Good Friday

So today Fatuma and I went to church for a Good Friday service at her request. She had heard in ESL class that that the Korean, Karen, American and Ethiopian churches that meet in this building were all getting together to celebrate Good Friday.

Fatuma now attends a weekly ESL class that meets at this church. They have class from 7-9 and a break in the middle where they eat, socialize and hear a Bible Study. Before she attended the first class I told her about the Bible Study time and let her know it was optional. Sometimes she stays, sometimes she goes in the hallway with her baby. Sometimes she goes inteh next room and listens from there. We never really talk about it- she know that we know she is Muslim and that the story time is completely optional. I always stay.

It surprised me last night when she asked me about the Good Friday service. I was planning on mentioning it to her, but wasn't really hopeful. The draw was the the Ethiopian church would be there. Fatuma spent time in Ethiopia during her flight and can speak the lauguage. She asked about what it was and I explained that it would be 4 churches celebrating a holiday about Jesus. I explained what the holiday was about and that we would sit and listen, sing and read the Bible for a few hours. She still wanted to go.

So tonight she, Ishmaela and I went to a Good Friday service. The service was wonderful. It was great to worship with so many people from different cultures. Fatuma was excited becasue her Indian friend from ESL was there too. Everyone was very welcoming to Fatuma. The scripture was read in Amharic- she danced when the Ethiopians led a song.

She said afterwards that it was good and that the song they sang was about Allah and crying. That was all she really said.