that is the only thing that can fill me. My prayer of submission throughout my trip here has always been asking God for His grace to rescue me from me.
As my time here in the Holy Land has come to the near end, I ask through my transitioning and adjusting back to America that you would pray for me over these next coming weeks..
Prayer Requests:
– Pray for wisdom for me. Wisdom to know how much I should share and wisdom to know who are the people I should share with about my experiences I’ve had here.
– I know some experiences I’ve had will be hard for me to talk about, but also hard for some people to understand. Pray I would have the humility and compassion to meet people back home where they are, and not try to get them to meet me where I am.
– Pray for God’s grace upon me in my transitioning. I will need His grace to help me adjust to living back home with the all the things I’ve seen and experienced.
Caili
Withhold Nothing 