Always say yes to chai

I know I've spoken about this before, but one of the things that always amazes me is the generosity of people here. It brings in to stark contrast the consumerist and individualist culture we have in the west.

Last week I visited the camp for some general monitoring. I was with some of the team in an area of the camp looking at a small piece of unused land, discussing how we could use it best to provide some shops for this far end of the camp. As usual a little crowd of adults gathered a short distance from us, and kids swarmed around us. A blonde-haired female boss is always a sight to behold in these parts. As we went to return to our car (the camp is so big we have to drive around it), one of the ladies who had been watching us invited us to her tent for chai. It was one of those moments where you have a difficult choice to make. I was on a schedule, as were the staff with me. It was 45 degrees outside. Chai didn't really fit with our plans. But one thing I have learned here is that drinking chai with people is usually a good decision. So I said yes (with a caveat of 'a 5 minute chai please').

There was immediately a flurry of activity as thin mattresses were put down on the tent floor for us to sit on. We went in to the tent, and sat down on the concrete. Many people joined us, and the children flocked around each end of the tent blocking all air flow. The temperature got higher and higher. Water was passed around while the tea was made. Sugar was spooned in to the little glasses, and the tea poured on top. We talked about schooling, how to cope in these circumstances in the heat, how to manage cooking for a family in this weather. We took selfies on each others' phones and laughed at the results.

As I sat in that little tent, with a family who's entire possessions fit in a little corner of the space; I was struck again by their generosity. A mother who struggled to feed her children, used precious sugar and tea to make me a glass of chai. A family who had been displaced from their home spent time welcoming me in to their new house. And as I received their generosity, in a back to front way, I brought them joy.

Being generous looks different to all of us, depending on our circumstances, and on the circumstances of those we are showing generosity to. It can be as simple as giving your time and friendship to those who are lonely. It can be sharing something precious to you with another. It can be financial gifts. I am learning that choosing to be generous brings me joy, even if it seems sacrificial on paper. And accepting other's generosity towards me brings them joy. Basically always say yes to those chai moments, however they present themselves.

Choose not to forget

This week, the Iraqi Prime Minister declared the battle for Mosul over. He traveled to the city to congratulate the military forces on their successful fight to re-capture the city from ISIS. This news then popped up on my facebook feed from multiple friends in the West sharing various reports. Interestingly, none of my local friends shared the story on social media. We didn't even really discuss it in the office. For those of us so close to the fight, still caught up in responding to the effects of war, still seeing multiple reports every day of attacks inside Mosul, still choosing to head in to areas full of destruction in order to provide what services we can; it is too early to celebrate. We know that this is not the end. We know that re-building Mosul is going to take years. We know that there are further battles for land across Iraq to be fought - Tel Afar, Anbar, Hawiga. All places you are probably not even hearing about. We have already seen in the last two weeks a massive up-surge in the number of suicide attacks carried out by ISIS in Iraq. This will be the tactic they use now. 10 days ago a suicide bomber disguised as a female IDP blew himself up inside a camp. Late last week ISIS launched an attack on a village 2km south of our camp, they took everyone by surprise, forcibly abducting residents, bringing them back behind frontlines, and then sending them back to their village with explosives strapped to them. The locals couldn't repel them and now ISIS have controlled that village for several days. I have no doubt that in a few days the Iraqi Army will have pushed them back again, but it's a stark reminder of the resources ISIS still have. These are just two incidents out of tens of incidents we have heard about in the last 2 weeks.

So please do celebrate the re-capture of Mosul. It is truly good news for those who were living under ISIS control against their will. But please don't forget to pray for the re-building of that city and this country. Don't forget those who continue to live under ISIS control in other parts of Iraq. Remember families who have been torn apart by this war. Choose not to forget even if the news coverage moves on.