Bummer

Our proposal for the Jordan student project, "More than Pencils and Backpacks" was rejected by the desk in Salt Lake.  We're so disappointed.  We put a lot of work into it and we thought it was a good one even if it did cost a million dollars.

Now to plan B.  We just have to find out what plan B is.  We have some ideas . . .

This Wasn't What We Were Expecting

Living in a country where very few people speak English, we learn to expect that there will be misunderstandings.  Everything won't be the same as we think.  Today was a misunderstanding, and we're not sure where the breakdown was.

We scheduled the day with Jamal to deliver food boxes, so we got up early and drove an hour and a half to Amman to his office.  We were there by 10:30 and he was expecting us, but he wasn't in a hurry to go out on the delivery.  We visited for a while and then he said he would go somewhere (we thought it was to get the food) and we should meet him in an hour.  So we went to Safeway, bought some groceries and waited for Jamal.  However, when he finally came back, there were no boxes.  We don't know what happened, but it sounded like he had never planned to go out delivering.  Or maybe the man in the warehouse slept in today, we're not sure which.

Then he asked if we would like to go to lunch, and by that time we were hungry, so we said we would, thinking that there would be a food delivery afterward.  He said we could go to a nice restaurant that served oriental food, so we said sure we like oriental, thinking that meant Chinese.  The lunch was great, but the only thing oriental was the sesame seeds on the samosa.  Everything else was Jordanian.

Jamal speaks English--but he really lost us today.  We ended up driving over 3 hours, spending 70 JD's for lunch and didn't deliver anything to anybody.  But we had fun.

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This woman was sitting outside the restaurant and I couldn't resist taking her picture.  Jamal gave her some money.

Where Is Everyone?

There were 10 people in attendance at the meetings on Friday (the Sabbath), including us.  It was somewhat of an unusual day.  There seemed to be a bad case of "I've got other things to do-i-tis" that hit the branch.  The 3 confirmed speakers, including 2 potential missionaries did not show up.  Neither did the Sunday School teacher, the Melchizedek Priesthood group leader/teacher or the chorister.  Needless to say, there was a lot of "multi-tasking" taking place, but it all worked out.  We had the full program.  The sacrament took 7 minutes.

Lynn conducted and was the main speaker in Sacrament Meeting.  Myrna played the piano with no chorister and taught the combined Priesthood and Relief Society (5 people).  The numbers were few but they were the faithful.

The Quantar Resort

Just like the wheelchair project we did last week, the diabetic retinopathy project in Jordan will have an "education" component.  Doctors from this area will come together on March 8 for a meeting and will be taught by trainers who will come here from Salt Lake.  They will all learn how to work with diabetes patients to prevent blindness caused by the disease.

We've been looking for a site for the 3-hour meeting which will include a dinner.  (Jordanians are just like everyone else--if you have a dinner they will come)  The interesting thing we've been told is that most Jordanians prefer to eat at home so even though there's over a million people living in the area, there aren't a lot of really nice restaurants or convention centers.  We were lucky to find a resort/wedding center right here in Husn and almost next door to the Bedouin camp.  It's called the Quantar Resort.

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Quantar to check it out and to tell the truth, we were not impressed.  The place is across the street from an ancient Roman pool and we thought the pool and the resort looked like they were built the same year.  It took three trips and many translated conversations before we were convinced to book the place.  The outside is a mess, but inside isn't too bad.

 This pink room is called the Mona Lisa.  We'll take it.

 Lynn's "not so happy" face.

The complex has a restaurant, so we decided to go there for lunch and try out the food to see if it was any good.   It was a weird place with stalactites hanging down from the ceiling.  No one else was there (not good).  The waitress (dressed in old jeans and a jacket) brought us some water and then left.  We waited for a menu, but she didn't bring one.  Finally we asked someone passing by if we were missing something.  He explained that even though it was 2:00 in the afternoon, the "lunch" didn't start until 7 o'clock.  They didn't know what to do with us, so we sat and sat.  Finally a man came out and we tried to explain that we wanted lunch.  He said "chicken."  We said "okay" and then waited to see what would happen.  Lynn said we should order Coke too just in case they brought us something upsetting to our stomachs.

After another very long wait the food arrived and surprise surprise-- it was delicious.  We had barbecued chicken and salad and fries all beautifully presented.  Who would have thought!  We think it was the best Jordanian food we've had here.  If they didn't have such bad service, we'd probably go back again.

