Dear Friends,
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Dear Friends,
Baghdad Busyness
It has been quite some time since I have written to you. Apologies that it has been so long, but
I have been more than busy. After a longer than usual stretch in England,
including a week's holiday with my wonderful family, my plane touched down at
Baghdad International on Tuesday evening.
The Anti-Corruption Conference
We are working flat out on next week's Anti-Corruption Conference,
discussing the issues with key religious and political leaders. The main
points of the debate are very good and it is already evident that everyone
involved considers that violence and corruption are the major obstacles to Iraq
moving forward.
It is also clear that one conference on its own will not solve high-level
corruption in Iraq. The success of a gathering like this relies heavily
on follow-up. I can assure you that, at the top of the agenda, is; "The
Way Forward". We will discuss how each person who attends the conference
can do their part to oppose corruption at all levels of society in Iraq.
[Editor's note: Do please pray for
Andrew, for the speakers who will address the conference and for the religious
and political leaders who will attend. The conference itself is on Monday
but between now and then Andrew will chair a number of very involved meetings,
negotiating the text of a draft declaration to be put to the conference.
Andrew's involvement in this process is vital. Please pray that he
will have the energy, the strength and the discernment to pilot this process
forward.]
Thank G-d for Church
Whilst life in Iraq continues to be very difficult, and there seems little
hope of an elected government gaining power anytime soon, church life is
wonderful.
The restoration work following the bombing has been phenomenal and the clinic
is doing extremely well. The building progress for the
school/kindergarten is excellent and the church is busy getting ready for the
ordination of Faiz on 11th July.
My new book - Suffer the Children (LINK)
Meanwhile there has been great excitement amongst many of the children here
as they look at their pictures in my latest book. We have already run out
of all that I brought here and we are awaiting delivery of further copies.
The success of the church community here is simply unbelievable. Even
from a few months ago it feels like a different place. Such developments
leave us with more challenges and we need more funds all the time to do the
work of the Almighty.
I am so grateful to all of you who enable us to do this work. Even though
there is corruption all around, we show people how we can run a clinic and
building projects honestly and transparently, without using bribes and
backhanders.
Please keep praying that:
1. The Church continues to put our Lord first amongst much activity.
2. That we have all the funds needed to do this immense work.
3. That we soon get a government soon.
Could you also please pray that I get money back soon from a very significant
and rich individual in Iraq. I lent him literally all my life savings nearly 2
years ago for major surgery in England. It was meant to be for five days and it
is now causing big problems for Caroline and me. I have not mentioned this
before but it is now becoming very urgent.
Thank you for your prayers.
Blessings from Baghdad,
Canon Andrew White
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