Cyber City Refugees

UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) oversees the refugee camps in Jordan.  LDS Charities has worked closely with them for the past few years during the tremendous influx of Syrians and Iraqis into Jordan.  We don't do large projects, but we do fill in the "gaps."  An example is when the camps were being set up on muddy ground LDS charities brought in several loads of gravel.  Later when a tragic fire was caused by faulty electrical systems, we came to the rescue and had it repaired quickly.  Initially we made some very significant contributions of clothing and other items.

LDS Charities has not been heavily involved since the initial set-up of the camps so this week we decided to check in on UNHCR to see if there is anything else we can do.  The meeting was held in a place called Cyber City, an industrial park near Ramtha.  Inside Cyber City in a secure guarded area is an old office building that houses 264 families--Syrians and Palestenians.  UNHCR has an office in a portable building located on the grounds.

264 refugee families live in this building.  

We were not allowed to take pictures, but we got this one from the internet.

In order to get into the area we had to pass by a Jordanian police guard who wanted to know what we wanted, and why we were there.  It wasn't easy for us to make him understand, but after we showed him our business card (one side in English, the other in Arabic) and he made a phone call to UNHCR to confirm the appointment the gate was opened and he let us go in.

The young woman we met at UNHCR was the senior field assistant with responsibilities for Cyber City and King Abdullah camps in the Ramtha area. She offered us hot breakfast sandwiches of pita bread filled with melted cheese (delicious!).  During our conversation she told us that the people living in the building are Syrians and Palestenians.  She explained that medical care and schooling is available, but the people cannot work or own land.  There is a lot of security in the camp that is overseen by Jordanian police.

In an article published in the Jordan Times one refugee says "a few months ago, if you arranged it with the right people (in Syria), you knew you would arrive in Jordan safely.  Now if  you try to flee, there is a 50 percent chance that you won't make it."  She said she decided to take the risk in order to receive emergency medical care for her husband, whose legs were severed by loyalists last month for what they believe was retribution for his cousin's participation in pro-democracy protests.  "If we stayed there was no question we would die.  If we fled we knew we had a chance to survive."

Others were not so lucky.  Syrian forces opened fire on the couple and some 20 other civilians accompanying them on their journey around 5 kilometers out from the Jordanian-Syrian border.  At least two of their party were killed.  "We have no money, we have no home, we have no idea where we will go," she said, "but at least we no longer have fear."

We hope they can find a home somewhere and we wish with all our hearts we could do something more to help them.

Letters for Ramadan

We just received word that Elder Holland will be sending Happy Ramadan letters to LDS Charities' Muslim friends in Jordan.  How cool is that??!!

Ramadan begins around the 18th of June, depending on the stage of the moon or something.  It lasts until the middle of July.

Missionary Meal

This is what we eat for dinner almost every night.  Grilled cheese.

If anybody would like the recipe, just let me know and I'll be happy to share.

We Can't Believe Our Eyes

We couldn't believe what we saw in Amman...Costco!! (under construction)

Something tells us it won't be quite the same . . . . .

What? No Gunshots?

Yesterday was Jordan Independence Day and all was quiet--no loud celebrations, parades or fireworks.  We were a little disappointed.  Lynn was excited because there wasn't a lot of traffic.  Most people were home eating and sleeping.

A Rockin' Good Time

The North Jordan Branch really knows how to party. Whenever there's an activity everyone comes because they know that there will be plenty of food and we will do something really fun.  Yesterday was no exception.

At 8:00 a.m.  a bus started picking up people in Irbid and worked its way down to Al Husn.  When they arrived at the Church the bus was full, so we had to take our van.  There were 33 people total, and 16 were non-members.  We don't get too excited about the number of non-members, because the same ones have a tendency to only come for the activities and don't come to church.  They all have a good excuse.  We still love them and include them.

From Al Husn we traveled south to the Ajloun area to Tel Mar Elias.  Tel Mar Elias is a small hill that has long been identified as the birthplace of the Prophet Elijah.  The remains of an ancient church can be found here.

