Me with my new Persian friend
My dear friend since 5th grade 
The Shabbat candles and challot
The second meal (Shabbat morning)
Chabad House in Dallas
Standing by the menorah in front of the shulI spent Shabbat two weeks ago in Dallas. I had gone down for a Noahide conference earlier in the week. After the conference I stayed with a Christian friend that I have known since we were in the 5th grade.
She had attended the conference with me and wanted to have Shabbat dinner and attend prayer service at a synagogue. She had never participated in either of these things.
I cooked dinner Friday night for the two of us. Then Hashem sent a surprise guest to the apartment.
One of my friend's co-workers had no power in her apartment due to storms in the area knocking out power to many homes and businesses on Wednesday night. She phoned and asked if she could come over to do her hair and makeup in the bathroom since she could not see in her own apartment.
So, as I was finishing dinner, setting out the candles and flowers she arrived. We began talking and I learned that she is Muslim and is from Iran. Her parents sent her and her siblings to universities in the US and Canada. They do not want their children living in Iran.
She said that her family is not religious, but that her grandmother does say the prayers. We discussed religious conversion, being a Noahide, and Pam mentioned some things about Christianity. It was quite an interesting conversation to say the least.
She said that if someone converts to a religion other than Islam in Iran that they would be killed. She said she likes the freedom that people in America have to choose any or no religion and that no one will try to stop them. Or kill them.
I asked her if she wanted to join us for Shabbat dinner and she said that she would like that. So, I had the blessing of lighting Shabbat candles in the home of a Christian friend with a Muslim guest. I had the opportunity to explain (very basic language) why candles are lit, why Shabbat is important to all mankind, and why it is a special time for my family.
I never would have thought about spending Shabbat in such a way! I am thankful for every opportunity Hashem offers me to learn something else about His ways and about myself. I have to admit that I have stinking thinking when it comes to Muslims and some other groups of people. (Don't get me wrong. I have no fondness or kind words for terrorists, murderers, and the likes of that kind of Muslims.)
When I looked at and listened to this young, beautiful, Persian, girl I saw that she is no different from my own daughters and nieces. She has dreams and hopes for her future. She loves her parents. She wants to live in peace with people. And she was interested in what I had to say to her.
We agreed to stay in touch via emails, and I now consider her to be a friend.
I thought that sharing Shabbat with a Christian and a Muslim might be just about as far out there as things would ever get. But then, last Shabbat I had a Budhist sitting at my table with my family.
G-d does still have a few tricks up his sleeve I think.
