Hello Family,
“Would you want to go to the mosque with us on Friday?” said a young Turkish Muslim woman.
I had never thought about going to a Mosque, but it didn’t make sense to travel halfway across the world to Argentina to be close minded; so, I said, “yea”. The Turkish Muslim women had just finished teaching me and my ‘Politics of Religion’ classmates about the Islam religion – it’s pillars, beliefs in the Prophets, and their personal testimonies. They had so much light in their eyes when talking about their beliefs.
“I wear it (hijab) because it’s a part of me…” one of the women shared after questions about their religious coverings were posed. It wasn’t until we got into the weeds of their feelings about their faith that it dawned on me…
‘God is much bigger than we think’.
I woke up that Friday morning with excitement, questions, and some serious nervous energy. What will it be like? Will I be allowed in? Will my scarf cover my head properly? Lord will You be there?
I packed those questions in my fanny pack and headed towards the mosque. Not even fear and anxiety were going to keep me from this experience. After a couple buses and a decent distance walk, I was there. I met the young women outside. We greeted one another with hugs and Argentinean cheek kisses. “How should I cover my head?” I asked anxiously. “Is there a specific way I can wrap my scarf around my head?” One of the young women gently responded, “don’t worry, I will help you once we get inside”.

Upon entry to the mosque, we ran into a friend of theirs. Then, we all traveled upstairs, took off our shoes, sat down our bags, and proceeded to sit on the floor. It was so peaceful. The men and boy children were downstairs. A man stood in a pulpit like space proclaiming and leading the Islam prayer in both Spanish and Arabic. There was a wall with open star like patterns throughout that allowed us to see into the downstairs area. Seeing Muslim women and men separated by floors was striking. It is so interesting to see how much difference gender makes for different religions and cultures. The men downstairs and the women upstairs prayed to Allah and believed that Muhammad was, or is, the sacred catalyst that transformed human’s relationship to the Divine.
Quran 9:36 came across the screens upstairs and downstairs a few times, along with the words the male leader was proclaiming. People began to read along with the reader, some out loud and others under their breaths or within. Afterwards, people prayed together. At this point, I was in awe. Seeing the women pray together, in unison, was something I never knew I needed to see. Hand in hand, all covered with hijabs, and long clothing, praying a ritual prayer that ends with each of them in a prostrate position.
“What do you think?” one of the young Turkish Muslim women, who is now a friend, had asked. “How do you feel about what you see?” – at this point she and I were sitting near the back of the room. I marveled at the synchronism and sacred essence of the prayer ritual I was experiencing by proxy.
“I feel peace, it’s so peaceful,” I finally found the words to respond to her question.
I soon thought to myself, “I feel hope”.
These women from different walks of life, from toddler to teenager to young adult to elders, all seek and find hope in Allah, God. After a long week of work, catering to family, and moving through the world you get to come to a scared space and get close to your creator. I feel God.

After the service ended, I asked the friends I came with if I could pray in the space. I began to ask them if there were any steps I needed to take or any particular words I should use. After they gave me instructions, I began to pray – bowing as they bow and kneeling as they knelt.
“May Allah grant you all your wishes,” said one of the two friends I came with after I completed my prayer.
Prayer is a universal language. In any tongue, from any lips, hands together or separated, head to the floor or bowed, we all seek to be intimate with our divine creator. God is REAL. Whether acknowledged as God, Allah, The LORD, Father, or Friend – God is real.
May you be reminded that the sacred essence of prayer and community is powerful. We are far more alike than we are different. May you be encouraged to learn something new about someone else’s faith tradition. Who knows, you may become more intimate with your creator, as. You learn about theirs.
I love you. Jesus loves you most.
Be Bold. Be You. Be Encouraged.
With love and light,
Miss Ponder
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