What our day looked like on EID-al-Adha

Our town went into celebration mode for EID-al-Adha= the Muslim festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham. (According to the Oxford Dictionary)

For 3 days we noticed people walking all around wearing brand new clothes. Upon entering into town there is playground that stays empty all year around but on these days it was packed full of children. The Libray had two horses, a train ride and mechanical swings. At the pizza restaurant in town there was a Minions bouncy house. All of these things changed up the atmosphere. People genuinely had smiles on their faces as children had fun. One of the girl interns was sitting at a fruit stand talking to her friend and a Muslim man offered to buy her a piece of fruit and an avocado. Religious holidays truly can put one in a good mood. 

Our family went to the farm for EID along with Amos and Grace's family and some others. Jason bought chocolate covered ice cream bars for everyone (farm workers included) as well as queen cakes, and sodas. These are considered to be "luxury items" reserved for special occasions. The hard chocolate coating fell off my ice cream onto the ground. I picked it up, brushed it off and ate it, not wanting chocolate to go to waste. My daughters were grossed out but my thoughts were that it was safe under the 5 second rule, right? When we finished eating, we all headed down to the dry river bed. The men  collected sand for the next house that will be built. I am guessing that in the States you can order sand at a hardware store but here it's everywhere and FREE. The sand was manually loaded by men taking turns shoveling it up into the trailer. We cheered the men on and offered to join in and help. The dress code for women doesn't allow much room to do these physical activities. The ladies and I walked down to see the river until the men were finished. Then we all traveled to the location site for the new house and dumped out the sand.

My daughters immediately found village children surrounding them. Nevaeh had prepared well by bringing along a coloring book and crayons. Righteous handed out bracelets she had made. Then everyone sung a song about eating mangoes which caused a stomach ache and needing surgery as a result. This song is taught so that children don't go "stealing" mangoes that people could sell. 

We finished off the day playing games at the farm before returning home. I like spending the day with those of a different faith and getting to hear about their holidays if the opportunity arises. Some like to passionately discuss the reasons of why they do and do not do things according to the Quran. There are others who do not know the meaning of their traditions, they just follow along with what they see others doing around them. I desperately want the farmworkers and their families to know who Jesus truly is. He is more than a prophet. The verse of John 3:16 is such a pivotal part of what Christians believe and is memorized and recited. The verses that follow are just as important.  

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:17-21

This message is for all of us. We as Believers have the Bible as our foundation. It contains  the moral law. Do not lie, do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, are some of those commandments but we can not meet those standards. We fall short every day. That's why we need Jesus. He came into the world, as God's Son and never sinned. He gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. We can be forgiven because of Jesus. We can have life after we die on earth because of Jesus. He came to save you and me. He loves us. He is our hope.

Shoveling sand in the dry river bed. 

My honey in action. 

Princess Charis, with me in the background. 

Walking down to the river

Can you spot us?

We did no spot any crocodiles. But did any crocodiles spot us? I don't know. 

In the village hanging out with children. 

Nevaeh is passing out coloring book pages.

The big box of crayons goes along way.

Righteous passing out bracelets she has made.

Darling little ones.