UPDATE FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR RELIEF AND RECONCILIATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Ezra and Nehemiah
 
This weekend has been as wonderful and busy as usual. At all of our services this weekend I have been looking at Ezra and Nehemiah. In all of my many services on the subject of Iraq in the Bible, I must confess I have never looked at these characters. Our congregation in the US Embassy had said they wanted me to.
 
Ezra was from a priestly family, Nehemiah was political. They were both from Israel but in the second Exile in Iraq. Nehemiah was the cup bearer to the king and Iraq had got through several kings since the Israeli exile to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Now Babylon had been conquered by the Persians and King Cyrus had taken control.

Unlike Iranian leaders in the 21st Century, King Cyrus listened to G-d. The prayers of so many were answered. Cyrus had not only decided that the Temple of G-d should be rebuilt in Jerusalem but had decided that the Jews who wanted to should go back to rebuild it. Some, led by Nehemiah, went on the long journey back to Jerusalem and for three days he examined the ruined Jerusalem and then started rebuilding. He faced continued opposition not least from Jews like Sanballat who had set up base in Samaria.
 
The problem was these men had married non Jews; Iraqis. In a week of research I learnt one thing I did not know. The Samaritans were indeed half Jewish and half Iraqi! The story of Nehemiah tells us the importance of prayer and also the importance of persisting in the face of opposition. Two very important lessons for all Christians, but especially us in Iraq.
 
Minister Wijdan Salim and the work at St. George's
 
At our service yesterday we were joined by a great friend of mine, Wijdan Michael Salim, the Minister for Human Rights in Iraq and the winner of our Peace Prize this year. She is a Christian and her whole family are very good friends of ours. She spoke for a short while about how she is inspired in her work by our Lord.
 
My work in Iraq has been greatly aided by having Lina Yusif working as my PA alongside David. Both of them are wonderful people and I now do not know what I would do without them. I can cope with disasters and threat but there is two things I cannot cope with. They are mice and rats.
 
Unfortunately we now have lots of these at St George's, including my bedroom. Our security have taken to killing them with their feet and this morning I was presented with four dead mice. Lovely!
 
Finances and a brief visit to New Jersey
 
The one big problem that my staff in the UK keep telling me about is that we are running out of money and do not have enough to feed our people next month, so I would really value your prayers for this issue. I have now arrived in Jordan and tomorrow I travel to the US to visit a church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. I love this church so much and I am very much looking forward to the next few days.
 
Health improvements
 
As I was leaving for the airport today I asked Lena and David what the best thing was about my most recent time in Baghdad. I could think of so many things but they both said to me the best thing was my response to the latest stem cell treatment.

Yesterday I ran the length of the church. It was the first time I had run in ten years. This morning I ran around the whole church. Lina number two, the other Lena, has taken on the job of being my sports teacher. Her ambition in life is to be a sports teacher so I have to take her seriously. Now I am praying my balance will return and stay.

With grace, peace, blessings and requests for your prayers,

Canon Andrew White

 

Special Request
Canon White is available to speak the evening of March 7th in the Portsmouth / Hampshire area. Would you like him at your church?

Also...
If you would like Canon White or Peter Marsden, Director of Operations, to speak at your church at any other time then please get in touch.

Contact details below

USA
28th Feb: The River Church, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

UK
4th March: St. John's, Churt, Farnham. At the Churt Village Hall.

7th March: morning- Portsmouth Christian Fellowship

9th March: St. Mary's, Felpham. West Sussex

14th March: Holy Trinity Brompton - 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm services