Garbage Collector Declares, “For the First Time in My Life I Felt Like a Human Being!”
Call of Hope is reaching refugees with the love of God!!
Call of Hope co-workers, Bro. Rashid and his wife, Dr. Ida, who is a dentist, frequently visit the slums and refugee camps that surround Baghdad to provide aid, medical care and hope. Hundreds of thousands of families and children reside in these camps, trying to make a living from the garbage. Twenty-eight-year-old, Miqdad, is one of them. Recently, Migdad had the opportunity to earn some money, as a temporary garbage collector an International Trade Fair which ½ million people attended in Baghdad. Bro. Rashid and his wife had a special permit to participate in this major fair to hand out calendars and books.
Bro. Rashid noticed Miqdad at the fair. Being a garbage collector, he showed an unusual interest in our stand. He frequently watched us and seemed to be listening as they talked with the guests. Someone even were warned: ‘Surely, this young man is an undercover police officer. Be careful!’ One of our volunteer co-workers said: ‘Our Lord also shed his precious blood for members of the secret service. Shouldn’t spies also be saved?’
Our team offered Migdad a cup of coffee and Miqdad told us how from the first day of the fair he had taken a liking to our wall calendar. In particular, the verse on cover that says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).
“For the first time in my life I felt like a human being.”
The gospel reaches the refugee camps around Baghdad. Many Muslims listen with great interest.
He said: ‘I have observed how kind you treat your Muslim guests, giving this wonderful calendar and your books. So, I secretly wished to be one of these guests – who are well dressed, who surely have a good occupation, and are enjoying your hospitality. Myself, however, I am only a cleaner, whom people despise and abuse. I would have never imagined that you, dear Christians, would present me, the garbage collector with this same honor and give me the same calendar and booklets. For the first time in my life, I felt like a human being.’
Miqdad became a constant visitor to our booth. Listening to the reading of the Bible and asking questions. On November 11th , one day after the end of the fair, Miqdad gave his life to Jesus Christ. On November 12th he tragically died during a work-related accident, as he came into contact with a high voltage power cable. He is now with his Savior.
During the fair, the Lord helped us to hand out more than 6,000 wall calendars with Bible verses, 4,000 evangelistic booklets and 800 New Testaments. Many also received the address of our church, including a judge, a car salesman, a jeweler, a university professor, a lieutenant with the army, a police superintendent and also Miqdad, the refugee garbage collector.
