|
Home
Small Gifts Bring Big Smiles
MOSUL, IRAQ (December 5, 2005) - While on patrol in one of Iraq's most
dangerous areas, Lt. John Rose, who attends Community Covenant Church in
Eagle River, Alaska, and Covenant U.S. Army Chaplain Cpt. John Grauer
recently had the opportunity to spread smiles among impoverished children.
Rose is the leader of Alpha Company third platoon, which patrols the
area looking for insurgents. But the platoon, which Grauer often
accompanies, had the joy of distributing food, water, kites, soccer
balls and beanie babies, the chaplain says.
"The kids seem to come from everywhere," says Grauer. "The kids' faces
lit up. It was like a surprise birthday party." The joy is bittersweet,
says Grauer. "There are so many needs, and we simply do not have the
means to help everyone." The kids will nearly overwhelm the soldiers, he
adds.
The few homes that remain standing in the area just outside of Mosul
were left unoccupied when a military intelligence officer in the Hussein
government fled in advance of coalition forces, Grauer says. Several
Iraqi families that would not otherwise have shelter have moved into the
area, but still there is no running water, and the unemployment rate
exceeds 50 percent.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
|
|
|
