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DID JAMES TWYMAN "SPONSOR," "ESTABLISH," AND "FUND" A BELOVED COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S CENTER IN IRAQ?

Here is what James Twyman announced:

(Note: All bolds and underlines are Lorie's)

  • Prior to October 28, 2003 (? exact date). Notice on former Emissary of Light (EOL) website: Baghdad Beloved Community Center "I am very excited to announce that the Beloved Community is about to sponsor a center for homeless children in Baghdad,..." "Donna Mulhearn, who attended my retreat in Australia, will be establishing the center with the help of other friends in November. Donna was part of the Human Shield movement during the war and witnessed the devastation suffered by the Iraqi people. She is going back to help the children, and we will all be there with her...." "In about a week I will let you know how you can support the Iraq children's project, which is so desperately needed right now...."

  • October 28, 2003. Jame's Twyman's list message: "As you already know, The Beloved Community is in the process of establishing a center in Baghdad..." "In November a team of peacemakers will travel to Baghdad to establish the center. We are renting at least one large house..." "One hundred percent of all donations will go directly to feed and house the children...."

  • November ?, 2003. Notice on former EOL website: BAGHDAD BELOVED CHILDREN'S CENTER "As most of you know, we are in the process of establishing a center for homeless children in Iraq..." "I want to thank everyone who has so generously supported this project...." "If you have yet to make a donation for the project, you can go to: http://emissaryoflight.com/iraqproject/iraqproject.html"

  • Current EOL Website notice (probably first posted in November, 2003): "The Beloved Community sponsoring a center for homeless children in Baghdad, Iraq as a sign of peace and reconciliation. Hundreds of children in Iraq have been left homeless after the war, their homes and families destroyed. They wander the streets and are under constant attack. This home will provide a safe place for them to go. The center will be part of the new Beloved Community program called "The Reconciliation Project," which will train volunteers to serve the needs of peace and children in countries that have been impacted by violence...."

  • November 30, 2003. EOL Website notice: BAGHDAD CHILDREN'S HOME "Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Children's Home in Iraq. We have received enough money to make this a reality and Donna is diligently working on setting up all the details now. The home should be set up within a couple more weeks, and we'll serve as many of the children as we can. We will keep you updated on the progress. This is a wonderful opportunity to extend this message of peace where it is needed most. Once again, thank you for your support. This is just the first of many children centers we intend to build around the world."

  • December 3, 2003. James Twyman's list message: "Proceeds from the "Mary Magdalene Experiment" will also help us continue funding our new center for children effected by war in Baghdad. That center is already up and running, serving dozens of homeless children everyday...."

    Moonbright wrote this to Donna Mulhearn on December 25, 2003:

    Hello Donna,

    I certainly appreciate what you're doing for the children of Iraq. You are a brave soul with a huge heart.

    I read that this shelter was being set up by The Beloved Community, James Twyman's organization, and their website has a place to donate money, but I don't see them getting any credit for setting up the shelter or for donating a large sum of money for making it possible in the news articles that I read on the Internet. Just wondering why not.

    Thanks.

    Moon Bright

    Donna Mulhearn's reply on December 27, 2003:

    Hello Moonbright,

    The reason is because none of the money raised by the Beloved Community has been used to set up the project.

    The shelter has not been 'set up' by the Beloved Community, but by a group of individuals who were in Iraq during the war who have worked hard in their home countries to fundraise for the project.

    To this point I have not received any money from the Beloved Community. Not one cent. (bold mine) We have set up and currently run the project from the money raised through countless dinners and fundraisers and donations of hunmdreds of people across Australia, and the UK. I spent about 3 months doing this work full-time as a volunteer before I came. An international N.G.O, Muslim Aid Australia, is also a significant contributer to the project.

    I expect that the funds raised by the Beloved Community will be used when we are ready to run the project according to the Beloved Community's philosophy.

    That cannot happen until some volunteers from the Beloved Community come to Baghdad to join me, because I cannot do it alone.

    Perhaps you could come to Baghdad to help??? (Cut two paragraphs of personal expression.)