Note:  the Bible Dictionary gives an excellent comprehensive description of Elijah.  We suggest you go there and read about Elijah--one of the greatest men in the history of the world.

Stone steps going up to the top

The remains of a church built at the site about 600 years A.D.  

Beautiful mosiacs still exist and are out in the open for all to see.  The lack of security for ancient artifacts is amazing to us.

The people put the grapes in the slot by Morad's shoe, pressed them down with their bare feet and the juice poured through a slot into the larger pool.

We thought Morad was teaching about the prophet Elijah, but later we found out he was actually telling an old love story (in Arabic of course).  The meeting began with prayer, so it probably qualifies as a spiritual event.  

Sometimes we just have to laugh.  Most of the time we don't understand a thing that's happening.  We just smile and nod like we do.

"The Wishing Tree"--It's a local tradition to write a wish on a piece of paper or cloth and tie it to the branches of this tree.  If you do, your wish will come true.  We haven't a clue what this has to do with the Prophet Elijah, but it's kinda fun.

From here we thought we would be going to a really nice park for lunch and spend the afternoon.  What we didn't know was the park was on the other side of Amman, and took us about an hour and a half to get there.  We also didn't know that we were going to an amusement park.

We had a wonderful picnic with lots of good Jordanian food.  We brought our tuna fish sandwiches but left them in the cooler when Huda invited us to join their family for chicken and rolled grape leaf  "things."

Sister Tolley and the sisters danced to the Arabic music....

The young people went on the Kamakazi.....

The older ones sat in the shade.....

 And Brother Tolley rode a camel.  Yee, Haw!!
(He says he's in training for the 2016 Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo)

Gardens for Syrians

Everyone knows that donating food to the Syrian refugees cannot go on forever.  Many people, including us, have been trying to come up to a solution that will help the people become self-sufficient.  I suggested that we donate some goats for them to raise, but was told they would probably eat the goats.

Our friend Baseem in Ramtha told us about his idea of providing a parcel of land located near one of the refugee camps for the Syrians to use for growing food.  We asked him "what about water?" He replied that he knows an engineer who is willing to help set up a system to recycle the used water from the camps and run it into a drip system.

The crops would be planted in a pistachio tree orchard, in between the trees.  

This area is very near an old abandoned building that houses 311 Syrian refugees, most of whom were chased out of their homes and not allowed to take anything but their clothes on their back.  

the Church is not satisfied with any system which leaves able people permanently dependent, and insists, on the contrary, that the true function and office of giving, is to help people [get] into a position where they can help themselves and thus be free.” (The Church Welfare Plan,Gospel Doctrine manual, 1946, p. 77.)

Where Is Everybody?

Today (the Sabbath) was an unusual day.  Lynn was the only member at branch presidency meeting at 8:30, which was good for him because he could understand everything that was said.  At 10:00 a.m. the normal starting time for Sacrament meeting, there was no one in the building except us.  We were wondering if we made a mistake and it wasn't Friday.  At our age, that's a possibility.

 

At 10:15 there was still no one.  Lynn prepared the Sacrament table, but there was no bread.  I played the prelude music for 35 minutes.

Finally, at about 10:20 the bus with the members (and the bread) arrived.  Apparently there was a big event (the Irbid Games) in Irbid so many of the streets were blocked off and traffic was re-routed causing the bus to be late.  Because more of the roads were going to be blocked off, we had to shorten our meetings so the members would be able to get home.  Everyone except us was out of the building by 11:30.  It was probably the fastest meeting block in the Church.

A man who was the former branch president and is no longer a member of the Church has been attending for the last three weeks.  We will be visiting him in his home this evening.

"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."  Luke 15:7

Manna From Heaven

Everyone knows the story in the Old Testament of the Lord providing manna for the children of Israel in the desert, so when we went into the local bread shop and saw pita bread come out of the oven, travel up an automated ramp and drop out of a window up near the ceiling the first thing we thought of was . . .

Manna from heaven!!  

Fifty cents a bag.  The price has gone up.  It isn't free anymore.

Everybody Loves King Abdulla

His Majesty, King Abdullah's picture is everywhere in Jordan--in every office, in stores, homes and on billboards.  He is very popular.  We usually see his picture displayed along with the past king (his father) and the future king (his son).

