Clients
10 years of World Relief Memphis: Diana’s Story
Over the ten years World Relief Memphis has been in operation, we have had the privilege of serving hundreds of refugees, asylees, and other vulnerable immigrants. Last Fall, our office was able to connect with several clients about their journey to the U.S. and their experience with World Relief. Each interview was humbling and moving to hear. One of these such interviews was with Diana.
Diana grew up in a small mountain city in Venezuela. She recalled fondly, “Everyone in Venezuela always wants to go to my city because it is very beautiful. I love that place a lot.” In her home town, Diana was able to study accounting and eventually work as an accountant. She loved her life, but sadly it became more and more clear that she could not stay.
“For many years this has been happening in my country. There is a very bad political and economic situation, and an especially bad situation with persecution. So that pushed me to make the decision to come here for help.” She explained how her life at home rapidly fell apart. She had to quit her job and she didn’t feel safe in her own home let alone her country. After making the difficult decision to leave the home she loved, she began the process of filing for political asylum in the U.S.
“For many years this has been happening in my country. There is a very bad political and economic situation, and an especially bad situation with persecution. So that pushed me to make the decision to come here for help.”
While waiting for the approval of her case, she found work as a cleaner. At the time, she did not know English and only had a small amount of money saved. With the job, she was able to save to pay for her papers and her asylum case was approved!
It has now been several years since Diana came to the States and the process for filing for asylum has become even more challenging. She reflected back and noted that, “I was very lucky because they helped me very fast.” She shared how she has seen many people wait many months or even years for approval, but she was approved swiftly and is still so grateful.
After her approval, Diana looked through her papers and saw information from a World Relief office. She reached out to them, but, while waiting for a response, she researched places where she could study English. That is when she found World Relief Memphis’ Connect Language Center. Already having some friends, family, and a church connection there, finding the CLC was the final decider in her moving to Memphis.
After arriving and becoming a student at the Connect Language Center, she saw a sign for World Relief Memphis. At the time, the CLC was not located in the same building as World Relief Memphis, so Diana did not immediately know they were connected. Knowing what World Relief did, Diana went to her teacher and shared about her situation and was then able to be connected with services.
Diana was then enrolled as a client in the Connect Language Center and Economic Empowerment service lines. This helped cover the cost of her classes and aided her in job readiness and placement as well as budgeting.
Right away she wanted to get back to accounting work, but she knew she needed to develop her English skills first. Continuing at the CLC, Diana proved to be a dedicated student. “What I loved was the English classes.” New to the city without many connections, she enjoyed the comradery, diversity, and fun group experience of learning and growing together in the classes. “I really love World Relief because of the diversity. I love to meet people from around the world and work with them and take classes with them. I was able to make friends with people from Africa, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, and Afghanistan. I have gotten very very good friends from classes.” Diana felt safe, she was even able to find housing through making friends with another woman in her class! They ended up being roommates for two years, before Diana met her husband.
“I really love World Relief because of the diversity. I love to meet people from around the world and work with them and take classes with them.”
After settling in to her life here in the U.S., Diana wanted to give back, and so she started volunteering. During the early days of COVID-19, the Memphis office worried about how to reach clients and their communities with updates and safety information. An idea then came about to have community ambassador Instagram accounts of which Diana ran the Spanish community account.
She also came alongside World Relief Memphis in helping with Cuban clients in a program called “Club Cuba.” Every Friday, Diana and other WR staff would go through presentations teaching newly arrived Cubans about things they needed to learn about living in the U.S. and in Memphis. They walked through the American health system, child care, transportation, job readiness, financial literacy, and much more!
Throughout her whole experience Diana shared how her faith was her rock.
“Before I made the decision to come here, I was in a very bad situation emotionally because I didn’t know exactly what to do. And I said, “God, you have to lead me to what I am going to do, because I don’t know if this is the right thing to do.” And then I came here, and I had the door open to me, and I knew people loved me and showed me that I am in a safe place. I think God put those people in my life. It (her faith) has been everything.”
Now, almost seven years later, Diana is married, is a “full time Mommy”, and looks to a whole new future ahead. She has dreams of raising her daughter to be strong and independent and be a good example for always trying your best. She still has her passion for accounting and one day hopes to be a business consultant helping with project management.
We are so grateful for Diana. Her example of perseverance, bravery, and heart for giving back reminds us of the importance of this work daily. Here at World Relief Memphis, we have seen Gods faithfulness these past ten years through the support from people like you. We thank you for joining us on our journey in making Memphis a more welcoming community.
If you were inspired by Diana’s story and want to know how you can partner with World Relief Memphis, check out our “get involved” page for more volunteer information today!
Writer: Kara Spencer
Communication Coordinator at World Relief Memphis, graduate of Harding University, & Memphis native.
