As I contemplate the future and the plan to move east, God has begun to stir passion in my heart for the people, the sights, the sounds, and the tastes of a region I will likely be calling home within the next year.
I’ve always enjoyed Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food, and I’ve tried my hand at preparing some delicacies myself: I’ve made some pretty decent baklava, soft pitas, and spicy falafel. Mm, falafel. This afternoon at my desk, I thought, “I should make falafel tonight. Then again, I don’t have any of the ingredients. Maybe not,” but my craving continued.
As I walked home, I decided I would settle for a pandebono (a Colombian bread made with yucca flour), so I walked home on the opposite (from normal) side of the street – the side of the bakery. I was just a half a block from the bakery when I noticed a new little “comidas rapidas” (fast foods) place. I looked up and saw the sign: Jerusalem Falafel.
I did a double take. Falafel, right here on my way home from work? How had I missed this before? I walked in to the empty shop and started talking with the owner. I found out I hadn’t really missed anything: today was only their second day of business. He started preparing my falafel meal to go and we chatted.
Michael is from Israel. He came to Cali three months ago on vacation, met his girlfriend, and decided to stay. So, if he was going to stay, he had to do something, right? Why not open a falafel shop?
As soon as he found out I was American, we switched to English – he seemed relieved to speak English, though his first language is Hebrew. I asked him if he considered himself an adherent to a particular belief, and he said no, he just wasn’t able to make up his mind, so he “never chose one.”
“So, you’re here to promote your religion, and I’m here to promote falafel,” he said to me with a smile.
Please join me in prayer for Michael and his girlfriend. Pray for soft hearts and for understanding. Pray that I will know when and what to share with them these next few weeks… because I like falafel. And pitas. And fresh grape juice. And Indian caramel banana dessert…