The view from our table.  Someone said they clean it up when the weather gets warmer.  Today there were big black things floating in the pool.

We won't even begin to say how crazy it was to negotiate the contract for the room.  The Arabic men used a Philippino translator and the whole thing was enough to give us a headache.

Syrians or Bedouins?

We were driving along not far from our house, went around a bend in the road and this is what we saw!

At first we thought it was a small pocket of Syrian refugees, but we were wrong.  These tents are homes for  Bedouin sheep herders who move around the country and have come to this area for the winter.  We've seen the shepherds with their sheep in the fields.  The shepherds were the first to learn of the Savior's birth when an angel appeared to them, probably not far from here.  

No Ordinary Wheelchairs

When we think of wheelchair projects, we remember several years ago the big truck pulling up to the church in Uganda, dignitaries giving speeches and disabled people crawling onto the grounds of the church and sitting on the grass.  We're not sure how the chairs were matched up with the people, think they came in 3 sizes--small, medium and large.  We remember one man who came in his own wheelchair, took one of ours and wanted us to drive him home with both chairs.  He most likely sold them both in the market.

Now things are different, at least here in Jordan.  We've learned some lessons about wheelchairs and people who receive them from LDS Charities are custom fitted by trained specialists who keep detailed records.

This week we joined the Hammonds in Amman for a large wheelchair training and donation of 650 wheelchairs to the Royal Medical Services Hospital.

Kelvyn and Kaye Cullimore (wheelchair specialists) and two physical therapists came to Jordan from Salt Lake for the training.  (note:  When Lynn was a young missionary in the Central States Mission, he knew the Cullimore family and he remembered Kelvyn!!)

16 outstanding physical therapists in Jordan were selected to attend the training.  The first day they were divided up into teams and each team assembled a wheelchair.  It was hard work--especially if you're wearing a scarf on  your head.  By assembling a chair and they learned how to make adjustments so the chair will fit properly.

For the next two days of classes the students sat in the chairs they assembled.

 It's very important to measure correctly and fit the patient into a chair that will be appropriate for his or her lifestyle.  The regular chairs are lighter and are used in the city and in buildings.  The rough rider chairs are heavy and can maneuver well on uneven surfaces.

We were invited to have lunch in the officers dining hall every day.  They really treated us well.  One day we had Mansif, which was a special treat.  Yum, boiled lamb with rice and peanuts on the top.  Served with spicy pickles, of course.

 The students went outside to practice using the wheelchairs up and down ramps, on grass and on the stairs.  It was more difficult then they thought it would be.

 On the third day, the hospital brought in actual patients to be fitted.  It was a very emotional time for us.  We don't think we've ever seen so much love and care given by the family members.  This man was brought in by his grandsons.  He suffered a stroke a week ago and couldn't speak a word, but his eyes were full of tears.  These two boys were right by his side taking care of his every need.

This elderly couple was another example of love and devotion to each other.  The physical therapists were very tender and kind to them both.

The man in the wheelchair was brought in by his two sons (on the right).  We could tell how much they loved their father.  "Where's the mother?" I asked.  They pointed to the door and there she was standing outside watching.  She didn't know it was alright to come in.  When we went over and invited her, she rushed to her husband's side and was so happy to be there.

This is a mother being cared for by her daughter.  So touching.  There were many others, but we were not very comfortable taking pictures.  It just didn't seem right.

These two physical therapists became our friends.  We just loved them.  Can you guess which one is Muslim and which one is Christian?

When the training was all over everyone got a certificate and the general gave them the day off tomorrow!

We are so grateful to have been a part of this project.  It is truly a blessing to the people of Jordan.  The best thing about the project is that it will be sustainable.  These wonderful people can carry on without our leadership.  They are well trained and ready to take charge.

This wheelchair project meets all the requirements for a successful LDS Charities humanitarian project:

The members of the Church who donate to the humanitarian fund can be assured that their money was used in a very careful, responsible way on the wheelchair project.  It will be blessing to many Jordanians for a long time.

Count your Blessings

This price is for 1 liter, not gallon

Not the Tabernacle Choir

When the members of the North Jordan branch sing the church hymns in Arabic, it isn't pretty.  Trying to match the Arabic words with the western music is very difficult, so we decided to have song practice in Sunday School.

