Yes, Christmas is over, but celebrating in my new home was quite different, as you would expect, and thought you might find this experience of interest.

You might find it surprising that there are some Christians here in Pakistan. They are most definitely a minority (2% of population), but they are here. Most of them are "born" Christian, or born into Christian families.

On sundays I have been attending a church here that is part of the Anglican church (so quite different from what i am used to, but still the Body). I invited a friend from my neighborhood to come with me to the Christmas day service and she accepted. I've been told by other foreign friends that this is quite unusual for this lady since she's not accustomed to leaving her neighborhood or trying new things of this nature.

In my neighborhood, it is customary to wear the burka (big black coat and head scarf), so when traveling to church it was no different. Both my friend and i were in our burkas. Because of neighborhood gossip, she asked that the rickshaw drop us off a block away from church so that he wouldn't know where we were going (for fear news would get back to the rest of the family).

When we arrived at church, the man handing out the order of service asked "can i help you?". I told him we were here to attend the service. He was stunned and speechless for a min, then asked why we had come in burka. I told him plainly we were from Lyari (my neighborhood), and he reluctantly gave us a program.

It felt very strange. Although as a foreigner i am stared at quite a lot, this time I was not being stared at because I was a foreigner, but because i was assumed to be Muslim. When the time for communion came, I abstained because I felt like it might cause trouble.

After the service people were friendly to me and my friend, but the experience was altogether enlightening. Makes me want to pray for more unity here...as in my view the Church should be a place that ANYONE can come. I think it also might show how isolated the church has become, and from what i've heard fearful (this is not without good cause).

Yes, Christmas is over, but celebrating in my new home was quite different, as you would expect, and thought you might find this experience of interest.

You might find it surprising that there are some Christians here in Pakistan. They are most definitely a minority (2% of population), but they are here. Most of them are "born" Christian, or born into Christian families.

On sundays I have been attending a church here that is part of the Anglican church (so quite different from what i am used to, but still the Body). I invited a friend from my neighborhood to come with me to the Christmas day service and she accepted. I've been told by other foreign friends that this is quite unusual for this lady since she's not accustomed to leaving her neighborhood or trying new things of this nature.

In my neighborhood, it is customary to wear the burka (big black coat and head scarf), so when traveling to church it was no different. Both my friend and i were in our burkas. Because of neighborhood gossip, she asked that the rickshaw drop us off a block away from church so that he wouldn't know where we were going (for fear news would get back to the rest of the family).

When we arrived at church, the man handing out the order of service asked "can i help you?". I told him we were here to attend the service. He was stunned and speechless for a min, then asked why we had come in burka. I told him plainly we were from Lyari (my neighborhood), and he reluctantly gave us a program.

It felt very strange. Although as a foreigner i am stared at quite a lot, this time I was not being stared at because I was a foreigner, but because i was assumed to be Muslim. When the time for communion came, I abstained because I felt like it might cause trouble.

After the service people were friendly to me and my friend, but the experience was altogether enlightening. Makes me want to pray for more unity here...as in my view the Church should be a place that ANYONE can come. I think it also might show how isolated the church has become, and from what i've heard fearful (this is not without good cause).

I wonder how this story might be different in the American church. What kind of people would we be hesitant to accept into our fellowship?