As the month of Ramadan begins to wind down, we welcome another voice to our online space. Sheryl, a wonderful friend of Say Hello, recounts her family’s first experience in befriending a Muslim family. That initial encounter opened the door for her to meet many more Muslim women. May you be inspired as you read her words to know that one person can make a difference.

The first Muslim family we befriended was from a country where Islam is the state religion. The family was very conservative, and the wife wore a niqab that covered all of her face except for her eyes. Before Ramadan, we had shared meals together, and we became accustomed to eating separately: men in one area and the women and children in another. During Ramadan, we did not have the opportunity to see this family, and we could only communicate through text. At the end of the days of fasting, we were invited once again to share a meal, but this meal would be a special occasion, one to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which is the end of Ramadan. When we arrived at their apartment complex, I headed toward the lake and my husband headed toward the pool area. I wouldn’t see him for several hours, but I prayed somehow the true God would be known through our friendship.

My friend introduced me to several Muslim women and their children, and we sat on blankets on the bank around the lake. I did not realize there were this many Muslim families whose husbands were in our town for training at the local military base. Most of the women did not wear a niqab. I was struck by their beautiful garments, jewelry, and beautiful faces adorned with makeup. I thanked God for the opportunity to celebrate such a sacred occasion that was obviously important to them, but I was grieved that these women could only celebrate among themselves at dusk, far away from anyone else.

By the next year, these friends had returned to their country after completing their courses. Since then, we have met more international friends through the local ministry that strategically connects us with those coming to our city through the military. We had befriended Muslims from a different country, and they were open to sharing meals all together rather than separating men and women. Because we didn’t have the stricter limitations, we shared meals by cooking together, celebrating birthdays with parties, and even a camping trip together. During Ramadan we were invited to share Iftar, the traditional meal at sunset that breaks the fast for the day.

At this time, Ramadan fell during the early summer where the days are long, and the heat and humidity had already kicked in. It was obvious the women had spent hours preparing so much food and they did so without drinking or eating anything, including water. The men, too, had been at physical training before the sun came up. Not drinking water after exercise until sundown must have made the fast much harder. In their country, they have shorter hours of work during Ramadan, giving them ample time to rest during the hours they go without food and water. Though I admire them for the discipline in learning self-restraint, I pray that one day they will know Jesus as the Living Water that satisfies their thirsty souls and that they would be able to worship Him in total abandon.