Harry Almond worked in various parts of the Middle East for nearly 20 years. He began as a young missionary but came to see Muslims as partners in God’s plan for the world, without at any time retracting from his own Christian faith. Continuing as a missionary and teacher in Iraq and Bahrain, he and his wife Beverly later worked for many years with Moral Re-Armament (Initiatives of Change), living in Egypt, and then Lebanon, and travelling widely in other Muslim countries.Their first daughter was born in Basra, Iraq, their second in Bahrain. Born and raised in New Jersey, Harry was equally at ease conversing in Arabic among statesmen or playing Americana tunes on his harmonica for family and friends. This book became the final project of Harry's life-a final salute to and record of his encounters with the people, politics, faith and history of a part of the world he loved and respected and always wanted to share with others. It is the story of what an ordinary person can do to reach out to people of other countries and cultures.
‘We all need new insights on how to build trust between the Western and Muslim worlds and Harry Almond's book is important in this regard. It is the product, not of a few official postings to the Middle East, but of a life dedicated to the peoples of that area. It shows how networks of friendships, covering all walks of life, can be achieved despite historic divisions and the cynicism of much diplomacy. His approach to problems was always constructive and his motivation unselfish. If common cause is to be found among differing faiths and cultures, it will be by learning from his experience.’ A.R.K. Mackenzie, Retired British Ambassador, and long-standing friend of Harry Almond.
Available from: http://shop.iofc.org/shop/an-american-in-the-middle-east/
English
