Many of you have asked what a newly married couple who lives in Baghdad would want as a wedding gift.  My response has always been just to have my friends and family join us in London for our festivities.  The sacrifice of time and money is gift enough.  We aren't registered, we have no permanent home, and while a traditional crock pot or toaster oven would be nice - such luxurious items require electricity which is a luxury in itself here.  However, the events of 25 October 09 here in Baghdad made us realize there is something we want to ask for. 

 

Over 130 people were killed and 600 wounded in two suicide car bomb attacks - not too far from where we live.  The outcome was devastating for all residents of Iraq - but what hit us particularly hard was the destruction of St George's Church run by Canon Andrew White, who presided over our marriage.  While our vows were taken at the British Ambassador's residence, it was in this church where Manus and I were blessed and where we first celebrated a proper wedding reception.  (See attached file for photos from the church a few months ago.)

 

The parish has over 4000 members - they will take in anyone of any faith, denomination, or circumstance.  80% of the parish are war widows (since 2003) and orphans.  The parish provides food, shelter, medical care, and a safe haven from the difficulties of Iraq day-to-day life.  The clinic treated over 100 Baghdad residents a day - for free.  Now, the church, clinic, bookstore, memorials (from 1930 and 2003) are destroyed. Some of the congregation is missing. 

 

 

Living in Baghdad is always a reminder that life and love are precious.  And for that we are grateful.  Thank you for helping us help the Iraqis who were the first to celebrate our marriage.  Please see details below on making a donation. 

 

-Karin and Manus
 

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

PO Box 229

Petersfield

GU32 9DL  office@frrme.org

www.frrme.org

+44 (0) 1730 267 673

 

Canon Andrew White reports...

 

St George's church damaged in bomb attack:

 

Dear Friends,

I am very sorry to tell you that the two major bomb explosions in Baghdad this

morning have done serious damage to the church compound, the clinic,

thebookshop, the school rooms and the mothers' union buildings.

 

The windows were replaced after the bombings on 19 August, but they have been

destroyed again, and this blast hit the church much more powerfully.  Even the

window frames and the doors were blown out.  All of the cars in the compound

and the Danish Memorial were destroyed.  

 

And the clinic?  The St George's clinic provides free medical and dental

treatment to people in Iraq, regardless of their religious or ethnic

background.  It is staffed by a team of medics representing each of the Abramic

faiths: Muslim, Christian and Jew.  It contained high quality medical equipment

provided by charitable donations to the Foundation for Relief and

Reconciliation in the Middle East.  In a moment, much of this equipment has

been destroyed, placing it permanently out of reach of the Iraqi people who

need it so desperately.

 

Outside the church, at least 132 people were killed and over 600 injured.

Destroyed fragments of their bodies have been thrown through windows of the

church, making the clean-up operation yet more unpleasant.  Many of our staff

and church members remain unaccounted for.  Lay Pastor Faiz and I have been

trying in vain to reach them by telephone.

 

Today was a terrible day for us.  But even in the blood and trauma and turmoil,

there are things for which we can, and indeed must, praise our G-d.  The

carnage was terrible, but it could have been even worse.

 

-          At 10.30am this morning, when the bombs exploded, there was no-one

in the church.  If the bomb had been just a few hours later, the glass from the

windows would have ripped through the congregation causing terrible human

damage.

 

-          Yesterday an enormous tree fell down outside the church, which

prevented the suicide bomber from detonating his explosives where they would

have caused maximum damage.

 

Some people ask us whether days like today make us want to give up.  We have

seen much of what we have worked for destroyed.  We have seen people we love

bereaved.  But the truth is, it is days like today that remind us why our work

in Iraq is absolutely essential.  

 

We must continue to provide a place of worship for Iraqi Christians.   We must

continue to treat the medical needs of Iraqi civilians.  And we must continue

to engage with the senior religious leaders from across the sectarian divides,

working with them to challenge the belief systems that lie behind this terrible

slaughter.

 

We will not stop because of this.  Will you stand with us and help us to

restore what was destroyed?

 

Blessings,

 

Andrew

 

 

P.S. To donate, either by standing order or with a one-off payment, please see

the donations page of our website:

http://www.frrme.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=3

 

Or you could set up a standing order direct into our bank:

 

Sterling Account

 

Barclays Bank, Petersfield

Account name: The Naaman Trust (FRRME)

Account number: 33929604

Sort Code:  20-67-49

IBAN: GB23 BARC 2067 4933 9296 04

SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22

 

Dollar Account

 

Barclays Bank, Petersfield

Account name: The Naaman Trust (FRRME)

Account Number: 53627000

Sort Code: 20-67-49

IBAN: GB88 BARC 2067 4953 6270 00

SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22

                                      

 

 For more information on the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the

Middle East please visit our website

 

www.frrme.org