‘Love to Love:’ Bushra and Ahmed’s message to the world

By Rachel French Guest Writer and Gonzaga University Senior “What was life like in Iraq? Can you describe what your daily life looked like?” Bushra looked at her husband, Ahmed, as if to search for some sort of response. Maybe it was the language barrier that prevented them from understanding the question, or maybe it was…

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Local ministry creates home for refugees

Five years ago, Don Comi was working with a refugee that sparked his interest in investing more in the refugee community. The man that he was working with was shocked when he found out that Don was helping him for free.  “No one has ever done anything like this for me before,” he said, “Why…

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For former refugees, hard work pays off

Yesterday afternoon, “Pomp and Circumstance” played as students from Lewis and Clark High School walked out of Spokane Veterans Arena. The new alumni posed for photos with family and friends, smiled, and celebrated. Among those many students are a cadre of recent additions to the Spokane community: former refugees. Moses and Rebecca are two students…

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Against All Odds: Hamsa’s Journey

By Meghan Long Communications Fellow Hamsa redefines the meaning of hard work, perseverance, and independence. When she first arrived in Spokane in January of 2013, she was highly qualified in many areas; she possessed a degree in English from the University of Baghdad, had a thriving marriage, and had just had her first daughter, Lina.…

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Friendship knows no borders: Sarah and Samire

By Meghan Long Communications Fellow Meeting Sarah and Samire, you would think they were sisters. Their contagious laughter and love for one another exudes true friendship. This unique and unbreakable bond would not have been formed if the girls hadn’t met in Spokane after resettling as refugees. Sarah is from Iraq and Samire is from…

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“Jesus Chose Us for Each Other”: Oliva and Arooj

By Elyse Herrera Digital Communications Intern When Arooj stepped into Spokane a little over two years ago, her life was “a blank page, completely.” She had so many fears about entering this new “white world.” Shortly after arriving, there came an opportunity for friendship, something Arooj embraced head-on in her relationship with a World Relief…

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Raheem and Thomas: An Unexpected Brotherhood

By Elyse Herrera Digital Communications Intern When Thomas Steiner and Raheem Abbas met two years ago, neither could have anticipated the profound impact they would have on each other’s lives today. Thomas was assigned to be Raheem’s volunteer by World Relief shortly after Raheem arrived from Iraq, and what started as a refugee/volunteer relationship quickly…

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“If God Gave Me This Opportunity, I’m Going to Use It:” Jeanine’s Story

by Elyse Herrera Digital Communications Intern The work of gratitude is powerful, and within the context of Jeanine Kayitesi’s Congo-to-Spokane story, the impact of immense gratefulness and opportunity is impossible to ignore. Jeanine, in her bright, fun, intelligent, and peaceful presence holds all of these characteristics and more. Alongside being a student, a nursing assistant,…

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A Story of Grit and Hope

By Andrew Goodwin Digital Communications Assistant There are two words that Yanella Molinelli will never say. “I never say ‘I can’t,” she says. “I say, I’ll try.” Though her journey to being a United States citizen has been filled with as many ups-and-downs as a rollercoaster, Yanella continues to live out that attitude. She always…

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Fifth graders fundraise for refugees

Creating a fundraising agenda by selling a local commodity, constructing presentations to urge donors to give money and dividing and allocating funds towards buying materials are all things that organizations do around the world. This isn’t as common, however, for a class of 5th graders. After reading the book Refugee by Allen Gratz, Charlene Babb’s…

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An eye-opening experience

Hailey, a former World Relief intern, reflects on her experience working in the Reception and Placement Department. I have had several experiences in my life that have impacted me on a greater level than I could have ever foreseen or imagined. You know, those experiences where in the moment it seems like just another season…

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