Front Line Preaching in war torn Iraq
Here is my report on my preaching activities in Iraq. I have set
up bookstands in four locations on the base, and every three days
they are dry. . . . All gone! At the moment we are approaching the mark of
700 books out. Such nectar! We also have twelve bhaktas reading and
chanting regularly. Our programs are spreading. Now I host a mantra
meditation class once a week, and on Mondays and Fridays I have a
small program of bhajans and prasadam. We are also distributing
cookies at three base camps, thanks to Rathna Bushana Prabhu,
with an average of a thousand cookies out a week. Recently I reached out to
the Indians that work here and am having a weekly program with them
as well. I gave a presentation on the Lord's lifting Gorvadhana Hill to
about 200-300 Indian-bodied contract workers.
Mostly I am eating raw and dry fruits, dahl with only turmeric, cumin, and
small amounts of salt; very simple food (maybe because I cannot get anything
else). I also am following caturmasya this year strictly. And I have never
missed a round of japa since arriving here. Bhakti Sastri is moving along
and I am now in the sixth chapter. The Ratha Yatra was all set to go, but
Krsna had another plan. so now the hard date is January, which is great
because all the Indians want to be involved.
But like all areas of the material world, here there are bad times. One of
my soldiers died in my arms, That hit hard because he did service for
Krishna. Also, I have been hit with a lot of iEDs, took a round, lost some
hearing and some more and I am only five months in. Also Krsna gave me the
strength to lead my team through a mass casualty event, where after suicide
attacks in the North, we had to treat over sixty men, women and children.
The real material world. Nothing more sobering then having to put some
little child's brain matter back in his head while trying to focus on
speaking Krsna-katha to the dying child. Some died, but I always carry Sri
Ugraji with me, and His smile was seen by them before they left their
bodies. So powerful this movement, this process! Krsna is helping me
here and showing me how special this life is. I pray that Krsna
helps me out of this situation and I can help others outside the
military come to Srila Prabhupada's feet.
Your servant,
Partha-sarathi Dasa
All glories to this great devotee who is preaching amidst suicide bombers
and hell. May the Lord bless Him to liberate many more souls from the
hellish life in this material world.
ys
mpcd
Joined: 2007-02-18