Christmas Trip to Nineveh?

Enki

Enki

Active member
Well, seeing as how I keep talking about going back and rebuilding and how it is our duty to go back and help the Assyrians in the motherland. I've decided to seek your input on this. How many of you are willing to travel to Nineveh during the Christmas holidays?

We can all go back and help spread some Christmas joy to the children and to the rest of our people. They need to see that we in the West care and that we will come out in droves! They are all in dire need of a moral boost of any sort.

Please, all those SERIOUSLY interested, let us talk. With the AID of Zowaa (bkhelit alah) we will be able to accomplish this.

What will we do there?

Simple, small things. Basic needs that they have we could probably deliever. For those with bigger ambitions and aspirations, we can work side by side with Zowaa with reconstruction or construction of Schools and other Assyrian infrastructors. Lord knows those churchs destroyed by Sadam wont build themselves!

Its a nice little dream of mine, but a month of your life will be wasted if you come! Please, let us do this. Lets make this happen. Lets show the Assyrians of Nineveh that we still love them and care for them. That we will always be in debt for their sacrifices. While they sit there wondering if they'll live to see tomorrow, we are left with that sour taste in our mouths known as guilt, for sitting in our warm homes, eating plentiful amounts of food, and thinking what will I wear tomorrow rather than having their thoughts of what the next day brings.

This is a cry out to all those SERIOUS about returning and helping. Please lets start something.

I say Christmas as a means of garnishing more support. Please also remember, this is not a youth mission. This is open to ALL Assyrians in Diaspora. I'd prefer a large contingent of youth simply because of the greater impact it would have. I'm sure we can coordinate with Zowaa and the US/British troops in Nineveh to help provide us with security.

It can be done, but God's will and our own. It will be done!

Thank you for your time!
 
I addressed something similar (again!) in Serious Discussion.  I proposed a "kibbutz" like system whereby Assyrians from around the world could spend time in their homeland devoted to doing one of three things:  working with a protective unit, working on an agricultural project (like Dr. Ashur Moradkhan's fruit tree farms), or a "habitat for humanity" type of project (construction of homes, schools, etc.)  Students taking part in the program could earn credit at their respective schools. This may sound idealistic, but not impossible.  It's just a matter of contacting the powers-that-be and working out details like housing (I would think people would be responsible for their own airfare, but that housing and food could be provided?) 

Senator, aren't you involved with a Zowaa-affiliated youth group?  Would this be something your group would be interested in pursuing?
 
baklawa said:
I addressed something similar (again!) in Serious Discussion.? I proposed a "kibbutz" like system whereby Assyrians from around the world could spend time in their homeland devoted to doing one of three things:? working with a protective unit, working on an agricultural project (like Dr. Ashur Moradkhan's fruit tree farms), or a "habitat for humanity" type of project (construction of homes, schools, etc.)? Students taking part in the program could earn credit at their respective schools. This may sound idealistic, but not impossible.? It's just a matter of contacting the powers-that-be and working out details like housing (I would think people would be responsible for their own airfare, but that housing and food could be provided?)?

Senator, aren't you involved with a Zowaa-affiliated youth group?? Would this be something your group would be interested in pursuing?
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:lol: sorry Baklawa...lol I've failed to read both of those posts :lol: Maybe I should read the Serious Discussions Forum a bit more ;)
 
Id love to do that as it is also one of my dreams, however unfortunately I don?t think its the best idea in the present climate, us foreigners are like $$$$/???? signs for potential kidnappers and I think if we were going to work for them for free it would probably be more beneficial to them if we just worked in our respective countries and sent them our pay cheque for that month.

When it?s safe to go id love to have this conversation again!
 
That's true too.  When a friend of ours visited her family in Baghdad several years ago, she didn't tell a soul about it.  Her family there only told the closest of family and friends that she was even there. They went so far as to keep the curtains closed for most of her visit, such was the fear of harassment for money (best case) or kidnapping (worst case.)

I still think this proposition is something worth pursuing.  The people going over are not distributing anything; they would be offering their assistance only.  I think it would take awhile before all the details could be worked out anyway.  I'm sending a proposal to someone I know in AAS.  Maybe they could at least get the ball rolling.
 
what about visiting and helping the orphanages.............also, getting something expedited for assyrian families abroad to adopt these precious children with NOBODY who need love and to be nurtured and guided.
 
assyrianlovely said:
what about visiting and helping the orphanages.............also, getting something expedited for assyrian families abroad to adopt these precious children with NOBODY who need love and to be nurtured and guided.
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Sadly, we can't adopt those children in the orphanages. Theres an Islamic law in place right now in Iraq that prevents it. I dont know the details of it, but this issue was discussed a while back. But I like the idea. These are all things we can do as a group together down there. Imagine the smile on their faces when they see us come down with gifts and with free spirits. Show them that there is hope :)
 
Riza...doesn't it snow there during Christmas?

cgan220l.jpg


What do ya think?
 
assyrianlovely said:
I don't get it, why wouldn't they want them in loving homes?? Do they want to convert them to Islam?
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Thats like asking why does allah permit killing in the Quran. Things like that are beyond our control or our mind sets. There is a law that I know of, and I'm hoping someone can clarify it further, that does not allow orphans to be adopted by others outside of the country.

