Hello everyone!
So the last couple weeks I have been in the mindset that I have to spend as much time with people as possible to distract myself from the fact that I'm leaving. Shukria Kudawand (Thank the Lord!) that things were open and we were able to get around to people. For my birthday, I was able to have several friends over for lunch at different times during the week and share with them truth. On my actual birthday, I woke up to breakfast in bed from my darling roomate and after she brought my food, she brought my daddy and sister in on my computer! I chatted over breakfast with my daddy and then we spent the rest of the morning skyping with some lovely ladies back at SBU. Then we invited a friend over for chai and she brought me a beautiful cake! We had cake and chai and then went walking around the town. We climbed a hill with a lot of stairs and window shopped. Then we came back and made french fried and drank soda (which I try to only get on special occasions here). After she left to study for her exam the next day, our supervisors came over to bring presents and then they took us out for barbecue. Allow me to explain the deliciousness that is barbecue in our city. First you have to find a married man to take you, because only men go to this place and if girls go, they will stare incessantly (not really all that different from other places, except its a little weird when you're eating). Second, you get there and pick the one with the best meat. Not always easy to do, but you just have to take a guess and go for it (or allow our Brazilian friends/meat experts choose for you). You go in this tiny room with 4 or 5 tables and sit down with whatever married couple has chosen to accompany you. Then, send the guy to order at least 2 sticks per person (now, these aren't just any sticks, these are metal sticks that are FULL of delicious tender juicy meat chunks!) and then walk down the street to get some drinks. While he's gone you sit and chat and try not to draw attention to yourself. Third, after the drinks come, the guy out front grilling the meat sticks comes in and hands each person a plate with 5 or 6 different sauces on it and sets a plate of flat bread in the center of the table. Then he comes and brings in a plateful of MEAT! Each person grabs a meat stick and a roti (bread) and begins to pull off the meat one piece at a time with a piece of roti. To make the best flavor, you try each sauce, but usually just stick with one or two. After all the meat is gone, you order more (always).
Anyway, that's enough of that. After barbecue, we we came back to our flat and we at cake with our supervisors, landlords and another couple. It was a wonderful day! Later that weekend, we went to a famous tourist spot, a couple hours' drive away. We went with two girls that we've been doing a lot of sharing with and, even though we did not get to share much with them this trip as we had hoped, it was good to just spend some time having fun. After the birthday festivities, Eid began November 17! This Eid is quite a bit different than the last one. This Eid, they sacrifice sheep. The reason for each person varies. Some say it is to place thier sins on the sheep, others insist that it is just in memory of how Hazrat Ibrahim nearly sacrificed his son and it is an effort to immulate his faithfulness. Either way, after the sacrifice, the family distributes 1/3 of the meat to family and 1/3 to the poor/neighbors. To distribute the meat (you won't believe this), they put hand-sized chunks in a plastic basket and carry it around to people. Then when they give it to people, they take a handful of meat and just stick it in the person's hand. Kind of gross, but kind of cool at the same time. Anyway, we named our landlord's sheep Mr. Baba and Zero. :-)
We shared several meals with people over Eid and enjoyed each one of them as most were our last meals with each of those families. Our last morning, we were able to have breakfast with our landlord's family (partly because we gave all of our food away the day before and partly because we wanted to eat Bajee's cooking one last time). Pack was ridiculously difficult and we ended up paying quite a bit for luggage overages. Now we are in Delhi and just waiting until tomorrow night when we fly back home.
Things to lift up: Safe travels of course, the families and friends we are leaving behind, that if they are believers, they would be free from the fear that seems to entagle, and if they are not believers, they would read the Scriptures and that G.d would pour out His Sp.r.t on them. Thank you all for your prayers, you have no idea how affective they truly are.
