A visit to the Muslim community in El Paso

Trip Start Nov 25, 2006

103

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

Vista Sol Apartments

Flag of United States El Paso, Texas
Sunday, April 29, 2007

The mosque of the Islamic Community of El Paso is only a 5 minute walk from my Vista Sol apartment, but the cultural divide kept me away. Since the Wheels Tour was bringing a Palestinian American, I did venture over to the Middle Eastern restaurant and grocery store just across the street and shared a flier with the owner. So, when the first thing the Wheels bus did was stop for a bite to eat at that Jerusalem Grill, the owner welcomed them with open arms and got them set up to speak at the mosque.

Thus it was that I donned a headscarf (not required of us non-Muslim women visitors, but a respectful thing to do) and headed over to "meet my neighbors." Hospitality ruled...we felt most welcome and forged a nice initial alliance between Border Peace Presence and the Islamic community. I reflected on how this experience was likely the last one I ever anticipated as I imagined what life in El Paso might entail. If our Border Exploration is a mosaic of many pieces, Sunday evening at the mosque will be a particularly treasured tile in that mosaic.

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