DTF Pilot City Project: Muslim American Society

I'm sorry you couldn't join me for a totally enjoyable evening at the new mosque, the Muslim American Society. Imam Ahmed Elkhaldy told me to be there at 6:30, so I arrived at 6:20 to set up all my paperwork. There was a man praying in the prayer room for the longest time. When he was finished, it was 6:30 and I asked him if others would be coming, thinking maybe I had the wrong night as it was just he and I in the building. But no, he said, others would be here tonight about 7.

When he finished praying, he came in and turned on the lights in the room where I was and came over to talk with me. I told him who I was and what I was there for. I asked him where he was from and he said Bangladesh. So naturally I asked if he knew of Mohammed Yunus. Not only did he know OF Dr. Yunus, he had worked with him as a colleague at a university in Bangladesh. Dr. Sultan Ahmed was this gentleman's name. He had come to America three years ago to help raise his twin granddaughters. He handed me a two-page piece he had written about the candidates for President, and I was able to quote from it during my RESULTS presentation. I made a new friend.

We broke fast about 7 with dates and juice. Then we went in for evening prayer. The only Arabic I know is Allah, the word for God, so I was lost, but I prayed silently, thanking God for the opportunity to talk with these kind people about RESULTS.

Dinner was catered from Taste of India. Not too spicy, although I am burping something tonight. Then Imam asked if I was ready to do the presentation and off we went.

I teared up during the telling of my story. I always do. But they accepted me and listened well to the rest of the presentation. Of the 21 adults there, 12 wrote a letter to Senator Grassley thanking him for his fine work on the Child Tax Credit expansion and asking him to hold fast to the $8500 threshold on earned income. I faxed those letters on my way home so they'll be waiting for the Senator when he gets into the office tomorrow. I think he'll be surprised at all the thank you's.

Five people signed up for training. Thanks be to God!!! I had been sweating all day what if no one signed up? We're going to do the training at the mosque once Ramadan is over.

This is a very kind and caring community. They went out of their way to welcome me and make me feel at home. I did wear my Egyptian head scarf -- the long black one that makes me look like a nun. I wore it out of respect, and so that my uncovered head wouldn't be a distraction to anyone, so they could listen and not have to be thinking about who is this woman with her hair uncovered? It kept falling off because it's so long in the back, so I just kept pulling it back onto my head when it would fall too far down. No one seemed to mind. I told them up front I was Episcopalian, so they knew I was a rookie with head scarves.

Oh, and I forgot my shoes. Well, not really forgot them -- I left by a different door than I had come in and I could see my shoes on the rack in the next room but the door was locked. So I'll get them tomorrow. Believe it or not, I do have another pair of flip flops. But I drove home barefoot, which is against the law. But I didn't get caught. And no one at church seemed to notice when I went in barefoot to fax the letters. It was kind of an adventure!

I know your thoughts and prayers were with me. I could feel it. Thank you. Thank you for all you do for the Cedar Rapids RESULTS Group, and to support me as your group leader.