Iraq | April 05, 2024
Iraq: Noeh's going home!
Proudly, Noeh opens the door to his bedroom. What a difference! This time last year, everything was blackened by smoke, it was full of ashes, and the contents had been destroyed by the heat of the fire. Now, the walls are freshly painted, there are new tiles on the floor, and the windows have been replaced. Noeh smiles from ear to ear. What a contrast with that day, one year ago, when he sat on his burned bed with a bunch of marbles in his hand.
Proudly, Noeh opens the door to his bedroom. What a difference! This time last year, everything was blackened by smoke, it was full of ashes, and the contents had been destroyed by the heat of the fire. Now, the walls are freshly painted, there are new tiles on the floor, and the windows have been replaced. Noeh smiles from ear to ear. What a contrast with that day, one year ago, when he sat on his burned bed with a bunch of marbles in his hand.
On the night of 6 August 2014, Noeh (eight years old then) had to flee with his family from the tiny Christian village of Karamles, northern Iraq, as fighters of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) advanced towards them.
The family fled to Erbil, 50 miles south-east of Karamles. Village priest Father Thabet managed to keep most of his group together after they arrived in Erbil. The families were supported by an Open Doors partner in Iraq, who gave them food and other relief items, as well as offering them trauma training, activities for women, and other church events.
When IS fighters finally left Karamles at the end of October 2016, they wanted to leave behind the ugly, black memory of their presence, and they burned 446 houses, including Noeh’s. Fire destroyed almost everything inside; only the walls, ceiling and roof survived the heat.
Some might say this family was lucky compared to the 97 families in Karamles that saw their houses completely destroyed during the war against IS. As with so many other families, Noeh’s family needed a lot of patience before they could return.
But this family had a holy determination and the conviction to return to live in Karamles. I remember Noeh standing on the flat roof of their damaged house while, in the distance, Mosul was still being bombed. On that day he said: “We want to return home. We thank those guys and anyone who is helping us. I do want to return; this is our land.” That big longing of Noeh and his family, and the conviction that God was leading them, is now becoming a reality: the family expects to return to live in their renovated house later this month.
After liberation, and after the Iraqi government declared the villages safe and accessible again, churches started organising the return of the people to the Nineveh Plain. Committees were formed to coordinate the restoration of houses, and the return of their owners. Priority was given to the less damaged houses as they could be repaired quickly, which sped up the return of families to Nineveh. Because the damage to Noeh’s house was more significant, it has taken much longer for them to be able to return home.
HOPE IS GROWING IN KARAMLES
In August 2017, Noeh’s family came back to live in Karamles, staying in the house of an uncle and aunt; these relatives had already left Iraq. At the time, Noeh’s mother, Almas, said: “It is like living in heaven. It is so good to be back on our own soil, in the place where we were born, where our parents and grandparents lived.”
Noeh’s family were only one of about 10 families who returned to Karamles at the time. The first few months were hard, especially the lack of electricity combined with the heat of an Iraqi summer.
But Hathem, Noeh’s father, understands construction and has repaired a lot of the house himself. “I am a worker; if I see something needs doing, I do it,” he says.
The family have started growing their own vegetables again, in the small yard around the house. Tomatoes and aubergines will provide nourishment, and put extra vitamins on the table. Hope is growing in Karamles along with the produce. Physical signs of new life parallel with the unseen yet tangible evidence that life is being restored in Iraq.
Not only this, but Noeh has passed his level 7 exams! His father bought him a bike as a present for reaching this milestone – he can be seen biking around in Karamles almost daily. Please continue to keep Noeh and his family in your prayers.
KEEP BRINGING HOPE TO THE MIDDLE EAST
Your support and prayers have enabled Open Doors local partners to repair 944 homes in the Nineveh Plain – that’s 944 families like Noeh’s who have been able go home and begin to rebuild their lives, thanks to their global church family. Thank you!
But there’s still work to be done. Many Christians in Iraq, Syria and other parts of the Middle East still need help in getting back on their feet. Your prayers and support are vital in keeping hope alive for returning Christians, who are still facing the dangers of war and the threat of attack by Islamic extremists.
Many of our courageous brothers and sisters are choosing to stay to serve their communities – but they need the long-term support of their global church family to keep going, and rebuild hope for the future. Just £15 could go towards setting up a family in employment or helping them open a small business.
Please continue to pray for our church family in Iraq - if you haven't already got one, why not order a free Hope for the Middle East wristband to remind you to pray? You can also send a message of encouragement to our church family in the Middle East, to let them know that you are praying for them, and that they are not alone or forgotten by their global church family.
PLEASE PRAY:
- For Noeh and his family, that God would bless them abundantly as they return to their home after so many years
- For all Christians returning to Iraq, that God would restore homes and businesses and communities
- That Open Doors partners in Iraq and Syria would be able to continue their work in supporting and strengthening our brothers and sisters.
