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

It is difficult to describe the pain of the past six weeks. It all started on the last day of October when Al Qaeda stormed the Syrian Catholic Church here in Baghdad. 59 were killed, including the two priests taking the service and over 75 injured. There are two stories that really stand out and both involve children.
 

Adam

The first account is about Adam. He was only three. On that tragic day, three-year-old Adam witnessed the horror of dozens of deaths, including that of his own parents. He wandered among the corpses and the blood, following the terrorists around and admonishing them, 'enough, enough, enough, stop it.' He was then killed himself. The other story was of young Yusif. He was seen running out of the Church simply shouting in tears "They have killed my daddy, they have killed my daddy". It was not long before I got to the church. Covered in blood and surrounded by bullet holes the pain was obvious but this was just the beginning.

Within hours the terrorists were warning all people to leave, stating that Christians were not part of Iraq and those who did not go would be killed. In the following days Christians did begin to be killed their houses ransacked and their neighbourhoods bombed.

Some of our own people were killed at the church and immediately other members of our community were attacked. Our chief of security was blown up and lost his legs. Our closest government minister who we work with all the time is the only Christian minister, Wijdan Salim. Her driver was killed then her head of security, then her chief of staff and following week her his deputy. We were told by the government that our security would be increased. All our military guards are Christian and they have started to leave and will be difficult to replace. The Muslim guards who have been asked by the government to come here have refused, saying it is too dangerous.
 

 

Emigration Issues

There has been one other thing that has seriously affected us. That is the number of people now fleeing Iraq. Today was a terrible day for me as young Fulla (16) is leaving because of the danger, with her family she is going to the USA. She has always called me "daddy".  I have been with her since she was 8.

The reality is to me she is like a daughter.  David and Lina, my other two Iraqi children, have also been in non-stop tears. They say "we are one family we have asked G-d why we are being split up and he has not answered!" I tell them that we are indeed one family and always will be. Despite the pain and the trauma of the present we know our Lord is always with us and that He and his angels will never leave us.

 

Finances

Our funds have all been stretched to the limit. The money has all been spent on things connected to the increased persecution. Funerals, health care, provision for families of those killed and injured. Just before this event I won the International Civil Courage Prize. I personally get no salary and live my faith. When I got this prize I thought at least I would not have to worry about money this year but in two weeks this tragedy happened. Within days all the prize money had gone on emergency relief. I so gave thanks to the Almighty that I was able to help.

Please will you help to continue to show the love of Jesus to your persecuted brothers and sisters in their great need. 

 

Be blessed,