Sewar, our music leader, played a CD of someone singing the hymn and everyone listened.  Then we all sang along with the CD.  It was really very nice.  Everyone enjoyed it and we were much improved.

Relief Society Training Meeting

Every good meeting has food!  This Relief Society Training Meeting began with hot chocolate, cinnamon rolls, fala feel (crispy "mystery" balls), humus and fool.  We loved the gelatin dessert covered with nuts and sugar syrup.

I was so happy to have the district leaders from Amman (on the right) come to Husn for the training.  Sister Huda and I are having a very difficult time communicating, and they were so helpful.  One of the women translated for us.

Food Box Delivery

On Wednesday we delivered 25 food boxes to more needy, hungry Syrian refugees.   They were very happy to get them.

Laura and Mohammed

These people are living in one of the poor areas of Amman.  Wearing a scarf over your head seems like a pretty good idea in this cold weather.

Mansaf, The Jordan National Dish

Jamal invited us to his home for lunch on Wednesday.  It was an "eat till you drop" affair, and the main course was the Jordanian national dish called Mansaf.

Here's what you do:  Tear off a thin piece of bread.  Then fold it over and use it to grab a big of hunk of rice and meat.  Then stuff it all in your mouth.  It's fun, but messy.  Very tasty.

Mansaf can be made with chicken or lamb.  This dish was made with lamb. 

We had to wait for the local TV station to interview Jamal for an upcoming program about his humanitarian work.  The interviewer and camera crew were all invited to stay and have lunch with us.  Of course they accepted the invitation.

More Than Pencils and Toothbrushes

His Majesty King Adbulla II recognizes that children who have been subjected to deprivation, violence and ignorance are the most susceptible to falling prey to extremism, terrorism and racism.  He feels that education can plan a vital role in preventing Syrian and Jordanian children from engaging in negative acts of extremism on society now and when they grow older.  In a region that suffers from political turmoil this emphasis is especially critical in order to achieve peace and prosperity for its citizens and their future.

Because of our excellent relationship with the General Union of Volunatary Societies and others in Jordan, LDS Charities has been asked to be a principal player in the project and to furnish school kits, hygiene kits and health education for 100,000 students.  The materials will go to Syrian refugee students, needy Jordanian students and students with special needs.  This means significant publicity and recognition for LDSC.  The desired launch date of the project, including a press conference is January 30, the king's birthday.

We have spent a lot of time this past week writing a proposal for the project to go to Salt Lake for approval. We are very excited about the project for the following reasons:

1. The project is much more than pencils, paper and toothbrushes.  It is a project of hope and self-esteem.  When a child has a backpack with materials to help improve his or her mind and body he has less tendency to think about negative things and focus on bettering himself.

2.  Student volunteers will be used to process and package the donated items in the kits.  Volunteer specialists will work with the students and help develop the spirit of volunteerism and the desire to do good for others.

3.  Sessions will be held to teach students personal hygiene care and its importance.  They will also be taught how to use the materials for cleaning teeth, washing hands, etc.

This project is very large.  The launch ceremony will be under the direction of Queen Rania and a representative of LDSC will be one of the speakers along with some very high level government officials.  The General Union of Volunatry Societies has requested a statement from either the First Presidency or Elder Holland to be included in each kit along with a statement from the king of Jordan.

All this in a Muslim country where the Church isn't even officially recognized.

We are waiting anxiously to see if the project will be approved in Salt Lake.

Really Really Fresh Chicken

We were filling a food order for a needy family so we went to the local chicken shop.

The owner opened the cage, pulled out a chicken and stuffed it into a blue laundry basket.  Then he got three more and stuffed them in the basket too.  Next he weighed the chickens.  After we paid our money he carefully lifted them out of the basket, took a very sharp knife and slit the throat of each one.  Immediately the chicken went limp--it was dead.  He was very careful and respectful of the chickens.  They were really quite calm.  It's almost like they knew their destiny in life was to be dinner for a hungry family.

We left as he was dipping the chickens into a vat of boiling water.  When we came back later the chickens were plucked, dressed and bagged.  

The Pharmicist

It's always amazing how we were able to meet people that we feel like we were "supposed" to meet.

