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University exams took over the first part of this month. They were a cultural experience and a half. I didn't realise all exams were supposed to be multi-choice and when I was told this, after writing a different kind of exam, I decided to be stubborn and insist I couldn't test communication that way. However when I saw how other exams were carried out I decided I had to let my students help each other as well or it wouldn't be fair to them... so it probably didn't make any difference what kind of exam it was. I live and learn.
Meanwhile I have been trying to work out how to teach the Bible orally as this is the preferred way of learning of the culture, the education system and most individuals. One week this worked out well when I visited Simone as we didn't have time to sit together. We were outside helping her mother make bread in the shared oven. But as I had prepared to tell the story orally I could still do it as we squatted there watching her daughter. Other times it hasn't gone so well. I guess this is going to take a lot of trial and error and perseverance.
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On a follow up visit after the Eid, I told about John the Baptist's birth. Both my neighbour and her relative who was visiting her were very interested and kept checking the story to get all the facts straight. I discovered her relative was visiting in order to go to the hospital because she has been married 7 years without having children... so the story was just right and I could pray with them. I love it when I see God working.
I invited my students and fellow-teachers to celebrate Christmas with me on 24th. It was a great time though very busy. About 30 people came in 3 groups. I had put a nativity scene in the middle of the tablecloth and used it to tell the story fairly fully. Then on 26th I invited neighbours and again quite a lot came but people didn't seem as interested in hearing the story. It was still good to be with people and I got to know a couple of new people too. Then Simone came to the church Christmas outreach too (along with a few other visitors) which I was happy about. All in all a very good time, though busy as I was working most days until 29th.
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We have had the second Muslim holiday of the year this weekend, which is a good opportunity to visit lots of people. This time I only visited neighbours. We exchanged plates of food (I'd made lots of lemon cakes) and then we also sit around and eat while talking. You get pretty full! It seems to be a time for saying verses so I decided that I'd follow the trend and read a psalm in some houses as well as praying for them. I also sang one of the children's songs we sing at church with one of the children I visited which was fun. There are still one or two places I'd like to go to on a late visit.
Meanwhile everything else plods along - extra teaching this month, visiting Simone, learning to cope in the new flat with the weather getting colder. I am slowly getting to know some of the 25 English teachers at the university. A group of us went out for 'kurutob' for lunch one Saturday after work - delicious, extremely oily and a good group activity!
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Fiona was very pleased with the Torah that I lent her in her language and found it easy to read. I'd like to talk to her about it but when I went to visit she'd had a tooth out so wasn't really into talking. I also gave a New Testament to someone else in another Central Asian language and she too was extremely happy. It made me wish for more of Scripture to be available in readable Tajik. Simone keeps saying she wants to come to church, but so many things come up on Sunday mornings that she still hasn't made it. Her understanding keeps growing slowly as we meet but I would love to see her in fellowship with fellow Tajiks and also reading the Bible for herself. Esther's job has finished and we have spoken on the phone but she didn't sound like she wanted to meet. I don't really know what to do - whether just to go round anyway, because she was usually pleased to see me when I did that, or to wait for her to become motivated.
Meanwhile our organisations court case ended with us being told to close. We are appealing this decision but also trying to transfer ourselves onto different visas. I think I have finished getting the paperwork to move into a visa with the university I'm working at.
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We have just had the Ramadan holiday which was a great time to visit. I visited ten houses and saw some other neighbours as we were visiting the same place at the same time too. In some places I could pray with people and we had particularly lively discussion at Fiona's house. She seems to be quite interested in reading the Bible but one of her lodgers was telling her how heretical and dangerous it is and how it's been changed. I managed to stay reasonably calm. I now have a Torah and New Testament in her language and hope to give one to her soon so I hope she still wants to read it.
Simone has found a part-time job so it is a bit more difficult to find times to meet but she still wants to so that is good. Esther also has a job which is why I couldn't find her before and she told me she didn't want to meet any more. I was very disappointed. I'm hoping that when the job finishes, she will think about it again. Nothing's moving with the court case of our organisation which for the moment is just fine. |
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Samarkand Street