I'll look into it some more and make a new post on it ;)
 
baklawa said:
I addressed something similar (again!) in Serious Discussion.  I proposed a "kibbutz" like system whereby Assyrians from around the world could spend time in their homeland devoted to doing one of three things:  working with a protective unit, working on an agricultural project (like Dr. Ashur Moradkhan's fruit tree farms), or a "habitat for humanity" type of project (construction of homes, schools, etc.)  Students taking part in the program could earn credit at their respective schools. This may sound idealistic, but not impossible.  It's just a matter of contacting the powers-that-be and working out details like housing (I would think people would be responsible for their own airfare, but that housing and food could be provided?) 

Senator, aren't you involved with a Zowaa-affiliated youth group?  Would this be something your group would be interested in pursuing?
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Baklawa,

We have a meeting this weekend and will bring this up.  But just to let you know, one of the founding principles of our organization, AssyrianChaldeanSyriac Student Movement, is to initiate a student exchange program between the Diaspora and our Homeland.

There has been some thought of sponsoring youth to go to Iraq, but the details are still in the works.  As Chairman of the Board for this organization, I have devoted my time and efforts in creating better and stronger ties to the youth community in Bet Nahrain.  After speaking and opening up communication with them, rest assured, that our generation in Bet Nahrain cannot be labeled as Nationalistic.................for that would be a mere understatement.

God Bless!!!!
 
UPDATE:

I spoke with a board member of AAS and believe it or not, they have actually been discussing this very topic!  There is no blueprint in place right now, but they are looking into the possibility of having summer camps in the homeland.  They are trying to target the younger generation to spend some of their summer break there working on the exact projects mentioned in this thread.  It's all still very up-in-the-air, but they think if they can start working on the details now, by the time it is considered "safe" there will already be a plan in place and ready to go.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.
 
Sounds like a missionary trip to me!  I'm up for it.  I've thought about this before, there are so many churches that go and help others in parts of the world, but yet we can't help our own people?  I have a cousin around my age in Iraq that's so sick but Praise God she has bypassed death a few times now.  I've tried what I can do to help her only being here, but I'm limited.  How amazing would it be to have a group of people go and help out here and there.  Missionaries risk their lives so much and have even been even killed because they were there helping in the name of Christ.  Why should be afraid or any less than they?  We are Christians, aren't we?  We call ourselves that.  I have an American friend who is my age that goes to different parts of the world and provides medicine and medical equipment.  His father is a Pastor and they have home church, not very big.  Yet they have the resources and the will to make it happen.  He's constantly flying back and forth every time I talk to him helping others.  If there was ever a time to stand up for what is right and do what is right, it's now. 
 
I have also been informed of a camping trip in Northern Iraq for Assyrian youth around the world, and it will be hosted by Zowaa, specifically in the Nahla and Barwar districts.

Nothing official as of yet, but as soon as I get confirmation I will let everyone know.
 
riza o shourba said:
Well, seeing as how I keep talking about going back and rebuilding and how it is our duty to go back and help the Assyrians in the motherland. I've decided to seek your input on this. How many of you are willing to travel to Nineveh during the Christmas holidays?

We can all go back and help spread some Christmas joy to the children and to the rest of our people. They need to see that we in the West care and that we will come out in droves! They are all in dire need of a moral boost of any sort.

Please, all those SERIOUSLY interested, let us talk. With the AID of Zowaa (bkhelit alah) we will be able to accomplish this.

What will we do there?

Simple, small things. Basic needs that they have we could probably deliever. For those with bigger ambitions and aspirations, we can work side by side with Zowaa with reconstruction or construction of Schools and other Assyrian infrastructors. Lord knows those churchs destroyed by Sadam wont build themselves!

Its a nice little dream of mine, but a month of your life will be wasted if you come! Please, let us do this. Lets make this happen. Lets show the Assyrians of Nineveh that we still love them and care for them. That we will always be in debt for their sacrifices. While they sit there wondering if they'll live to see tomorrow, we are left with that sour taste in our mouths known as guilt, for sitting in our warm homes, eating plentiful amounts of food, and thinking what will I wear tomorrow rather than having their thoughts of what the next day brings.

