The Muslim story of Christmas.....

I have been asked by many what do the Muslim’s think about Christmas or of Christ… this article I read I think best describes what the Muslim’s believe that I have met so far believe… it has been a common belief that has allowed me to start from and using that common belief have some very open discussions about Christ.

Just the other day I was driving back from Khulm to Mazar with an Engineer and he asked me about my belief in Christ and asked me about being a Mormon.. then he wanted to know if I had gone on a mission and if I was forced to go… It was a very open and interesting discussion we discussed the five basic tenets of being a Muslim and I told him that I easily was following 3 to 4 of them and gave him examples of how I (Mormons) followed those same beliefs… he then made me an honorary Muslim… I think it was a compliment….

Please read this story and think about how similar we all really are. For one thing for sure it strengthens my Testimony in Christ… He did live, He is real and can be a part of all our life’s if we just open our heart up to receiving Him in our life’s.

The Muslim story of Christmas

She was alone, as she was wont to do, worshiping in the eastern section of the temple. Suddenly, she was startled by a strange presence: a man with whom she was not familiar. “I seek refuge from thee with the Most Gracious,” she said, “(Approach me not) if you are conscious of Him!” He sought to calm her by saying, “I am but a messenger of your Lord, (who says,) `I shall bestow upon thee the gift of a son endowed with purity.’”

This startled her most of all. She replied, in shock: “How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me? - for, never have I been an unchaste woman!” The presence replied: “Thus it is; (but) your Lord says, `This is easy for Me; and (thou shalt have a son,) so that We might make him a symbol unto humanity and an act of grace from Us. And it was a thing decreed (by God).”

And so she conceived the child, withdrawing to a far-off place. And when the pangs of childbirth overtook her, she was driven to sit under the trunk of palm tree, and she exclaimed in anguish: “Oh, would that I had died before this, and had become a thing forgotten, utterly forgotten!” Yet, she had the child, and she then came back to her people carrying him, who were clearly shocked.

They exclaimed, “Thou hast indeed done an amazing thing!” They continued: “O Sister of Aaron,” an honorific title for this heretofore pious woman, “Your father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother an unchaste woman!” She pointed to her newborn child, whereupon they said: “How can we talk to one who (as yet) is a little boy in the cradle?”

The child then said:

Behold, I am a servant of God. He has vouchsafed unto me revelation and made me a prophet, and made me blessed wherever I may be; and He has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I live, and (has endowed me with) piety towards my mother; and He has not made me haughty or bereft of grace. Hence, peace was upon me on the day when I was born, and (will be upon me) on the day of my death, and on the day when I shall be raised to life (again)!

This story, that of the birth of Christ, was culled, not from my copy of the Bible, but rather from the nineteenth chapter of the Koran. It is the second mention, in fact, of this story, the first being in the third chapter. This should come as no surprise, really, for Jesus (and his mother) are very prominent in Muslim belief and reverence.

The Koran is full of passages about Jesus and Mary. The Muslim holy book describes Jesus as being “honored in the world and the hereafter, and one of the intimates of God” (3:45). Christ is also “in the ranks of the righteous” (6:85), described as “a word from God which He send down to Mary (and) and a spirit from Him” (4:171). The Koran even says that Jesus Christ “was strengthened with the Holy Spirit” (2:253, 5:110), although classical exegesis notes that “Holy Spirit” means either divine inspiration or the Angel Gabriel. Jesus, in fact, is mentioned more by name in the Koran than the Prophet Muhammad himself.

That’s why it perplexes me to hear some Christians talk about Muslims “not having Jesus.” We have Jesus all over our faith and belief, we just don’t believe he is the son of God or part of a triune deity. Muslims maintain that Christ was a prophet. It is a major difference in belief, to be sure, but it is not something over which Christians and Muslims should have any enmity or animosity.

Yes, some Muslims claim that Christians and Jews are “enemies,” but I pay no heed to such rabble. It is the product of a criminal, twisted mind, and the overwhelming majority of Muslims do not subscribe to such beliefs. And sadly, there are some Christians who say the same about Muslims and Islam: that we are “enemies,” not to be trusted or accepted into the fabric of society, and our faith is “evil.” Such voices, in both communities, must be ignored and marginalized.

No, Muslims may not adorn their houses with lights during this season, but it does not mean that Jesus does not light their hearts with love and reverence. Muslims may not take Christmas Day off as a religious holiday, but that does not mean that Jesus means nothing to them at all. Yes, it may be that the only businesses open on Christmas Day may be the Muslim-owned ones, but that does not mean that Jesus is not near and dear to those business owners’ hearts.

