It was a beautiful morning for a trip to Mafraq to distribute food boxes to Syrian refugees. The road we traveled took us through some farm country where the recent rains have changed the earth and made it beautiful and green. Large stone houses surrounded by olive orchards and little rock fences dot the countryside. It's a very peaceful and prosperous looking area. Who would ever imagine that war and suffering are so close by.
The trip wasn't without stress, however. Even though we have a GPS, we really got lost when we got to Mafraq and it was very frustrating to be in a place where you don't know where you are, can't speak the language or read any of the signs. Finally, we pulled over in front of a restaurant that had a sign in English and Jamal sent someone to get us.
When we arrived at the United Muslim Relief office we walked upstairs to a room filled with women and children. The women were all Syrian widows. Everyone was waiting patiently for us to arrive and as soon
as we did Jamal introduced us as representatives of LDS Charities, one of the donors of the food boxes they were about to receive. Then the fun began.
Every child was given a piece of candy, then another and another. The mothers got candy, too. It was just like Christmas. Jamal says that the families get rice and oil in the food boxes, but the children must have candy, too. He is so kind and loving and thoughtful.
We were wondering how the women would carry the heavy boxes home, but Jamal explained that he had given each one the money for a taxi. He gave them enough to come to the center and then to go back home.
Occasionally we meet someone who steals our hearts. This little girl in the pink was so friendly, smart and cute, we couldn't help but love her. The woman with the green vest works for Jamal. She's a widow with five children, one handicapped.
And then we meet some who break our hearts. This young girl was in a lot of pain, but as hard as we tried, we couldn't get her to look up or to respond to our hugs. It was obvious that she was suffering, and we didn't know how to help.
Most of the widows had come to the Muslum Relief Center to get their food boxes, but there were some families Jamal wanted us to see in their own homes, so we delivered the food boxes to them.
I thought this shack was the home of a refugee family but it wasn't. It's a shelter for a sheepherder! The sheep are behind. The building where the refugees are staying is on the left.
My camera got switched to black and white by mistake, but the dark colors are suitable for this scene. It was like a motel, with the doors opening to a courtyard. Each apartment had two rooms.
Lynn took off his shoes to go in the door. Inside was a family with two disabled children--a daughter who is deaf and dumb and a son who is totally paralyzed. The son was laying on a mat on the floor. There was no furniture inside. As far as we could tell this family had nothing but the clothes they were wearing and some blankets.
These 5 children are orphans being raised by their grandmother.
Some people are happy no matter what. This widow and her children were smiling and grateful for the food.
We wonder how we would respond if we had to face the difficulties and tragedies that life hands to the people we met today. We are so blessed and we are very grateful for what we have. We hope we can be more like our Savior and we hope we can also be more like Jamal, a good good man.
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