When we visited our friend, Arwa, the dean of the school of nursing at Jordan University of Science and Technology, she insisted we have our picture taken in front of the king. ( LDS Charities is donating some diabetes testing supplies to the school). 

Turning Down The Coffee

As Mormons, we do not drink coffee or tea.  As Mormons in Jordan, we are not allowed (by law) to proselyte or talk about our religion.  This presents an interesting dilemma because everyone offers coffee and expects us to drink it.  It's an insult if you don't.

What do we do?  Here are the choices:

1.  Tell them about the Word of Wisdom and teach them about the harmful effects of coffee and wait to see if we get arrested for proselyting.

2.  Tell them "No thank you but we are fasting from coffee.  We can drink water."

We pick #2.  It works for us.  Everyone understands fasting.  We don't mention that we'll be fasting from coffee for the rest of our lives.

Crazy old Man

While were sitting in the office of the manager of the Altakaful Health clinic an crazy old  man came into the room.  He looked at us and started yelling, "You are Christian.  Who do you worship?  Who is your God? Is it Allah?"

(This is not his actual picture, but he looked like this)

Everyone started laughing and trying to get him out of the room, but he didn't relent until we told him "there is only one God" and pointed up.  Apparently he was satisfied with the answer because he quieted down and left the room.   Muslims always say "there is only one God" and we understand that the statement stems back from when Mohammed started Islam.  At that time the people worshiped many idols, Mohammed and his followers kept repeating "there is only one God" and told the people to get rid of their idols.  The saying has continued through the ages.

We probably could have started a discussion about the Godhead--Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.  Wouldn't that have been interesting in a room full of Muslims and a crazy man?!!

Who Runs This Place?

There's an absolutely amazing health clinic in Ramtha called the Altakaful Clinic.  It's a charity clinic that serves Syrian refugees and Jordanian people who have no insurance.  We are very impressed with them and what they do for the poor.  They are world class in the services they offer.

The opthomology room - this is as well-equipped as anything we've seen in Jordan.

They provide have dentistry, gynecology, family and internal medicine, emergency, rehabilitation, immunizations, health education, pharmacy, opthomology, pediatrics, etc. etc.  There doesn't seem to be much they have forgotten.

The clinic serves 350 patients every day.  Each person is given a card with the phone numbers of all the departments.  That way they can call ahead for an appointment. Most services cost 1 dinar.  Specialists charge 2. 

Dr. Abd, the director told us that their funding is being cut and we wanted to know what we could do to help.  We were given a list.

We still have to do some more research on the clinic, because there never was a clear answer to the question of where they get their funding.  We've heard it's from the Muslim Brotherhood.  If it is, we probably will want to help anyway.

Baseem's Dream and the Hazards of Smoking

We met Baseem in Ramtha when we were doing the diabetic retinopathy campaign.  He really, really wants to be our "best friend."  He has a big heart and a lot of passion for his work.  His charity is called "Global Sign Right." He has lots of ideas and is hoping LDS Chartities will help finance them.

Today we went with him to visit an old hotel and restaurant that he is turning into a community center for the Syrian Refugees.  There will be restful gardens, swimming pool, play area, training rooms, rehabilitation center, counseling center, sewing center, etc. etc.  We wonder if he can really do everything he says he can.  So far the garden looks good.  I like the red flowers.

The swimming pool will be completely redone.

 We didn't have much time to look around because Baseem is also the Ramtha Public Health and Human Relief Advisor and was scheduled to give a lecture on the effects of smoking. We really laughed when he told us the topic of his lecture because he is a serious chain smoker.

 Baseem invited us to go hear his lecture and we said, "what the heck...let's go."  The class was for the Jordanian Civil Defense officers in Northern Jordan.  We didn't understand a word.

"Don't smoke!!  You will get lung cancer and die!!"  ("Hurry up and finish this class because I need a cigarette")

Our Muslim Best Friend

Jamal Iqtish, the head of United Muslim Relief in Jordan is a good man.  He loves LDS Charities and we love him.   He just got back from a trip to the United States where he visited Sharon Eubanks and spent a day in Salt Lake City.