This common love for Jesus - and all the prophets of God - should be the force to bring American Muslims and Christians together. As we all think about Jesus this holiday season, it is my hope and prayer that the forces of hatred and division are no longer paid heed, and Americans of all faiths and creeds come together in peace. I know that it would be what Jesus would want for us; I know that it is what God wants as well.

My Christmas in Afghanistan....

Christmas Day in Afghanistan

Wanted to share my Christmas in Afghanistan. first it's a normal workday. There is no Christmas recognition here so no celebration of any kind. Today I had to make a site visit to our new road project in Khulm, we were trying to find a good source for the road base material. We are going to make our own quarry and mine and crush our own material. We found a good source and now I can meet with the Mayor and other government officials and make arrangements to use the land. It's an interesting project with lots of complex parts to it that all need to come together. I will be going to Khulm for the next couple of day getting everything moving.

After we were done and on our way back I suggested we stop for lunch and have some kabobs ... I told them it was going to be my Christmas dinner and they said since your family isn't with you we will be your family... I said I would like that.. They laughed..

So we all went to a late lunch... Sat and had kabobs, chicken, lamb liver and a very tender beef rib... All very tasty.... Not your normal Christmas dinner but nothing has been what you and I would call normal on this adventure.....

At lunch I asked them to ask my driver to stop at the Blue Masque so that I could give to the poor... I had had a thought come to me ... That it was Christmas and I should share what I could with those less fortunate, so I got some afghan money and we stopped... I told my armed guard to stay in the car, to intimidating, and just asked someone else to escort me while I walked the sidewalk to give to some of the older men who were sitting next to the gate, begging for money...as I started handing out the money I was swarmed with about I would guess about 20 to 30 people shoving each other and me trying to get to me and the money, with more coming, I was completely surrounded and had lost my escort but two police had joined me and were trying to keep the people back and me safe.... I only wanted to give the money to the older men... It was fairly scary... But I really wanted to try to help someone ... Give my own gift of love to those in need... I was able to complete what I came there to do and was then was rushed back to the car by the police and my escort who had rejoined me which was quickly surrounded with people knocking on the window asking for money.. As we pulled out we were chased by the people still begging and wanting money... It was sad and somewhat scary....All I had wanted to do was to try and help someone.. Give my own gift of love to those in need....

As I left I was overwhelmed with how great the need is and how many so many of our brothers have so little....my emotions over took me and I had to control my tears... As I drove away again the words of the song came to my mind about giving ... And the scripture about when you give to the least of them that you are giving actually to the Lord... What greater gift could I give to my Savior on this his Birthday but to reach out in a small way.....

The rest of my day was a normal Sunday, went to the base for dinner and then to church for Sacrament service and a discussion about the birth of the Savior and ways to serve him.

It was a different day but as I think about it may be in a good way, I wasn't focused on actual gifts and opening of gifts and things, but instead on being open to the Spirit and being among non believers and sharing with them why Christmas was so special to me and one even who knew I was Mormon and asked how that was different... So a teaching moment..

Oh, I missed my family, my dear children and visiting of friends, I even missed the hustle and rushing around to get ready for Christmas but I experienced something different ...

So it was a day of simple things, a hike in the hills in the middle of nowhere, service and sharing... Prayer and pondering with Christmas music in the background ....

Maybe it was a good Christmas after all....

Road Trip to Hairatan

Last week on Friday Sultan (my site project manager) came to my room in the morning and asked if I wanted to go with some of the site Engineers for a picnic. He told me that they were going to a very beautiful place. Always up for an adventure I said sure and we piled into two cars and off we went, no security just a bunch of men on a road trip in Afghanistan, me and about 11 Afghans. I had no idea where we were going.

About an hour and half later we ended up in Hairatan which is a border town to Uzbekistan, the river Amu which separates Uzbekistan from Afghanistan, it is at that river we had lunch, delicious deep fried fish. As I got out of the car Sultan said isn't it beautiful, it was a muddy river - truly beauty is in the eye of the beholder...it is not beauty as you and I know it... but when we got there they were beaming with pride ... I said this is the place?.. but smiled and enjoyed the day with them.. it truly was like being with kids... their excitement was catching...

One story, after we were done eating in the restaurant we went for a drive winding through the back street of Hairatan to a railroad yard... they stopped the cars and ran to the tracks... I was laughing, they were acting like teenagers taking pictures climbing on locomotives .. when we got back in the car Sultan said it was the first time they had seen a train. Hard to believe isn't it. What a difference in culture and life experiences.

