| Dear Ones,
After reading Bill’s Kurdistan prayer letter, I felt that since so much happened we need a “Part II”! Allow me to share my personal experiences at the refugee camp. The women and children really touched my heart. The refugee camp ministry serves into to an Arabic Muslim culture, (although there are also some Yazidi.) Three thousand people live there, driven from their homes by tribal /government warfare. Ironically, even
though Arabs have historically persecuted the Kurds, the Christian Kurds in Sulaymaniyah take the opportunity to show the love of Christ to their “enemies”.
Chika, the pastor’s wife, invited me to come and see what their church is doing in the camp. Two different women take turns coming with her, as interpreters , because she only speaks a little Arabic. She has an
open door with the camp director to come in every week to provide a knitting class for the women. They have an opportunity to learn a skill and make a little money. But just as important, it provides them with a safe space, where they can relax and enjoy each other, For some of them, it is the only place they can have some peace for an hour or two. Their husbands can be over-bearing, demanding them to be silent, or worse, treat them very harshly.
One of the helpers said they like to hear stories, even stories from the Bible. She suggested I tell them some! I could hardly believe my ears, that these Muslim women would actually stay and listen to the Bible. This was very much out of my comfort zone. However, Chika’s months of ministry with them had made them very warm and receptive to me, a visitor.
As we arrived that particular morning, I heard through the interpreter that they were experiencing some insecurity over rumors that the camp might close. They have no place to go. Most had been farmers before they were driven away, and they have few resources with which to start over. Because of that, I shared with them John 14, where Jesus says He goes to prepare a place for us, and that He is the Way the truth and the Life. One said they felt better leaving than when they came. I was very thankful to the Lord, for answer to prayer, that He would somehow use me. I am also praying these women will trust in the Lord.
As we were driving out that day, we ran into dozens of children being let out of school. They caught sight of the Westerner in the back seat, (me) and wanted to practice English, grab my hand, all at the same time!
It got very loud, as they all competed for attention. But then some boys saw packages in the back of the car, and started to steal them. They were school supplies with the names of individuals on them that hadn’t been delivered yet. It was such a mob, that I was sure they were going to empty the trunk. Chika and here interpreters jumped out fast, and were able to grab most of them back, but only because the guard came out to help waving a big stick. Chika explained with a very patient perspective, that these children have nothing, and want to have something new so badly, that they just go crazy. (video at the top)
More in a couple days,
Love Deb
Joyfully Serving the Lord
Dear Friends,
As promised, here is the third and final report regarding our Kurdistan ministry trip. I (Deb), want to highlight two individuals that particularly impacted my life.
One thing that changed for me was a new appreciation for our country. In spite of all its flaws, we don’t have persecution for our beliefs that others experience. Being aware that it happens, is not the same as meeting those that experience it. As I heard their stories, my heart went out to them. It challenged me to wonder how I would respond if it happened to me.
Bill shared a previous letter about the young man who is starting a Christian bookstore/coffee shop in Sulaymaniyah. This is after a family member decided he would be serving Allah, by shooting him with a gun! That takes courage, to say the least.
One person I want to tell you, standing on the left, is a woman who attended our second session. She is a medical technician. She shared with me some of her experiences in her workplace. Sometimes people were very intolerant and unreasonable when they knew she was a believer. On her first day of work, at a new job, a biased supervisor tried to publicly humiliate her by saying she was totally unqualified to be there. None of it was true, of course. He was so hard on her it made her cry. Another time, a co-worker came up to her and slapped her hard in the face! (She is just a tiny woman.) This man said he heard Christians will turn the other cheek, and he wanted to see what she would do. Even though life can be hard, it was clear to me she loved the Lord, and wasn’t going to let that stop her.
The woman on the right has her own story. She nearly died of starvation in her early twenties, trying to escape the bombing by running to the mountains. She also is serving the Lord faithfully. It was a privilege to meet them both. |
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| The Kurds love their culture. We happened to be there during a holiday when they liked to wear their traditional clothing. This friend I mentioned earlier, and the other woman in the photo, told me they like to give dresses to visitors, like me. I received one, and was happy to wear it once during class. (Bill didn’t get a traditional outfit from the guys, but had a photo taken with them.) I got in a little trouble the last day because I wasn’t told it was photo day! My friend said, “ Why aren’t you dressed up?!” Lol, but I think she forgave me. I appreciate her enthusiasm for promoting her love for her Kurdish culture. |
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| Thank you for caring,Deb and Bill |
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