It's a pretty interesting experience waking up in the Middle East on 9/11. Just wanted to share some thoughts.
First and foremost, today is of course a day to unite and bow our heads as Americans as we remember those who lost their lives and loved ones in 2001. The sacrifice of so many police and firemen, paramedics and civilians, who selflessly risked their safety to rush to the aid of those in need is more than commendable and worthy of respect. The way that the nation came together as friends, communities, and strangers that day and many days following is something to be proud of. I would never wish another 9/11 attack or anything like it on American soil or any other land, however I wish there was a way to similarly come together the way we did on 9/12 and celebrate the heritage and freedoms that we share. Seemed like almost every house was flying an American flag. Pretty cool. News and social media and everything else seem to constantly focus on our differences (race, political parties and opinions, religion or lack thereof, gender, sexual orientation, etc, etc, etc) and I hope today we can shove that all aside and see that though we may not see eye to eye on a few or a vast majority of hot topics and controversial issues, we are equally blessed to be Americans, and to live in a country that though plenty imperfect, has been the global symbol of freedom and hope and opportunity since its formation. Living out of the country has been an incredible experience and I'm just getting started, but it has definitely highlighted some very real blessings I took for granted back home.
Second, I'll try to keep this part short and not get preachy, but NOT ALL ARABS ARE CRAZY RADICAL MUSLIMS OR TERRORISTS. There are good people and bad people everywhere you go, so I'm not in the least bit saying that all Arabs are perfectly wonderful peace-loving people, but I'm saying that a vast majority of them are. I so wish that you could all be introduced to some of my new friends out here and get to experience first hand their kindness and giving spirit, the family values they cherish and prioritize, and their devotion to God. TO OUR GOD. Allah, is just the Arabic word for God, same as Dios is Spanish. (It drives me crazy when people talk about Muslims like they're praying to some "other god named Allah" who tells them to do crazy violent things. They worship the same God, and He was addressed as Allah before anyone ever called Him "God," all I'm saying.) There were Arabs who cheered during the events of 9/11, yes. I'm not saying in any way that I agree with them nor with the actions of those who hijacked the airplanes and drove them into the twin towers, of course. What I'm saying is that MOST Arabs were devastated, and filled with compassion as they want peace for the rest of the world as much as they do for themselves.
Third, remembering the events of 9/11 can be a great way, if you choose to let it, to help you sympathize with what many of these people have or are going through right now. Maybe you lost a sibling that day or maybe you knew someone who was flying to or from NYC and you weren't sure if they were on one of those flights and whether they were safe or maybe you parted with a friend for what you couldn't have known would be the last time. That is what many of these people are in the middle of right now. Total instability and chaos. Someone in their family is missing, or they were leaving prayer meeting and their mosque was blown up and they lost several family members, or their friend went to the mall on the day it was hit and they never came back. So many people in Jordan are here because it isn't safe for them to go back home, or they don't have a home to go back to, and they are away from their family and friends and everything familiar to them. My heart is so heavy 1) that these people are suffering and 2) because so many people in the Western world seem pretty apathetic to world events and heartbreaking global conflicts because it isn't affecting them personally. I'm not trying to make some big "guys you gotta get over here and help," speech and I'm by no means saying that all Americans choose to be ignorant and or unsympathetic at all, I'm just saying that we could also take some time to pray for and think about others who are suffering across the globe, including those here in the Middle East.
Those are my thoughts. I LOVE America, I'm proud to be an American and very humbled, and my heart's greatest desire is for my brothers and sisters here in the Middle East to have the same stability, safety, opportunities, and happiness that I have been blessed with.
I don’t have a lot of time to write up a whole shpeel about our recent outside of Amman excursions, but I’ve sure got lots of pictures!
Saturday we spent all afternoon in Madaba, which is one of the most Christian cities in Jordan, and also got to visit Mt. Nebo which was a super neat experience. And today we hit up Iraq El-Amir! Fun break from classes and there’s just so much biblical history out here folks! Pictures include: visiting some old churches, CAVES, and Byzantine ruins. Fun stuff! Definitely tried to find a crawl space in the caves, sorta failed but it was super fun to be back in my element for a bit. :)
First and foremost, today is of course a day to unite and bow our heads as Americans as we remember those who lost their lives and loved ones in 2001. The sacrifice of so many police and firemen, paramedics and civilians, who selflessly risked their safety to rush to the aid of those in need is more than commendable and worthy of respect. The way that the nation came together as friends, communities, and strangers that day and many days following is something to be proud of. I would never wish another 9/11 attack or anything like it on American soil or any other land, however I wish there was a way to similarly come together the way we did on 9/12 and celebrate the heritage and freedoms that we share. Seemed like almost every house was flying an American flag. Pretty cool. News and social media and everything else seem to constantly focus on our differences (race, political parties and opinions, religion or lack thereof, gender, sexual orientation, etc, etc, etc) and I hope today we can shove that all aside and see that though we may not see eye to eye on a few or a vast majority of hot topics and controversial issues, we are equally blessed to be Americans, and to live in a country that though plenty imperfect, has been the global symbol of freedom and hope and opportunity since its formation. Living out of the country has been an incredible experience and I'm just getting started, but it has definitely highlighted some very real blessings I took for granted back home.
