Hello my name is Gen. Before I begin to fill this blog up with stories of refugees, current news from the Middle East, and other relevant information, I would like to first take some space to locate myself in this whole experience. I am not Kurdish, nor am I Middle Eastern. I am a thirty something year old American who was first introduced to Kurdish culture by my parents, who both served as disaster relief workers for a Christian organization in Iraq. Through their work, I have been able to speak with other relief workers, who have lived in Kurdistan. On November 14th I gave a presentation at a Religious Diversity Conference at Boston University (where I got my Masters in Theology) on Kurdish culture and the current conflict with ISIS/ISIL/Daesh in the Middle East. Although I’ve spent many hours researching and conducting interviews, I do believe this is the very start of my journey, and I have so much more to learn and experience. My hope is that what I am doing here, this blogging, will be helpful to both the people who read, and the people for whom I am writing. Please feel free to comment on my entries, about both the things written and the things you’d like to hear more about.
Thanks for visiting this space,
-Gen
The Re-foundation Project 
As one of the parents referenced above, I am blessed to be called Papa from this amazing young woman. I hope to share some of my experiences , hopes and visions for the future here at this site with all who would like to be Friends to the Kurdish people of the Middle East. There are many places where friends, neighbors are needed, I just so happen to be fortunate to have been chosen to be a friend, a voice, a helper to a people for whom many have abandoned and abused. I am humbled by this call, as you will find out I have not much to offer but a hand, a heart, and
a desire to share in the joys and sufferings of the many wonderful open hearted people I have met in Kurdistan , Iraq .
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