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| Salaam Aleikum, everyone. That's Arabic for "Peace be with you." I haven't run across any Lutheran Arabs yet who can teach me the proper liturgical way to say "And also with you." But I've met an incredible variety of people here in this little microcosm of Camp TQ. Let me give you an example.
Yesterday, while the camp was under "Condition Red" because of a mortar attack, I took cover in the chapel along with whoever else happened to be nearby (the rules say you have to seek the closest shelter available when an alarm goes off). In there with me was a native Korean chaplain serving with the US Navy. He had grown up as a missionary in Africa and was singing worship songs from Tanzania when we were joined by two security guards from Uganda and a food service worker from Pakistan. I still have no idea how to tranlate what we were singing, except every once in a while we would all raise our hands and say, "Hallelujah!" That part I got. Otherwise I'm doing well. Thank you to everyone who has sent mail or e-mail. I'm sorry if I can't always respond in person, but my correspondence time is limited. Please keep the communication coming, and I'll write back whenever I can. God be good to you! |