We have been staying at a youth hostel in a second location making friends with the staff and other travelers that come in and out. We are currently learning about how much of a privilege it is when we have personal space and how it isn't exactly a right. BUT everyone has been so lovely, and it is a blessing to have beds and a kitchen to cook in and freedom to openly love Jesus.
That freedom included our team's ability to do a whole day of prayers in the hostel. We all crawled out of bed for the first Muslim call to pray at 4:50 am and did our own call to prayer for 24 hours, splitting up the day between all of us. We prayed about the freedom that Jesus brings and proclaimed His authority.
One of the wonderful things about the Moroccan culture is the people's hospitality and warm spirits. We've (by the grace of God) made friends in ways that are totally different than anything that we Westerners are used to. By looking very lost, by practicing our Arabic, and by singing/making fools of ourselves in public we've been invited to different people's houses or to have tea and hangout. It is ridiculous and amazing.
Another thing some of us have been enjoying here is handing out fruit and drinks to the people who ask for money on the streets of the markets. We have decided to refine them and call them "treasures" instead. They often have serious health problems and speak no English, but it's been great sharing a bit of life with them.
Some things we've learned as a team after Weeks 7 & 8:
- Jesus comes before us and prepares a path for us.
- We take soap really seriously.
- God never stops teaching us how to love one another.
- Street vendor macaroons are the bomb.com.
Continued prayers for our last week in Morocco are greatly appreciated!
