Hey brother, I just wanted to reach out and personally thank you for creating the Kiffeyeh pot. It was last year during Ramadan when a lovely couple showed up at my workplace REI to purchase backpacking meals. Since I work in outdoor recreation, usually I’m helping people go camping when they’re purchasing those products but when I asked this couple, what their adventure was, I learned that the husband, Ahmed Ebeid is an anesthesiologist and has been making multiple trips to serve the people of Gaza. Both Nora and Ahmed have dedicated their lives to advocacy for Palestine. To me it is quite obvious that to endure that kind of personal sacrifice, that it takes a very strong connection to the divine and our creator. We might have been raised, calling our God by different names, but I know that the ultimate truth is that it is the same source that receives all of our prayers, no matter what we call the creator, or what language we speak in communicating with the divine. It was such a gift to meet them on that day and to help prepare him for that mission. My workplace sold him every bite of food that he ate during his time in Gaza. For the months that followed after meeting them I spent many evenings, praying and researching and hoping that I would meet Ahmed and Nora again upon his safe return. I do not have all the resources in the world so the perfect gift to offer this family felt like a challenge I was struggling with. The moment I saw your creation on TikTok I immediately knew that that pot, with a Peace lily planted in it might be a genuine and loving offering I could make that family as a thank you for the service they have provided for Gaza and the world. It was months ago that I made my purchase and potted the peace lily and I waited patiently, hoping that I would find a way to get back in contact with them. The week that Nora and I started texting and rekindling our friendship, was the week that the Peace Lily set out it’s first blooms. Just a few weeks ago we got to have a beautiful reunion and share a meal together in their home. The entire family genuinely loved your creation and really appreciated the symbolism behind the gift. You are a wonderful creator, and I look forward to seeing more of what you have within you to share with the world.
If you would like to learn a little bit more about this family who I cherish and admire, I am going to attach a few articles regarding their advocacy, in person medical service, and regarding their welcoming of Palestinian refugees into their own home for personal healing and development. These people are some of the most genuine and divine individuals I have ever met. In a few weeks, I am hosting an offering a paddle boarding lesson to their entire family and to Diaa and Ayah, who are in the United States from Palestine receiving treatment. Diaa lost both of his arms while he was in Gaza, and has since been taking adaptive swimming lessons and finding healing in nature here in the states. I feel so blessed to have an opportunity to offer an accessible paddling adventure to them all, and to continue to build on this meaningful friendship we have found.
Thank you so much for creating such a beautiful gift that I could offer them. It meant the world to find something as meaningful as what you have made. We must never forget that some of the most meaningful advocacy, has often involved the magic of artistic expression. I look forward to seeing how your creative expression develops over the coming years!
With great love and appreciation
Yvonne Stotler, Portland OR
https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2024/11/teen-who-came-to-portland-for-prosthetic-arms-shares-his-story-of-life-in-gaza.html?outputType=amp
https://share.google/0m2wAtzbo1DzBaG4J
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/06/06/think-out-loud-getting-medical-and-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza/
