Christmas Eve

My Trip to the USA... Treasure of Baghdad's Diary

December 24

The first thing J and her family do in the morning of Christmas eve is going to the cemetery where her father and her other relatives were buried. This year, the Iraqi joined them. I heard a lot about J’s father who was a the model she and her sister were following beside their mother. I was excited to go to the cemetery and read “Al-Fatiha”, the Opening Chapter in the Holy Quran. Muslims read this chapter when they visit dead people’s graves in cemeteries.

This was the first time for me to go to a cemetery of Christians. I was impressed by the design of the cemetery and how people put flowers at the tombs. J and her mother put flowers on his tomb and then wished him a Merry Christmas.

After we left the cemetery, we went for another quick shopping for Christmas Eve and day. Then, we returned back home.

Today, I called my parents. They were very happy to hear my voice. “Are you sick?” my mother found out immediately. “How did you know? I’ve been talking to my dad for 20 minutes and he did not find out I am sick,” I told her. “I know through your voice.”

Anyway, I found out that there is something wrong going on there as well. “What is happening Mom? Anything happened?” I asked her. She hesitated for a second and then said, “It’s getting worse and worse here.”

I did not know what to say to her except asking her to be patient. “We’ve endured a lot Mom. Let’s endure more and more. There should be an end for this one day.” I wanted to make her feel happy but I couldn’t. The only thing i was able to do is to make her forget about the situation for 20 minutes telling her my adventures in America and how I am enjoying the holidays with J and her family.

After that, I logged on my Yahoo messenger and chatted with a friend of mine who lives in Baghdad. He does not know I am in America. He thinks I am in Amman. Literally, only few people know that I am in America. If many people knew this, I would be considered “a spy” visiting “the lands of the infidels”. And of course, I would be killed without any hesitation by the bastards. My friend told me that it is getting really dangerous and now he no longer trusts people he doesn’t know. “Killings and kidnappings increased after the elections in addition to the problems of the elections turn outs,” he said. He told me to stay in “Amman” for few months. I told him I cannot. I have work to do in Baghdad. “Are you crazy? You have to listen to me,” he said. I refused to listen to him and told him, “I cannot. I am coming back soon.”

After I talked to him I was upset for some time. I couldn’t even move from my bed where I was lying when I was chatting with him. I updated my blog for hours in order not to be sad on Christmas Eve. I am supposed to be happy today.

At 7:30 p.m., J, her mother, T, and I had dinner. J made the most delicious lasagna I’ve ever had. At 9, I took a shower, dressed up in my dark blue suit and blue tie. J, her mother and I took many pictures with the Christmas tree.

Then, all of us went to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to attend the Christmas Eve Service. I was the only Iraqi and Muslim attending this service. However, I was welcomed by many people, including the pastor who thanked me for visiting the United States. When we were all singing the Hymn of Adoration, I loved the line that says, “Peace on earth, and mercy mild.” Within my heart I was praying and asking God to provide peace on Iraq. specially, these days.

At the end of the service, we lighted the candles. My eyes were full of tears hoping that one day Iraqis would live like normal people. I looked at the candle and the melting wax. I felt the candle was crying for me, crying for all Iraqis, crying for every child killed by a bomb, crying for every mother and father suffering in Iraq, crying for the whole nation. The candle was crying but it was lightened to give us hope and faith in God saying that God is always there. He is watching and He is the one who will bring peace on earth and peace on Iraq.

Merry Christmas.