Among the Veils...

Greetings from our newest destination. We are living in a Pakistani community among Muslims in the area where we are ministering. We got in late last night and today was our first day to be briefed on some of the stuff we will be doing while we are here for the two weeks. It was an extremely emotional day for me and for a couple of my other teammates. The day started off with the team in the location talking about how their weeks went. We then went on to learn about the culture where we are staying and how we will be living for the next two weeks. I began to cry when I learned that girls and boys in this community do not play sport together, and that girls basically do not play in public. Anna and I were under the impression that we would be playing soccer with the girls and running sports camps with the boys, but this is not the case. It was absolutely heart breaking for me to hear that and just frustrating that a culture could devalue women so much. The boys are welcome to play, however the girls are not. My heart broke for this as well since sharing my passion for soccer with the girls was something I really wanted to do, but I'm reminding myself that it's not about me...it's about God and His purposes and I'm here to serve in whatever capacity He needs me.

In the area where we are living, we have to be completely covered except for our feet, and we do not have to wear the veil over our heads, but we leave it draped on our neck just in case we need it. It is very warm here in the summer time, so the dress was a bit warm today until it cooled down a bit. Tight clothing is out, and women must wear long enough t-shirts to cover their butts and long enough jackets to cover their elbows and almost to the wrist. In carrying ourselves, we are to basically walk behind the men, and we are not allowed to make eye contact with a Muslim man or shake his hand or touch him at any time. We also are not to be touched by them. When we do talk to a man, we are to look at his shoulder or his chest or the top of his head, but eye contact is not appropriate. Smiling is also not appropriate when engaging with a male. The reason for these things is that males in the Muslim culture are extremely driven by sex and view women as objects that they just use for their enjoyment. Men have extremely wandering eyes and minds and when they look at you, you can see exactly what they're thinking and what they would want to do with you...it is disgusting. Women must keep covered to help the men not have wandering eyes and minds. There are a lot of affairs in this culture and men often seek prostitutes as well...I asked about diseases among the women, but the women basically never go to the doctor, so the answer to that question is uncertain, but most likely it is yes, there are diseases transmitted. This is only the first day, but it is taking some time to learn these things within the culture so that we can be culturally sensitive and build relationships with the people to then be able to minister to them.

We did an outreach today in the downtown area and passed out tacks and books to Muslims and non-Muslims and basically got to talk and debate with some about Christianity. It was an interesting experience trying to figure out how to engage in a conversation with a man while not looking into his eyes, but still being myself as much as possible. We just need to make sure that we do everything possible to not make life difficult for the team that stays here while we are gone, so we dress the part and act the part the whole way through because we are constantly watched and we want to make sure to build the relationship. I saw Satan working significantly today as we were passing things out in just listening to the various debates and I'm pretty sure I talked to someone who was strongly into New Age. I also got to talk to a man who acted like he knew the Bible, but was clearly a messenger from Satan sent to cause division among the Body of Christ by talking bad about the other organization who was working alongside us this afternoon. The enemy is cunning and sneaky and thank God that He gives us wisdom to discern the schemes and evil devices of the enemy. I began to just pray and pray in the Spirit to intercede. Another interesting thing was when Muslim women came to the table and picked up books and literature, a Muslim missionary was watching them and took the books from them and trashed them and told them what we were saying was rubbish. After talking to our leader tonight, we walked away with interesting insight on this: Muslim missionaries take a risk in doing this because they are basically communicating to their people that there is something to be feared about Christianity since they are so adamant about them not reading or looking at the literature. We can watch movies and preaching sermons on Islam and it wouldn't change our view about Christianity, but they fear that Christianity will change the Muslim view. The prayer for us now is for the Muslims to come to do that so that those searching and hungry will see that there is something powerful about Christianity...we are believing for those women to start to question now. Please pray for all of the lives that were touched and impacted today by our outreach.

The boys had a tough time today too seeing the culture from a different angle. A couple of them were pretty torn up watching Anna and I basically be stripped of our "natural rights" as American women. They struggled when they went to hand a leaflet to a Muslim woman who could not look them in the eyes. They so badly wanted to be there for the women, and for Anna and I. It hurt me to see them hurting as well. Men in this culture can do whatever they want, whenever they want. Our boys had to wear pants today to make sure they were culturally sensitive, especially since they are obviously not Muslim. We are all definitely being stretched and challenged in this task. We are believing for God to work in us and through us, and praying for the opportunity to come up to be able to use sports wherever God would lead us.

Over the next couple of days, Anna and I get to spend time with the women in the community and just love on them and encourage them. These women take time to open up, but once they do, there is so much hidden under the veil. Many of the women cut themselves and want to just kill themselves because it would be better than the life they are living now. My heart is breaking so badly for these women and I just want to hold them. Luckily for us girls, being touchy-feely is an okay thing and the women are very touchy with one another. (Men are also very touchy with one another and will often walk down the street holding hands, and it is not gay). This is definitely a different world and a different culture and I am getting stretched beyond belief in just this one day. I'm excited to grow and learn all I can so that I can be more understanding and compassionate and really be able to help empower women to live for Jesus and go for their goals and the things God placed on the inside of them. It is my desire to be able to encourage the girls here who love soccer to be able to play and use their talents and gifts as worship to God.

Please continue to pray for our team that is here and for safety: Niccole, Anna, Brian, Vlad and Gabr. This experience is eye opening and very difficult. Pray for wisdom for us in all situations, and pray that God will continue to give us the words to say at the appropriate time. Also pray that relationships continue to form between the team that is on the ground here and the men/women in the community. We also have teams in 3 other countries at the moment so pray for their protection, strength and growth as well in this process.

God is doing huge things in me...I have changed so much and it is just amazing to see God at work on the inside of me. I love you all very much and would love your words of encouragement for myself and for my other teammates (niccole.grimaldi@gmail.com).

Niccole