Um Ahmad arrived in America two months ago. Her family of five escaped from Raqqa. Maybe you've heard of Raqqa, the capital city of ISIS? Four years ago they fled their home, paid smugglers nearly all their money and resettled in Jordan. Late last year, after two years of interviews, health exams, security checks and waiting, lots and lots of waiting, they received THE CALL from International Organization of Migration (IOM). Um Ahmad's family had been approved for resettlement in the United States. Now they are in America. Uh Ahmad's husband has a job, they have a car, live in a nice, simple apartment and two of her children are attending school. They are living every refugee's dream. However, there is one problem. Um Ahmad is lonely. She comes from a communal, familial culture and she no longer has that community around her. So, she sits in her home, caring for their two year-old, waiting for her loved ones to return.
As we sat in Um Ahmad's living room, she shared the the story of their life under ISIS rule and their harrowing escape. She cried over family still stuck in Raqqa. She worried aloud about paying the rent and buying groceries. She bragged about her children's grades and transition into English. She talked and talked and talked.
When it was time for us to go, Um Ahmad begged D to come back and stay much longer. Next time she would make Syrian food. Oh, they know us too well.
All over the place, probably in your neighborhood, there are refugees that are lonely. They have fled their homes, leaving friends and family to start life anew in this place. What a great opportunity for the Body of Christ to love and welcome our neighbors....and eat really good food with amazing people.
