Day of Firsts

This morning, Andrew and I woke up to chanting.  Here and all over the world, Muslims are celebrating Aid Al Fatha.  As best as I can gather, this is a celebration of God providing a lamb in the place of Abraham's son.  After the morning prayer, there is an extended time of chanting.  I am not sure what they chant, I just know I heard it.  After chanting, about 8:00 a.m. everyone goes home to butcher their sheep (or goats or camels).  They are to give a third to the needy, a third to family and friends and they keep a third for themselves.  At 8:00 this morning, Andrew went out with some other guys to take pictures.  As I sat out on the balcony of our apartment, I could hear the goats crying all around our area of town.  Thinking I had seen all that I would get to see from my balcony, I went back inside to enjoy some coffee.  As I settled in by the window, I heard baaing louder than I had heard yet!  I grabbed my phone and told Andrew I was going outside.  Our neighbors who live below us in the apartment complex obviously had goats.  I ran down the stairs and crossed the street to watch from a safe distance.  Of course they did not miss the lone white girl across the street, so they invited me over to look closer.   Then they invited me to come inside the gate and watch.  It probably should have been more gruesome to me than it was, but I was just amazed at the skill of the butchers!

After they had finished "processing" the goats, I attempted to take my leave, but they insisted I stay for tea.  What was I to do, I mean, I do love some tea.  While sitting out on their patio enjoying tea, we observed one sheep that escaped and was trying to flee as well as a little boy chasing around all the girls in the street with a goat leg.  It was a priceless experience, I got to meet more of my neighbors (and get the scoop on everyone in the building) and I left with my own little bag full of fresh meat.  The question now is how do I go about cooking whatever it is that is sitting in my fridge?

Later that morning after Andrew returned from taking pictures, we went on a walk around the neighborhood.  Most people had finished, but blood still stained the streets where there had been a butchering.  The city where we are living now rarely if ever gets rain.  Today it rained; mind you not sheets of rain, but more than a sprinkle.  As I was watching the rain I could not help but be reminded, on this day of all days, of the sacrifice that my Father made for us.  Where God provided a ram in the place of Abraham's son, He provided His Son in our place.  Just like the rain today washed away the blood stains in the streets, the Son's blood washes away all of our sin stains and makes us as white as snow!

Another first for the day was my first time making eggnog!  Andrew loves eggnog.  He is used to drinking it when they first start selling it in the stores in November until they quit selling it in January.  Here is my first attempt.  It was not bad at all, but I'll definitely tinker around with it before I settle on a final recipe for it.

Today was an incredible day of firsts and a little bit of sensory overload.  I am so thankful for new experiences and new cultures, and I am even more thankful He is with me and reminds me of Himself no matter where in the world I am.