We have partnered with him on many projects here in Jordan because he's honest, he has good connections and he loves and serves the poor with all his heart.  We also think he has a serious case of ADD which isn't a bad thing--he is always going a mile a minute.  He's the one who takes us to deliver food boxes to the refugees living outside of organized camps.

As soon as he returned from the United States he phoned to say he wanted to meet with us AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!  We told him we couldn't do it until next week, but he insisted that we meet sooner, so we went to Amman today.

It was a good meeting.

Jamal was very excited to tell us about his trip to Salt Lake and the meeting  with Sharon where they shared ideas for projects like underground cisterns for saving water,  agriculture projects, schools for refugees, food boxes, clothing, hygiene kits and help for hospital clinics.  There were enough ideas for projects to keep us busy for the rest of our mission.  We can't wait to get started.
 

They're Dropping Like Flies

Anwar had a stroke last night and is in intensive care.  Ban is in the hospital seriously ill with cancer.  Amer has gone to Thialand to see if he can get his injured arm repaired.  Samour is having open heart surgery at the end of the month.  Tamer hurt his knee and can't walk.   Virginia hurt her knee too and Samaya has infected teeth.  What else can happen?

As for us, we are staying well.  We have to--there's not many people left.  May the Lord bless them all.

We took this picture of Anwar (in the white shirt) right before he got sick.  

A "Tender Mercy"

After church we went with one of the members of the North Jordan Branch to visit Ban in the hospital.  Ban's room is usually congested with patients and visitors, but today she was the only patient in the large room and Lynn and Morad closed the door and were able to administer the Sacrament to her in a quiet and reverent manner.  Her son Meshal who has been less active was there and also partook of the Sacrament and assisted in giving his mother a blessing.  In the quiet room we felt as if the windows of heaven had opened up and we felt an outpouring of the Spirit.  It was a very tender mercy.

The Importance of The One

Sharon Eubanks, the global director of Humanitarian Services and the Welfare Manager for the Middle East North Africa  She is a very busy woman, but not too busy to travel to Iraq to visit the Tiyari family.  As far as we know they are the only LDS family in Iraq.

We hope we can be like Sharon and never be too busy to reach out to the "one."

The Hokey Pokey

Over the past 15 or more years this area in North Jordan has had a couple missionary presence.  The senior couples have done an amazing great work and some hard lessons have been learned.  It's been a time of growth similar to the early days of the Church in Kirtland and Nauvoo--persecutions, hurt feelings and misunderstandings.  All along the members were "carried on the shoulders" of the missionaries. (both feet in).

Now is the time for the missionaries to back off.  (both feet out).

This is a good idea, but has to be done in the right way and won't be done overnight.  We are doing our best to train and mentor in a way that will help the members grow--not drive them away.  Here are some of the things we are doing:

The Relief Society is grouping sisters together to "team teach" the lessons.  Hopefully this will build the ability and confidence of members who have been in the Church for years but haven't ever had a calling. The "cat lady" who is a hoarder will help teach the lesson on home storage along with the Relief Society president whose husband only has seasonal work.  A mother and less active daughter will teach a lesson on teachings of the prophets.  Another young woman who reads the scriptures every day will teach a lesson about the Book of Mormon with one of the members of the presidency.  A non-member who has been coming to church for a long time will be asked to teach along with her young daughter who is a member.

The new first-counselor in the Branch Presidency is a less-active older man.  He will conduct the meeting tomorrow and then will go to the hospital afterward to take the sacrament to Ban.  He can do it because Lynn will help him.

This is a good plan, but we know things don't always go like we want or expect.  We know that "stepping out" will take time and patience.  May the Lord bless us all.

"I Need Thee Every Hour"

One of the women (Ban Azrai) in our branch has cancer and has been hospitalized at the nearby King Hussein hospital.  She is very sick.  On Monday "the Relief Society" piled into our van and went to see her.

