Children of the Fire and the Mountain

Indeed it is our prayer that a new day, Newroz, will dawn over this entire region, the region that one day will be the highway that is described in Isaiah 19, a highway of peace between nations that are currently enemies.

All Newroz activities have been formally and officially cancelled by the government as regional escalation invades our area. We would value your prayers for the region and all who live here as we have once again become a front line.

We held a very small and quiet gathering this week, before closing our gates (as per government instructions) over the Eid. We had planned a joyful celebration entitled Children of the Fire and the Mountain; you will see this reflected in two of our students’ artwork.

by Aveen

by Shahnaz

by Shahad

We present just a few thoughts on Newroz from Avya, thoughts which are so apt for this period of war, and rumours of war.

“Newroz symbolises victory, the triumph of light over darkness, of justice over tyranny. I remember how we used to light the Newroz fires on our rooftops or on the mountain peaks. For all the three days of Newroz we would go out into nature, and spend the days singing and dancing with great joy. In those days, or the days prior to 2014, it was simply a time of joy, with the fires lasting well into the night hours.

Today it’s different. Yes, the meaning has not changed but it is joy intermingled with sorrow. We celebrate whilst remembering our displaced brothers and sisters. We dance whilst weeping over buildings and land destroyed. This year more than ever, with the chaos around us, our message is one of resilience; we light the fire as a message of existence, saying that this is our land, we will not be removed.

Newroz is not just a day off, or a day to sleep in; it is a day when we wear our finest traditional clothes and by holding hands in our dance we affirm our presence, our unity, and our staying power on our land.” — Avya

Dear reader, please note that Avya shared her thoughts prior to us as an NGO receiving national government instructions to which we adhere and respect. We pray for the government and local leadership of the KRI and all the hard decisions that have to be made at the moment.

We pray for the future of this small nation that actually is not a nation and yearns for freedom that the festival represents. We pray for it to remain strong, we pray for unity within, and peace around its borders.

May the Children of the Fire and the Mountain have a revelatory experience this year. May this be a year of Victory and Justice, or Renewal and Rejoicing. May all mourning be turned into dancing.

Newroz Piroz Be!

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2 The mountains would burst into flames like burning bushes, the mountains would boil like water on fire. Then your enemies would learn about you and all nations would learn about you.

3 You have done awesome things that we did not expect; you came down and mountains shook in fear before you.

4 No one has ever heard of such a God, no one has ever heard such a story.

Isaiah 64:2–4

Update regarding Lisa, who is currently in the UAE since the outbreak of war. Requesting prayers for safety, protection and resilience of spirit as she works from there.