While having a delightful meal this afternoon I watched a short video on the current status of Mosul, Iraq. Two years after the “victory” over ISIS the stench of dead corpses is apparently still around as more continue to be found. A short addendum to the video showed the latest flight returning orphans from Mosul to family in Russia, mostly Dagestan. While the 20-some new kids were not directly shown, some of the ones from previous years were shown in detail. I have discussed this in some depth at http://kozlowski.org/ChildrenOfWar. What really hurts, and it was a strong reminder today, is that I can recognize some of these kids better than my own. When I look at a photo of Walter or Zadok, I don’t know for sure which is which. I have not been provided with a recent one in perhaps years.

In particular please watch RT’s video “Life after ISIS: RT's 'Bring them home' campaign marks one year since reuniting war-torn families” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pie5qUmVt4 It was released on August 6, 2018 and when I watched it the kids and families were familiar as the library of videos from the previous year are also linked on my “Children of War” section on the website.

There is a branch of Islam, or we might compare it to a denomination, that is rather violent and has no respect for others but looks at them with disdain. It Wahhabism and it is based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the US ally. It is the primary under-the-table source of ISIS ideology and funding. However, the Lord’s grace has been shown to some of the kids whose parents embraced that ideology.

Unlike Islam, the foundations of Christianity are true, but like Islam there are those who follow a distorted version, such as the PCA which does not regard Matthew 5, 2 Timothy 3, and 1 Peter 3 as relevant but would rather use the state to crush opposition, so add 1st Corinthians 6. I’m not giving up on reconciliation, as the Lord does not offer an out on pursuing that except death. As long as we have breath, I will pursue reconciliation.

It would really be a joy to have updated pictures of my kids.

Dorothy-Jane, I love you!