I hugged my neighbor Nargis as I entered her home. The fading scent of the morning’s pre-fast meal lingered in the air, spicy and comforting.

“Happy Ramadan,” I greeted her.

“Happy Ramadan to you as well,” she responded, drawing me into the house.

Usually, she offers me a cup of tea when I come to visit. But during Ramadan, we refresh ourselves with conversation.

“How has your fast been?” I asked.

“Good. Some of the women at our mosque are cooking iftar meals for hungry people,” she told me. “We’ve been doing it for years. I always look forward to it.”

Iftar, the evening meal that breaks the day’s fast, holds great significance during the month of Ramadan. Many Muslims believe that feeding people iftar as an act of compassion will bring special blessings.

“That’s great,” I said. “Is there any way I can help?”

Nargis nodded. “We need donations. If you want to contribute produce, you can drop it off at the mosque tomorrow afternoon.”

The next day, I went shopping with my teammate, Janae. Then we headed to the mosque, expecting to say a quick hello and hand over the food.

When we arrived, I stopped outside the door, thinking of a prayer walk my team had done during the month leading up to Ramadan. When we passed this mosque, Janae had paused to touch the door and pray for those who worship within its walls to find and follow Jesus.

Knowing non-Muslims could not use the main door and enter the worship area, we made our way around the side of the mosque to a smaller entrance that led to the lower level of the building.  A savory aroma wafted through the hall as the door was opened for us. Voices and laughter spilled from the mosque’s kitchen, where we found a dozen cheerful women cooking and chattering.

Spotting us in the doorway, Nargis hurried to embrace me. Her eyes brightened when she saw what we brought.

“Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed, throwing up her hands in delight. “This is so much food. We will be able to feed many people with this. Will you stay and help us prepare it?”

“Yes, of course,” I responded with enthusiasm. We had often prayed for more connections with the Muslim women in our neighborhood.

“It’s so nice to spend time with other women to help the community,” Janae agreed.

“We do projects like this every month,” Nargis said, sorting through the produce we had brought. “You are welcome to join us whenever you like.”

I nodded. “I’d like that.”

“In fact, why don’t you join us for dinner after Ramadan?” another woman chimed in as she stirred a bubbling pot. “We always get together at my house a few days after this project wraps up.”

“Thank you,” I said. “We’ll be there.”

Our experience serving with these ladies opened the door to our neighborhood mosque and to several new relationships with wonderful Muslim women. Janae and I continue to ask God to pave the way for us to have more conversations about Jesus as we shine His light in our community.

PRAY:

• Pray for the members of this mosque to find and follow Jesus.
• Praise God for giving field workers opportunities to serve alongside Muslims and to serve them in the name of Jesus.
• Ask God to continue to forge connections between field workers and the Muslim men and women in their neighborhoods so that they can have fruitful spiritual conversations.

**This account comes from a long-term worker. Names and places have been changed for security.**

Main photo on iStock

Original article: https://frontiersusa.org/blog/serving-alongside-muslims/