The Village People

This past month has been intriguing. Our typically talkative friends who enjoy teasing and laughing have been publicly somber. Our conversations have been serious and straight forward, void of light-hearted jabs and scattered snickers. For this past month, most of our local friends have observed Ramadan.

During the month of Ramadan Muslims are required to abstain from satisfying their most basic needs and cravings between sunrise and sunset. Therefore, they do not eat, drink, smoke, or gratify any other personal desires during daylight hours. In addition, many refrain from public display of animation and mischief. It can be a rather solemn time.

Questions have arisen as a result of this time of fasting. They've inquired, "Do you fast?" and "What is it like for you?" We've been able to explain that as Christians we are not "required” to fast, although it is a healthy practice. The purpose of Christian fasting should be to take our eyes off the things of this world and focus our thoughts on God, deepening our relationship with Him. In addition, our fasting differs in that we do not fast publicly. Instead, our fasting should be obvious only to God. It has initiated some interesting conversations for sure.

These conversations have been a catapult for learning. Not only concerning local culture and religion, but concerning our own culture, religion, and values. In asking questions of others, we've had to ask these same questions of self. Doing so has required us to examine whether our actions mirror what we say we believe. Needless to say, there has been a lot of soul searching in the process.

To mark the culmination of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the festival of Hari Raya Puasa. The time of fasting ends when the new moon is sighted on the evening of the last day of Ramadan. Then the festivities begin! The celebration of Hari Raya lasts a full month. However, it is the first three days that involve traveling to villages, multiple open houses, family fellowship, and more food than one can imagine!

In the past three days we've visited eight houses, seven villages, four towns, and countless people. Throughout this experience, we were humbled at the hospitality and generosity extended to us. God has blessed us with some amazing friends in SEA. In many aspects the celebration has been quite a surreal experience. It is hard to believe that a year ago we were visiting friends in air conditioned homes, sitting at dinner tables, and eating with china and silverware (And napkins! Oh, for a meal with napkins!). Today we visit homes “cooled” by open windows and doors, sit on floors or couches with plates in our laps, eat with our hands or tin spoons, and long for those small, quilted squares that absorb grease and prevent the crumbs from finding residence in ones clothes.

Nestled on the floor, we enjoyed the company of local friends and delicious traditional fare. We smiled to ourselves as many of the villagers would sneak by and peak through the doorways of our friends' homes. Our friends laughed aloud at the gawkers. We all understood that for many of these folks it was the first time they had seen an American up close. And a white person had never walked the paths of their village before. At least not in their lifetime. We were cheap entertainment. And we didn't mind at all.

Ramadan and Hari Raya have been instruments to further enlighten our family's understanding of the people we've come to love. They have also been instruments to deepen our own faith. Our local friends have been taught that to question one's beliefs is unacceptable. However, if one doesn't know why they believe what they believe, how can one completely and firmly take hold of their faith and defend that faith when it is tested. And it will be tested. As we endeavor to embrace the life we have been given in a land far away, may we stand strong during times of testing.