Date: October 3rd 2010

Thursday Sept. 30 Coffee shop in Amman Jordan Tea with Dhuha and Amal:

Dhuha is Iraqi she has an organization called Association of Women Entrepreneurs. She has helped start businesses for Iraq women to sell their hand crafts and is very concerned about the situation of the women in Iraq. Some of our Iraqi friends have suggested that their situation is worse now than it has been in 100 or more years.

Amal has worked for Women to Women an organization which funds job training programs and provides micro loans to get them started.

Both are very interested in our ideas of providing the drumming circles for Iraqi women. I show them the research studies that have been conducted in the united states on the effect of group drumming and recreational music making: boosting our bodies' natural defense mechanisms, reducing anxiety, depression, anger and fatigue. Keep in mind these positive outcomes only occur when the circles are conducted in a way where no stress is created. The first step is to make sure everyone is at ease and comfortably participating.

Dhuha, is adamant that all Iraqi women be invited from all religious backgrounds. Of course this is essential.

We all agree that a drumming facilitator training program would be the best. Training Iraqi women to lead the circles themselves would be the way to have the biggest influence. Then they themselves can take the circles into the refugee areas and directly into Iraq.

Both Amal and Dhuha are very enthusiastic about the idea. Dhuha proposed that Cameron and I provide a lecture on our work to an organization of Iraqi Artists and Intellectuals to drum up support for our idea. She went off to contact the necessary people and gets the ball rolling....

I just received an e-mail from her saying the idea is being enthusiastically received.

Please keep this project in your prayers that it manifest easily and successfully. Iraqi women have been through more hardships than most of us can imagine. Several organizations have reported that there are at least 2 million widows in Iraqi (some reports say 4 million) as a consequence of the war. Every women I have met has had one or more family members killed or kidnapped or both. Many of their homes have been destroyed, and many are left without any means of support.

This is a very simple way to help lift them from despair into empowerment.

Friday October 1 Just arrived Damascus Syria:

In a park just outside of the Northern Gate to the old city. It's 9 pm. Under the glow of the street lights the playground is alive with little children. The grassy areas are spread with blankets and picnikers Every bench is full. The young, the old, the teenagers everyone is visiting together. We feel a loving warm vibe as we walk through the park.

Blessings to you all, Kristina

To see more detailed daily reports from Cameron and Kristina: http://www.musicalmissionsofpeace.org/mm/2010fall.html