Photo Credits: Emily Frazier
If you would like to learn more about World Relief Memphis in the coming months, follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on events and volunteer opportunities.
If you are searching for an opportunity to begin making a bigger impact, join our new monthly giving program, The Path, for exclusive updates, virtual events, prayer chains, and stories of hope from the women, men, and children whose lives you change.
10 years of World Relief Memphis: Hussam’s Story
Over the ten years World Relief Memphis has been in operation, we have had the privilege of serving hundreds of refugees, asylees, and other vulnerable immigrants. Over the past couple of months, we reached out to some of the first families and individuals we welcomed, to our newest arrivals.
Hussam and his family’s story is one of miracles. Originally from Syria, Hussam, his wife, and their young son Farouk sought safety in Jordan after civil war broke out in 2013. When they first left their home, they thought they would only be gone for a few months, but quickly realized that would not be the case. While in Jordan, they discovered their son had a rare form of cancer in his eye. They immediately sought treatment, spending all of their money and selling almost everything they had, including Hussam’s wife’s gold jewelry. This was only enough to pay for the first treatment. After that, they had to find a way to come up with the money again for the second treatment only 21 days later. “That day I can say was a very horrible day. I mean, it was the hardest day during the whole journey for me.”
Thinking of anything he could do for his son, he reached out to the Princess of Jordan. Messaging through Facebook, he was able to share his story and she responded! She reached out to her assistant to connect with them further and they were then able to get coverage for the chemotherapy bills. While at the hospital, even more amazing things occurred. As Hussam was walking through the halls, he overheard people speaking about immigration and an organization called IOM (International Organization for Migration). Through hearing that conversation, he was able to apply for refugee status and start the process for coming to the U.S.
“I didn’t want to go to Jordan. I didn’t really want to leave my country in the beginning. But, what I found out after what happened to my son was that the hospital in Jordan was the only hospital in the Middle East that takes care of this cancer. It is a very rare cancer. My son, he was one in 5,000 cases.” Though his family did not want to leave their home, because they did, their son was able to receive the exact treatment he needed at the right time.
After his family received their status, he spoke to his son’s doctor about their situation and asked where they should try to go in America. The doctor immediately said Memphis, Tennessee. He continued to share how he had studied at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and that they should go there to pursue treatment once they were approved. After three years of waiting and seven chemo treatments, they were finally invited to resettle to the United States in 2016. This was only a few months before the Syrian travel ban was put in place.
“There was an apartment there ready to live in. There was food and everything we needed as a family at that time. Yeah, that was amazing.”
Hussam shared excitedly about their first day in Memphis, “The first day in Memphis was very cool. I love it. I was like, “Yay this is the United States! Where are the high buildings? Where is the Statue of Liberty?”’ We had a good laugh about that then he continued to share how the first couple months felt like a dream. World Relief Memphis was able to set them up with all that they needed in their home and connect them with St. Jude in their second week. “There was an apartment there ready to live in. There was food and everything we needed as a family at that time. Yeah, that was amazing.”
Some of the biggest hurdles after refugees are resettled is the language and transportation barrier. Even though they did not speak English when they first arrived, they were able to get a translator at St. Jude to assist them throughout the whole process. St. Jude was also able to provide transportation for Hussam and his family from their home to the hospital for all of their appointments. “They took care of everything from A to Z. They are amazing.” Now, seven years later, his son is doing great. With the type of cancer he has, it will never fully go away, but it is now in remission. Hussam then told us about his second son, born a couple of years into living in Memphis. Because of Hussam and his wife’s love for St. Jude, they named their second son Jude. The name also happens to mean “generosity” in Arabic, or “one who gives and expects nothing in return.” “St. Jude is a gift from God. It’s a grace.”
Sharing more about their first few months, he described their excitement and how they began to make friends starting with one of their Good Neighbor team volunteers, Kyle. Hussam shared that Kyle speaks seven languages including Arabic, which was the only language that he and his family spoke at the time. This relationship helped keep their family in good spirits as the initial high from arriving in the U.S. began to come down and the worry began to set in.
All of the bills and things that were initially put on hold were coming at them fast. He also worried about beginning to learn English and apply for jobs. While he was waiting to get a job, Hussam dedicated himself to studying English. Six months later he finally got a job. During this time, a volunteer also donated a car to the family which allowed for more freedom and flexibility.
“When I bought the house, I felt like I had a home again. A house to me is a country. I feel like my house is my country and it makes a big difference. I’m happier, more excited, and its better for my family.”
Hussam was determined to save money and provide for his family. At one point he was working three jobs to be able to save up enough money to be approved for a loan to then buy a house. In 2020 he did. “When I bought the house, I felt like I had a home again. A house to me is a country. I feel like my house is my country and it makes a big difference. I’m happier, more excited, and its better for my family.”