I had to go when asked, I knew it was an honor to be invited and included and am glad that I had this experience with these men.

Khulm Road Project....

Trip to Khulm....

The other day was an interesting day... I went to what I thought was your average normal job kick off meeting... For a new road project near Khulm. But instead it turned into an event. With lots of Afghan traditions and ceremony.

This project is an important project because it is building a new road connecting many small villages from Khulm to Kunduz and we are building 3 new wells for villages along that new road... These wells are very important to these people, for some of these villages have very limited access to water which disappears in the summer months... It was touching the welcome we had in the villages we visited, to be a part of connecting these communities and providing a life source like water is a wonderful feeling.

First I met with the German Representative that are sponsoring this project. That in itself was interesting... We went into a room in a home in Khulm with a small stove in the middle of the room for heat... Sat on pillows on the floor and enjoyed nuts and hot tea... I enjoyed the nuts and held the tea for warmth only.... And we had our discussion sitting on the floor... We then walked over to the government office and had a meeting with the Governors local Representative, the Mayor and had a meeting with him and other local dignitaries ... I had to speak and represent TI ... Was asked questions about helping the local community and using local labor...The town is excited to have us come to the area and bring jobs to the community. This was without any real knowledge regarding the scope of the project or anything.... It went very well... I didn't know I was going to be the guest of honor at these meetings... From there we went out to the site with the Mayor and others with a police escort for security to visit some local village elders... Lots of security and again I was the guest of honor... I had not expected this honor......I was Introduced to the elders and had to give a short speech at each village about what we were bringing to the village and were excited to become a part of their community.

We then walk all together to locate where the Elders of the Village wanted to place the water well and they showed us the new school being built. It actually felt like being on a health mission, the welcoming. becoming a part of the community and actually building something that will affect and change life's for years to come.

I am excited about being a part of a project like this.

Christmas thoughts from Afghanistan....

At This Christmas season I find myself reflecting upon my time I’ve been here and looking forward to traveling home to be reunited with my family and friends. I think about the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had here so far and I have a reoccurring thought, “We truly are our brother’s keeper.” My testimony of my Savior is stronger now than when I arrived and I will return home with a more solemn resolve to be the husband and father I was placed on the earth for.

I made a promise to myself and to my Heavenly Father when I came here on this adventure that the time here would be different than any other I have had. I promised myself that I would put as much, if not more, effort into improving my spiritual self and serving our Savior during my time here, than I would my temporal needs and goals. For myself I found 3 keys, which not only helped me survive my trials, but spiritually grow. I would like to share these with you. They are simple little things. First is not surprisingly prayer. My prayers here have been different than at home. Maybe they should have always been this way, but I made it a focus to improve my communication with my Heavenly Father. For guidance I applied the words of Alma to his son Helaman found in Alma 37:36 – 37.

Yea, and cry unto god for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and He will direct thee for good yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God;

The second is scripture study. I have a story that lets us know what a blessing reading the Scriptures can be…. I was talking to a young man who shared a very personal experience with me. On a prior deployment he had struggled with pornography and after returning home spent some time repenting for those sins. Sometime later when he received work he was redeploying, he went to his Bishop and asked him what he should do to make sure he didn’t fall again to that temptation. His Bishop asked him how much time he spent reading the scriptures, he replied 30 minutes a night. The Bishop then said “Double it!” This young man then shared with me, how adhering to this simple advice saved him while he was in Afghanistan and helped him to return home to his wife with honor, knowing his heart was pure.

Last is service. I have really focused here to be of service to by Islam brothers. Sharing my construction knowledge, being friendly and letting that friendly attitude have no bounds…what I mean by this is even to be friendly or to serve or help the least of them… the poorest of the poor… the day labors who do not even expect a hello from someone in my position… being kind to all I come into contact with.. doing small acts of kindness ….Just looking daily for a way to serve. Being aware of others and when given the opportunity sharing with them both temporal thing and spiritual. I know by what they have said to me that they have seen and felt something within me that they are attracted to. Remembering daily that I am an Ambassador for the Lord, representing Him in all I do.

I’d like to share a small part of my testimony, hoping it will touch someone’s heart. I know God lives and loves each of us individually with a capacity that only He can. I have found out that you are never really alone. With earnest prayer and a little Faith He will accompany you and walk your path with you. He truly can be with you always.