new friends

I sat in the room at the only table. The open window at my back allowed the cold autumn breeze into the cramped space. Before me was the queen size bed used by the married couple and then the twin bed that "ammo" uses, the 82 year old dad. There is a wardrobe piled high with black trash bags pulled tight over the few treasures they have left. To my right is the refrigerator and then the television. This is their house- all of it. The bathroom is outside and the kitchen is "housed" in the area between the doors- all outside. It is small, cramped and barely functional. But this doesn't stop them from opening their house to me, feeding me, helping me with Arabic and helping me understand their story.
They are from Iraq- Samantha (Sam) and Winston (their real names have been changed to protect the innocent!) They have been living here in Amman for 7 years. They came before the war started and although it has been hard to be jobless and live in such a cramped space, they are thrilled that they don't have memories of war to also deal with. Winston was working in Kuwait and after the first Gulf War things got difficult for him there. So, he wanted to go back to Iraq but things were really hard with the sanctions and the quality of life was not good. He had heard that a war with America was coming and didn't want his dad and wife to have to live through it. They made their way to Amman, piled into a cramped space and have been getting by on teaching English for 3 dollars and hour, random work at the Red Crescent (He has a psychology degree and helps with counseling there) and other jobs to get food on the table. (Iraqis are not allowed to work in Jordan) It is a far cry from life in "pre-first-gulf-war- Iraq" or the life he led in Kuwait- but it is all they have for now.
I sat there with them today, feeling so incredibly comfortable and loved. We talked of things here in Amman, their work at the Red Crescent and things then moved to the situation in Iraq. I was telling them of my desire to share the stories of people here in the Middle East so that we (Americans, Jordanians, Iraqis, Lebanese, etc) can learn to love and forgive. They then started telling me of friends that have had their husbands, wives, and/or children killed in the war. They told me story after story of people here in Amman who have lived through various terrors of war. They told me the statistics that are on the news "10,000 widows, 5 million refugees, 1 million killed and 5 million orphans" I stop and ask them again - 5 million orphans?
Yes, 5 million.
But where do they live now? In Iraq?
Yes, some are getting paid by the Militias, others have become criminals, and others scour the trash for something to eat.

I pause- and look around the room. This is a heavy conversation. Emotions are high- the toll of war has been tasted by these people, they have escaped experiencing it but know so many that haven't been so lucky.
I look at Ammo. He is crying. Tears roll down his face as he remembers the Iraq that once was and thinks of the Iraq that is now.
I begin to cry - these precious people. Without a home, without a country, family still stuck in Iraq with no hope of escape- and so many more like them.
I sat there thinking about Gee- his new life in England, his experiences of war and how his leaving the Middle East will change his family forever.
I sat there thinking how messed up this world is...and how I want Jesus to come back-
and that I am happy that He has given me this opportunity to share in the lives of this precious family until He does!