Day 9

Isaiah 40:3 ~Make straight in the desert a highway for God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The Behdini-speaking Kurds of Iraq live in the northernmost parts of the country. Behdini is related to Kurmanji, which is spoken by about 10 million people worldwide.

All told, the Kurds number about 30 million people who live mainly in southeast Turkey, western Iran, northern Iraq and northern Syria. Germany has the largest number of Kurds living in one place outside the Middle East (more than 400,000).

The Northern Kurd of Iraq make their living in much the same way as their relatives in Turkey and Iran, by farming and raising cattle and goats. Their homeland is also one of Iraq's major oil producing regions. Prior to the Gulf War, many of them lived in cities and worked in the oil industry. The Northern Kurd are noted for their elaborate national costumes. The men's costumes consist of baggy, colored trousers and plain shirts with huge sleeves split at the wrist and tied at the elbow. Brightly colored vests and sashes are also worn. Women usually wear heavy clothing that is embroidered with vivid colors. Today, many rural Kurds have abandoned their native costumes for western style dress.

Currently, only the Gospel of John has been published in Behdini. Other portions of the New Testament are being circulated, but they are still being revised. The Jesus film in Behdini has been broadcast on Kurdish TV in northern Iraq.

We can PRAY:

*Pray for the small number of Christians among the Behdini-speaking Kurds in Iraq to be strengthened in their faith.

*Pray that the entire New Testament will be translated into Behdini. Pray also for audio and video versions of the gospels to be widely distributed.

Information taken from 30 Muslim Prayer Focus, Frontiers Eddition, Operation World and Joshua project