Sisters

Amina has never held a pencil before starting this class. She struggled to keep up with the other women as they practiced writing.  Now, as she embroiders the label of her quilt, her hemp stained fingers make the needle fly through the fabric in perfect stitches.  She is finished so quickly Muzghan asks Amina to help.  Muzghan hates sewing by hand, last week she finished her quilting project early and started repairing some pants she brought from home.

With heads bent together the ladies gossip and laugh.  A tinkling giggle rings out over the murmurs of the sewing group.  It is Bibi Madina. As Mursal tries to teach me the Dari word for happy she points to Bibi Madina and says "khush hal" the other ladies nod in agreement.

While Muzhgan waits for her label, she scrolls through Facebook.  She brings the phone to us and asks in confusion, "Is this good?" It is a collage of pictures.  Ground beef, canned tuna, unidentifiable meat, and severed human feet with the caption "Good Muslim".  My gut twists as I shake my head no.  Julie tries to explain that it was made by someone who hates and that hate is born of fear, we do not hate our hohar-sisters, and if these fearful people could know Muzghan they would not create such things.

I feel fiercely protective of these women.  I want to shelter them from ignorant prejudice and shout to the world that we are all family, that most of us really do believe and want the same things. Muzghan and I both worship the God of Abraham and we both kiss our sleeping children.  We both like to group together and giggle. We all feel pride at Shazia's beautifully completed project and we all croon over the pictures of Monica's baby girl. These women are brave and kind.  The quilts they complete will be donated to other refugees and at the end of the class session they will have learned a valuable skill, created friendships, and in some cases, learned to read and write in English. It is a huge undertaking and I am so proud of my Afghani hohar.