Dear Friends,
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Greetings from Baghdad.
Well yesterday was a day of much action. It began with me having my 16th session of stem cell treatment. So far the results seem positive. In reality the only major problem I have is with my balance so we are trying to deal with this. I pray and hope.
Iraq Access Badge Finally Received
After the hospital I went to the IZ to see General David Greer who gave me my new Iraq Wide Badge. This sounds very simple but in reality getting this renewed has been very complicated. We have been working on this since February. I have had countless numbers of photos, biometrics and been through much form filling. The fact is that with General David's help I now have my new highest level badge. This piece of plastic is actually essential to do our work. So this, believe it or not, was not only a source of great joy it was also a great relief!
FRRME America now has charitable status
The next point of great joy came from talking to our US Director Col. Ward Scott in Afghanistan. He had just heard that FRRME America had been granted 501(c)(3) status which now means it is a registered charity, so people can get tax back when they give to FRRME America. (For more details click here) So there were three major positives yesterday.
Election News
As elections are prepared for in the UK, we are still in the position we've been in since the election here in February 7th, without a new government. Yesterday, however:
Iraq's two largest Shiite electoral blocs announced that they have formed an alliance that gives them a strong chance of setting up the next government, though they have yet to work out the contentious question of who will become prime minister.
The coalition deal between Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition and the conservative Shiite Iraqi National Alliance leaves them just four parliamentary seats shy of a ruling majority.
(AP)
So we are a lot nearer to having a Government. The big contentious issue remains Kirkuk. This major oil area is claimed by both the Kurds and Arabs. Having Kurdish support remains very important. The other major problem with this coalition is the support of the Sunni community. The block is Shia dominated so the Sunni could feel very side tracked by it.
Tragic News from Nineveh
The sad news, as some of you already know, is that on
Sunday, two large buses taking Christian students to university in
Mosul were attacked close to Nineveh. They included family members of
people in our congregation at St George's. Whilst at this stage we
only know of two deaths there were over 100 people injured.
Added
to this one of our congregation was telling us about members of her
family injured in the Easter day bombings. One lost both their eyes,
two lost their legs and others were injured. So Sunday was a day of
pain.
Despite
all these difficulties we do not give up hope. As I have said so many
times, and say at the beginning of every service, THE LORD IS HERE AND
HIS SPIRIT IS WITH US.
Tomorrow I travel up to Arbil in Kurdistan for two days mainly in relationship to the stem cell work. I will be with Dr Majid to see his new stem cell clinic that has been established. I will also do several press conferences. Whilst my friends in the UK go and vote I must confess that despite having already voted I wish I was there. Now you have never heard me say that before.
Blessings from Baghdad,
Andrew
Rev. Canon Andrew White
St George's Church, Baghdad
PS I have just heard from General David Greer that the money has been granted to renovate all of our out - buildings following the bombings. Praise the LORD!
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