Kurdistan Iraq: November

Dear Family and Friends,

November ended with so much gratitude for the Gospel, life, blessings of family, freedom, and America! We have seen so much sorrow and lack of hope. As we have participated, in a very small part, helping in this country, we find ourselves counting and verbally listing to each other, our many blessings on a daily basis.

HUMANITARIAN

We were invited to go to the Bardarsh refugee camp where most of the Syrian refugees have been taken for the past 6 weeks. We were invited as guests of Prime Minister Barzani, along with several other charity foundations from around the world. The security we saw for miles around the camp was fascinating. Peshmerga were all over the hill tops and along the roads. Ken and I were totally searched before entering the room he was in. He was very appreciative of all that is being done by so many, to help Kurdistan house and feed these families. After he met with us and thanked all the organizations there, Mr. Barzani walked around the camp wishing the thousands of people hope, joy and a speedy return to their homes and country. There have been 17,000 refugees enter Northern Iraq since October 14. LDS Charities has donated most of the money necessary for these individuals to have hot meals as they entered the country and as they were getting set up in their camps. We are now preparing to provide them with a medical clinic, doctors and medicines. There are currently 1.042 million refugees and IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) in this country. They have been welcomed by the Kurdish government and many organizations have stepped up to help relieve the trauma of their situation. It has been amazing to watch all of the goodness around us. Thankfully, the number of Syrian refugees, entering per day, is slowing down to around 140 per day.

We visited the Hope Center at Baharka Camp and saw women busy sewing on the machines we purchased for them. They were sewing dresses for the women of the camp. Also, the children of the camp were in educational workshops learning English and other class instruction. For many of them, this is the only schooling they receive. We also attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the greenhouses, which we helped get back into working condition. We even planted a few strawberry plants and trees ourselves! We are also helping a very run down public school in our neighborhood. We provided a computer, printer, some supplies, playground equipment, repaired broken windows and got some outdoor toilets working. Prior to putting the toilets back into operation, if a child needed to go to the bathroom, they had to run all the way home. It should be completed by the end of this week.

KURDISTAN BRANCH

Our branch welcomed a beautiful family of five, the Tofiq Family, into the branch last week. They were all baptized in the swimming pool of the Cristal Hotel where we were having a Branch Conference. They are an amazing family and have such a dedicated desire to learn all they can. Member neighbors noticed this great family and just spoke up and invited them to church. Elder and Sister Holgate, in Sulaimani have been teaching them the missionary discussions and we were able to join in on two of the follow-up lessons this past week. We could not be more impressed with this family. The branch is blessed to have them. The family provided three more youth in the branch!

One of our young women in the branch (Valentina) is busy getting ready to go on her mission to London----Visas are NOT an easy thing to obtain---so much work and money, but she is so excited. She said she will do whatever is necessary to make it happen. This lovely young lady will be the second missionary to leave from Iraq. Last month her married, nonmember sister, was sitting in a park in Australia and was approached by LDS sister missionaries. One said to her that God had a message for her. Her sister listened to them and told them she never would have even talked to them, however, since her sister in Iraq was going to be doing what they were doing, she wanted to listen to them:)

This country is still having a lot of turmoil in Baghdad. There have been 400 killed and 8,000 wounded due to protests against the government. They are demanding a change in the government system. We have learned that this would be the wealthiest country in the world (because of all the oil) if the government managed, with the good of the people in mind. Hopefully some changes are made.

FAMILY

Our grandson, Jacob, is being sealed in the Timpanogos Temple on December 21 to Savannah Sumsion. They are adorable and very happy.

Two of our grand daughters, Lilly Summers (Marc's beautiful wife) is expecting a girl in February and Jasay Ann (Whitehead) Goodrich, is expecting a little girl in March. This will bring us to eight great-grandchildren.

Our granddaughter, Makell, got home from her mission and got engaged, on Thanksgiving Day, to her boyfriend of 41/2 years; all this while at Disneyland. She left for her mission to Virginia, while he was on his in Samoa. We are happy for them! Their wedding is planned for December 28----to fulfill a dream of being sealed in the Salt Lake Temple---the last day before it closes for 5 years.

Engagements, weddings, Birthdays, and new babies are all happening without us-------HOWEVER-------our family is very supportive about our missionary service as we try to serve the beautiful people of Kurdistan. They know we are tying to give just a little back for all we've been given.

We love you all, but love the Lord more. If Kurdistan is where He wants us to be, then

Kurdistan is where we want to be.

With Love and Hugs,

Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa

Ken and Joyce