While talking about his process to get jobs and house he shared that “World Relief taught me how to do it the right way. Sometimes what they told me was hard or they would ask me to do things myself, but that was the right thing.” Because the caseworkers at World Relief Memphis worked with and not for Hussam and his family on things like legal paperwork, job hunting, and loan applications they were able to become independent more quickly even if it was hard in the moment.
Thinking on future plans and personal goals, Hussam is excited and eager to vote and continue to advocate for refugees. He wants to push against the misconceptions surrounding the refugee immigrant community especially for Syrians like his brother, whom Hussam is still waiting to be reunited with. Another plan the family has is travel. Now that they are citizens and have their passports, they are eager to reconnect with family. A big goal that he has is one day opening his own dental practice. Throughout his time in the dental field he has loved making people smile and he wants to be able to continue to do so as a business owner.
Lastly, Hussam shared what his dreams are for his sons. He hopes that his children understand the journey that their family has been on and all that they went through to come to America. He hopes that his children will be able to help others in their careers whether that be as doctors or something else. “I hope they can do it.”
We are amazed at how clearly you can see God’s hand throughout Hussam and his family’s entire journey. We are so thankful to Hussam for sharing his story and allowing us to share it with you. World Relief Memphis has been serving in this city for 10 years because of support from people like you. We thank you for joining us on our journey in making Memphis a more welcoming community.
Writer: Kara Spencer
Communication Coordinator at World Relief Memphis, recent graduate of Harding University, and Memphis native.
Photo Credit: Emily Frazier
If you would like to learn more about World Relief Memphis in the coming months, follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on events and volunteer opportunities.
If you are searching for an opportunity to begin making a bigger impact, join our new monthly giving program, The Path, for exclusive updates, virtual events, prayer chains, and stories of hope from the women, men, and children whose lives you change.
10 yrs of World Relief Memphis: QaQa and Josephine
Over the ten years World Relief Memphis has been in operation, we have had the privilege of serving hundreds of refugees, asylees, and other vulnerable immigrants. Over the past couple of months, we reached out to some of the first families and individuals we welcomed, to our newest arrivals.
One of the first families we sat down with was Josephine and QaQa. Before meeting in Lebanon in 2011, Josephine and QaQa were living very different lives. Josephine, originally from the Philippines, left home after high school and started working as a traveling housekeeper. As good job opportunities were hard to come by where she grew up, her work took her to various countries in Europe for five years. After finishing her contract and a change in government regulations, Josephine had nowhere to go. After connecting with a friend, Josephine was told about a spa in Lebanon where she could find work and housing, so she made the leap and left for the new country.
QaQa, on the other hand, grew up in Iraq and as was required, served in the military. During his six years in the army from 1997 until 2003, he was positioned as a coach and trainer. QaQa described life in the army near the end of his service as brutal. They had run out of food, had no access to clean water, and no where to sleep. After three months of these conditions, QaQa escaped to his family home. When he arrived, his family barely recognized him after all he had gone through. QaQa was only able to stay with his family for five days before he realized he was being targeted by the militia. With help from his uncle and a friend, he escaped to Syria where he was able to meet a contact to take him into Lebanon. Once there he was able to receive approval for refugee status and eventually begin working as a trainer at a gym.
In Lebanon, after many years Josephine and QaQa’s paths crossed in 2011. Two years later they were married. QaQa had continued going through the immigration process and was able to add Josephine to his case so that when the time came, they could leave together.
Although Josephine and QaQa had found each other and begun to make a life together, life in Lebanon was not easy. They both described experiencing bombings in the city and recalled their small apartment by the sea where their taps only ran salt water. Josephine also had the added fear of working without papers.
Through her struggle to find work, provide for herself and family, and the ever-changing regulations between the various countries in which she had worked, she did not have the opportunity to seek legal status in Lebanon. One day while working at the spa in 2015, Josephine and five other women were taken in by police for working illegally and placed in jail. Josephine had to leave their infant son Daniel at the spa. Josephine recalls waiting in the jail under the bridge, not knowing if she’d see her family again or why she was really there.
While Josephine was in jail, QaQa found the caseworker who had helped him with the process of receiving refugee status and adding Josephine and their son Daniel to his case. After hearing what had happened, the caseworker was able to explain Josephine’s status to the police. Fifteen days later she was finally released. Sadly, this was not the last time she was sent to the jail. After hearing that her father was ill in 2016, she tried to find a way to visit her family in the Philippines but the police had taken her passport when she had been taken into custody. On a leap of faith, she went back to the jail to try and retrieve it but was placed back into custody instead for another fifteen days. While in custody, her father passed away and she was unable to attend the funeral. Though heartache and challenges came their way, Josephine and QaQa remained strong and patient during their time in Lebanon.
