From Mississippi to Iraq - and Back

Among other stories that the New Orleans disaster has knocked out of the news are the war in Iraq and the hurricane landfall in Mississippi. This past weekend we received an email that concerns both:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Greyhawk,

My husband is in Iraq, with a battalion composed mostly of soldiers from the Mississippi Army National Guard. (By the way, 79 are being sent home on emergency leave because they know their homes were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina or because they have been unable to contact their families since the storm. The media has done a wretched job, truly wretched, of reporting on the devastation for THOUSANDS of square miles in Mississippi, from Jackson south to the Coast.) When he arrived in January, 2005, my husband met with and worked with the State Department representative in the province, who mentioned to a local female Iraqi veterinarian that our children were both veterinarians, so the doctor asked to meet him. A great friendship resulted.

Paul Bremer had ?gifted? women?s groups and other non-governmental agencies with buildings to have centers from which to operate. However, he apparently did not have the authority to do that. When a more fundamental Islamic government was elected in January, the provincial council proceeded to make plans to evict the doctor from her Women?s Center. She has not been practicing vet med since Saddam destroyed her poultry houses, but she has been an active volunteer director of the Women?s Center. The State Department had furnished the building in with equipment for a kindergarten, dispensary, and equipment for English, computer, and hygiene classes for the women. My husband was asked to help acquire English books for the center, and individuals, churches, and our Family Support Group endeavored to fulfill that request. My husband and the State Department rep negotiated with the provincial council through July attempting to save the Women?s Center for the doctor and her group of ladies. They failed, and the council voted late in July to evict her. She, of course, felt that the Americans had betrayed her and was somewhat bitter for a short time. She had some harsh words with my husband, but in a day or two sent him a conciliatory e-mail.

However, back in April, a small church (about 200 members) in Sturgis, Mississippi ? the Friendship Baptist Church ? sent the battalion a gift of $4000 to buy goods from Iraqi vendors to help Iraqi people. They purchased a wheel chair for a crippled twelve-year-old girl; they purchased beds, linens, and food for crippled, blind twin four-year-old girls; and provided food, beds, and linens for a new girls? orphanage that they had built. The battalion is moving to a new FOB but they still had about half the church?s donation remaining. He asked the pastor if he could use the money to help the doctor, who had personally borrowed the money somehow to pay six months? rent in advance on another building for the Women?s Center. The church readily agreed, and my husband presented the doctor with $2000 for her Women?s Center. She recently sent a very kind e-mail thank you to Pastor Davis.

I am attaching that letter, along with a letter that Pastor Davis sent to an imam with the original gift. I know that all Iraqis are not pleased that the US is in their country, but I think many are happy that we are there and that we relieved them of Saddam?s rule. Of course, the anti-Bush MSM doesn?t want Americans to know that. My husband has made many good friends in the city and province and has had great success training IA and IP. He even started his own non-com officers? class because the need for non-com?s was so great and he had been unable to enroll any IA in the classes being conducted in Baghdad. He and his battalion have been truly sorry to leave their FOB and their friends in the province. I hope the IA and the IP will be able to maintain peace there.

By the way, the poor people of North Mississippi have done many projects to help Iraqis. We sent 73 boxes (many very large boxes) of medical supplies that we gathered in a campaign back in the spring. We also conducted Operation Backpack and sent hundreds of backpacks to Iraqi children. Individuals, churches, clubs, and communities have generously donated books, medical supplies, toys, and clothes. Wonderful stories of generosity and appreciation abound but not a word appears in the MSM about any of it! A pox upon censors of the news!

*****

Dr. ___

My name is Junior Davis, and I am pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Mississippi, USA. We hear everyday how hard the struggle is for Iraqi families, especially women and children, and greatly admire your courage and persistence to help those who are oppressed. I personally know {the commander} and most of his soldiers that are there to help you. They are all good men that have families eagerly waiting on them back home. We miss them a lot and pray for their safety every day.

We were so very sorry to hear that you are struggling to keep the women?s clinic open. I know the work you have done to help children and women in your country has made a huge difference. _______ has made us aware of the situation you are in and with your permission; we would like to be a part of your efforts. Please, accept this small gift from your friends at Friendship Baptist as a gesture that we care about you and that we support your efforts. Accept this gift in honor of all the soldiers that have been helping you get your country back.

What you are doing is a noble thing. Don?t give up. I read where you have had set backs, but I believe that God is going to give you a better place that will be longer lasting. I prayed for you today. I pray that you will find a larger building that will be safer so you can change thousands of lives for years to come. It is people like you that tell us we are doing the right thing in Iraq. Whatever the obstacles you face, I pray you will have the energy and courage to do the right thing.

Thank you for all you do to keep our soldiers safe. We consider you our friend and pray for your country every day. If you are ever in Mississippi, we would be honored to meet you and welcome you into our home.

*****

Dear Pastor Junior Davis
I am the director of women center. We do not know how we can thank you for your help, your help helps the center to continue, the center which many Americans and Iraqis people worked very hard to open it ,some of them sacrificed by their souls.

We knew that the Mississippi people are passing hard time we pray for them to pass this time safely , they are good people they did not help the center only but they tried to help all {the city} so we sure god will help them.

Please pray for us to pervade the peace in our country and the soldiers go back to their home safely.

Dr. __________
The director of women center.