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Laurie Pierce preaching at the West End Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. MCC Staff Returning from Iran Complete Six Days of Peacebuilding in New York City
Doug Hostetter Matt and Laurie Pierce, along with their 20 month-old Iranian-born daughter, recently spent six days with the MCC United Nations Liaison office in New York City. During the visit, the Pierces, who recently completed three years in the MCC student exchange program in Qom, Iran, met with a variety of persons whose work intersects with the United Nations and Iran. Their engagements included a meeting with MCC New York and Akron staff to strategize on MCC peacebuilding strategies in relation to Iran, a Historic Peace Church consultation on Iran, an interview for a podcast for Religions for Peace, sharing their experiences and insights with seven nongovernmental organizations affiliated with the United Nations, meeting with two distinguished scholars on Iran, preaching and leading discussions in a Mennonite and a Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, sharing stories with former Presbyterian missionaries who had spent 18 years in Iran, being guests for a congregational meal at a Sufi mosque, and meting with diplomats from two United Nations Missions. 
Laurie's daughter explaining the fine art of wearing sandals to MCC UN Liaison Office Director's dog Molly, while her mother looks on after a hard day of peacebuilding. The Pierce's visit greatly enhanced the discussions on Iran in the UN-NGO community and amongst UN diplomats. As one Western European diplomat expressed, "I learned more about Iran in a one hour meeting with Matt and Laurie than in all of my previous research and briefings." |
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