When we went to the pharmacy in Husn to pick up a prescription, we met the owner, Mohammed, who just happened to be here today.  He is from Husn but now lives in Canada.  He speaks very good English, and we enjoyed getting to know him.  Mohammed has a business in Amman that sells medical equipment, specifically glucomoters and test strips for diabetes.  Amazing thing, is that we are working with the university here on a project that requires glucometers and test strips.  We got his phone number.

No Church

No church today because of the bad weather.  We stayed home and had our own "devotional" and even had an opening song.  Dad sings better than the Jordanians.  I think we should sing a duet in church.

Snowflakes in our back yard.  Brrrr means "cold" in Arabic.

Snow Storm in Jordan

It's snowing here!  The government knew the storm was coming and ordered the schools and government offices closed and told everyone to stay home for the next 2-3 days.  When we heard the news we went out and bought some groceries and prepared to hunker down.  By the time we came home there were very few cars on the road.  We wish traffic would be like that all the time.

There was a run on the bread store in Husn. 

We're so glad we live in a stone building, because the wind howled fiercely all night.  Things were flying in the wind, but our house stayed firm.  We couldn't help but think of the many Syrian people in the area who are living in tents and must be suffering.  We sincerely pray for them.

Letter from Pope Francis

We got an e-mail with a letter from the Pope today!  I thought it was worth including in our blog so our friends and family can see and understand the great compassion, love and goodness in others not of our faith.  

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and  God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to  console those who are in any affliction, with the consolation with which we ourselves  are consoled by God” (2 Cor 1:3-4).

When I thought of writing to you, our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East,  these words of Saint Paul immediately came to mind.  I write to you just before  Christmas, knowing that for many of you the music of your Christmas hymns will also  be accompanied by tears and sighs.  Nonetheless, the birth of the Son of God in our  human flesh is an indescribable mystery of consolation:  "For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all people" (Tit 2:11). 

Sadly, afflictions and tribulations have not been lacking, even more recently, in the  Middle East.  They have been aggravated in the past months because of the continuing  hostilities in the region, but especially because of the work of a newer and disturbing  terrorist organization, of previously unimaginable dimensions, which has perpetrated all  kinds of abuses and inhuman acts.  It has particularly affected a number of you, who  have been brutally driven out of your native lands, where Christians have been present  since apostolic times.

Nor, in writing to you, can I remain silent about the members of other religious and ethnic groups who are also experiencing persecution and the effects of these conflicts.  Every  I follow the new reports of the enormous suffering endured by many people in the  Middle East.  I think in particular of the children, the young mothers, the elderly, the  homeless and all refugees, the starving and those facing the prospect of a hard winter  without an adequate shelter.  This suffering cries out to God and it calls for our  commitment to prayer and concrete efforts to help in any way possible.  I want to  express to all of you my personal closeness and solidarity, as well as that of the whole  Church, and to offer you a word of consolation and hope.

Dear brothers and sisters who courageously bear witness to Jesus in the land blessed by  the Lord, our consolation and our hope is Christ himself.  I encourage you, then, to  remain close to him, like branches on the vine, in the certainty that no tribulation, distress or persecution can separate us from him (cf. Rom 8:35).  May the trials which you are  presently enduring strengthen the faith and the fidelity of each and all of you!

I pray that you will be able to experience a fraternal communion modeled on that of the  first community of Jerusalem.  The unity willed by our Lord is more necessary than ever at these difficult times; it is a gift from God, who appeals to our freedom and awaits our  response.  May the word of God, the sacraments, prayer and fellowship nourish and  continually renew your communities.

The situation in which are you living is a powerful summons to holiness of life, as saints  and martyrs of every Christian community have attested.  I think with affection and  veneration of the pastors and faithful who have lately been killed, often merely for the  fact that they were Christians.  I think also of those who have been kidnapped, including several Orthodox bishops and priests of various rites.  May they soon return, safe and  sound, to their homes and communities!  I ask God to grant that all this suffering united  to the Lord’s cross will bring about much good for the Church and for all the peoples in the Middle East.

In the midst of hostility and conflicts, the communion which you experience in fraternity and simplicity is a sign of God’s Kingdom.  I am gratified by the good relations and  cooperation which exist between the patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches and  those of the Orthodox Churches, and also between the faithful of the different Churches.  The sufferings which Christians endure contribute immensely to the cause of unity.  It is the ecumenism of blood, which demands a trusting abandonment to the working of the Holy Spirit.