    I'm not sure what articles you've read on the internet (perhaps you can tell me?), but you might not be aware of how the media work?? We can not dictate to a journalist what they put in a story. I often mention to journalists that the project will continue in the long-term as a result of funding from the Beloved Community, but those kinds of details rarley make it into stories.

    Perhaps you can do something about it by writing your own story and submitting it to the media?

    I find that taking action on an issue rather than complaining about it and making accusations is far more helpful for everyone involved.

    Credit will go where it is due. When the Beloved COmmunity begin working in Iraq I guess the credit will come naturally as a result of that. I am eager for this to happen as soon as possible.

    (cut question about her email address -- non relevant)

    As for me, I prefer not to receive credit from the media, from websites or from anyone ... God sees what we do in secret and blesses us accordingly. The joy is in giving, not receiving credit.

    blessings to you

    Donna

    This message from Donna followed immediately:

    hello again moonbright,

    (cut irrelevant introductory statements)

    In a nutshell: I don't feel that the "Beloved Community" work in Baghdad has officially started yet because I need to have a team of like-minded spiritual people here and I need the work to be in accordance with what it was raised for. At the moment a shelter is being run for the boys - but I am keen for it it be improved and run with the philosophy of the Beloved Community.

    At the moment I could not say it is ready yet for me to introduce that philsophy. So I'm aware that I should not receive B.C funds until I am confident it is ready.

    I hope that will be VERY soon. Inshallah (God Willing!)

    I am expectant that the Beloved Community (both in person and in spirit) will have a very powerful effect in Baghdad - I'm very excited about it and about reporting back to encourage all those who donated...

    blessings from Baghdad

    DOnna

    Note to readers from Lorie: I am not including the subsequent correspondence here, but for the record, Moonbright then clarified to Donna Mulhearn that she was not part of The Beloved Community, as it sounded like Donna may have thought this. Moonbright also sent Donna some statements written by James Twyman/The Beloved Community that refer to their establishing the shelter. No further response from Donna.

    Here is what James Twyman announced next:

  • January 5, 2004. James Twyman's list message: "As you know, about a month ago, the Beloved Community was responsible for funding a center for homeless children effected by the war in Iraq. Our friend Donna Muhearn rented a house in Baghdad and has already served dozens of children who would have otherwise been living on the street...." "Many of you are contributing to the center, and as always, we are eternally grateful."

  • January 16, 2004. James Twyman's list message: "We have just received several pictures from the Beloved Community Children's Center in Baghdad..." We are in the process of planning an extension of our Iraq Children's Project, which we will let you know about very soon...." (Lorie's note: See below for information directly from Donna Mulhearn about the extension project) "Proceeds from the MARY MAGDALENE EXPERIMENT go to fund Beloved Community projects like the Children's Center..."

    (Lorie's note: Donna Mulhearn sent the same pictures to her Yahoo list almost a month earlier.)

    Donna Mulhearn included this in her message to her Yahoo list (which James Twyman did not include in the copy of this same message that he sent to his own list):

  • January 21, 2004. "PPPPS: Can all the fundraiser type people please begin to mobilise? We’ve run out of money and need a whole lot more for our next project. Details on that soon. We have opened a bank account in Baghdad and transfers can be made direct into the account."

    More announcements from James Twyman:

  • January 22, 2004. James Twyman's list message: "UPDATE ON CHILDREN'S CENTER IN BAGHDAD: PLEASE READ. The Beloved Community, James Twyman's spiritual organization, recently helped establish a center for homeless children in Baghdad. Donna Mulhearn runs the center and periodically sends these very moving updates...."

  • February 13, 2004. James Twyman's list message: "Durango Film Festival March 7 @ 12 Durango, Colorado -- James Twyman Concert, followed by a screening of INDIGO, March 12th Concert will begin at 7p.m. To reserve your place at this event, please call: (970) 247-7657. (Proceeds from this event will go to support the Beloved Community Children's Center in Baghdad, as well as James Twyman's upcoming peace mission to Iraq on March 20th.)"

