A Unique Story

Written by Rhonda - Working in the Middle East

I arrived in the city of M (removed for security reasons) in the late afternoon. It’s a busy town near the border and a very different vibe than the bigger city I’ve been living in. Smaller but more lively. There is a coffee shop on every corner which delights me. There is a diverse community here from a variety of neighboring countries. But it is mostly refugees who have been displaced by political upheaval.

My main role here is to go on daily home visits to families in the area who need support, caring, and some material goods. I go on visits with a husband/wife team who have been here for many years and know their community well. We visit 2-3 families per day and generally spend 1.5-2 hours with each family, bring them food boxes and other needed items. Each family’s story is different. So many have experienced significant difficulties due to many different circumstances. I have learned so much from these families as we sit on their cushions on the floor (standard home here) and talk about their lives, sorrows, joys, and their current needs. It’s been an incredible learning experience for me to hear their stories, to understand what they are going through, to understand more about their culture, their needs, their hopes, and dreams. It has taught me a lot about endurance, gratitude, resilience, and joy in the midst of difficulty.