May you always bear witness to Jesus amid your difficulties!  Your very presence is  precious for the Middle East.  You are a small flock, but one with a great responsibility  in the land where Christianity was born and first spread.  You are like leaven in the  dough.  Even more than the many contributions which the Church makes in the areas of education, healthcare and social services, which are esteemed by all, the greatest source  of enrichment in the region is the presence of Christians themselves, your presence.   Thank you for your perseverance!

Your efforts to cooperate with people of other religions, with Jews and Muslims, is  another sign of the Kingdom of God.  The more difficult the situation, the more  interreligious dialogue becomes necessary.  There is no other way.  Dialogue, grounded  in an attitude of openness, in truth and love, is also the best antidote to the temptation to religious fundamentalism, which is a threat for followers of every religion.  At the same  time, dialogue is a service to justice and a necessary condition for the peace which all so ardently desire.

The majority of you live in environments which are predominantly Muslim.  You can help your Muslim fellow citizens to present with discernment a more authentic image of Islam, as so many of them desire, reiterating that Islam is a religion of peace, one which is  compatible with respect for human rights and favours peaceful coexistence on the part  of all.  This will prove beneficial for them and for all society.  The tragic situation faced by our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq, as well as by the Yazidi and members of  other religious and ethnic communities, demands that all religious leaders clearly speak  out to condemn these crimes unanimously and unambiguously, and to denounce the  practice of invoking religion in order to justify them.

Dear brothers and sisters, almost all of you are native citizens of your respective  countries, and as such you have the duty and the right to take full part in the life and  progress of your nations.  Within the region you are called to be artisans of peace,  reconciliation and development, to promote dialogue, to build bridges in the spirit of the Beatitudes (cf. Mt 5:3:12), and to proclaim the Gospel of peace, in a spirit of ready  cooperation with all national and international authorities.

In a special way I would like to express my esteem and gratitude to you, dear brother  patriarchs, bishops, priests, and men and women religious, who accompany the journey of your communities with loving concern.  How valuable is the presence and work of  those completely consecrated to the Lord, serving him in their brothers and sisters,  especially those in greatest need, and thus witnessing to his grandeur and his infinite  love!  How important is the presence of pastors in the midst of their flocks, especially in times of trouble!

To the young I send a paternal embrace.  I pray for your faithfulness, your human and  Christian development, and the attainment of your hopes and dreams.  I repeat to you:  “Do not be afraid or ashamed to be Christian.  Your relationship with Jesus will help you to cooperate generously with your fellow citizens, whatever their religious affiliation”  (Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, 63). 

To the elderly I express my respect and esteem.  You are the memory of your peoples.  I pray that this memory will become a seed which can grow and benefit generations yet to come.

I wish to encourage all of you who work in the very important fields of charity and  education.  I admire the work you do, especially through Caritas and other Catholic  charitable organizations in the different countries, in providing help to anyone who asks, without discrimination.  Through this witness of charity you help support the life of  society and you contribute to the peace for which the region hungers as if for bread.   Education too is critical for the future of society.  How important it is for promoting the  culture of encounter, respect for the dignity of each person and the absolute value of  every human being!

Dear brothers and sisters, even though you may not be numerous, you play a significant  role in the Church and in the countries where you live.  The entire Church is close to you and supports you, with immense respect and affection for your communities and your  mission.  We will continue to assist you with our prayers and with every other means at our disposal.

At the same time I continue to urge the international community to address your needs  and those of other suffering minorities, above all by promoting peace through  negotiation and diplomacy, for the sake of stemming and stopping as soon as possible  the violence which has already caused so much harm.  I once more condemn in the  strongest possible terms the traffic of arms.  Instead, what are needed are plans and  initiatives for peace, so as to further a global solution to the region’s problems.  How  much longer must the Middle East suffer from the lack of peace?  We must not resign  ourselves to conflicts as if change were not possible!  In the spirit of my pilgrimage to  the Holy Land and the subsequent prayer meeting in the Vatican with the Israeli and  Palestinian presidents, I encourage you to continue to pray for peace in the Middle East.  May those forced to leave their lands be able to return and to live in dignity and security.  May humanitarian aid increase and always have as its central concern the good of each  individual and each country, respecting their identity and without any other agendas.   May the entire Church and the international community become ever more conscious of  the importance of your presence in the region.

