Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If you speak, you should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If you serve, you should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:9-11

Ramadan is about much more than religious tradition and piety. The traditional value on family togetherness is celebrated with an evening meal each day--it is unthinkable to miss this time together. Most families watch TV while eating their fast-breaking meal at about 7:00PM. During the rest of the year, television programs watched are largely produced elsewhere (Egypt, Syria, translated from Spanish or English), but for the month of Ramadan, many Tunisian programs are produced for this very time. Some are funny, some are dramatic, some are whimsical... but they share the common element of reflecting local culture. There is one that is a simple template of a camera man and celebrity arriving at an unsuspecting home in time to share the meal that breaks the fast. They are welcomed in as honored guests (they may also be refused) and they sit together, chatting as if they were old friends.

This pan-Arabic value on hospitality--the honor of entertaining a guest in your home, is a highlight of Ramadan. For local believers the month may be mostly a tense trial, but for foreigners as guests in the nation, it is a tremendous opportunity to share a meal with friends and partake of the tradition of hospitality. Accepting an invitation to eat in someone's home is a way of honoring the host and showing that you truly care about his family.

The food will predictably include a special tomato-based soup, the deep fried brik (egg, spices in a shell), salads, and a main course that is more lavish than a usual meal. Tea, coffee, fruit for desert, and (later in the month) home made sweets will be served after the evening has been spent laughing at some of the antics on TV, or watching the month-long "soap-opera".

While conversations may not be amenable to easily sharing faith during this time, it is a great opportunity for building bridges and engaging in real relationships. All the family will be home for the meal and many times for the evening, so it creates an opportunity for widening the circle of relationships and meeting family members. As far as learning the culture goes, there is no better "window"...with lots of conversations that can spin off what is presented on TV.