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A Suitcase Full of Questions

Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2024
By
Andrew

This article was submitted by a Goer as part of the 2024 Writing Contest.  It won the Celebrating God at Work in My Community Category.  To see the winners of other categories and all the entries click here.

Uncle Ahmed* is an older Syrian-Kurdish gentleman with whom we have been walking for the last few years. As the only believer in his family, being in his late 70s, and having some intense heart medication that causes him to sleep the majority of the day, his faith truly grows in seclusion. Yet, he has one of the most beautiful faiths I have ever witnessed. 

The first time I saw it, I was confused. What caliber of firearm could possibly be concealed in such a heavy suitcase? Uncle Ahmed, this is our first time meeting… you don’t gotta show me how you stay strapped my guy. I held my breath as it opened. I was left speechless. No enormous, unmerited, gilded gift could have compared to what was contained within the wrinkled leather: the wealth of a man who spent day and night reflecting upon God’s word. Left with very little else, Uncle Ahmed was wealthier than many of us. The suitcase was brimming with notebooks and papers containing his questions from Scripture and large portions of the Bible he translated from Arabic to Kurdish Kurmanji.

I could not contain my joy upon seeing it. What is so unique specifically about this Bible translation is that Uncle Ahmed is not using the Hawar/Bedirxan alphabet (the written form of Kurdish-Kurmanji created by a Turkish diplomat that resembles Turkish and Latin scripts), but the Kurdo-Arabic alphabet which is more typical to the Iranian/Iraqi Kurds who speak a dialect far removed from Kurmanji called Sorani. Stay with me; I promise this discussion of etymology is important. There exists only one completed Kurmanji translation of the Bible and it is written in Hawar/Bedirxan script. The issue is that most Syrian Kurds are illiterate when using the Hawar/Bedirxan alphabet rendering the Kurmanji translation, for the most part, ineffective. However, though illiterate in this script, the majority of Syrian Kurds are literate in Arabic, meaning Uncle Ahmed unknowingly created perhaps the first legitimate Bible that can be read in the heart language of the Syrian Kurdish people.

Uncle Ahmed unknowingly created perhaps the first legitimate Bible that can be read in the heart language of the Syrian Kurdish people.

My close friend and translator, *Royar, leaned in and began to read from Uncle Ahmed’s transcription. His words came out fumbled as though he burned his tongue on the black tea we were served. After all, it was Royar’s first time reading in his heart language, so it understandably took some time for him to speed up. I asked Royar, “Does it make sense?” To which he replied, “It’s strange that I am understanding it.” I looked at Uncle Ahmed. The weather-beaten lines of his face creased as he smiled back at me. Uncle Ahmed, the educated man that he is, then wrote a Bible verse for me in the Hawar script. I myself am learning Kurmanji, so it was my turn to embarrass myself. Even though my atrocious Kurmanji reading skills could not even fathom what verses he had written down, it seemed no longer that I was reading off the paper but from what was inscribed on his heart. It makes me teary just thinking about it. How beautiful Uncle Ahmed’s walk with the Lord is: seeking and searching, enamored with every word of the great love letter, excited to talk about what he does understand of Scripture and discuss what he does not. Day after day workers around the world till dry soil, yet after years of sowing some never experience a harvest of any kind. God must have decided to bless me that day because a strong tree was flourishing in a barren land before me.

Amid grave circumstances, Uncle Ahmed has shown me that a relentless and unquenching thirst to know and abide in God is possible.

I now try to read with Uncle Ahmed weekly. I can confidently say that his joy and hospitality are as deep as his pursuit of Christ. Usually, each visit involves answering questions from all over the Bible which he vocally appreciates, but he does not know how much I appreciate him. Amid grave circumstances, Uncle Ahmed has shown me that a relentless and unquenching thirst to know and abide in God is possible. His relationship with God is beyond convicting; it is desirable. Pray with me that this Bible does not simply remain in a suitcase forever. Pray with me that many more Syrian Kurds would fall in love with God the same way that Uncle Ahmed has. Truly there is none more worthy of giving our every effort and the fullness of our rest.

*names changed for security

Andrew

Andrew* graduated from a small private school on the West Coast with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. He knew he wanted to serve cross-culturally as early as 7 years old. Andrew serves in a major gateway city in the Middle East on the Compassion - Justice track. His role is focused on meeting the practical and spiritual needs of refugees all over the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.
*personal details changed to protect identities

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