Getting a language student for 4 weeks from Saudi

[Michael Wilson]

That said, you should not even think about compromising your prayer just because of his presence. This probably does not need saying, but I'll say it anyway. Don't be shy of praying in front of him, things like thanking the Lord for food before and after meals, etc... Do everything, including prayer, just as you normally would. Don't expect him to participate in it and certainly don't reprimand him if he doesn't. If he wants to say his prayers, don't interfere with it (of course, don't participate in it, either). In short, don't compromise anything of yours, but also let him have his own ways, don't push anything on him, leave him be as long as he is not explicitly contradicting or insulting you.

I think this is a great idea; go ahead with the same prayer life that you always carry on as the Muslims respect people who are up front about their faith.

[KreKre]

I think this is a great idea; go ahead with the same prayer life that you always carry on as the Muslims respect people who are up front about their faith.

That is indeed something worthy of respect, and if the boy has integrity, he will respect it. Of course, the approval of a Muslim should not be the primary motivation to continue praying - we owe our prayer to God.

[Kaesekopf]

Really !! I can stand in recipients shoes and have some sympathy with the pork rule as pork isn't going to have any influence on his soul but Holy water blessed by the hands of good priests, that removes venial sin and also can scare away devils....how can I not pass on some to him, its not for spite or a joke but hopefully to open up a door to being curious about us Catholic devils as he may have been taught.

Either way, pray he gets something from his visit for his soul.

With regards to the water - if he consents to it, that's fine and don't see an issue of it.  I guess in my reading of it, it sounded more (for lack of a better phrase) "non-consensual". 

[diaduit]

Really !! I can stand in recipients shoes and have some sympathy with the pork rule as pork isn't going to have any influence on his soul but Holy water blessed by the hands of good priests, that removes venial sin and also can scare away devils....how can I not pass on some to him, its not for spite or a joke but hopefully to open up a door to being curious about us Catholic devils as he may have been taught.

Either way, pray he gets something from his visit for his soul.

Well you would have guessed right and it would be unknown to him but my thinking was if the holy water can keep minimal interference from devils and distractions and maybe get something from our house. 

With regards to the water - if he consents to it, that's fine and don't see an issue of it.  I guess in my reading of it, it sounded more (for lack of a better phrase) "non-consensual". 

[diaduit]

Well I have been blessed with a wonderful student and I'm grateful to God for the chance to see that some Muslims are normal and friendly.  He is such a nice guy, very respectful of me, doesn't want to overload me with laundry work, kids love him and we enjoy him so much.
Another host mum of a Saudi student has trouble getting her lad out on time as he so late all the time and she jokes with him if he keeps it up she will put him working with the pigs....he laughs, gets the humour and doesn't get offended.

I have a lovely photo of my boy dressed in his traditional white dress and headgear as he is going on a trip to the embassy later today, behind him on my wall is the Sacred heart looking down on him.

We barely got the chance to talk about our faiths so he is going home in two weeks and I will edge towards it someday just to see what he has to say.

Please pray for Tameem, he is so good and I hope he makes Heaven.

[clau clau]

"Nay, my Father," answered Emeth. "Thou hast said that their Aslan and our Tash are all one. And if that is the truth, then Tash himself is in yonder. And how then sayest thou that I have nothing to do with him? For gladly would I die a thousand deaths if I might look once on the face of Tash." "Thou art a fool and understandest nothing," said Rishda Tarkaan. "These be high matters." Emeth's face grew sterner. "Is it then not true that Tash and Aslan are all one?" he asked. "Has the Ape lied to us?" "Of course they're all one," said the Ape. "Swear it, Ape," said Emeth. "Oh dear!" whimpered Shift, "I wish you'd all stop bothering me. My head does ache. Yes, yes, I swear it." "Then, my Father," said Emeth, "I am utterly determined to go in."

"Emeth came walking forward into the open strip of grass between the bonfire and the stable. His eyes were shining, his face very solemn, his hand was on his sword-hilt, and he carried his head high. Jill felt like crying when she looked at his face. And Jewel whispered in the King's ear, 'By the Lion's Mane, I almost love this young warrior, Calormene though he be. He is worthy of a better god than Tash.'"

https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/books/the-salvation-of-emeth.html

[Nicholas]

Mary, so glad to hear that it has worked out so well.

It seems to me that the faithful have more in common with each other than with any of the non-believers. The faithful includes those who practice their faith, be it Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. For the basic fact that they orient their lives to God. Beyond that, it is the word of God and His immutable law that guides our lives, as opposed to base human desires. (Yes, I understand there are significant differences between the three faiths and what they consider to be God's law and how to live it.)

I would posit that the experience would have been significantly different/worse if the student were 'woke'. Your beliefs and any conversation about them would have been anathema to them and any attempt to broach the subject would have been met with scorn.

[Kaesekopf]

Well I have been blessed with a wonderful student and I'm grateful to God for the chance to see that some Muslims are normal and friendly.  He is such a nice guy, very respectful of me, doesn't want to overload me with laundry work, kids love him and we enjoy him so much.
Another host mum of a Saudi student has trouble getting her lad out on time as he so late all the time and she jokes with him if he keeps it up she will put him working with the pigs....he laughs, gets the humour and doesn't get offended.

I have a lovely photo of my boy dressed in his traditional white dress and headgear as he is going on a trip to the embassy later today, behind him on my wall is the Sacred heart looking down on him.

We barely got the chance to talk about our faiths so he is going home in two weeks and I will edge towards it someday just to see what he has to say.

Please pray for Tameem, he is so good and I hope he makes Heaven.

How'd the trip thing go? 

[diaduit]

We absolutely adored him, he was so good and really genuinely took to our family.  No issues with any sort of dismissiveness towards me or my daughter.  Couldn't believe how well he loved our home.  He didn't really get into the nitty gritty of faiths and I actually couldn't manage holy water on him but he slept on a green scapular without knowing and saw our altar, Sacred Heart, rosary beads hanging on different spots, in my car etc and never made any negative comment.

His father and mother have sent voice messages when he got home, thanking us so much for looking after him . I really think God looked after us when we got him. 

[Kaesekopf]

We absolutely adored him, he was so good and really genuinely took to our family.  No issues with any sort of dismissiveness towards me or my daughter.  Couldn't believe how well he loved our home.  He didn't really get into the nitty gritty of faiths and I actually couldn't manage holy water on him but he slept on a green scapular without knowing and saw our altar, Sacred Heart, rosary beads hanging on different spots, in my car etc and never made any negative comment.

His father and mother have sent voice messages when he got home, thanking us so much for looking after him . I really think God looked after us when we got him. 

That sounds awesome!  Glad it went so well.