On another day, we had the honor to to visit a local ministry that is helping meet the physical and spiritual needs of displaced Iraqi and Syrian Christian refugees, and other people groups in the outskirts of Amman, Jordan. This ministry works with families as they first arrive in Jordan, to ensure they have the basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing. They run a pre-school for the refugee children, help people find a place to live, and provide counseling, medical, and dental support to the community through volunteer doctors and dentists. We initially learned about this ministry from a friend who works with this church and helps manage the "noon project," which helps Iraqi Christian families earn wages.
For those who do not know, "noon" is the Arabic letter "n", pronounced "noon." The letter symbolizes the word for "Christian" in Arabic, "nassarah," coming from the word "Nazareth." This is the symbol that was spray-painted on the homes and businesses of thousands of Christians in Mosul, Iraq, when ISIS captured the city in 2014, and marked the homes of thousands of other Christians across Iraq. In addition to identifying them as Christians, it indicated that they were now property of ISIS. Once tagged by ISIS, people had the option to convert to Islam, pay a large tax to remain in their homes under very difficult conditions, or flee. Over the course more than a decade, thousands of Iraqi Christians, Yazidis, Chaldeans, and people of other religions were killed for their faith.
Many Iraqi Christians originally fled to northern Iraqi Kurdistan, which soon after also became under ISIS threat, and many have now come to Jordan for safety and refuge. By the grace of God and kind-hearted Jordanians sponsoring them to live in Jordan, they are living as refugees with hopes to one day immigrate to a place with better opportunities for their families. Most fled Iraq with just the clothes on their backs. They left behind their homes, successful careers, and all their possessions. The noon is a sobering reminder that we should store up our treasures in heaven because we will not keep the ones on earth. "You suffered alone with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions." Hebrews 10:34.
While refugees in Jordan, the Iraqi Christians are unable to legally work, and it is difficult for children to attend schools. Many refugees live off of savings, receive money from relatives, or work illegally. In Jordan, they are living in a new culture, new neighborhoods, amongst new people. Many people look down upon them for their beliefs and for the "burden" they are on the already poor Jordanian society. But one of their goals is to be useful to the community in which they live.
This is where the "noon" project is currently helping 55 Iraqi families earn wages. It was initiated by an Iraqi housewife with an art background, who is an experienced mosaic craftsman. She taught other Iraqis this trade, and now they have produced approximately 9,000 mosaics since October 2015. They are made in many colors, but the most prominent color seen is the "red noon" because that is the color used by ISIS to mark their homes and property, and it is a reminder of their lost treasures in this world. This is a sampling of the "noons" made daily.
We had the honor to meet with people who coordinate these ministries, and to speak with several of the men and women that make the mosaics and other crafts. One man I met said his family fled from Mosul 3 years ago, and they have been living in Jordan awaiting immigration to Canada. Another man only arrived 10 months ago. I cannot begin to understand their circumstances, and what their lives are like day to day. But amidst the tremendous suffering these people have underwent the last many years, they had joy. They thanked God for His goodness, and they had hope for a brighter future for their families.
Please pray for those the spiritual lives of these people, and that they would grow in Christ while in Jordan. Please pray they may be accepted for immigration to make a brighter future for their family. Please pray for the people that coordinate the ministries and those involved in the projects, so they can continue to earn a living as they live as refugees in Jordan, and be useful to their community.
In addition to the "noon" mosaics, they also make "noon" jewelry, shirts, and hats. The jewelry is the newest product they make. These men were working diligently to finish a few necklaces for us.
The polo shirts and hats
If you would like to learn more about this work or purchase a "noon" product to help support this ministry, please send us an email at: hikefitzroy@gmail.com. An excellent book recently published, to help better understand the plight of the Iraqi Christians:
They Say We are Infidels, by Mandy Belz.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, underfed, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your path - more precious than gold that perishes through it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9
