I got a call yesterday from one of my contacts up in Puttalam who is helping me with my research.  I’d messaged him earlier to let him know that my health wasn’t great but I’d be back on the job soon.  So when I saw his number I picked up the phone wondering why he was calling, expecting that he’s want to know when I’d be able to come back up to work again.

“Hi Irshad.  How are you?” I said.
“You are not well?  What is wrong with you?  I pray for you.  I pray to Allah.”  His English is good but his vocabulary is limited.  The concern in his voice, however, comes across perfectly clearly.
“Oh, thank you.  I’m okay,” I say reassuringly.  I struggle to think of how to explain in non-medical terms what’s wrong with me and decide on saying, “I just have health problems from before I arrived in Sri Lanka, and they are not doing so good here.  But I’m okay now.  I just have a cold.  That’s why my voice sounds funny.”
Irshad says something about me needing to rest.
I go on to explain that I was going to be calling soon to see when I could come up, see timing-wise what would work for him.  I told him I found a translator.  He doesn’t seem to hear any of this.  He just keeps talking about my health, telling me to rest.
“I pray to Allah for good health for you.  My wife is praying too.  She prays to Allah for your health.”  The concern still lingers in his voice.
“Thank you,” I say, not sure how to thank him for thinking of me.  “I’m feeling much better so I thank you for your prayers. “

I’m touched by his sincerity, by his family’s kindness.  Last time I was up there they wanted me to stay with them because they knew I’d be staying alone in a hotel.  The entire family (Irshad, his wife, and the teenage daughter and little boy) stayed with me in my hotel room until my dinner had been brought to my room and they were sure I had everything I needed.  The wife invited me to stay an extra night to go to a local sports tournament with them.  And now two months later, they are praying for me, this white girl that they’ve met only once.  I don’t really pray for people.  I don’t pray for myself.  But this Muslim family, they’re praying that I get better.

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