Ban was sitting in a chair beside her bed with her head down when we walked into the room, but when she looked up and saw the sisters it was like a light going off.  She was very happy and they were able to have a short conversation with her which I didn't understand, but I could feel the love and caring.

The sisters decided to sing a hymn for Ban and thought "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" wasn't exactly appropriate right now so we sang "I Need Thee Every Hour. . .In joy or pain"   It didn't sound very melodic, but it was beautiful and full of emotion.  The other patients and their families in the room (all Muslims) went silent and respectful for the hymn and also for the prayer Huda offered.

It was a sweet, tender moment.

Goodbye

Brent and Margaret Strong of the "Celestial Six" finished their mission and went home this week.  It was so sad to see them go.  They will leave a big hole and we will miss them greatly.

We had a going away party at the Amman Center on Saturday.  

Mugs of thick, rich hot chocolate (like drinking a brownie)

A hand-me-down bathrobe from Margaret

The Hammonds played a movie about Mohammed and the beginning of Islam, but we both fell asleep so they took mercy on us, turned it off and sent us home.  We're such "old people"!!

"Stupid People"?

The ancient  city of Tafila is a place where people from the same family have inter-married over the years.  Amer told us that the joke in Jordan is that the people from here are stupid as a result of the inter-marriages.  The people we met seemed okay, so we don't know if it's true.

We were given a great report from the local society that has been the recipient of wheelchairs donated by LDS Charities.  They even had a power point presentation.

Nobody receives a wheelchair without training and they have a contract with each donor to bring the chair back if the recipient dies.

 

Amer is so personable and charming--these two single girls were totally "smitten."  Sorry there's no hope for them, he won't marry a Muslim woman.

   

"I am not tired!!"

One of the reasons we took Amer with us is to be our translator.  The other reason was to get his mind off the pain he has been suffering from the injury to his arm.  We hope he can get some help very soon.  The surgery he needs is very complicated and not available in Jordan. 

Be Careful in Ma'an

Traveling north from Aqaba on the desert highway is a city called Ma'an.  It is a place where radical extremists groups have been operating, but are kept under control by the Jordanian police.
LDS Charities works with the Ma'an clinic located there.  We are so blessed to have the Spirit with us to let us know if we are in danger.  We didn't feel any threats at all.  We were safe.

The ultra-sound machine for the clinic was donated by LDS Charities.  There is no way they could have been able to get one without our help.  People come here from all around south Jordan.  The quality is better than anything they can get in Jordan.

 The management of the clinic is being taught to set aside money every month for a new machine when this one wears out.  They are very careful and take good care of it.

 We told the woman on the right to smile for the picture, but we don't know if she did!

The Sheikh is our friend.

The clinic has a small workshop where people polish rocks and make jewelry.

The Red Sea Isn't Red

Our trip through southern Jordan ended in the beautiful port city of Aqaba.

Aqaba looks a lot like Palm Springs or Palm Desert only it's near the sea.  Cargo ships bring in goods from all over the world and it's the country's only seaport. The city has a small town atmosphere and is a popular tourist destination for divers.  It's also a great place for seafood.   We're not sure what the crap with ginger and spring onion was, but we didn't order it. 

After eating lots of shrimp and getting a good night's rest we met Amer the next day for a tour of the area.  He loves Aqaba and we can understand why. 

Beautiful fish in the Aquarium

Gorgeous beaches 

Amazing view:  Egypt and Israel across the bay

A fun boat trip out into the crystal blue waters of the Aqaba bay 

Ahhh....a beautiful spring day.

Muslim women must stay covered at all times when they are away from the home, but the men get to wear whatever they want.  So when a family goes out the men wear shorts and t-shirts and go swimming, but the women can only sit and watch . . . in a hot coat and scarf.  Grrrr.  This drives me crazy.

Dad bought "Gold Million" and "B-15" cologne from a street vendor.  It's supposed to bring world peace, cure cancer and cover up body odor.

Shopping at the Chinese market is fun and cheap.

One of the most beautiful mosques we've ever seen is in downtown Aqaba.  We couldn't help but think that with a few tweaks (angel Moroni on the top, etc)  it could become a magnificent temple.