Dear Christian brothers and sisters of the Middle East, you have an enormous  responsibility and in meeting it you are not alone.  That is why I wanted to write to you,  to encourage you and to let you know how precious your presence and your mission are in the land which the Lord has blessed.  Your witness means much to me!  Thank you!  I pray for you and your intentions every day.  I thank you because I know that, amid your sufferings, you also pray for me and for my service to the Church.  I do hope to have  the chance to come to you in person and to visit and to comfort you.  May the Virgin  Mary, the All-Holy Mother of God and our Mother, accompany you and protect you always with her tender love.  To all of you and your families I impart my Apostolic Blessing, and I pray that your celebration of Christmas will be filled with  the love and peace of Christ our  Saviour.

From the Vatican, * * *

The Scarves

A large percentage of the people here are Muslim.  It's a custom that the Muslim women wear scarves to cover their hair when they go out.  Lynn says the scarves emphasize their beautiful faces.  I wish they would take them off so I could see what they really look like.

Someone explained that the scarf is an article of clothing that a woman wears to demonstrate her devotion to God and to remind her of her covenant to follow Him.  It is a protection to her both physically and spiritually.  Doesn't that sound a lot like the LDS temple garment? 

Crusader Castle at Karak

Sunday, Jan 4 (not the Sabbath)

In March, doctors that work with the vision initiative in humanitarian services will be coming to Jordan to give four lectures.  LDS Charities will be sponsoring the lectures as part of the diabetic retinopothy project for Jordan.  One of the lectures will be given in the ancient city of Karak, located about 100 miles south of Amman on the old Kings Highway. 

The Strongs invited us to go with them to meet the doctors at the University in Karak and identify a suitable location for the lectures.  We were told that the Karak castle had a meeting room and facilities that may be suitable for our group and our reason for going was to check it out.

The Karak castle was built in 1132 and is built on a hilltop near the caravan route between Damascus and Egypt.  

  

View from the top.  What a great location for a castle!

This ancient room was just perfect for what we need.  They have room for 70-100 doctors, sound system, and chairs.  The room is large enough for dinner to be served at one end.  The acoustics are fantastic.  The walls are a good 6 feet thick.  Is this awesome or what?

We were told that the weather warms up by March when we have the meeting.  Today it was windy and COLD.

At the Mu'tah University in Karak (a school of over 22,000 students) we met with the Vice President for Scientific Faculties, the dean of the medical school and the assistant dean.  It was a very productive meeting and they were excited to be able to participate in the diabetic retinopathy testing campaign that will be conducted throughout the entire country of Jordan.  We had a delightful meeting with these men.  They were very professional.  We felt that we became good friends in just a short time.

At lunch The dean of the medical school (with glasses) had many questions about the Mormon church.  We can answer the questions, but have to be careful not to teach or preach anything about the church.

Teaching Priesthood

Myrna prepared the lesson for Relief Society today but the Priesthood teacher didn't show up so she taught both.  First time she's ever taught Priesthood.

You don't have to prepare a big long lesson in our branch, because by the time they translate what you said, add their own comments and translate the comments back from the class, it's time for the closing prayer.

Midnight in Amman

This year the couples here in Jordan got together at the Amman Center to celebrate New Years.  We're basically just a group of "old fogies" so we don't do anything very exciting--just eat and talk and watch movies.  It was fun to take a break and just relax, and we enjoy being with the Strongs and Hammonds.  

When it got close to midnight, we decided to go down to the street and see if there was anything interesting happening.  Unfortunately the front door was locked and we couldn't get out, so we just walked into one of the vacant offices on the first floor and looked out through the window.  It was about 3 minutes to 12 when a car pulled up into the parking lot in front of the building and 4 young men got out, lifted up the trunk and pulled out some big mats.  I wondered if the mats were for bottle-rocket launchers or fireworks displays, and I stood back away from the plate glass window in case it got shattered.  What I saw next, I never would have expected in a million years.  The four young men stood on the mats, faced east, got down on their knees and prayed.  

When they were finished, they rolled up the mats, put them back in the trunk, and drove away.  We just stood in amazement.  We were speechless.  I think we should write a new song for New Year's Eve:  "Ere the Jordan clock strikes midnight, did you think to pray?"