The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1956-08-02
GIimpses Inside
The
Crescent and Star
Rv EVELYN WEAVER

Muree, Pax.
We are now going into the
"home stretch of language
school for this year-with one
more language exam for yours
truly in August. The more l learn
of Urdu, the more complicated
it becomes. Maybe in twenty
years, I'll know a little more!
This. past week was quite . a
celebration for the Muslims. This
event in Islam is called Id in
which there were special pray
ers in the mosques and a big
feast day. This is the special time
of the year to make the pilgrim
age to Mecca-one of the five
obligations of their religion. The
feast day is in commemoration
of Abraham sacrificing an animal
instead of his son, Ishmael. The
Jews and Christians, of course,
believe that it was Abrahams
son, Isaac, instead of Ishmael.
And just last night, l was in
vited for dinner in one of our
Muslin language instructors
home. There were thirteen Of
them living in two small rooms.
While the two of us ate, the
others sat on their charpais
(beds) and talked and watched
us. This is quite the custom. You
come early and visit; then leave
as soon as you finish because
they have to eat then. We sat on
beds with a little table stand
pulled up to put our food on 1T.
We had one spoon, but used our
fingers mostly. am sure we ate
some of the ceremonial food
which had been prepared for two
days previously but it was good
just the same. And l thought of
what st. Paul said about eating
"unclean or uncommon food.
Murree is filled with all kinds
of people these days-those who
want to get away from the heat
of the plains. The last time had
been so many beggars in the
streets, the blind and the manned
were in the Hindu temples in
India. Seeing this, am sure, is
one of the most difficult adjust
ments foreigners have to make
in this country and makes fur
loughs imperative.
We have finally moved into
our extra bedroom. 1nspite OF
the Monsoon rains outside, we
are luxuriously comfortable in
here with nice wood fire in our
Fireplace. The last time, we
| built a fire, it became a real
fire-this was back in May. Our
house really caught on fire
caused from a decayed beam in
our chimney. We're all right
now. Building is still going on
We got permission to finish ou1
building this year for which we
are grateful since we have the
workmen here and contractor
employed.
| Between language schoo
terms, three of uS--a young
| woman doctor, the nurse who
lives with me, and l, went on {
four-day trip up through this
mountain areas-into Azad KaSh
mir and into this NorthWes'
Frontier Province made famous
by the Pathan tribes and the
Kashmir raids.
| We eventually ventued over
into the ancient ruins of Taxllt
made famous by the rule o
| Alexander the Great. In thes'
ancient city walls were man.
| Buddhist temple ruins. What i
'so fascinating and yet almos
ironical is the fact that livin!
conditions have not changed to-
much. Even when | visited th
ancient ruins down near Labor
which dates back to 5000 B. c
the same observation can b.
made. These folks in the villages
mostly, and even in the cities
use very much the same waite
jugs, cooking utensils, imple
ments for cutting, digging an
building; they wear about tn
same kind of jeWelry.
While in TaXila, we stayed a
the American Hospital supporte
by the United Presbyterian!
This is a well-equipped misSio
hospital for PakiStan and for
hospital out in a semi-village an
city area. This hospital spec
l alizes in the treatment of ey
diseases. At another time, | Wi
!, tell you a little more about hos
l. pitfalls in this land-quite differ
ent and at first most ShOckln!
l Our new Methodist nurse VIII
has just come out and is livln
here with me and another mis-
S sionary, is chiefly responsible fC
: setting up a new school of nur'
:. ing and the United Christia
Hospital in Lahore has bee
+ asked by the government
n pioneer in it. There is no que
ton but what Christianity hi
n made an indelible imprint in tt
life of this country. We see
S every day and you wonder whel
S this country would be if it woul
not have been for Christian mi