A member of our Sunday School class asked if any of we ladies would be interested in visiting with an Iraqi lady for an hour or so a week to teach her conversational English. The class-member is a soldier and knows her husband from Iraq (he’d been his interpreter there). Now he is here furthering his education as a linguist/interpreter. A group of ladies volunteered to help his wife learn English, and I am among them.
We’ll meet this afternoon at 3 to just introduce ourselves, chat a bit, and let her acquaint herself with our faces. That way, when we show up at her door sometime in the next few days, she’ll know it is okay to open her door to us. I can only imagine what it feels like to be a stranger in a foreign country, unable to speak the language and have no one to talk to all day long while my husband is off training with foreigners.
Can you imagine? I think: how do I greet someone who knocks? What should I say? Will I offend someone by what I’m wearing? Where do I begin? It seems dauntingly intimidating. I wondered what she would be thinking as she awaits us today…then realized I didn’t want to cause her any discomfort either. I want to make her feel as comfortable as possible with such a language barrier. I don’t speak Arabic. None…don’t even know how to say hello. So….
This morning I googled Iraqi customs and etiquettes. I found it’s good to bring a basket of fruit or box of cookies when visiting an Iraqi home. So I went to the Dollar General and got a darling little rectangle basket with a cloth liner. Then I went shopping and filled it with goodies. Fresh grapes, peaches, pears, and plums. I included a package of Reece Cups, Piroulene cookies, a box of peanut brittle, dried apricots, prunes, walnuts, pecans and raisins. I had such fun. I even added a long, soft, turquoise neck-scarf.
The article on Global Etiquette says to extend the basket to the hostess with two hands, to look her straight in the eyes and smile. It also says to shake her hand and lean over and kiss her on each cheek, beginning with the right cheek. I do want to get off to a good start. So I plan on following the suggestions. I’ll let you know how it goes. selahV
Hariette, this sounds so very kind.
You have thought about what would be appreciated by studying up on Iraqui customs, and your planned gift sounds so welcoming.
My father, of blessed memory, lived in an assisted-living facility for a time, and there, he also volunteered to help a NATO officer from Turkey with English (conversational). My father, a former Navy man, enjoyed those sessions very much indeed. And Pop had compassion for someone coming into this country without a complete handle on English, as Pop had come here to America at age 5, unable to speak any English at all.
Christiane, it was fun. Especially shopping for goodies. She was tickled pink by her expression when I handed the basket to her.
My mother was from Oran, born in Algiers. When she married my dad, he sent her back to the states alone and she couldn’t speak any English either. She knew 6 other languages though. selahV
How’d it go?
Dave, it was fantastic. Her husband is proficient in English. You’d think he was born here. He’s learned most of his English from our soldiers in Iraq. He is here on a visa and will be furthering his education and focusing on linguistics. Wonderful people. Linda (the Iraqi lady), is young and nervous and excited about learning to speak English. She is going to be joining our Friendship International Ministry group on Tuesday mornings. They focus on Bible-study, teaching English so they can get driver’s licenses and citizenship, and also crafts for women from Japan, China, Korea, Mexico, and other Hispanic countries. She’ll get a really great introduction to American ways there.
Also, I will be meeting with her every Monday to just go over basic things. Will take her to lunch, shopping, help her learn to aclimate to America a bit. Then we have another lady who will work with her on Fridays.
It will be great to build a relationship and help her learn to speak and read our language. Prayerfully, the Lord will make Himself known through our kindnesses and love and desire for her to know Him, too, someday. selahV
What a great idea. I hope more of this type of ministry shows up around the country.
This artilce was in the Dallas Morning News this morning regarding a Muslim person who visited 1st Baptist Dallas last sunday. Steve Blow is a SBC writer in the metro section of the Dallas Morning News, he would most likely fall into the moderate camp
Steve Blow
In defense of Islam, pursuing a civil dialogue
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, September 19, 2010
Over and over you hear it said: If Muslims oppose terrorism, why don’t they stand up and say it?
If that has been you, Mike Ghouse ought to be your hero.
It is hard to imagine that anyone has worked harder than the Carrollton resident to demonstrate the peaceful and moderate side of Islam.
And that effort includes personally visiting Dallas’ First Baptist Church last Sunday just to put a friendly face on the “evil, evil religion” that the Rev. Robert Jeffress denounced a few weeks before.
“It was wonderful,” Ghouse said of the visit. “We were so warmly received.”
He hopes a quick chat with Jeffress will be the start of deeper discussion about Islam and the importance of respect between religions.
“I want to have a dialogue with him, not to say he is wrong but to share another point of view,” Ghouse said.
The 57-year-old Muslim was born in India and has lived in the United States for 30 years. He owns a small property management firm. But most of his day is devoted to building bridges between people of different faiths.
“It is my passion,” he said in his distinctive raspy voice.
