In our part of the world, things tend to move a bit slower. That was my first thought when we showed up at a local church on Easter morning and they were just celebrating Palm Sunday. In actuality that is not why they were a week behind our Western churches. I remember growing up in Catholic School, there were several students in my class who were Greek Orthodox, and they always celebrated Easter a week after the rest of us. Here in our current country, there are several varieties of Christian. The King decided that he didn't want the Christians celebrating all their holidays on different days, so he made them all come to an agreement on holidays. So, we celebrate the Eastern Easter and the Western Christmas. It was really neat this year to be able to attend an Arab Church and see how believers here celebrate these holy days. It was also very encouraging that we actually understood most of the Sermon in Arabic!
On another note: We're having a baby girl! It was very anti-climatic at the doctor's office when they told me she was a girl. Partly because it's just not very Arab to hype something up and make a big deal about it, and partly because in their eyes, girls just aren't as good as boys. But we're incredibly excited about our little girl! Andrew was actually hoping the whole time that she would be a girl.
This past week I've really been able to feel her moving around in there. I felt her some last week, but this week I am feeling her more and more. It is exciting and surreal all at the same time :) We can't wait till she gets here. We plan on naming her Zoe Phyllis. Zoe means life in Greek. I have always loved this name, thinking if I had a little girl I wanted to name her Zoe in hopes that that she would bring life and joy to all those she comes in contact with. Zoe is the Greek word used in John 14:6 where Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Phyllis was my Grandma's name. She passed away when I was 13 years old, but I was very close to her and she had an incredible impact on my life. She loved the Lord, and even though she spent years battling cancer and continual pain, she always kept an optimistic view on life. I can think of no better name than Phyllis for my little daughter.
Happy Easter from the Middle East!
On another note: We're having a baby girl! It was very anti-climatic at the doctor's office when they told me she was a girl. Partly because it's just not very Arab to hype something up and make a big deal about it, and partly because in their eyes, girls just aren't as good as boys. But we're incredibly excited about our little girl! Andrew was actually hoping the whole time that she would be a girl.
This past week I've really been able to feel her moving around in there. I felt her some last week, but this week I am feeling her more and more. It is exciting and surreal all at the same time :) We can't wait till she gets here. We plan on naming her Zoe Phyllis. Zoe means life in Greek. I have always loved this name, thinking if I had a little girl I wanted to name her Zoe in hopes that that she would bring life and joy to all those she comes in contact with. Zoe is the Greek word used in John 14:6 where Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Phyllis was my Grandma's name. She passed away when I was 13 years old, but I was very close to her and she had an incredible impact on my life. She loved the Lord, and even though she spent years battling cancer and continual pain, she always kept an optimistic view on life. I can think of no better name than Phyllis for my little daughter.
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