I got to experience many new things today. Some very good and some very bad.
First was taking a student to the Dr. It was interesting to say the least. Though the Dr. was very friendly we definitely were not in the U.S. anymore. Nothing was in any way sanitary, and his method may I say was very unorthodox. His diagnosis was "you have infection." Haha. So he prescribed her medicine, he first asked if she would prefer injection or pill. Me thinking that an injection was a one time thing and it would be the quickest and most effective route, but then through a little more description we found out she would have to administer her own shots 3 times a day for 6 days. Needless to say she quickly chose the pill. Then he ask if she wanted a "suppository" I was like YES that's no problem, obviously not realizing what I just agreed upon for her, and she has to take it 3 times a day. So we get the medicine 1 pill by mouth, a cough syrup, and the suppository... She pulls out the suppository to take it with her meal and that is when we realize "OH MY GOODNESS" you administer this rectally. After some time she did decide that she would take the dive and take all the medicine in hopes that she'll be well. Or in Arabic "Lebes." Thankfully she has been able to laugh it off.
Well, on to the next thing I got to do. We, like I have stated before, have gotten to make many friends within our Hostel. So a few of us went to go eat with one of the newer quests who's name is Salim. We go to this hole in the wall restaurant that he said is VERY GOOD. It was first awkward because the restaurant didn't look like one women frequent often, so Ansley and I felt a little out of place. (Anyone who's been to an arab nation understands what I mean by this.) The second thing was that the menu was all in arabic so we weren't 100% sure what we were ordering, so we let Salim take the lead when it came to ordering. In the end we wound up sharing 3 different dishes, one of which being sheep head (legitimately, not the fish). So being kind and being willing to go on the ledge that it may actually taste good, I went ahead and tried the brains. Let me say it took everything in my power for it not to come back up. Then one of the other students got the blessing (used very lightly) of eating the eyeball. It was an experience I can say I tried, but would be very happy to never eat again.
After that (still having the bad taste in my mouth) we all decided to go get some coffee or tea. That is a very common after meal tradition. We get to the cafe, and I got a delicious coffee (they aren't really known for their coffee here). But the conversation was quickly shifted to religion. It was an amazing conversation. I felt the Holy Spirit guiding the whole thing. He was bringing stories, and scripture, and testimonies to mind that would maybe help Salim understand why/what we believe as christians. There was a moment in the conversation where we were sharing what Jesus did and it was like a light bulb came on and he said "So it is finished?" We were all blown away! Yes, the conversation ended slightly after that but he now has many things to think about. From his assurance to enter heaven, to whether Jesus is holy. Please be praying for him.
Lastly, I dropped off my clothes earlier in the day and it was time to go pick them up. So a male student and I walked to go get them. We were maybe 100 feet from the shop, when a guy was standing in front of me turned around walked up to me and ripped my necklace off my neck. I have re-played it in my mind so many times, and there was absolutely no fear at all. It happened so quick, but both me and the student were like well it's gone. It took a minute for it to set in what had just happened. The necklace that was taken was one that was given to me by a dear friend who had died in 2008. Since his death, I rarely ever took it off. So tears welled up, because it was the last thing I had of his. All I knew to do was pray for the guy, that someway it would be a seed planted because neither me nor the student reacted in anger. I felt he was more afraid of us. He maybe was 17 at the most 18. I thought about what needs he might have and prayed for them. So though my heart ached because it was a special necklace to me. I know God can do so much, and I hope he does!
As you can tell many things good and bad happened today. I am so thankful for everyone of them. I know without the peace of God I would have never been able to respond in the way I did, and hope my reaction could be a testimony.
Thank you God!
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