He has been a guest a dozen times on Sean Hannity’s TV and radio talk shows. “I don’t like the way Sean cuts me off, but I have to honor him for giving the American public a semblance of another point of view.”
Ghouse said he can understand fear and criticism of Islam because he went through a time of similar feelings. As a teen, he was troubled by passages of the Quran. He called himself an atheist for a while.
But he said deeper study led him to realize the Quran had been purposely mistranslated down through history.
In the Middle Ages, European leaders commissioned a hostile Quran translation to foster warfare against Muslim invaders.
Later, Muslim leaders produced another translation to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews.
“It was all for politics,” he said.
Ghouse said he hopes to present Jeffress with a modern, faithful translation and challenge him to find evil verses.
“If he can, I will convert. I will join his church,” Ghouse said. “If he can’t, I will call on him to retract his statements and become a peacemaker.”
Ghouse acknowledges that deep problems persist within Islam. “Three steps forward, two steps back,” he said with a sigh.
And he agrees that mainstream Muslims have not done enough to counter violent images of their faith.
“That is very true,” he said. “But part of it is that many Muslims have given up hope that we will ever be heard.”
He said repeated denunciations of terrorism seem to fall on deaf ears.
And some efforts have backfired – like the proposed Islamic information center in New York. He said it should be hailed for furthering the moderate Muslim cause.
Instead, it has deepened hostility toward Muslims.
I have been astounded by the amount of anti-Islam propaganda that circulates via e-mail. Tons of it has come my way in the last few weeks.
One theme is that people like Mike Ghouse can’t be trusted, that Islam encourages deception.
But Ghouse says actions speak louder than words. And he points to elections in Muslim nations.
More than half of Muslims live in countries with some degree of democracy. And time and time again, Islamist parties are overwhelmingly rejected in favor of secular, mainstream parties.
“The religious parties don’t get more than 3 percent of the vote,” Ghouse said.
Polls show deep mistrust of Muslims. “But the most important question in those surveys is: ‘Do you know anything about Islam?’ ” Ghouse said. “Most people say no.”
What keeps him going is faith in Americans, he said.
“The majority of Americans
It is interesting that this man has the “original, non-warring” translation, which apparently Mohammed did not have. I find this is calling for an incredible leap of faith.
I would have to believe that Mohammed had a clear understanding of the Quran, and that this man’s version is the redaction. I hope Jeffress does his homework if he chooses to have a “discussion.”
This guy speaks for Islam with as much authority as christians who claim that the Bible is not inerrant or that Paul was just prejudiced when he said that homosexuality was a sin. He does not represent what Islam truly teaches or what muslims truly believe.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/08/fox-shareholder-funded-mosque-imam/
strange money connections going on . . .
Christiane, would you mind explaining the purpose of your link in relation to the post I wrote on a meet-and-greet with an Iraqi lady in Oklahoma? seriously. why must you try to goad, and stoke a fire that is not here? why? Please do me a favor…stop this kind of junk. selahV
Sorry about that, Selah.
I AM concerned about what happens to our Islamic neighbors. When the comment section ‘turned’ a bit, I ‘re-acted’ without consideration for the topic’s integrity.
As to ‘why’ I gave that particular ‘site’ reference?
There are powerful forces at work on two vastly different fronts to cause difficulties, and some serious money pushing the arguments on BOTH sides. This ‘big money’ is coming from the same sources.
The ‘site’ gives an example of this phenomenon.
I don’t think it hurts to keep an eye on how these ‘seemingly opposite’ extremist forces ‘work together’ in ways that are destructive, and if allowed, will bring a terrible harvest that will further reward the terrorists who attacked us on 9-11.
I am a Christian, single white woman who had the following encounter as I was leaving my local Wal-Mart this evening. A young man smiled and spoke to me by saying hello, how are you? I smiled back and said fine, thank you. I proceeded to get in my car, as did he. He pulled out and stopped his car next to mine, got out and walked over to my car. I noticed he had an employee name tag from Wal-Mart attached to his shirt so I rolled down my window. Seeing his name was Ishmial, I ask what was his native language since his English was not very good and he said French. Not really sure if he understood my question or not. I asked how old he was and he said 26. He asked how old I was and I told him that I was old enough to be his mother. I think he thought he had offended me because he tried real hard to let me know that he would like to just have someone to talk too, maybe we could have coffee and talk sometime. He requested my phone number but I told him that I would take his number and if I decided to have coffee, I would contact him. He gave me his number and told me what departments he was working within Wal-Mart. He then proceeded to reach out and shake my hand and then he leaned into my car, kissing me on my right cheek and then my left cheek. I wasn’t scared, although I found it a little odd. I came home and proceeded to look up the meaning of his name to try and define his nationality and also check out what the kisses on the cheek was all about. My investigation led me to this Blog. Does anyone have any advice for me on how I should proceed?
