Finding God in Iraq
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Four months ago, I arrived in the land of desert sheikhs, Aladdin's lamp, and Ali Baba. A land where the desert sands hold the history of its ancient people. The cradle of civilization. The birthplace of Abraham. The land where Nebuchadnezzar held Israel captive. I was in Iraq. My mission: to embed with U.S. military chaplains and tell their stories.
This was the type of assignment most journalists crave—reporting from a combat zone. And I was no different. Sure, I'd seen and heard the reports on tv of bombings, attacks, and kidnappings. Friends thought I was crazy wanting to traipse around the desert. But I saw it as a great adventure and knew I had a host of prayer warriors back home (including my supportive husband) interceding for my safety.
I wasn't sure what to expect in the war-torn nation. What I found is a country with a complicated past, present, and future trying to crawl its way toward democracy and independence. A country steeped in tradition and religion. I also found that God is at work in Iraq.
I traveled the 15-hour flight to Kuwait, where two U.S. soldiers met my colleague, Tim, and I, and escorted us to a military life support area in the region. Every military personnel and dod contractor traveling to the Middle East must pass through this military transit base. That's 3,000 to 5,000 people a day going or coming.
We were there two days, training on how to survive and thrive in the region. Then late one evening, a soldier told us we were to travel that night to Baghdad (we did all our travels in the middle of the night). We boarded a C130 plane, a four-engine turboprop, and one hour later, landed in Iraq.
Shivering in the night air, I struggled into the 20-pound Kevlar vest, strapped on my helmet, and grabbed my bags, one in each hand. The extra gear added about 60 pounds to my petite frame. I crawled onto the armored bus that would take us to the base and fell into the first seat. I sat in the dark, waiting for camo-clad soldiers to climb on board.
The final passenger was a civilian security guard. He instructed us on what to do in case of an ambush or ied explosion ("homemade" explosives).
Did he say explosion? My mind began to race as I tried to grasp his directions.So, let me get this straight. If we hit an ied, we're supposed to jump out the back of the bus and run to the armored bus behind us, all the while trying not to get hit by flying bullets. I can barely walk with all this gear, much less run. Assuming I even survive the explosion. That's when I realized I was sitting in the front row. Umm, does someone with a gun want to switch places?
Our convoy traveled the famous "Route Irish," the name for the 7.5-mile road between the secure International Zone in Baghdad and Baghdad International Airport. This stretch of highway was once one of the most dangerous roads in Iraq. I'd read about the white-knuckled rides and the looming dangers of suicide bombers, ambushes, and booby-trapped litter. Today, the road is probably one of the safest in Iraq, with U.S. and Iraqi military checkpoints along the way.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2009, July/August, Vol. 31, Issue 4
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Ellmau
Great insight Rob Watson. We know little about true Christianty in the west.
Rob Watson
Did your commentator get to do an interview with the 'Vicar of Bagdad’ Andrew White. I find him an inspiration suffering from MS but also taking the sincere love of Jesus to Iraqis including the terrorists. There is so much of Jesus in Iraq sometimes to the point where you wonder just how much we know of Jesus in the West and how much of our lives is truly Christian. Thanks for the article.
MUNYALO M T
You are brave to venture the battle field. Thank God for you that the Gospel of Jesus is finding new frontiers. May God be glofied by the humane treatment christian contactors working for dod will display. However given the harships of evangelizing the muslim world it is true we have to be cautious. May the prayers of brethtren blaze the Oasis of Baghdad and Tigris that at the end of the American tour of duty Jesus will have been manifest for time immemorial in the land of birth for our fathers Abraham
Rose M
Bartering is part of shopping in the Middle East and many other countries as is the tactics to get someone to buy from one vendor rather than another. It has nothing to do with their religion. The shop owner of one shop will always say that he has a better bargain than the shop owner next door or down the street. They are competing for your business. They may be best of friends. It is just business.
Marlene Dix
I am saddened by those who feel talking about Christianity is spreading untruths. Many speak about untruths and yet they seem to be greatly misinformed. They want to hear about God, but would they believe the truth when hearing it. As Christians, it is The Great Commission we are to send to all who will listen. We need to minister to all people in their needs, but we cannot compromise the truth just to please others. We should pray that God will open their hearts and minds to The Truth.
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