Mohammed still treats us like family, even though according to the Koran we are infidels and Allah says, "All infidels must be killed!" Not only have Lura, Ida, and I become regulars but also we often bring along friends.
The construction of the restaurant was completed. Mohammed invited Lura, Ida, and me to his Grand Opening! We had no idea what a privilege this was, until we got there. I looked around, and the only women present were Lura and Ida. Lura whispered to us that some Sheiks just walked in. Wow, the big boys were here, the tribal leaders, the guys with the daggers. These guys were greeted like very, very important people. We acknowledged them likewise.
Lura was able to get some exclusive pictures, because Mohammed gave her his camera and asked her to. There was a bit of a problem at first, but Mohammed smoothed things out.
I informed Mohammed that a friend of mine just called me and may stop by for a few minutes. He said "no problem". Well, my buddy Hoshua stopped by about the same time the music had started.
Ida not only speaks Arabic but she knows how to do their dances. She was sort of dancing in her seat, moving her head, arms, and hands the Arabic way. She was drawing a lot of attention and smiles.
In Arab culture, men dance with the men and the women with the women.
About 30 minutes after the music began we were about to leave (it was getting late). Hoshua and Ida decided to dance their way out! They danced their way from their seats to the dance floor and out the door! At the dance floor Hoshua asked the DJ for his mic and pulled out a harmonica, which he played while he dance. Man, everybody was laughing!
Bottom line, we made a 'big' impact!
Since than, Ida has been able to give Mohammed a couple of Arabic Bibles, books, and tracts. Plus we are looking forward to having a Messianic Congregation meeting in his restaurant! Which if it pans out, we want to do on a monthly basis.
Edwin Beckford
Spring, 2002