My neighbour Julia is a Lebanese widow in her seventies who speaks very little English. When we moved to her neighbourhood eight years ago, she was kind and friendly but from a distance. You need to understand that she was purposely distant with me after she knew that I was Baptist. I visited her a few times but she never returned the visits. On the other hand she visits and asks favours of my Tongan neighbour who doesn’t know any Arabic! Mind you a few times she stood next to my mail box and called to me (more like shouted, so that I can hear her from inside) to ask me something!

The big day happened this week! As usual she called me while standing next to the mail box and said that she would like to have coffee with me if my Tongan neighbor would come too (I think to use her as a shield). And so it was that my dear lovely Lebanese devoted Catholic neighbour crossed a humongous stumbling stone and entered into my house. The house of a Baptist! The three of us had a very lovely time with me translating for both of them.

A very wise and experienced missionary once advised Tony and me about the effective way to witness to Lebanese. The rule was do not open the conversation concerning spiritual matters with them (especially those you will have contact with often) but rather wait until they ask you. You see, generally, in our Lebanese culture we are very inquisitive, do not know what privacy means, and are very outspoken.

I thank the Lord for giving me grace in her eyes and I pray that he will lead her to him.