I love farmers

I recently had a mission which in large part consisted of warning locals that the area was unsafe. I spoke with probably more than two dozen adults and children and was once again amazed by their warmth and kindness toward me. It was sometimes difficult to communicate with them (though a surprising number speak at least some English) but thankfully had a translator with me. Nearly all of the Iraqis I spoke with were rural people who worked on farms on the outskirts of nearby villages. Our translator later told me that, despite the fact that I essentially had to tell them to leave their land for the day, not a single person had anything negative to say about us. One young boy that I spoke with thanked me for warning him and said "I love America," before he ran off to tell his family in the fields that they must leave. I am not under the illusion that all Iraqi want the U.S. in their country. I realize that many, probably a majority, would prefer that we pack our things and leave, while some others would prefer that we stay just long enough to die. But so far my experience here with the local people has been a very positive one and I hope very much that it continues that way.