Things Were Not as They Seemed.

Although we felt fairly safe in Iraq, there were some tense moments on this trip. Life in Iraq is very different than what we are used to in the U.S. Machine guns are a common sight and go mostly unnoticed by the locals. The sound of gunshots are heard from time to time. Buildings riddled with bullet holes are seen here and there and the periodic sound of a distant explosion doesn’t seem to startle anyone but visitors.

Upon arriving in Iraq we were told by our security to stay highly aware of our surrounds, always stay with our assigned partner, and listen to our security detail and do exactly as they say. Doug the head of our security team emphasized the importance of paying attention to our "gut". If something didn’t feel right, it's probably for good reason. Our security was always on top of things and we had complete confidence in their ability to keep us safe.

One evening, those feelings of safety gave way to apprehension, concern, and finally fear. We boarded our buses and set out for dinner. No one in our group, including our security was aware of what was in store for us that evening . We arrived at a heavily guarded compound and were welcomed in high style. Video cameras captured our every move, but we had become somewhat accustomed to that as cameras seemed to be present everywhere we went. During the reception it came to light that things were not as they seemed. Although dinner was uneventful, there was a growing sense that something wasn't right. The enormous presence of firepower and guards at the compound was concerning because our security did not have any visible weapons and were completely outnumbered. We were feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

Following dinner we were escorted to an area of the compound where a religious ritual was to take place. It was a ritual of violence inflicted on adults and children. Violent acts were committed right in front of us as others recorded our reactions on video. We were helpless to do anything but sit there and watch. What if we had the “wrong” reaction? What if we tried to leave? What if we tried to stop them from hurting one of the kids? None of us was willing to risk making the wrong move. Many of us prayed quietly as the mutilations continued. After nearly two hours of being subjected to watching this “ritual”, it became clearer as to why we were there.Their purpose for having us there was to show us what violent and terrible things can be done, yet their god Allah will protect them. They actually seemed to be proud and showing off in a very disturbing way.

After a very long evening we were permitted to leave. We were shocked by what we saw that night. Part of what seemed so sad was the children being brought up in this violence and conditioned for these types of rituals. In Iraq there is no “child protective services” to swoop in and remove children from a dangerous environment.

The events of the that night gave way to an unexpected and joyful day that would continue to bond the women together. The love of the God of the Bible would be evident in sharp contrast to the violence of Allah, the god of Islam.