“When my mom was in her 20’s, she left Iraq and was a refugee in Jordan after the Gulf War. My uncle had a friend who had a barbershop and he liked to get his hair cut there. One day he told my uncle about some people who were American and Christian and were helping out with refugees. They ended up being humanitarian missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ.
My mom had explored many different churches. She had friends of many faiths, but nothing really stood out to her. She was baptized, along with my uncle and his family. Eventually, it became harder to be an Iraqi refugee in Jordan, and my family returned to Iraq in 2006. We had no formal contact with the Church for the next 5 years, but my mom raised us in the Gospel. She taught us the scripture stories, we sang hymns.
One day, out of nowhere, someone called my mom and says 'Is this Sister Tiyari?' (Who else would say that, if they weren’t members of the Church!) My mom started crying and jumping and saying 'They found us!' It was an American member that got a job in Iraq in a city three hours away so he would come and do the sacrament for us every other month. The Church in Iraq is small, one branch in all of Iraq. We don’t have a building because the members are scattered all over. My family meets at my house, and my uncle comes over. We do church on Fridays, because that’s the Sabbath for us. The nearest members live in a city six hours away.
I decided to serve a mission. I flew to Provo to the Missionary Training Center and studied Farsi for 9 weeks. It was my first time in America. I’ve spent most of my mission serving in the Farsi branch in Newport Beach. My cousin is also serving a mission right now. My mom was the ultimate member missionary. She would invite my cousin Valentina over for church. She got baptized when she was 18 and is now serving in the England, London mission. She is the only member in her family.
I share my story because it shows the power of the Gospel. No matter what the circumstances, no matter which country you’re from, whatever the situation is; the standard of truth will be proclaimed everywhere. It will truly reach every corner of the world.” -Elder Tiyari
As far as we know, Elder Tiyari is the first missionary from Iraq! (And his cousin Valentina is the second!)