Correspondents'
Journal
December 20, 2004
Letters from Mosul
It’s not easy spending the holidays in Amman. Last night, an Iraqi friend joined us for dinner. Salam is an enterprising young man who survived childhood polio and spent much of the post-war period using his computer skills to help Baghdad’s handicapped population. However, Salam had recently received death threats and just arrived in Amman. He told us how he lent his car to a friend last week in Baghdad, the car came under fire and his friend took two bullets—but is alive. Read Salam’s story >
Nearly everyday we see or talk with the Iraqis who have filled our lives. What is happening in Iraq is all so tragic and unnecessary. What can we do?
Below are some edited excerpts of letters we’ve received from Christian clergy and other friends in Mosul, which is now the site of some of the worst violence in the country.
— Mary Trotochaud and Rick McDowell
Fanatics are encouraged
…The bombing of the Chaldean Bishopric was a real blow and great shock for the clergy, religious Christians of different denominations, and committed Muslims. All these groups are filled with anger and resentment towards the Americans and the coalition forces. These events have made the Christian - Muslim relations worse and have encouraged fanatics.
Two days later, the Americans came to the Bishopric. One of the Sisters was furious and began to shout at them and tell them that they were the cause for all that is happening—not only for the Christians, but also for the Muslims. The clergy was courageous enough to send the Americans away from the place, telling them that they were incapable of bearing their presence. Then the clergy addressed the Christians and Muslims who were present with these words: “They can break things, damage buildings, but they are unable to spoil the faith. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the sake of our faith, people, and country. That is what our ancestors, the martyrs, have done. We Christians are called to witness and martyrdom.”
I think this is not the end. We all have to be ready for things like this. I’m sure God wants to tell the Iraqi local church that after all this … our Resurrected Lord will give us hope, safety, and security and the Prince of Peace will bless our country and wounded people with long-term peace.
Not one student going to school
The planes are dropping bombs every day in Mosul and the suicide bombs continue. One of our friends’ dad received threats over the phone from a fundamental Islamic group. They told him to pay $40,000 to them and they would not kill him. A man was preparing his farm outside of the town for sowing the seed and he was kidnapped. His family had to pay some money so they will let him go.
The kidnapping and killing of innocent people are happening everyday. One of the priests was threatened because he let the Kurds, and not the Moslems, protect his village. The mayor in Mosul announced for the schools to start again, but not one student is going because they are all afraid. The sisters at the convent have been in the house for 15 days and have not been grocery shopping. They have run out of bread. They cannot go from building to building because of the heavy fighting in the area.
People have not been out of their houses except for the very necessary things. The fighting is very close. Please keep all of us in your prayers. God Bless You!
Two kinds of rain
In the midst of this horrific situation that we are going through, it is pleasing to know that we have friends who are concerned about our safety and well-being. This empowers us to be courageous and persevere in this harsh and frightening current situation.
The circumstances in Mosul are getting worse and more complicated not only day after day, but moment after moment. We are under two kinds of rain: the natural rain and rain caused by wicked people—that is, the continued bombing and shelling day and night. The centre [a residence for a group of nuns] is close to the police centre which is a target for the terrorists and mujahideen (fundamentalist Muslims). This makes our situation more dangerous and frightening. We are under “house arrest.” We cannot go out even to buy our needs and we have disturbed sleep. We are short of fuel, so we cannot use our cars. Also, our electricity supply is crippled. The generators are not in use because of the shortage of fuel.
All the bridges are closed. As a result we cannot move from one side of the city to the other. Thank God the phone is working. There is no school, no university, and no work. Everything is crippled in the country.
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