This is a cry out to all those SERIOUS about returning and helping. Please lets start something.

I say Christmas as a means of garnishing more support. Please also remember, this is not a youth mission. This is open to ALL Assyrians in Diaspora. I'd prefer a large contingent of youth simply because of the greater impact it would have. I'm sure we can coordinate with Zowaa and the US/British troops in Nineveh to help provide us with security.

It can be done, but God's will and our own. It will be done!

Thank you for your time!
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Wow..you think you're changing the topic for the better????  Your ZOWAA or at least some of its members are just as guilty as the " bishop of the past "  in dividing our community....believe me my friend if you think you're changing the topic for the better you're sadly mistaken.  I've renounced my support to zowaa for the disgusting and meaningless game they played in dividing our church....and for the LOVE OF GOD don't label me as a sargon dadeesho because I'm not...but I do like what he's exposing on his show now.....peace brethren....
 
peace brethren....
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my friend
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Blue, you keep saying peace and my friend, but you keep kicking up the dust.  What gives?  These people are fighting for a greater good.  It's obvious you've been annoyed by the current situation, you aren't the only one, let's work towards good than going against those who want to do good. 
 
United we stand divided we fall...........enough of that kind of talk, if you want this to get off the ground and be a success, not for yourself but for THEM!!

Riz, once you firm up some of the details, especially security you can probably count us in........have to run it past habibi and his work schedule/vacation time left, etc.  we're going to brazil this year and need to stretch that vacation time.  I know he can't stay a month, but I possibly can......
 
Blue, I dont understand what you mean by changing the topic for the better......

I'm simply proposing for us not to be hypocryts. Many of us, myself included keep saying we should go back and we should do this. Well, when will we go back? When will we do this? Thats all I'm addressing.

If you feel so strongly that Dadisho is able to do more and expose Zowaa's "lies" so be it! Have Dadisho finance this trip and have him supply the secuirty presence. We'll then work for Assyria! Just as how Zowaa, hopefully, will sponsor us, we'll STILL work for ASSYRIA. Nobody is working for the organization. This is one thing you guys need to understand. I dont work for an organization. I work for the better of my people.

Be it through Zowaa, through Dadisho, through ADO. Whatever organization is working FOR THE PEOPLE, they have my full support. Weather you want to admit it or not BLUE, Zowaa is the only force we have in Iraq at the moment. If Dadisho can show me his organization in Iraq working as diligently as Zowaa is for the people, I'll gladly work along side them as well.

Sadly, I dont see it. So, before you make this a Zowaa vs Dadisho topic, we'll end this discussion here. This post is not about that. This post is higher than those two groups. This is about OMTA ATOURETA and the well being of those people!

If you want to reply to me, thats fine, but I'll reply to you only through PMs as I dont want this topic to be ruined.
 
Well I emailed my good friend in Baghdad to get his opinion especially on security and this is what he said:



well the north is much more safe than the rest of iraq PLUS Zowaa's fighters will prtoect u 24 hours a day if u arrange the visit with Zowaa [ just like what Zowaa did to all his supporters who come from abraod] ... it will b cool if u come here :)


and it helped me to get excited about this!!

I'm not going to lie, it might be diffiicult financially as we are going to Brazil next month to see John of God the healer.? It was already planned.? But I sure do want to go and will pray on this and try to get the money.

also, there is enough time to solicit churches and organizations for contributions/donations for the kids/people there.? they have time to request special offerrings, etc. between now and then so when we get there we have enough to give to many and not just a few and not just what we bring with us.? It doesn't just have to be assyrian churches and organizations, any christian churches, once the details are firmed up and if it is officially termed a missionary trip we might just be very very successful!!? I for one would hit the churches out here trying to solicit donations but we need more specifics........and time to plan and get things done..........thanks for thinking ahead, riz!!!? May God Bless this trip and your intentions and guide us.? even if financially I can't make it this year I would solicit and give donations for you.? God be with you.? It's definitely time to get organized and specific and develop a flyer, with terms and conditions, etc. :bigarmhug:

In order to be successful, we will also need to "tune out" negative comments and attempts to further divide us and allow them to run off of us like water on a ducks back.................
 
Going back to Occupied Assyria at this time will only be a propaganda for those who are occupying the villages,towns and the whole region.

The fact of the matter is that the land is Occupied and no matter how much it's said that the Assyrians (all sects) have their "rights" etc etc ... The reality is otherwise.

