IRAQ

So tomorrow is.......my birthday!
thats means today is my last day of being 21.
wow.......
I should be feeling old right?
But realy, my life is just starting!
I'm not quite sure how to anounce this, so I will just say it-
"I'm going to IRAQ!!!!"

For the past month or so my heart has been moved for the Kurdish refugees that are fleeing Syria.
I have been prayerfully considering going and recently God has opened the door for us through
a doctor (who has been working in the middle east for some time)  extending an invitation to our team to come and partner with him in his work.


What's going on in Syria?

In 2011 when the government reacted harshly to protesters by opening fire, the activists responded back by creating organized rebel groups against the government; starting a bitter civil war that is still taking place to this day.

Recently there has even been a rise in the violence and already more than 100,000 are dead and over 2 million, (more than half are children under the age of 11), have fled the country as refugees to find shelter in neighboring countries such as Iraq.

1,000s are journeying across the boarders daily and it is estimated that there could be 3.5 million Syrian refugees by the end of the year. 

So where is Iraq in this?

Right now Iraq's Kurdistan has nearly 172,000 of the refugees and they are in great need of massive international support.

What will I be doing in Iraq?

I have been given the amazing opportunity to lead a trained team of young people into partnering with a group of medical Doctors to  provide much needed relief to the refugees.
The war has made many children orphans and many women widows and we will be working with an orphanage and also doing projects such as creating a bio sand filter to provide clean drinking water.
We will be in Iraq from approximately December 18 to February18.

I can't say that I'm going into this completely fearless, I have come to the place of realizing that there is tons of risk involved and it could be potentially dangerous.
But I feel a peace from God that He is calling me to go to Iraq and I trust Him.
Please pray for me! 
And if God moves your heart to give financially or you even want to send warm clothes (as it will be winter in iraq) I would appreciate anything you want to give.
Thank You!