No question about it, it's an imposing building, but more important is the service it delivers to the local people. Here it stands - next to the Amman Alliance Church with only a driveway between the two buildings - and there on it's peak, rising above the treetops in brilliant colors, is our church logo, a symbol of Christ's love and care as lived out in the building beneath it. We hope it will always say 'welcome' to our Jordanian friends.
Do as Grandpa and I did, come take a tour of the Amman Community Center and learn what goes on within its walls.
There are many things to do at the center, but let's talk first about the one thing that might not be much fun. Below is a picture that hangs in the waiting room of the free medical clinic. Many who enter here are Iraqi refugees. Some are from other countries or are simply poor Jordanian citizens. We hope that this depiction of Christ by the bedside of the sick will help them understand that we trust Him as the ultimate healer and we can count on Him to be with us when we are in need.
There are examination rooms,
a pharmacy and areas for lab work,
- all efficiently managed by a Jordanian, licensed doctor who is also a Christian and volunteers her time and medical skills. Below is a picture of her office.
Now for the fun part: Being sick is not fun, nor is getting inoculations to prevent sickness,but the center has many other entertaining and educational activities. Here is a book collection - not quite a library as the books cannot be checked out - but the Jordanians are free to come in and read when they like.
There are kitchens,
lounges and meeting rooms,
game rooms,
even a toy room for the younger crowd.
Computers and classes in English as a Second Language are offered, though Ed said probably there will be less help with computers as the people don't request it.
Here you see Grandpa walking past one storage area for the modern media room. Its doors were locked, so we had to forgo the pleasure of viewing the actual room, but we understand it contains thousands of dollars worth of new electronic equipment and is much used and much appreciated.
Probably one of the most used areas of the center is the Coffee Shop. Jordanians love their coffee and love to linger over a cup and converse. This is not a good picture because of the lighting and the scope of the room. There is a fireplace lounge and plenty of space to relax and make friends - and have coffee.
You saw in the beginning of this post, just how tall the building is and here is the view from the top. There is an elevator and, if memory serves me correctly, I think the building is four stories high. We lost count climbing up, but took the elevator down.
Here's Tate to show you how the elevator works. It's small and slow, but steady and sure beats climbing all those stairs.
I hope you can see how the center can and does serve the native people. It has become busy as a bee hive and brings Islams and Christians together and I do have to express more than a little pride, when I realize that our church, with churches throughout America, paid for this and it is daily used to take the love of Christ to Jordan. God has truly blessed the ministry of those who have participated in the Amman Community Center.
I'd feel remiss, if I didn't relate a little about the Alliance Church in Amman. Actually there are two in the city that are CMA (like Grandpa's and mine). The congregation at this one has been together since the 1950s. It belongs to and is managed by the native Jordanians themselves. Though they are separate from the center, center and church cooperate and share in the work and socialization.
Grandpa and I are home at this posting. When I have time, I want to write you about our time in Aqaba, Jordan and also send a post about Cousin Eric and an environmental award he received. You can see, I'm a little behind in my posting, but I love writing to you this way and I know I'll get the news out in due time.
Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me
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