Fourth Church Youth in Jordan

Two of our high school youth, Cassandra Kildow and Gabby Boateng, are currently on a study trip in Jordan with the Interfaith Youth Core. I've received an email update from Cassie and want to post it here on the Fourth Church Youth blog. We're so proud of what Cassie and Gabby are doing and can't wait to hear all about their trip when they return. Please continue to pray for them and their experience!

Marhaba everyone,

I greet you all from the far-off city of Amman, Jordan where Gabby, I and a group of other Interfaith Youth have been spending time together. We are here with the Interfaith Youth Core on a trip to make connections with a similar Jordanian group. So far this trip has been beyond amazing; I don't think I've ever had this much fun or felt so fulfilled. We visited Petra (the ruins of an ancient city carved out of sandstone) and the Dead Sea (where there is so much salt that ability to swim is optional; in fact you cannot swim because you are forced to float on the surface). We brought in the New Year by dancing like crazy fiends in the gorgeous desert Wadi Rum, sleeping in Bedouin style tents. In Amman you are awakened at the break of dawn every morning by the call to prayer which is broadcast from every mosque five times a day. Best of all, however, has been the people I have met. They are generous, gregarious, funny, warm and welcoming. Everyone speaks at least a little English, so although I know only 10 words in Arabic we can all communicate just fine.

The whole point of the trip is to have interfaith dialogue and nothing has been more fascinating this whole trip than learning about how people practice their faiths here and everywhere. In our group from Chicago we have Muslims, Christians, a Buddhist and a Hindu, and in the Jordanian group there are Muslims and Christians and we have all learned a lot about other faiths, but also about our own faith. For example, one of the most amazing things I have done so far was tagging along with one of the group members as he visited his family on Eid, the Muslim holiday which is roughly comparable to Christmas. On Eid the family is supposed to sacrifice a goat or sheep, then cut it into three roughly equal pieces (one for the poor, one for the rest of the family and one for themselves), and then go around visiting all of the extended family, giving out gifts and socializing over Arabic coffee (which is amazing, and very different from American coffee, but I am completely unable to explain what it does taste like) and sweets.

Anyways, I need to go and eat dinner now (pita and humus and Arab-style salad and rice and yogurt and stuff), but I hope this is informative.

Salaam (Peace), and see you all soon In sha'allah (If God wills it),
Cassandra Kildow

PS. I hope you are all enjoying your breaks!