Monday, June 16, 2014

Henna Dance Party

This past Saturday we had the opportunity to go to a henna dance party hosted by some of our new friends.  These friends are believers and are deeply investing in the community of Dearborn, opening their homes and lives to our Arab friends in a really sweet way.  Our friends invited us and many Arab women to one of the couple's homes to eat, dance, and do henna.
Tammy telling the Bible story on her hand
It can be so easy for me to draw a line between us (believers) and the Arab women.  I can get so caught up in thinking that I am doing these women a favor, that I am the only one who has something to teach.  This night of fellowship reminded me even more that Arab women have so much to teach us.  They are hospitable and joyful and selfless in their friendships and families.  And they are pretty much the best dancers in the world.  In the basement of Tammy's home, we were simply a group of women dancing (some better than others...seriously, our new Arab friends can do anything and it looks so good) and sharing our lives with each other.

One of our new friends who is a believer, Becca, did henna on our hands.  Henna is pretty much my new favorite witnessing tool.  Seeing the way Becca could tell Bible stories through the pictures she drew on our hands was so beautiful! Maria, Anna, and I plan on using the book she used (it shows you pictures of Bible stories in henna and tells you what the pictures in the henna represent) and learning how to do henna soon. 
Yay for Becca's talent and sweet heart!
It is so wonderful to join the community of believers already in Dearborn!  It is so encouraging to see how their eyes are fixed on Christ and see the way they share their lives with their neighbors.  We are also loving forming friendships with the Arab women we are blessed to know.  These women are so open to our friendship and we are praising the Lord for how He is already working here.
Jesus heals the paralytic 

Prayer Requests:
-that we would continue to find favor in the eyes of the Muslim women in Dearborn
-that we would share the love of Christ through our friendships with the women