A Lamb to the Slaughter

I wish I had a camera ready the day we drove through a village to witness three freshly slaughtered lambs hanging outside, in front of a shop. They were tied up by their back legs, heads still in tact but bodies skinned. This was a shock to me, and my family (especially Lilian who is 6). We have never seen anything like it. Our meat in the UK comes prepackaged in the aisles of the supermarket, so we never have to think about where it came from. We don't have to wonder at the life it was or the life it cost for us to have the nutrients we need.

Even though I spend much of my childhood holidays in my Grandparents beautiful cottage and small holding, eating the produce of their plants, the milk from their goats, and the animals they raised; it still came as a shock to see these animals hanging there. But that wasn't the worst part for me. The part that really got me was the fourth lamb. Laying solemnly, no more than a metre away from the others, tied to a post, was another lamb. A live lamb who surely knew his fate.

There is a man who was described as a lamb to the slaughter, and I can now begin to comprehend. A lamb doesn't put up a fight, doesn't run from death, but goes humbly, knowing it's own fate.

One Year On

When we first came here to Jordan, when we began this adventure just one year ago, we started this blog to keep friends and family up to date with some of what we are up to. More of our everyday snippets have gone into Facebook, and some more key events on here. Although the busyness of our lives leaves a lot out, and in aim of keeping things more up beat we can hold back many of the harder times in our journey.

As I said, we began this blog to keep family and friends in touch across the distance. As time went on we noticed viewings or "hits" from other parts of the world, and would say to one another, "That must be so 'n so in Germany," or, "our friends in America, but which ones?" And then the scope widened, "But we don't know anyone in Romania/ Bangladesh/ Fiji/ Serbia/ Austria/ Russia/ Israel/ Saudi Arabia/ United Arab Emirates/ Malaysia..." Then, my last few blogs I noticed have been read by more people I hadn't realised I was writing to. To new found friends here in Jordan. To people who have welcomed us in, in a way we never expected.

The children in a tree with friends.

However, now with a broader audience I wonder what to write. The new discoveries of life for us here are merely the normal and everyday for people who live here. What if I say something and they don't understand what I mean? What if I offend? Will they think I think their ways to be wrong, or strange? For me it is all so different to what I am used to. There is good and bad in all countries and cultures, and when you step from the outside to in, you notice them, treasure them, pull your hair out at them, and sometimes are aghast!

Our adventures are full of all these things, but most of all are full of life! The opportunity to stop and reflect on these things is quite remarkable, and we are grateful to all who are willing to join us on our journey. To those who support us, and pray for us from afar. For those who take interest, despite having never met us. And to those who are with us in the everyday, we are so glad to have you in our lives.

Author: A.E.