NOTE: There is a report circulating that U.S. forces bombed or shot at peace
activists traveling to the border between Iraq and Jordan. These activists
were not the Christian Peacemaker Team and Iraq Peace Team workers who left
Baghdad together earlier today. More information will follow as CPT office
receives it.

CPTnet
April 1, 2003
IRAQ:"A way to focus on life, not death"--Phone interview with Peggy Gish
and Betty Scholten in Amman, Jordan.

as reported to Rich Meyer on March 31, 2003.

GIVE AND RECEIVE LOVE

Peggy: Before the bombing I could go to the Sisters of Charity orphanage
every morning. We would rise, worship with the CPTers and others in the
Iraq Peace Teams staying at the Al Daar hotel. After breakfast and a time
of sharing and making decisions about the day, I went to the orphanage.
There we would sit on the floor-mat and play with the children. Ages four
months to fifteen years, they all have severe handicaps, physical or mental,
but they can still give and receive love. We would sing, blow bubbles, then
help feed the children who can't feed themselves breakfast.

Betty: In the mornings at the orphanage I forgot about the war and the
bombs. Just being with the beautiful children, and the joy they still had
in just being alive-- for me, it was a way to focus on life, not death.

One morning Omar, probably 11 or 12, said he wanted to pray, so I said OK,
and sat down beside him. He recited a prayer in Arabic, then we went back
to playing.

WELCOMING

Betty: I never felt anxiety about getting in a cab, walking down a street
or into a shop. We'd be walking down a street and be invited in for tea.

Peggy: Iraqi people who we met on the street were touched that we would
come to be with them in this time of war. We would learn a little about
them and their families, and share with them about what CPT is doing. It
seemed very important to them to know that they weren't forgotten by the
world. I was fortunate that I had time during the better days before the
bombing to develop closeness with some Iraqis.

ONCE THE BOMBING BEGAN

Peggy: The Iraqi helpers couldn't get to the orphanage, so they needed our
help even more, but by then we also had other activities. The Iraq Peace
Team needed more time for morning meeting, and some nights we slept by the
Water Plant. Another morning I went to the hospital where the injured were
being brought, and we visited civilian neighborhoods where US bombs had hit.
When I got back to the orphanage, the Sisters were trying to get afternoon
naps, because they were up all night with the children when the children
were frightened by the bombing.

Betty: Before the bombing the streets were bustling, cars and shops and
people. The first day after, the shops were closed and the streets were
empty. Then some of the fruit and vegetable vendors, and the falafel
sellers came out, but fewer people. People were still very friendly and
open to us, still welcoming.

Peggy: At first, there were air raid sirens. When you hear that, you feel a
shiver of fear. But you can't stay in that state. After a few days, there
was too much bombing to sound the sirens each time. At first I felt more
fear for self, then I felt more for the Iraqi people being bombed. Still,
every time I would hear the bombing, I felt a dread for the people wherever
the bombs were falling. It put our faith to the test--faith that whatever
happens, we are in God's hands. Not that nothing bad could happen, just
that whatever happens, God doesn't leave us alone. And we had the team,
where we could share our fears and our anxieties, and comfort each other.
It's very helpful to have worship together, to read scripture
together.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Peggy: Siham, a mother with four boys (ages 16 to 4) who invited us for a
meal the day before the bombing started. She is very scared during the
bombing and so not getting much sleep (since the bombing is mostly at night)
--for peace, for strength, for safety, and for the boys, that they aren't
too traumatized.

Amar, a worker at the hotel, and his wife and new baby. She went to the
hospital in labor Friday. At the maternity hospital, a lot of women were
going into premature labor from the anxiety, other women were coming and
asking for C-sections to have their babies before things got worse. I want
to pray for new families just beginning.

It's good to talk about this. A big piece of my heart is still there.