May 1, 2006
You know how there are people who make you smile, regardless
of your mood? Or how some people always seem to know how to show
you they care? We want you to meet some of the Pakistanis we’ve
come to know and why they are some of our favorite people. There
are more than we can describe in a succinct email, so this will
be continued in future emails. We’ve posted their pictures
on our
personal Web site.
The match man
We have no idea what his name is, but he stands at the first
stoplight we reach each morning on the way to the boys’
school. He sells matches, small packets of tissues, and sometimes
pens and pencils. His grin is infectious, his enthusiasm contagious.
He salutes us and yells “A number one!” as we drive
by, always giving us a thumbs up. One day, he yelled “Amen!”
at the top of his lungs. We buy matches or tissues whenever we
have the change, whether we need them or not. When one of the
boys is not in the car, he is concerned and asks about their health.
Only in Pakistan would you have your personal greeting service
waiting at the stoplight for you each morning.
Rafhan
A Forman Christian College student who likes to visit and talk
about things American. A second-year intermediate student (equivalent
to grade 12 in the United States) who has his hopes on medical
school, Rafhan has a fetching smile and open mind. He brings his
friends to meet us and comes to tell us about special trips he’s
taking with his classmates. He has even shown up on Saturday night
to iron his shirts! We’ll miss him when he moves on for
the next phase of his education.
Sadiq
Our cook and keeper of our nutritional health. Sadiq’s
classic statement is, “You know, sir,” which is usually
followed by a suggestion, a story, or an admonition that we paid
too much for oranges. Sadiq is a wonderful baker, and his cinnamon
rolls rival those of Grandma Lois. He is amazed at the quantity
of baked goods two growing boys can consume, but cheerfully keeps
baking! He knows Peter likes chocolate cakes and Madame (that’s
Marianne, believe it or not) likes custard. There’s one
of our favorites at each meal. We’ve been privileged to
share in the joy of his son’s marriage, the sadness of a
young nephew’s sudden death, and the continuing concern
over his wife’s heath. Sadiq used to cook for the Prime
Minister of Lebanon, and now he’s cooking for us. Imagine!
Sam
Our housekeeper and Peter’s personal stain remover Mr.
Sam is a retired peon (It’s not a derogatory term—it
means “office worker.”) who needs to supplement his
retirement income. While it is hard for us from the Western world
to understand how anyone would want to wash clothes and clean
in retirement, Mr. Sam embodies the reality for many poor Pakistanis:
there is never enough money. He rides his bicycle 45 minutes each
way, rain or shine, to scrub Peter’s always dirty clothes
and battle the dust and dirt we accumulate every 24 hours. A devoted
Christian who left school after first grade, he learned English
to position himself for working with foreigners. We are lucky
he now works for us.
Ashraf
The epitome of a Pakistani smart aleck. In charge of the physical
plant and purchasing at FCC, Ashraf works long hours and firmly
believes in “management by walking around.” During
our first week here, Marianne introduced herself, and he explained
his role at the college. Marianne, hoping to be friendly, commented
“You have an incredibly demanding job. It’s no wonder
you’re so thin! “ He took one look at her and said
“Maybe so, and what’s your excuse?” He’s
always anxious to talk politics and world events, clearly exposing
his cynicism and penchant for Fox News. He’s also good for
a joke, at least one a day, and truly tries to make life here
as comfortable for us as he can.
Jean and Wilburn
Jean works with Marianne at the College, and Wilburn is her husband
and patient travel agent who helps us see Pakistan and Asia. They
have worked with ex-pats with various mission agencies for years,
serving as mentors and prayer partners for people from all over
the world. It is Jean to whom one turns when you aren’t
sure what the culturally appropriate response is or what you should
pay for a tip. It is Wilburn who suggests what time of year is
best for cheap flights or good weather for seeing the Himalayas.
They have found doctors on Sunday night when Nathan couldn’t
stop vomiting and were among the first to warn us that the protests
in February could turn ugly. We truly value their friendship and
care for us.
David
Our fellow PC(USA) mission colleague and faithful friend. We
first met David during Orientation in July and after 43 hours
of travel, found his smiling face waiting for us when we arrived
in August. David is a Pakistani—soon to be Canadian—who
has worked for the PC(USA) in various capacities for 20 years,
both in North America and here. He’s seen it all and whatever
the request, he always finds a way to fulfill it. Our list of
“Oh, David, you shouldn’t have” events is long.
He found Nathan a black bowler hat just in time for the dress
rehearsal of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” rode all the
scary rides with Peter at Joyland, and bargains with the best
of them in any market in Pakistan. Most of all, he’s a trusted
friend who can be counted on to offer a balanced perspective and
emphasize his faith in God’s power in all circumstances.
We couldn’t have asked for a better colleague.
There are more, but these special people represent all that is
good here. They are part of our daily lives and we thought you
might like to meet them.
We’re late for Easter greetings: the Pakistanis celebrate
Easter with a fervor we rarely see. A church service is never
less than two and a half hours, and the sanctuaries are packed.
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, sunrise service (at 4:00 a.m.) and
Easter morning makes for a lot of church. Nathan sang a duet with
a young Pakistani woman on Easter morning, Robert preached for
part of a Good Friday service, and Peter and Mom added cultural
diversity in the pews. Hallelujah!
Update on work, school, and life in general
Robert’s dissertation has been accepted and he will graduate
in May. It has been a long haul and we’re all glad of a
successful outcome. He’s planning to return to the United
States for his dissertation defense and diploma.
Yet another devastating bombing in Karachi saddens us. We’re
drinking from the firehose again as we try to understand what
prompted the attack and the repercussions for the country.
The boys are in their final quarter of school and looking forward
to the summer. We’ll be up in the mountains in July, studying
Urdu and escaping the heat of the Punjabi plains. Marianne is
working on IT projects. Robert has recently been appointed dean
of the chapel at Forman (another one of his many part-time positions
here!). We’re, well, still adjusting, but a bit less overwhelmed
by all that goes on around us. The same
Web site referenced above has a picture of all of us in our
best shalwar chemise.
Requests for prayer
- Peter’s Urdu teacher, Mrs. Qazi, was in a terrible car
accident earlier this month. Her husband was killed and she
suffered severe head injuries. She has lost her short-term memory
and has a long road to recovery ahead of her.
- Robert’s return to the United States in May, both to
defend his dissertation and to attend his graduation. We pray
for safe travels for him and strength for Marianne and the boys
remaining in Pakistan.
- For all the people we’ve mentioned in this email. They
truly are special folks.
We’ll be back in touch. Thank you, yet again, for your
interest in our work and our lives.
Robert, Marianne, Nathan and Peter
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
112 |
