Wow... it's hard to believe that I have
already been back here in beautiful Tanzania for a month!! Life
truly does fly by us, doesn't it?
So...you may (or may not) remember me
mentioning my flights back home to Tanzania and that I met some
amazing people. I had posted on Facebook about one woman in
particular, and (finally) I want to share more about her. This is a
long one guys...but it's worth it. God is amazing!
I had just finished rushing through the
Dallas airport, praying I would make my 14 hour flight to Doha, Qatar. Walking down the aisle between seats,
I stepped on the hem of a gown worn by the Muslim woman walking in
front of me. In my mind I was like “oh no... did I just offend
her? It's probably rude for me to even touch her gown and I just
stepped on it with my dirty shoe.” I apologized and she said it
was ok, and we kept moving. I get to my seat only to find someone in
it. Someone wanted to trade their middle seat (between two seats)
for my window seat, but...I wanted my window seat. An attendant had
walked up and was telling the person they would have to move if I
wanted my seat. I felt stuck...I wanted this other person to be
comfortable...but I wanted to be comfortable too... and then I heard
a voice say “the seat next to me is empty”.
I look over and it's the woman who's
gown I stepped on. She is in a middle seat, and the aisle seat
(which is truly my preference) is empty. I had this quick internal
dialogue... what if she is mad at me for stepping on her... but then,
why would she offer the seat next to her... what if this is awkward
or I feel weird??
Let me stop here for a second and share
something. I have encountered more Muslim people while living in
Tanzania than I ever have in the U.S. and this has made me
increasingly aware of some fears and anxieties that I had regarding
Muslims. I have heard many negative things, and I have never had a
close relationship with anyone who was Muslim. Towards the end of
the school year (2014/2015) I prayed one simple prayer about this. I
was swinging at school and I just said “God...I don't want to be
scared of someone because they are different than me. Help me with
this, help me to love people no matter how we are different from one
another.” Now...back to the airplane.
I agree to the switch and take my
amazing aisle seat (what a blessing). I'm getting situated...putting
things away...and I pull on her gown again – now I'm thinking
“great, she must think I'm so rude...why can't I be more careful!!”
Now...seriously...if I had stepped on the hem of a woman's
skirt...and then later accidentally pulled on her blouse while
getting settled...I wouldn't have been happy about it but I wouldn't
have been so anxious either. I was immediately worried that she
would be mad at me just because I didn't look like her. I actually
had a thought that she probably didn't like me because she probably
thought that I wasn't dressed appropriately and she surely wouldn't
like me because I was clumsy AND not covered enough (just being
honest guys).
She
starts talking to me (maybe she's
not mad after all?) and asking me “where are you headed...what do
you do?” I answer her "I'm a volunteer teacher, I'm headed to
Tanzania...I'm a missionary, I teach at a Christian school." Here comes
another judgment... when I
tell her that I'm a missionary and teach at a Christian school I
think “now she won't like me for sure...” But she keeps talking
to me as if she couldn't care less that I am a Christian. I find out that someone took her seat as well...small world, right? Then she
tells
me... she too is a teacher... a volunteer teacher...a
missionary like me...only for Islamic schools. She
is my age...she is single (like me) and here is the kicker... she
taught in Africa too... in Tanzania!!! WHAT??? We are like...the
same.
We continue talking...and talk away the
first 2 hours of the flight (you all know I can talk!) and learn
even more things that we have in common. And from the moment we
began talking...my fear and anxiety just left; and God started
reminding me of my prayer at the swings. My new friend shared with
me some information about Islam...but mostly she shared with me her
heart for loving others.
During the flight, an attendant was
giving out drinks. She asked what we would like and then made a
comment something along the line of how it's nice to travel with a
good friend and then asked how long my seat-mate and I had been
friends. I said “oh...we just met on this flight” She seemed
surprised and said “wow...that is beautiful.”
You know what? It is beautiful. It's
beautiful that I can meet this woman who is my sister...all because
God has laid it out. How amazing that this beautiful woman, with her
kind heart and giving spirit is an instrument in answering my appeal
to God to help me just love. Help me not to look at a person and see
“Muslim” or any other label for that matter...help me to look at
every person and just see what God sees. I am thankful for this
life-changing meeting. I am thankful for this new friend, this new
sister. I pray that we will stay connected and that – God willing - I will see her in person again one day.
I am truly blessed.
