Letter From Afghanistan #12

One week has come to a close and another one has begun in rather normal fashion.  The one good thing about this last week coming to a close is that it also brought the end of the month of August.  Lucky for us the month has been rather quiet.  It doesn’t make the time go all that much quicker but it does make it so that we make it through another month.

One of the guys here did have some excitement this morning.  He and his wife have been expecting their first child and this morning the baby was born.  The good news was that he had already left FOB Lagman to go on his Rest & Recuperation (R&R) time.  The bad news is that he was actually still in Kuwait and didn’t make it back stateside before his child was born.  Luckily, through some quick phone calls, he was able to be on the phone with his wife during the exciting occasion.  The Army actually will allow him to stay on R&R for short time longer than the regular two weeks so that he can spend a little time with his wife and new baby and so that he can help out.

The month of August also brought the Muslim celebration of Ramadan.  I thought that today I would take a little time and explain about the celebration of Ramadan as it isn’t a highly understood celebration amongst non-Muslims.  Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which uses the cycles of the moon rather than the solar cycles that are more commonly used to dictate our days and years.  Ramadan is a very strict time for Muslims as they fast throughout the month long celebration.  According to the rules that they follow, fasting includes refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured.  Now the rules state that they are to refrain from eating or drinking, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t do these things for an entire month.  Instead the regulations state that they are to observe fasting from sunrise until sunset and before or after they are allowed to eat and drink.  The purpose of fasting is for these people to learn patience, spirituality, and modesty.  This is also viewed as an ideal time to offer additional prayers to Allah (God) for any pass miss doings.

So why do the Muslims celebrate this month long feast during the ninth month of the Islamic year?  It is believed in this Islamic religion that the month of Ramadan is when the Quran (Muslim Holy text) was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.  It is the Quran that calls all Muslim people to fast during Ramadan so that their souls may be cleansed and they may become closer to Allah.  The guidelines that rule fasting are very strict on what can and cannot be done.  It is stated that participation is not optional for adults that are healthy.  It is important to point out that those that are ill or of an age where fasting would be detrimental to one’s health are not required to observe the daily fast.  Pregnant women or women who are nursing are also not required to observe the fast.  Those that are traveling a long distance (one source states a distance greater than 14 miles) are also allowed to refrain from fasting during their time of travel.  With all of these groups, even though they are allowed to eat and drink throughout the day doesn’t mean that they are let off the hook completely.  According to some of the different sects within the Muslim religion, some of the people who are released from fasting are required to make-up for their inability to fast by works of charity towards the poor and less fortunate than themselves.  This could entail feeding the poor, which some go so far as to invite those less fortunate into their own homes and providing food to them after the evening prayer is completed and the sun has set.

Ramadan is similar to our celebration of Christmas in some ways.  During this time gifts are given to the children in the families.  Ramadan is also a time for people to concentrate on helping the poor within their communities.  We spend a good amount of time preparing for Christmas day and when that day finally arrives it is met with much celebration and merriment.  Ramadan is similar in the fact that on the last day of the month of Ramadan families will get together to celebrate their journey to coming closer to Allah.  Our celebration is marked by a specific day on the calendar, whereas the end of Ramadan is noted as the first day after the sighting of a new moon.  During the celebration everyone is expected to dress in there very finest close as they visit family and friends.  They also go to their Mosque to pray and donate food to the poor.  By the end of Ramadan Muslims are also expected to have read the entire Quran.  Many people break this up into thirty parts and read a little bit each day.

Well on that note I suppose that I shall sign off for another week.  I hope that this information brings you all a slightly greater understanding of the Muslim religion.  Often times I think that a lot of the war in the world is due to misunderstanding and through learning about our neighbors we can work to eliminate hate.

Before I depart I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to write to show their support and caring.  I would also like to thank everyone who has sent care packages.  In the last few days I received a package from my parents with a bunch of lotion that was given to my mom from the people that she works with at the hospital and also a package from my fiancé.  We often overlook the fact that they send us things we need when it comes time to say our thank yous.  So this week I would like to make sure that I say a very special thank you to my parents and my fiancé, Megan.  Without the support of our loved ones our lives would be much more difficult and we need to make sure that we recognize your love and support for us.

I would love to hear from you.  If you would like to contact me you can email me at john.iraq@hotmail.com.  I love to hear news from back home.  I also would love to try and answer any questions that you may have.  If you would prefer to send a letter, card, or care package they can be sent to me at the following address:

SSgt John B. Ferderer

Task Force Pegasus

HHC 2-82 (SWO) Task Force Corsair

APO AE 09355

If you are sending a care package please know that everything that is sent is shared with everyone here on the FOB and that everything is greatly appreciated.  Due to the heat I must ask that you please refrain from sending chocolate or anything else that will melt.  With the temperature still reaching over 100°F each day chocolate becomes soupy very quickly.

Have a great week and have a great Air Force Day!