Most of today has been spent on airplanes, and most of tonight will be more of the same. On the flight from Newark to Los Angeles, my mom and I met a charming gentleman who was travelling with his entire family from Iraq. They were emigrating to California, where his youngest daughter has been living and working for several months.
Amir (sp?) was a successful optician in Baghdad, where his family operated three practices. Life in Iraq has been very hard for them, because they are Christian and not Muslim. But last month his house and all of his shops were destroyed by insurgent bombs and fires. So he decided to move his entire family to the United States. He was very sad about leaving his home, but happy top be in America. We met his wife, daughter, two sons and a cousin, along with 4 or 5 grandchildren and second cousins. They were all very excited when I told him that mom and I are both Christian - I decided not to try and explain Presbyterian. Amir took out a string of prayer beads and began to pray, which was very moving for all of us.
By now they have met up with the daughter who lives here, and are thinking about beginning a new life away from bombs and terror. I wish them all a happy life.
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