We just checked out from the hotel in Makkah and came to a friends house near Mina. This is one of my husband's dearest friends from Michigan who just moved to Makkah a few months ago. He came here to be a teacher at the Islamic University, Masha-Allah. We are going to stay here tonight and leave for Mina around 3:00 am, Insha-Allah.
I didn't go for Jumuah today in preparation for Hajj. My calves are still very locked up and my walk is very minimal. Alhamdulillah, Hafsah is sleeping. I just visited a dear sister that I now from back home in Michigan. She now lives in Saudi Arabia also. This sister and her husband are also staying with my husband's friend here in Makkah in this home. She, her husband, and her 4 month son are going for Hajj also, Insha-Allah. She is just in the next room with her baby, Masha-Allah. What a wonderful surprise to see her again and then to go on Hajj with her, Insha-Allah.
We never caught up with our group from Michigan so now we have a new group that we are going to Hajj with. In our group we now have my husband's friend from Michigan, the sister I know from Michigan and her husband and two other sisters with their husbands. One of the other sisters came from Ohio. Her and her husband are American. The other sister is orginially from Kenya. She lives here in Saudi Arabia with her husband who is American originally from New York, Masha-Allah.
I am told that we are WALKING all the way to Mina. I whined a bit and reminded my husband of my calf situation, but we'll see whatever has to be done has to be done, Insha-Allah. I'm trying to prepare myself for walking all the way to Mina. I'm telling myself, "You can do it, Insha-Allah."
We set off for Mina after Fajr around 8:30-9:00 am. Alhamdulillah we didn't have to walk. The brothers caught us a van that took us into Mina outside our tents (so we thought). Our tents weren't there after all. We had to walked about 3 km across Mina looking for the American tents. The tents are grouped by nationality and each group of tents has a group number and then numbers also within the group number. Subhana-Allah it's very confusing and easy to get lost.
There wasn't any room in the tents we hoped to stay in, so one brother went looking for some other tents for us to stay in. During this process we met Sheikh Adly from South Carolina and Dawud Adeeb from New Jersey, Masha-Allah. The brothers gave them Salaams and then went off in search for more tents.
Finally, the brothers located some other tents and the four of us (sisters) got a tent all to ourselves, Alhamdulillah. Two Afghani sisters joined us later on because the air in their tent was broken and it was very crowded. These two sisters are dear sweet and we instantly took to conversation. The Afghani sisters live here in the US. They are mother and daughter, Masha-Allah.
The tents are huge and white in color. The floors are lined on the inside with colorful red oriental rugs. They are also well equipped with air and fresh cold water coolers, Alhamdulillah. The water is ice cold and tastes wonderful, Alhamdulillah.
The bathrooms are right behind our tent and well equipped with a shower and a toilet all behind one closed door. The toilets are Saudi/Pakistani style. One sister noticed an American toilet in one of the stalls. The men are in their tent just across the path from us.
My voice is still gone. My calves have loosened up to where I can atleast walk, Alhamdulillah. I have a cough now. Hafsah still has some diahrea, but I am trying to keep the liquids going to keep her from dehydrating, Insha-Allah. I think she is low on iron because she is sleeping so much. I had my husband buy her some formula to drink and some baby food to eat before we left Makkah. She likes the formula, Masha-Allah.
We will sleep in Mina tonight and leave for Arafah in the morning after Fajr, Insha-Allah. I am using my backpack for a pillow and Hafsah is sleeping on the cushioned part of the child carrier. There is no need for a blanket because of the heat, Masha-Allah.