To Be or Not to Be? (Iraq: 27 March to 2 May 2024)

People who work in Iraq say that you reassess your mission there at least once every two years.  This trip to Iraq was that trip, specifically whether to continue to operate a base that offers housing to distressed and disenfranchised individuals.

Days were spent pressing into God with prayers and fasting, times spent with those in the house and the weekly gatherings.  God provides wisdom to those who ask, and He gives peace that surpasses understanding when you present your needs to him with prayers and supplications.  Interestingly, after feeling God's reaffirmation to continue to operate the house, Eric had the seven best nights of sleep he had in had in at least five years.  So deep was this sleep that he slept through over an hour of explosions when Iran launched missiles to attack Israel, with the first round of interceptions of these missiles occurring over Erbil.  Nearly the entire city was awake.  Eric slept deeply, finding out about the missiles when he woke later that morning.

Deciding to keep the house operating was step one.  How to keep it, was step two.  The theme of if being a family was clear.  How this is to be worked out, with people of so many different backgrounds is a step that continues to be revisited.  Prayers are so treasured!

Karla and Eric also got to help out with medical outreaches to disadvantaged Syrians, trying to help them understand what medications to take in lieu of medicines that they had when in Syria but no longer had access to in Iraq.