Have you all forgot the changing of Assyrian cities names such as Nohadra and Arbil to Dohuk and Hawler and now the kurds have begun a campaign of giving streets names of kurdish men whom they consider to be heroes,such as Simko and Badr Khan.

If you guys want to help then collect some contributions and buy things that Assyrian children need such as clothes or school supplies etc then find a reliable international organization with integrity to distribute on the behalf of the Assyrians in Diaspora these items,and they will be obliged to give a statement of account as to the manner that the gifts were distributed and to whom.

In this way money will not disappear into thin air and it will be used as it should be.

As to visiting Occupied Assyria it should be only when there's a land called Assyria or in the least a Safe Haven which would provide the necessary protection for our people.
 
You keep refering to it as Occupied Assyria (which is right) but you then say we should go down when it is called Assyria or a "Safe Haven".

I personally dont ever see Assyria happening unless we do something about it. If you're thirsty and want water, and everyone is really busy doing their own thing, YOU are going to have to get up and get YOURSELF water. The same with this. The Kurds are busy with Kurdistan, the Shia and Sunni are busy killing each other. For our dream of Assyria to come true, WE'LL need to go out and do something about it.

We waited for the British to give us our land after WW1 and where did that lead us? Created the largest modern day destruction of the Assyrians, both cultural and population wise. We've waited now for around 90+ years for our nation since then. Waiting and praying. Where did that lead us? Well, as we sit here today typing and reading this, Kurdistan is one more step closer to national recognition, another Assyrian family has fled the region to Syria/Jordon/Europe/North America and Iraq has become even more unstable.

Us going there will provide a major moral boost. We can bring school supplies to the children ourselves. Charitable organizations like UNICEF and United Way for instance can not pick and choose who their donations go to. I'm sure those Christian organizations would be more than willing to donate things to the Assyrians, but their goals are to convert the COE members to their own respective church (i.e. Evangelical, Protestant, Catholic, etc).

Like I've said before, dont expect people to help you, if you can't help yourself. Only an Assyrian understands the suffering of other Assyrians. Only an Assyrian understands the need for their own statehood. Only an Assyrian can feel the emptyness inside of not having a place to call home.

Only an Assyrian can fix that!
 
Anki,

This is an excellent idea. You can definitely count me in.

However, let me talk to Zowaa here in Sydney to clear up two things:

1- IF we can actually "help" over there, we don't want to go all the way there and then get faced with logistics & BS which might not make our mission as fruitful as we might've anticipated.

2- The safety of Non-Iraqis. Although it?s a great idea and all, but one needs to be sensible about it, however I think the Kurdish controlled areas are "safer" than the rest.

I'll let you know once I've talked to them.


Thanks



 
For those leaving in the U.S., do you guys see how some College students lately have used there spring break by traveling to the Gulf region and volunteer there time by helping out and fixing things? Why can't we do that? Have something set up where a group of young people spend some time from Summer to visit Assyrian villages in the North, the ones in the Kurdish controlled area where it is completly safe and dont have to worry about nothing. Your presence would put a smile by the poor residents, but think about how much you can get done! Building or fixing just about anything doesnt take alot of skill. Only a will and a pashion for helping people. Why dont we have organizations setting up things like this?
 
Salem said:
Anki,

This is an excellent idea. You can definitely count me in.

However, let me talk to Zowaa here in Sydney to clear up two things:

1- IF we can actually "help" over there, we don't want to go all the way there and then get faced with logistics & BS which might not make our mission as fruitful as we might've anticipated.

2- The safety of Non-Iraqis. Although it?s a great idea and all, but one needs to be sensible about it, however I think the Kurdish controlled areas are "safer" than the rest.

I'll let you know once I've talked to them.


Thanks
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Salem,

Thanks for those encouraging words. However, I say Christmas but as we all know, this site is read by others whom we deem detremental to the Assyrian cause. Weather we like it or not, this is one of the major portals for Assyrian information. Many people do read and take things seriously. So as a matter of SECURITY we should not announce the date of our departure on this nor any website. All information should be kept by a simple word of mouth or email.

Also, many dates should be used as to confuse those out to ruin this event. Please, keep this within a close nit circle if it does come into being.

One last thing, everyone keeps mentioning the safty of the Kurdish controlled north. Its all true, if you're Kurdish. They still opress the inhabitants there and have informants everywhere. Read the latest Time magazine article on the Trouble in Kurdistand and you'll know what I'm talking about.

This is one reason why we need Zowaa and hopefully Dadisho to pitch in and provide that security for our volunteers. I myself am from Syria and my only ties to Iraq are my Great Grandma's who fled to Iraq during the holocaust. Yet I still love my people and my land. Thats right, my land!

Lets get this done :) For their sake!
 
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