My First Muslim Luncheon

I completely forgot to mention to Suzette today how my mom and I went to a Muslim luncheon. It was commemorating this certain sect's (umm starts with an A but would have no idea how to say/spell it) 100th birthday. It was really neat to walk in (it was at the Goldy Lewis Community Center in Rancho because their mosque is under construction) and see all these beautiful Muslim women in their dress. The men and women were separated--I liked that, felt less intimidated. Mom and I still stuck out like sore thumbs. Especially me with my lighter hair. But the women were SO sweet. I have never met people so welcoming. And that is definitely saying somethings seeing as I just spent my first year at BYU! As soon as we walked in (late, that is), some women gave up their seats for us! And they got my mom and me water.
I didn't really understand anything the speaker was saying. It was the husband of the woman who invited us (the lady that threads my eyebrows). He was very smart and articulate. It was hard for me to fully understand because of all the vocab. I can now empathize with new members and all the mormon lingo! We were watching the speaker on the projection screen because it was being broadcast from the next room over since the men and women were separated.
One part of the program, there was reading from the Qur'an and it was really neat because it was singing/reading at the same time! It was really beautiful actually. All the women made sure their head shawl thing was covering their head when the Qur'an was being read. It was neat to see how respectful they were. It was concluded with a silent prayer--also neat to see.
After, women were constantly introducing themselves with hugs and making my mom and me feel so welcome. They were so sweet and charitable. We, as LDS, I feel have so much to learn from them. I was thinking how many times less active or nonmembers come and no one goes out of their way to even welcome them. Grant it, my mom and I definitely made it easy for them to spot as new, but I just felt like I should be trying harder.
The women made sure we were at the front of the line for food. I thought it was going to be some intense Pakastani food, but it was pretty normal. The chicken was a little spicy for my mom and me, though.
When I was eating, one of the women that introduced herself came and sat next to me and starting talking to me. It was really neat, but I started feeling uncomfortable as our conversation started to die, I definitely was ready to go home! But the lady was SO sweet! Her name is Bushrahm, I think. She invited my mom and I over to her house for some Pakastani food!
Anyway, I've decided that if I wasn't Mormon, I'd be Muslim.