Muslims, Mormons Unite to Help Iraqis

Muslims, Mormons Unite to Help Iraqis


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Carole Mikita reporting Side-by-side and across the table, they packed and stuffed and loaded boxes to send to the citizens of war-torn Iraq. Hundreds of volunteers-- some Muslims, some Mormons-- spent the day assembling 10,000 family hygiene kits.

The project is the first of its kind by the Church's humanitarian wing outside of Utah. It was able to happen because of the friendship these two groups have built over the years.

Shabib Mansuri/ Council for Culture and Islamic Ed.: "I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO GOD ALMIGHTY FOR US, TWO OF THESE FAITH COMMUNITIES, COMING TOGETHER WORKING ON A COMMON GROUND TO HELP EACH OTHER."

Bill Reynolds/ LDS Humanitarian Center manager: "THERE WAS A CALL TO PRAYER FOR THE MUSLIM PEOPLE AND THEY WENT INTO ONE OF THE ROOMS IN OUR BUILDING HERE AND HAD THEIR MID-DAY PRAYERS, WHICH WAS A REALLY UNIQUE EVENT FOR ME, AND TOUCHED MY HEART AS I SAW THE BLENDING OF THESE TWO CULTURES AND FAITHS."

And even more touched are the native Iraqis. These men were educated in America, returned home to build their country and came back, having escaped Saddam's regime.

Ahdil Atar/ former Iraqi: "WE ARE TRULY GRATIFIED WHAT YOUR CHURCH IS DOING, TRULY GRATIFIED. AND YOUR SPIRIT .... HYPE US UP AND MAKE US MORE MOTIVATED TO BE INVOLVED."

As Americans, who have so much, they say they are sending a joint message of hope.

Hadah Khorifi/ Islamic Center of Southern California: "YOU CERTAINLY CAN DO YOUR PART IN MAKING THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, WE OWE IT. THIS IS OUR ROLE IN THIS EARTH AND THIS IS PART OF WORSHIPPING GOD."

Together these people of different faiths believe they are changing the world, one package at a time.

Nine containers, each with badly-needed medical supplies, blankets and humanitarian kits, are already on their way to Iraq.

Two groups already providing help within that country will distribute the goods.

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