    Donna Mulhearn describes the extension project and HOW TO MAKE DONATIONS:

  • February 14, 2004. Donna Mulhearn's Yahoo list message: "Dr Naser is the Director-General of the Ministry for Social Welfare in Iraq. He oversees the well-being of children across the country. Uzma and I had gone to him for advice about the future work of Our Home - Iraq...." "We have several new houses for children opening soon," he explained. The situation in terms of accommodation has improved dramatically...." "We need to help our children to play," he said. "To give them places which are safe and happy. Places that provide what they don't have access to at school. Music, theatre, art/craft, computers, creative writing...." "In partnership with 'Childhood Voices', 'Our Home – Iraq' will open the next children's centre in Baghdad. We will provide the funding, resources, skills training and moral support. They will run the place! Dr Naser's invitation to help in this `very important work' extends to you also."

    PS: Next I'll send a project proposal with plenty of info about the centre and how to support it....."

  • February 16, 2004. Donna Mulhearn's Yahoo list message: "...So the Al-Doura centre will be called the Peace Bird Art School. We hope to open the place within three to four weeks. It will cost approximately $75,000 a year to run. If you would like to join us in this project by fundraising, please read the proposal which I will send tomorrow. It contains lots of information and I will also send some photographs which you can use.

    Perhaps you belong to a group that would like to do a fundraising appeal? Would your group like to sponsor a room in Peace Bird Art School? Then we could hang your picture there and have the Lavendar Bay Church Theatrette? The North Shore Peace Group Music Room? The Maitland Rotary Club Art room? If everyone pitched in a little, then we could equip the place in no time at all! Then we’ll be ready to open the next centre! Insha’allah (God willing.)

    PS: Australians can make tax-deductable donations using credit card by phoning 1800- 100 786, or by sending a cheque to “Our Home –Iraq”, P.O Box 1326, Redfern, 2016, NSW. Please include return address details if a receipt is required.

    PPS: If you want to make a direct transfer to Baghdad, the details are on the bottom of the proposal (next e-mail). It is best to do this only for a large amount. Let me know beforehand if you plan on doing this. (Note from Lorie: See February 19, below, for direct transfer instructions )

    PPPS: British can send a cheque to ‘Our Home – Iraq’, 23 Warwick Way, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3, 3RB, UK. Or make a deposit into the account of ‘Our Home – Iraq’, Lloyds TSB Bank, sort code: 30 97 07, account number: 0723748 02.

    PPPPS: Germans: You can make a deposit into the bank account of the organisation, D.F.G – V.K, Post-Bank Stuttgart, bank-number 600 100 70, account number 48 707 03, write the subject for ‘Our Home – Iraq’.

    PSx5: Americans: your Government has made it impossible to make transfers to Iraq but start fundraising and stay tuned, we’ll find a way!

    PSx6: People from other countries are welcome to volunteer to collect in your country.

    (Cut remaining personal PS's)

    (Lorie's note: No mention of The Beloved Community as an organization for Americans to send their donations.

    February 19, 2004. Donna provides this information to her Yahoo list: "To make a donation direct into the Baghdad account of Our Home - Iraq go to your bank and ask to make an international transfer to the Export and Finance Bank Amman into the account of The Bank of Baghdad, account number 0212510527000. Export and Finance Bank, Amman, PO Box 941283, Amman, 11194, Jordan. Tel: 962-6-5694250, Fax: 962-6-5692062, Swift Code: EFBKJOAM. You must say the recipient of the transfer is ‘Our Home – Iraq’, then it will be deposited directly into our account. Shukran! Thank you!"

    LINKS:

    Click here to subscribe to Donna Mulhearn's Yahoo list and read previous messages about "Our Home -- Iraq" from Donna

    Read Donna Mulhearn's postcard from Iraq 12/14/03

    Report suspected fraudulent solicitation by an Oregon organization

    Report suspected Internet fraud

    Search database for registered charities (Note: Databases may not be current, but organizations are required by law to provide their "letter of exemption" upon request)

    Search Oregon database for business type and ownership

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