Abdi loved everything American, even the food. A deeply conservative first-born son in an Islamic family, he was determined to try everything that was off limits in his country now that he was a college student in the America. Like most college students Abdi was "attracted to the forbidden." He had a forbidden checklist in his mind that he was "ticking off' systematically. Within his first two years in the States he had accomplished his "wish list." He had 1) eaten pork, 2) had sex, 3) drunk alcohol, and 4) become a Christian.
While his first three forbidden fruit activities were transient in nature, he found that his "Christian" experience grew into something much deeper. In the experimental stage he admits that he was willing to be treated like a trophy publicly in the church. He prayed a "repeat after me" prayer of salvation, joined the church as instructed, and received baptism in a public setting. Yet this forbidden act caught his heart and would not let him go. He found the Bible a rich source of truth. He began to dream about what he was reading. One night he heard the voice of Jesus speak to him, calling him to a real commitment of faith. He began to question his spiritual foolishness and the manner in which he had dabbled in the Christian religion. He was now ready for a real relationship with Jesus.
But it was too late. At least it was too late for real faith to be expressed in his borrowed country. His family had kept close tabs on their prodigal son through like-faith family members in the United States. There was little concern as they allowed their son his brief flings as he experienced the forbidden. Experimenting for a small period of time with drugs, alcohol, sex, and bacon were allowable, but now he was becoming serious about his infatuation with the forbidden Christian religion. It was no longer an attraction to the forbidden for him, but it was becoming a life-altering change.
Abdi disappeared from church and school. His uncle, older brother on his father's side of the family, was waiting for him one day as he came from class. Given less than an hour to pack, Abdi was escorted to the airport and he flew home with his uncle. Having shamed his family, Abdi now lives with this fundamentalist uncle and he is closely watched even though his environment is devoid of non-Muslims. If he is found ever practicing the Christian faith again, he will be beaten, removed from his home, and disinherited.
His church family in America is aghast that such a "kidnapping" could occur in the United States and that nothing can be done about it. His fellow believers hope that Abdi is mature enough in his relationship with Jesus to survive being isolated and watched within his hostile, family environment.
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