Akmal is in New York
In Montana, Brooklynne and I got to be friends with Furuh (left) and Akmal (right), two Tajiki students who were visiting the US as part of a student workers program. They became friends as we helped them with various aspects of living in the US (obtaining driver's licences, social security numbers, etc.) and they taught us about life in the former USSR. Both of these guys come from families who are highly regarded in their country (Furuh's father was the Minister of Culture, and Akmal's grandfather was the Prime Minister), but both of them were entertaining ideas of remaining abroad due to the burden of likely arranged marriages and poor prospects for good work in the very poor Tajikistan economy. Well, that was a year ago in Montana, and I got a call yesterday from Akmal, who is now working "super construction" and living in an apartment by himself in New York. Crazy! It's a small world afterall.
What's up with Furuh? Did Akmal say?
Miles,
where does akmal work in NYC? I also have a part time job at a "super construction" company now. that'd be crazy if we worked at the same place. "super" crazy.
Furuh graduated from St. Petersberg State University in St. Petersberg, Russia, and then moved back to Tajikistan where, last I heard, he was studying English because if he passed an english language exam he could get into a European grad school (in germany?). Akmal said Furuh was becoming "a good politician," which I took to mean that he was working for his dad maybe? I'm not sure what part of New York Akmal is in, but I do know it is not Manhattan.
Miles, you and Brooklynne are so cool. Did you know that back in 2002 & 2003 - when you were befriending Furuh and Akmal - the college group at my church in Oklahoma prayed for the Tajik people as an "adopted group". We prayed that they would hear the gospel and that He would draw specific Tajiks into his kingdom. I had never even heard of them before, but come to find out 3 years later (by reading your blog) that God answered our prayers immediately by putting them in touch with you two! Coincidence? I think not! Thanks for your devotion to loving those who need it!