Tell me your story

Take five minutes to really engage with a stranger and in that short time you will find more often than not he or she will tell you their greatest hurts, fears and life's most important details. This week I have discovered this to be particularly true. The young women here are just waiting to be engaged in meaningful dialogue, to be heard and to tell their story.

Today, as I was waiting to pick up a meal being made for our team, a young 22 year old woman, (a brief acquaintance) sat me down, opened up her photo album and proceed to tell me that she had been married at the age of 19 but had run away from her husband whom she would be permanently separated from if things did could not be mended between she and her in laws who were forcing her to live a very traditional Islamic life that confined her to her home. This sweet girl seemed almost excited to relate this news to someone her own age, but something tells me it was more than just that. I'm convinced that it was the freedom that came with telling her life's own story to someone, anyone, even a total stranger who would really listen to her and care.

Another young lady also shared the depths of her heart practically after giving us her name this week. Her father sent her away and she hasn't seen her mother in a year all because she was keeping company that he did not approve of. The tragedy is that she desperately wants and needs her mother in this time but is not permitted.  She insists that she never engaged in the shameful behavior of her peers but is being punished for "guilt by association".

It's  a privilege to hear the hearts of these girls and we are so grateful to have these connections. It has not been easy until now to find females to spend time with and so we hope to make the most of what is left of our time here with the few that have truly opened up their lives to us.