Part of me has always been envious of people who were both
good at writing and had discipline to keep it up. I’m more into photo
journalism so many have probably noticed that my facebook page (Www.facebook.com/rebekah2jordan)
has become a yearbook of activities with my students and the other children at
the school. I have actually written several blogs in the last 2 months, but have posted none of them due to high emotions at the time of writing.
This first half of the school year has flown by. Yes, there
a few more weeks, but we have been busy putting up Christmas trees and
decorating the room and talking about the holiday. I brought in 5 homemade
pumpkin pies (Thank you mom for bringing me the cans of pumpkin) AND I have the
privilege to work with amazing teachers and co-workers who encourage the
holiday.
This is in stark contrast to Christmas in schools in the
states where “Happy Holidays” is the only politically correct remark for this
time of year in the states. Regardless of the irony of this situation, I am
loving experiencing the holiday season here in Jordan. A bookstore near my flat
has had Christmas decorations up for over a month, my friends and I sing Jingle
bells in Arabic… or... they do… and I kind of mumble along… I was able to
gather for a Thanksgiving celebration with a group of friends who hardly knew
me but treated me like family as we sang random songs, and I have been blessed
at every turn.
But things are not easy here. Sure, comparatively my life is
pretty easy. And a lot of my expat friends have talked about the adjustment
being rough. For me, the language is the hardest part, but other than that
there is a sense of home. I know I am where I’m supposed to be and can be
confident in that so I try to be culturally sensitive and adjust when necessary, but over-all it has been a relatively easy transition for myself. However, all
the reading in the world can never prepare you for the stories you hear on a
regular basis and things are only getting increasingly more difficult.
One of my first few weeks here I heard of a child whose
father was offered 10k JOD to marry her. The Girl was only 10 years old.
Shortly after that, BBC news and Al Jezeera both reviewed similar stories
happening in refugee camps. My friends, they have little money and
international support has run out just before winter. The need is greater than
ever and yet they are pulling out now.
Soon after we heard stories of abuse with children in the school,
another’s father was “lost” in Syria. There are now a few Iraqi students that
are new to the school. A few weeks ago, I was able to pray for a friend's family who lost a child in a shooting in Syria.
With all the news of deaths and killings around the world,
my heart is broken for the children who grow up in such environments who can
hardly imagine a peaceful upbringing. Shouts or loud noises sets some of the
children off in tears. A sudden movement or touch from behind put a child into panic. No child should have to suffer from PTSD. So often I hear of
people arguing for the “sanctity of life” for unborn children and yet so often that
is where the cries seem to end and for me that is only the start. I love the
children of the school. I would claim any of my students if ever necessary. Ana
Momma. Ana Momma. I’m mom. To some of these kids I am mom. I don’t always
understand what they are trying to tell me…. More accurately, I occasionally
figure out what they are trying to tell me… but I love them with all my heart.
But I’m becoming increasingly more aware of news around me and the discrepancies
from what I hear vs what I see. I grieve for loss of life, even those deemed “necessary”
by all other accounts.
Sometimes, I wish people could see the world through my
eyes, but unfortunately we can only know what we seek and sometimes we don’t
know the questions to ask. And also unfortunately, there are always limitations
to what can be reported.
But continue to pray for the unrest over here. Jordan is
currently home to many refugees of Syrian, Iraqi, and Palestinian backgrounds and barely able to meet their needs. The churches that I am connected with are doing
what they can, but resources are already limited. 1.7 million Syrian refugees
live in the region between here, Lebanon, Iraq (for now), Turkey, and Egypt,
but UN funding is depleted as of December according to a number of sources. 64
Million dollars is needed to provide through December ALONE.
The sad reality is that for many, UN was the only aid they
were receiving. Their homes are multiple families sharing small flats just
barely scrapping by. And most of the refugees are children.
*~*~*~*~*~*~Rebekah Is In Jordan : How To Support Pray4MiddleEast.~*~*~*~*~*~*
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