UPDATE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

Contact: United Kingdom Office
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1428 722 744
E-mail: office@frrme.org
Website: http://www.frrme.org/

My Dear Friends,

Greetings from Baghdad, where things as usual are both awful
and wonderful at the same time.

This afternoon we had the second meeting this week of our Iraqi
Anglican Council. It was simply inspiring. We had our Iraqis, and Anglicans
from the USA, Australia and the UK. All from such different parts of the
globe and yet all one family of Jesus. One of the Americans and the
Australian were both Army Chaplains. The Australian had been told by his
bishop's wife that the only thing he had to do whilst in Baghdad was to find
out about the Mothers Union at St George's. Well today was the day that
happened. We discussed all the important issues in depth, and then heard
about the situation of St George's and their amazing relief work.

This is no longer a passing activity of the MU it is the daily core
activity. Every day they feed the hungry, give medicine to the sick, provide
for the needs of the Mother Theresa Home and a lot more. The members
expressed their thanks for the resources they receive from you all as it
enables them to help more. They then told me how they wanted to create a
kitchen at the Church so they could make food for people. I told them this
was wonderful and to be encouraged.

I then went to a meeting with the Human Rights Minister. She told me
that things are so bad for the Christians now that she just does not know
what to do. All of the Christians have recently been forced to leave one of
the largest Christian neighbourhoods of Dora in Baghdad. Many of these
Christians have now fled to churches in Kerrada and are sleeping there on
the floor. Now Christians are being forced out of Kerrada in the same way
that they were made to leave Dora. Things are simply terrible.

Meanwhile back at base in the past week we have only received £25 in
donations. I did not tell our Church Council that we do not have money for
next month. We don't but I know we will. After my last urgent appeal people
responded so positively but now we have run out of funds again. Sadly this
is not a problem with a quick solution.

These people are so wonderful and they love our Lord so much, we
cannot abandon them or the other Christians in Iraq. If you can help us
please please do. We so need your prayers for it is only by the grace of God
that we manage to keep going.

Grace, Peace and Blessings,

Andrew