MOSUL, IRAQ (December 15, 2005) – Alaska Covenanters have been playing an important role in different ways to show concern on behalf of Iraqi residents while also helping to advance the historic election taking place here today.
The Anchorage church has sent more than 45 boxes of items for distribution to families, children and soldiers, says Capt. John Grauer, an Evangelical Covenant Church chaplain serving with the U.S Army 4-23rd Battalion.
Troops in Iraq have been distributing gifts sent by First Covenant Church of Anchorage to let the Iraqi people know that there are others who care about their needs.
The Anchorage church has sent more than 45 boxes of items for distribution to families, children and soldiers, says Capt. John Grauer, an Evangelical Covenant Church chaplain serving with the U.S Army 4-23rd Battalion.“Pastor Ron Mancini and First Covenant Church have done a great job at giving assistance to the soldiers and families in Iraq,” Grauer says. “The Christian spirit has come through.”
“We were excited to help,” says First Covenant’s associate pastor Nathan Toots. “It started as a request from him – he has compassion for the people.”
The soldiers distributed the gifts prior to the election. In one case, a 12-year-old girl from one of the families being visited invited the soldiers into the family home and encouraged the soldiers to sit down, although the parents were nervous and not sure what to think, Grauer says.
“As we walked in slowly, making sure the home and area were secure, the gifts were given out,” he recalls. Because the girl was the only member of the family who spoke English, she was the one who appeared to be in charge, which is highly unusual for a girl in the culture, the chaplain noted.
The gift bags contained toothbrushes, clothes, coloring books, crayons, candies, toys of all kinds, and many other items that could not be purchased by some of the families in the various communities surrounding the city of Mosul. The girl kept repeating “thank you” in Arabic.
Troops continued to offer gifts to residents of a neighboring community, encouraging the people to vote.
Churches wanting to send packages to the battalion can send them to Captain John Grauer, HHC/4-23 INF REGT, APO AE, 09319. Those sending packages should include written instructions to Grauer advising him for whom the items are intended (children, adult family members, troops). He says popular gifts include clothes (varying sizes) as well as shampoos and other personal items. Girls in particular seem to love stuffed animals, while boys are excited to receive balls – especially soccer balls – and small toy cars. “Coloring books and crayons are amazingly popular,” Grauer adds.
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