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Friends United
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Quaker Life This issue includes a full-color insert with photos from the General Board meeting in Kenya in February 2007, as well as a story about the dedication of the new meetinghouse at Friends Theological College in Kaimosi, Kenya. |
| Valiant for Truth | Contents |
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By Patricia Edwards-Konic Since the General Board/Richmond members have returned from their visit to Kenya, I have heard many stories of the hospitality they received. After walking a mile from their bus to the meeting in Uganda, the people offered them bottled water, a hard boiled egg and a program filled to bursting with music and greetings. Their every need was taken care of. In the Arabic culture, as I experience it here in Ramallah, hospitality is central to life. Think of the Bible stories of Abraham offering hospitality to those traveling by. Think of the central role hospitality plays in our understanding of God and how to be a loving presence in our world. A few nights ago, I was welcomed back to the Holy Lands by the family I stayed with in 2005. It was as if I were a returning family member. Tea and food, laughter and joy began our time together. After catching up and noting how tall the boys had grown, we went to another apartment to meet other family members. The wife was expecting a new son in several days but still gave me two wall hangings of Biblical sites and an embroidered cloth that says “Home Sweet Home” in English. As I toured her home, I saw outstanding embroidery pieces framed in copper hanging on almost every wall. Here was a woman who spoke no English but was giving items she had in her home to welcome me. The guards at the Ramallah Friends School too are taking special care of me. Yesterday, Mohammad sent a panhandler on his way and then offered to bring me Arabic coffee tomorrow. I was returning from the vegetable market where a vender would not accept payment for the fresh tomatoes I was buying, and just kept saying “Welcome! Welcome!” Today, I stopped by the pharmacy across the street from the school. The woman working there gave me a discount on my purchase even before I had a chance to visit and tell her where I was staying. Her reply was that she had seen me walking by and knew we were neighbors; since we are neighbors, I received a discount. This hospitality is something I don’t see in the American culture. We might not even know our neighbors by sight and may not stop and spend time visiting if we do see them. We are so busy we don’t notice the visitor or the person who needs an encouraging word. We have much to learn from other people about taking the time to care for others and offer hospitality. |
9 Running
in Kenya By John Norris Running and communion go hand-in-hand for John in the United States. As he daily ran in unfamiliar terrain, the welcoming smiles and greetings of others added to the experience. Join him as he shares what it was like. 10 Welcomed in Kenya 12 Reflections on Kenyan Friends 13 Lugulu is
Beautiful in Love and Mercy 13 Africans Preached the Gospel to Me 14 Committed
to God’s Guidance 16 On Being Guided by Angels _______________________________ 4 News from Friends United Meeting 4 FUM Staff/Contact
Information 8 Soul Food 18 Salt and Light 19 News 24 Reviews 26 Passages 28 Classifieds 33 Friends
United Meeting 34 Centering
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