On the anniversary of a day many remember as a turning point for America, Baptist relief workers in the Middle East brought a message of hope and reconciliation Sept. 11 as they delivered food and supplies to Iraqi and other refugees living in Jordan.
Working with local charities, 19 volunteers — from Florida, Virginia, Texas, Georgia and North Carolina — delivered 50 boxes of food, which mirrored the contents of 46,000 food boxes from Southern Baptists awaiting delivery to Iraqi families.
Initially, the work had been interrupted when security concerns arose after the terrorist bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Iraq in late August. Instead of going to Baghdad, the workers were diverted to Jordan Sept. 2 where they engaged in a variety of relief projects among the estimated half-million Iraqi refugees there.
In other projects over a 10-day period, the relief workers visited an Islamic women’s center to deliver diapers and other baby items, went on home visits to help build relationships with families, assisted with health care assessment among the poor, completed projects at the Amman Baptist School, and brought food and supplies to a nearby orphanage.
The team began their orientation to Middle Eastern culture and religion by visiting and praying at sites in Jordan with special biblical tie-ins — Petra, Mount Nebo and Umm Qais. (BP)
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