Second, I'll try to keep this part short and not get preachy, but NOT ALL ARABS ARE CRAZY RADICAL MUSLIMS OR TERRORISTS. There are good people and bad people everywhere you go, so I'm not in the least bit saying that all Arabs are perfectly wonderful peace-loving people, but I'm saying that a vast majority of them are. I so wish that you could all be introduced to some of my new friends out here and get to experience first hand their kindness and giving spirit, the family values they cherish and prioritize, and their devotion to God. TO OUR GOD. Allah, is just the Arabic word for God, same as Dios is Spanish. (It drives me crazy when people talk about Muslims like they're praying to some "other god named Allah" who tells them to do crazy violent things. They worship the same God, and He was addressed as Allah before anyone ever called Him "God," all I'm saying.) There were Arabs who cheered during the events of 9/11, yes. I'm not saying in any way that I agree with them nor with the actions of those who hijacked the airplanes and drove them into the twin towers, of course. What I'm saying is that MOST Arabs were devastated, and filled with compassion as they want peace for the rest of the world as much as they do for themselves.
Third, remembering the events of 9/11 can be a great way, if you choose to let it, to help you sympathize with what many of these people have or are going through right now. Maybe you lost a sibling that day or maybe you knew someone who was flying to or from NYC and you weren't sure if they were on one of those flights and whether they were safe or maybe you parted with a friend for what you couldn't have known would be the last time. That is what many of these people are in the middle of right now. Total instability and chaos. Someone in their family is missing, or they were leaving prayer meeting and their mosque was blown up and they lost several family members, or their friend went to the mall on the day it was hit and they never came back. So many people in Jordan are here because it isn't safe for them to go back home, or they don't have a home to go back to, and they are away from their family and friends and everything familiar to them. My heart is so heavy 1) that these people are suffering and 2) because so many people in the Western world seem pretty apathetic to world events and heartbreaking global conflicts because it isn't affecting them personally. I'm not trying to make some big "guys you gotta get over here and help," speech and I'm by no means saying that all Americans choose to be ignorant and or unsympathetic at all, I'm just saying that we could also take some time to pray for and think about others who are suffering across the globe, including those here in the Middle East.
Those are my thoughts. I LOVE America, I'm proud to be an American and very humbled, and my heart's greatest desire is for my brothers and sisters here in the Middle East to have the same stability, safety, opportunities, and happiness that I have been blessed with.
I don’t have a lot of time to write up a whole shpeel about our recent outside of Amman excursions, but I’ve sure got lots of pictures!
Saturday we spent all afternoon in Madaba, which is one of the most Christian cities in Jordan, and also got to visit Mt. Nebo which was a super neat experience. And today we hit up Iraq El-Amir! Fun break from classes and there’s just so much biblical history out here folks! Pictures include: visiting some old churches, CAVES, and Byzantine ruins. Fun stuff! Definitely tried to find a crawl space in the caves, sorta failed but it was super fun to be back in my element for a bit. :)
All of us on Mt. Nebo!
Super windy...Also this is Asia. I've been very not good at captioning these here pictures
old Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land on a church floor, pretty cool
On the tipy top of the church!
Hola Jordan
Today's escapade:
Also, this is Kristen. She's a rock climber. I think we're about to be great friends.
CAN I JUST SAY HOW HAPPY I WAS TO BE BACK IN A CAVE?!
Happy Kaylan trying to find a crawlspace
me still trying to find a crawlspace
me ALMOST finding a crawlspace
old Hebrew inscription. not as cool as a crawlspace. but still cool
less than old Arabic inscription. not as cool as the old Hebrew one or a crawlspace
Oh look, there's a Sydney!
Yeah, it was a good day. You probably won't get that many pictures in one post ever again, so you're welcome Mother dearest.
What a marvelous gift from God you have received, blessed girl! I didn't know you were a cave crawler, we spent so much time on conversion. May all your adventures continue to find you in the hands of God, Kaylan. It makes such a difference to be where others are, to experience first hand the life of those who deserve our help, and to feel our common humanity in the love and compassion of our savior, Jesus Christ. The more we fill ourselves with the love of Christ, the more we find we have to offer those around us. Yay! for your seeing and understanding so well.
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