DOVES,
 
This letter is from friends of ours who have been in Basrah, Iraq for 3 months doing friendship evangelism.
 
They are very sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Be blessed by their ministry.
 
(The message is hyphenated with * in hopes that their email messages will allude Muslim email filters and spying.)
 
Alan Trombetta
 
.....
So much has happened over the last three months, perhaps as much as happens in an average lifetime. We have experienced both triumph and tragedy. We've made new friends and have lost dear friends. Yet every event, whether good or bad, has been accompanied by G*d's grace. Abundant grace. In His grace we've learned that nothing, NOTHING, can stand against G*d's love for us and for those He has called us to serve.
 
Instead of telling you about the tragedy, we want to tell you about the triumph...the triumph of a "perfect love" that "casts out all fear."
 
When we first arrived, we were strangers to this Arab culture. We became immediately aware of the fear and hopelessness that has deeply affected the Ir*qi people for generations. It took weeks to get adjusted and to begin understanding what life here is really like. To be honest, it was difficult just getting past the suspicion that the community initially held towards us. They've experienced so much treachery throughout their history that we couldn't blame them for responding to our presence as they did. For weeks, all we could do as we walked throughout our neighborhood was to return stares with a genuine smile and share the Arabic greeting of "peace be with you" from our heart. We prayed fervently for G*d's love to open up people's lives.
 
G*d answered our cry. In time, we started seeing what that simple greeting began to do. Glares would turn into smiles, accompanied by a somewhat surprised "and peace with you". For most people here, we were their first encounter with foreigners...and we spoke Arabic! (well, a little bit anyway) Eventually, people began asking us where we were from. "You are Turkish? Iranian? Syrian? Lebanese?" They just couldn't seem to place us. When we told them that we were "Amreekee" (Americans), they were astonished. What would four American civilians be doing in B*rah? Many were happy to hear that we were Amreekee. They expressed a sincere gratitude for America getting rid of Saddam Hussein who destroyed their country and their lives. "America good! Bush good! No more Saddam! Thank you!" Yet others looked at us with disgust and remarked, "Americans are no good", not realizing that we understood more Arabic than we spoke.
 
As people began opening up we realized that only a supernatural love could break through the barriers in the Ir*qi mind to reach their heart...whether they liked Americans or not. So we decided to unpack our cultural baggage and make ourselves vulnerable and available...not as Americans, but as ambassadors of Chr*st's love.
 
We began looking for common ground on which to build relationships. We asked G*d for His love and empathy to see what He was doing and to build His way. As we did, G*d opened up "the eyes of our heart" allowing us to see subtle judgments that we made against one another on the team. He showed us that we couldn't see clearly what He was doing because of the "beams in our own eyes". It was humbling. After a time of sincere repentance, relationships began to grow among team members and with our Ir*qi friends.
 
Sometimes the simple things shared within a relationship can be the most profound.
 
The highlight of our stay was a visit that we had with a family in a village south of B*rah. Waleed, our men's language teacher, invited the four of us to visit his sister's family in Abul Khasib and enjoy a meal with them. His wife Mayada and his friend Basam came along with us. As we arrived at their farm house it was obvious that Waleed had not told his sister that we were coming. This is the Arab way. But the awkwardness we felt quickly gave way to the warm welcome they gave us. That day, G*d showed us just how He wanted us to build.
 
Since the women of the house had to run to the kitchen to begin preparing a meal for 15 people, Ashley and Tammii were allowed to join with the men in the salon (living room). Waleed and Basam translated as our conversations took off.
 
Fathal is the father of the house. His wife, Suuad, is Waleed's sister. Both Fathal and Suuad are school teachers in the village. They have one teenage daughter, Doonya and two young sons, Yasser and Hassum. They shared with us that they had not received their monthly teaching salary ($140) for three months because of the conditions in Iraq. They said they felt compelled to continue teaching because it would be worse for the children if they stopped. It was obvious that they had a genuine heart to help the next generation have a better life than they had over the last 30 years.
 
As we visited, talk eventually came around to marriage. Basam asked us how long we had been married. He was surprised when we told him, "25 years...and we're just getting started". He remarked about how happy we were with one another and said that most marriages are not like that. Men and women argue and fight. We seized the opportunity to share what G*d had done in our relationship. We told them about the need to forgive one another and to not let the sun set on our anger. I (Kevin) told them that at the beginning of our marriage, I tried to command Tammii to obey me (much like the Arab way). But G*d revealed to me that He was not like that with me, so why should I be like that with my wife. So I go to her when I have wronged her and ask her to forgive me. This shocked the men that a man would humble himself and go to his wife. At this point, Basam said that he felt convicted to go to his wife because he has treated her unkindly. We were a little amazed that he would confess this so openly in front of his friends.
 
This led to further discussion about conflicts between people and different religious parties in the village. G*d gave us another opportunity to share about love. I said that in the Holy Book, the Bible, Isa (Jesus) said that there are two commandments that are the most important in life...that you "love G*d with all of your heart" and that you "love your neighbor as you love yourself". You could see by their response that they were beginning to experience something entirely new regarding relationships.
 
Towards the end of our visit, the men said that they have a new Ir*qi name for me. Names given to people have special meanings. Instead of calling me Kevin, they would call me by my new name, Katham.  They explained that Katham means, "one who has no anger in his heart...who is kind and generous". I was honored and deeply moved by the depth of relationship G*d had given us.
 
As we stood in front of their mudbrick home, thanking their family and saying our goodbyes, G*d gave me one last opportunity to openly share His love. A boldness came upon me to pray a blessing upon Fathal and his family that G*d would bring provisions into their household and that they would come to know in their hearts how much G*d loves them. Just then, something gave way. It was as if a heaviness was lifted from their home. Fathal became very touched as I gave him a warm embrace and a kiss on his cheek. He spoke so gently to me in Arabic that I knew what he was saying was coming from his heart. It didn't need to be translated. We became dear friends at that moment.
 
All of us are leaving Ir*q with full hearts. The tragic events that have taken place during our time here seem so distant now. Any trace of lingering fear has been completely swept away by G*d's love. We are free to love Ir*qis passionately. The cry of our heart is for Ir*q to know G*d's love and forgiveness found only in J*sus Chr*st. We fervently pr*y that this is G*d's appointed time for this nation.
 
After a quick stop-over in Amsterdam for debriefing, we will return to Kansas City to finish our training. For the next few months we will be making preparations for returning to Ir*q, hopefully sometime in October. We will try to personally connect with as many of our friends as possible. We look forward to seeing you soon.
 
Thank you for your continued support and prayers. We are forever grateful!
 
In J*sus,
 
Katham and Tamara
(Kevin and Tammii)
 
p.s. If you would like to help Kevin and Tammii in their ministry please contact Alan at newgrip@juno.com