Trip Cost: $3,200, half of which ($1,600) needs to be raised by February 19th.

I am so excited for this opportunity to build my relationship with God and His people, and to really embrace what I see as my second chance at life. I truly believe that this opportunity couldn't have come at a better time in my life. 

Less than six months ago I was actively trying to die, trying to cut my way out of deep aching pain in my soul. I was at the lowest point I have ever gotten to after a lifetime of struggling with depression and anxiety. I believe God saved my life. He connected me with the right people to help me and support me as I fought through that time on my way to recovery. Today I am doing better than I thought would ever be possible. I so fully and deeply believe my life was saved so that I could live it, embracing the entire depth and breadth of the human experience and every amazing thing it has to offer. 

This trip to Iraq couldn't have come at a better time for me. I feel strong in myself and my relationship with God and I want to dive deeper to see what we can accomplish working in partnership. I feel that this is a great chance to grow into living life on purpose. Over the past six months I have learned a lot about myself and have gained many tools that I can use to support myself while supporting others. I feel this trip is an opportunity for me to put those into practice and learn that I truly can rely on myself and my faith. I feel that I am being called to serve God and my fellow human beings in the Middle East and to bring the fruit of my interactions back to the US to share with my frightened and often misunderstanding fellow citizens. Ever since I was 8, when 9/11 occurred, I have felt that many of the American people and much of the Western World demonizes an entire region because of the actions of a few individuals. I am striving to replace that fear with understanding, compassion, and awe for an amazing people and culture.

I am extremely privileged to be a white, educated, middle class, American woman and I feel its my responsibility, now more than ever, to use my privilege to empower others. I am able to travel without restriction and I know that I can leave my home and job for a couple weeks and it will still be there for me when I get back. I also live in a country that allows free speech and I will use that freedom to tell the stories of the refugees I will be serving, many of whom are silenced in their own country.

During the day our team will spend time with the refugees. Helping to de-winterize their tents, provide them with food and provisions for cooking, listen to their stories, and build relationships with them. In the afternoons we will work with the kids in an after school program that offers music, arts, games, help with homework, and a place for the children to continue to learn. Our evenings will be spent with the team.

• If you are looking for an action to take to demonstrate to the global community that the American people disagree with the closed off stance of the current government, I encourage you to donate.

• If you believe that refugees are still people worthy of love, compassion, and support, I encourage you to donate.

• If you are celebrating with me my departure from despair and the opening of my eyes to the wonder of life, I encourage you to donate.

And by donate I don't only mean monetary donations, although those are greatly appreciated and very helpful, but donations of wisdom, words, prayers, good vibes, and positive thoughts.

About The Trip From It's Organizer, Hear the Cry

Hear The Cry has felt called into Iraq due to the turmoil and refugee situations. To a country that for the most part, nobody is going into. Jesus calls us into the places that everybody else is running away from . We want to run into this beautiful historic country in the northern Kurdish region of Iraq to love like Jesus, work with the orphans and refugees, and to offer education.

We believe education is a major culture shaper in the future of a country when it comes to poverty alleviation, equality in education, and even the education around beliefs and religion. This type of education is huge to opening doors of acceptance and mercy.  

On the ground, Billy Ray and his family have been living in northern Iraq for the past six years and has been working with the mayor on a community center school for skills training, english classes and Kurdish classes.  Our partnership with Billy Ray and Restore International will help launch this school.  Last fall as the school was being developed, 120 people hiked over the mountains when Isis took over their village, and came to safety, and are now living as refugees on this property. This is where we will make our home for the week.

Important Information about Hear The Cry Trips:

• Trip cost includes airfare, food, lodging, insurance, ground transportation, supplies and excursions. 

•  50% of the total cost is due two months prior to departure, and the remaining balance two weeks before departure.