Lady, you made a serious mistake that has cost many a woman her life. You should have driven off when he stopped his car since you were alone and in all probably not armed.
At some point today, get on your knees and thank God for the protection He provided for you in your act of foolishness.
My advice to you is that if you are going to stop your car when men stop theirs and roll down their windows to talk is to learn to use a firearm under a properly credentialed trainer, get a permit to carry it and never make such a foolish mistake again.
Jesus provides grace to save sinners. I trust you have repented of sin and believed the biblical gospel.
Jesus also gives us common sense to not be foolish or temp death. God’s Word says that if you lack wisdom to ask Him for it. You need to ask God to give you a good dose of wisdom and common sense. (You truly need it.) Do this right after you thank God for sparing your life. And don’t ever do such a foolish thing again.
Hi ELLEN,
His name ‘Ishmial’ may be an arabic form of ‘Ishmael’ from the Bible, as Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him ‘Ishmael’ in Genesis Chapter 16.
If ‘French’ is his native tongue, he may be from one of the original French colonies in Africa, like Morocco, but again, that is conjecture.
In civilized countries, people may kiss one another on each cheek, but it is only done AFTER proper introduction from a mutual friend or acquaintance. So it looks like the young man was perhaps a little bit too forward.
Another problem: he asked for YOUR phone number . . . that of course sets off a red light, as no one should give out personal info to strangers, so you did the right thing not to give out your phone number.
So . . . follow your instincts.
If you were concerned enough to reach out to others for advice, you have already indicated a bit of discomfort and confusion about the incident. But also, you sound like you want others to ‘help you decide’, which means that you feel inadequate to make the correct decision on your own.
But ultimately it IS your own decision. I have offered some thoughts only. Being ‘self-protective’ is a responsibility you must embrace for your own sake, whatever you decide to do.
L’s,
This is possibly the best comment you have ever made in Blogtown.
I would say one thing though. Be real carful about following those “instincts” there Lady. Your instincts can get you killed, if not saturated in common sense and wisdom. Gain wisdom from God……..and learn how to use a GLOCK or maybe a KHAR since you are a female. The KHAR’s handgrip is not as bulky as that of a GLOCK and it is just as reliable.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/al-norman/its-been-a-quiet-week-at-_b_92981.html
Found this, C.B. on Walmart crime.
I was aware of problems at Walmarts, but I didn’t realize the extent of it.
Fortunately, I shop at the Salvation Army Thrift Store, where the clientele are MUCH better behaved, AND it’s a Christian charity. I personally have never had a problem there. 🙂
L’s,
Salvation Army people don’t need to rob you. They just stand by a pot and ring a bell. People just walk up and drop money in the pot. Strangest thing I have ever seen.
I have been thinking about getting me a bell and a pot and standing out in front of the Home Depot. 🙂
I LOVE the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
My husband says,
“you donate stuff, and then you buy it back again . . . “.
We have a great Store here, and I check it out every time I get a chance on the days when I can get military OR senior-citizen discounts. On Wednesdays, all the clothing and linens are fifty-percent off. WONDERFUL !!!!! Full of ‘treasures’. 🙂
How kind of you to want to collect money FOR THE SALVATION ARMY in front of Home Depot. I’m impressed.
I really am. 🙂
With all the thieves out there begging and keeping the money, I know that you will turn EVERY dime over to the charity. Proud of you, C.B. !!! 🙂
Hi Ellen,
My guess is that Walmart HR would have a problem with his approach. Remember, such parking lots are notorious stomping grounds for criminals.
You might want to ask yourself hard questions as to why he chose you. Get educated on what characteristics criminals look for in victims. And always lock your doors immediately upon getting in the car…first thing. And remember, such company name tags are very easy to aquire.
Just a tip: When I have prayed for someone who needs the Gospel to be sent to me, the venue is most always conducive and there is a peace about it. I am not saying that bad things won’t happen. There is a balance as we live in a fallen world and it rains on us, too.
If you feel led to contact him, be wise about it. Take your husband or some other guy with you to Walmart and inquire if he works in that department. If he does then your husband can set up the meeting to for him to talk to you both. Never call him because of caller ID unless you call from an unpublished number. And have a guy call him. This sends a powerful message.
If the guy was sincere, the above should be no problem. And I can understand your wanting to help him. But be guided by the Holy Spirit in all things. Even going to Walmart! I cannot tell you the danger I have been warned about internally when I trust in Him to guide me. I also know that when I have not been connected to the branch for any amount of time, I am lost and operating on my own. Not good.
CB is right. we are not called to be fools but to be wise.
SelahV
Any more word on how your friendship with this lady is developing?
WONDERFUL interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lt3n-5h9_4&feature=related
About caring for our neighbors, who ever they may be:
We only hear the ‘bad’ stories, but sometimes, the ‘good’ ones make the news.