1 More Week?!

Just under one week left, and I cannot believe how fast the time has flown by.  Last week was just as busy as all the others.  I was able to go to a crisis pregnancy center with Leina.  And while I was doing that Jake went into the city centre (which is the main downtown area of Birmingham) and helped at two different tables set up by OM (Operation Mobilization), and Birmingham City Mission.  At the tables were Christian literature there to hand out to the people and also to talk to anyone who was interested.  He was also able to watch Najib (our friend who is the pastor of the Iranian and Arabic churches) do street preaching at the BCM table.  Jake also got to go check out OM's campus here in Birmingham.  This is located in the most ethnically undiverse neighborhood in all of Birmingham, with a population that is over 90% Pakistani. 

Another fun time was lunch over at our Indian friend's house, Davinder.  He and Rakesh are the two guys that we teach English to with Bill on Wednesday nights.  Davinder's wife cooked us an amazing meal with Chipatis (Indian tortillas), Vegetable Curry, and other things that I have no idea how to pronounce.  

Last week, I also went to a ESL class with Leina for Muslim women.  This was their end of the year party (all groups and classes close down for the summer).  I am going to be a little more bold in this paragraph if you don't mind.  So, if you're super PC (politically correct), stop reading :)  This was a completely new experience for me.  Yes, we've been around many different ethnicities since we've been here, including Muslims.  But, I have never been around so many Muslims in my entire life.  There were 15 women and about 30 children!  I've never had much contact with Muslims and my ideas and opinions about them were mostly just subconsciously formed from what I saw in the media.  I have to admit, before coming here to Birmingham, the thought of being around a room full of Muslims would have slightly terrified me.  Not necessarily because of any experience I had, simply because they were the unknown.  If I can be so bold to say this, I mostly connect the idea of Muslims with terrorists.  Yes, I know, so un-PC, but all I knew of Muslims was what the media reported, which was mainly just of the radicals and extremists.  But, in this room of 15 women, I just saw moms chasing around their kids.  I didn't see anything to alarm me or make me feel uncomfortable.  They were all very nice and are so eager to please and serve.  I realized that these were not the radicals that the news reports about, but just regular women.  We played games, sang songs and ate food (of course).

In fact, what I've learned is that a lot of Muslims haven't even read the Quran, and Islam is more their culture and tradition than being a devoted follower.  They are usually very eager to pray with you and don't mind questions about Islam at all.  And, the reason that so many of the missionaries here have been able to form relationships with them is because they are so hospitable.  Muslims will likely invite you right in and offer you tea and food.   So, that's the main focus here.  All of the missionaries that we've met are here to simply love the people of Birmingham, form relationships with them, and show them the salvation of Christ. 

Til next time, which will actually be our last one from here in Birmingham!  Maybe I'll have to let poor Jake do a post ;p

Blessings!
Em

The Tuesday nights ESL group ( Bill, Najib, Tani, Kimo, Craig )

Bill and Beckie with Rashid and Neelam.  And the delicious food!