I hear the sound of rain on the church hall roof… “Oh no! Will any of my Muslim friends come to Women’s Wellbeing Space today?”

Many of the women live in the surrounding streets and come on foot, some wrangling kids. Often when it rains, they stay home. But amazingly, five friends brave the rain and turn up. I shoot up a prayer of thanks to God!

The rain is not the only barrier these women have crossed to be here. The women joining today are Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma.

We meet on the grounds of a very traditional looking church. And yet, over the years many of our Muslim friends have come to see the church hall as their place. Women gather during the week for wellbeing and English classes, playgroup and a food pantry.

The first part of Women’s Wellbeing Space is focused on caring for our bodies. Some women wearing the traditional niqab face covering now take it off. There is an intimacy that comes with seeing each other’s faces.

We put a pilates video on the screen and we’re instantly transported to a Santa Barbara beach to do breathing, bridges and sometimes even roll like a ball!

For some of our friends, this is a rare time during the week that they can simply breathe and care for themselves.

After exercising, we move into our discussion time. Today we are talking about shame. What is shame? How does it feel? In what ways do women feel shame about their bodies?

One of my Bangladeshi friends bemoans how women experience shame because of the actions of men in her culture.

This friend has dealt with a lot of shame from her community for having a child with a significant disability. I ask the women what hope their faith offers them when they are experiencing shame?

Silence.

I share the story of Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery and we discuss it. We hear of how the woman’s shame was on display in the public arena. My Christian friend shares how she thinks it is beautiful that Jesus responded to her with love and mercy, also in front of the crowd. Jesus is uncompromising on sin but at the same time merciful towards the shamed.

It’s time for the women to head off. A small gift, the sun is now out for their walk home.