"Thank you for visiting our website. There is no place in the world that has  the profile of  the Middle East - constantly in the news and constantly the scene of war. Yet amidst the tragedy of the region there are few places that have such wonderful people. I love the people of this region and so do we as an organisation. This includes all peoples of the region: Muslims, Christians and Jews. In the midst of these conflict situations we seek political, diplomatic and religious solutions.”

Canon Andrew White
President of FRRME

Violence Increases but Love Never Fails

06.02.10

Dear Friends,

Greetings and Blessings from Iraq. As the plane started its decent into Baghdad I felt exhilarated. I landed in an airport under a serious bomb threat. There were very few people in the airport and nobody was being allowed in. It is 3 miles in the airport compound to the place where our police and military security usually meet us.

The assistant of the airports director who is a friend took me to join up with my security. As we drove to my security the exhilaration intensified. I thought to myself can there be anybody else who is so excited about going to work, especially in a place surrounded by guns, razor wire, bomb barricades and explosives. After meeting with our security we embraced warmly and continued to Baghdad.

Perfect Love

As we drove I was so aware that I was so excited to be back because I was where G-d wanted me to be. To be in the will of G-d is nearly always exciting. I thought back to words that hang in the chapel of my theological College in Cambridge. It said "He who has called you, will not fail you". I am always aware that He will not fail me. I have no fear about being here, I have immense joy and the love of my people who I also love so much. "Perfect love does cast out all fear". What I have is perfect love.

We went to the International Zone and collected Jonathan Webb a friend who used to work here, I had not seen him for 7 months. He is here working on the issue of the huge number of orphans. It was Jonathan who first suggested that we create a clinic in our church compound. Jonathan will be staying at the Church for a while.

As we arrived at the church suddenly I was surrounded by so many of these people I love. There were the usual hugs and kisses and a large number of our churches young people were here on an activity day as they are on holiday. Here in Baghdad violence has seriously increased in the run up today in Karbala. Every day this week there have been large bombings.

With every blessing,

Andrew White