The Cross

It was on my first day back in the land that I went to the souvenir shop of my Armenian friend in Jerusalem and bought the small wooden cross I always carry with me. It's not a good luck charm or anything like that. I just like to have it with me.

It's my last full day here as  I leave tomorrow.. Since I bought the cross, I was once sitting in front of the mosque waiting for dad to come out. A guy came buy with a bag. I didn't recognize him and he started laying out his wares for sale. One thing he had was these silver necklaces. I bought one for I think 15 shekels

Cross necklaces are of particular interest in my testimony. It was a few feet from the place where I bought the necklace that in 1972, I went for a haircut in a barber shop that is still a hair salon for men. Dad took me to the tiny shop where there were several men awaiting their turn in Sadeq's seat. As I was getting my hair cut, Sadeq noticed a necklace I was wearing. I had made it out of a toe nail clipper clasp that had a royal blue background and a majestic red and gold crown. He looked at it and said something in ARabic. I still didn't undrestand Arabic so I didn't know what it was he said. I asked my dad. He wouldn't tell me but eventually he relented and said, "There is a cross on it."

I took it off and threw it away. I knew that there was a difference between Islam and Chrisitanity and as a Muslim I could not wear a cross on my chest.

Today, after praying at Ak. house I wore the cross necklace around my neck and went back to that barber shop -- it was open with young men inside and retraced those steps that I took with Dad so long ago wearing the cross as an act of repentance. When I went to Akel's store, it seemed almost as if they could see the cross through my shirt.

Then I walked home and as soon as I sat Rami Tarazi called to say he was in Deir Debwan to take  someone to Ramoon. 

I went out and met him and gave him $100 and showed him the cross I was wearing. I was thinking of calling him before I leave tomorrow to give the $100. The way this all happened made me think God accepted my repentance. 

I will never again deny the cross so help me Father in the Name of Jesus