Finally, in January 2017, QaQa’s case was approved for resettlement and the family was on the way to the U.S. QaQa commented that when he found out that they were finally traveling, he had almost forgotten he was in the refugee process as it had been fourteen years since he first came to Lebanon. But it was real.
In January 2017 Josephine, QaQa, and Daniel made the long trek to Memphis Tennessee where the World Relief team was eagerly awaiting them. When they arrived, they found they already had a furnished apartment near other refugee families and multiple caseworkers helping them with paperwork, job placement, and doctors visits. They also had a Good Neighbor Team in place to help support them in their transition during the first few months in Memphis.
As neither of them spoke English upon arrival, the first few months were especially challenging. After six months they were both able to start jobs and really land on their feet. They discovered how different life was, but with community around them, they felt supported.
“It was very helpful. Like when we started they were there step by step until we pushed to our main goal. Our goal that we can build our family here where we are stable and we are legal. We are very thankful to World Relief.”
Now, five years later they are home owners, have their own cars, are citizens, have steady jobs, and even have another son, David. Over the years they have been able to keep in touch with family through apps like WhatsApp and Facebook but nothing compares to being together as Josephine and QaQa expressed.
When asked what impact World Relief has had in their life Josephine shared, “It was very helpful. Like when we started they were there step by step until we pushed to our main goal. Our goal that we can build our family here where we are stable and we are legal. We are very thankful to World Relief.” QaQa also shared that “World Relief helps people. They help people not just stay in the house together all the time.” He shared that he was grateful for the initial assistance but was most excited to be independent and provide for his family, and World Relief helped him do just that.
Looking to the future, QaQa and Josephine hope to see their children continue in school and go to college. Josephine shared that, “we work hard for our children to go to college, and we will continue working hard until they go to college and then stand on their own.” They also have dreams of travel. Now that they have their passports they are planning a trip to visit Josephine’s family, whom she hasn’t seen since 2010.
As our conversation wrapped up, Josephine and QaQa continued to speak about visiting friends in different states, and their experience with buses. Josephine laughingly said “my husband, he’s very adventurous. He is very confident in himself,” as QaQa was telling a travel story.
We are so thankful for Josephine and QaQa for sharing their story and allowing us to share it with you. World Relief Memphis has been serving in this city for ten years because of support from people like you. We thank you for joining us on our journey to making Memphis a more welcoming community.
Writer: Kara Spencer
Communication Coordinator at World Relief Memphis, recent graduate of Harding University, and Memphis native.
Photo Credit: Emily Frazier
If you would like to learn more about World Relief Memphis in the coming months, follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on events and volunteer opportunities.
If you are searching for an opportunity to begin making a bigger impact, join our new monthly giving program, The Path, for exclusive updates, virtual events, prayer chains, and stories of hope from the women, men, and children whose lives you change.
10 years of World Relief Memphis: David’s Story
Over the ten years World Relief Memphis has been in operation, we have had the privilege of serving hundreds of refugees, asylees, and other vulnerable immigrants. Over the past couple of months, we reached out to some of the first families and individuals we welcomed, to our newest arrivals.
David and his family’s story is one of perseverance, patience, and prayer. Originally from the East African country of Uganda, David and his family sought safety in Kenya to escape conflict there. In Kenya, they found the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and started the process of resettlement. After several interviews and a long period of waiting, David was approved and invited to be resettled in Memphis in 2015. Although the initial resettlement period can be a time of joy, for David, his resettlement meant leaving his children behind.
As a single father of eight, this was an incredibly hard time for him. One thing he did have to support him during this time was World Relief Memphis. As soon as he arrived, WRM was waiting for him. “They helped me with housing, connected me to people, I made friends, and I got a job through World Relief.” WRM was also able to assist David in immediately filing for the reunification of his family.
It took six long years from the moment he began the request and the paperwork process to the moment his children began to arrive. During those years, David and his children had to complete multiple DNA tests, dozens of interviews, and fill out what felt like every form in the world. The first round of interviews started in 2017 and it seemed like the process was rolling smoothly until President Trump significantly reduced the refugee ceiling. They didn’t hear any updates until February 2019. “It was a very hard time because they kept promising, “you are coming you are coming,” and then nothing.”
“They helped me with housing, connected me to people, I made friends, and I got a job through World Relief.”
After that pause, there was another hurdle. The US Embassy in Kampala, Uganda told them that they were no longer processing the case and that the kids would need to make their way to Nairobi, Kenya. David reached out to the office there after not hearing anything and the Nairobi international field office said that they had not received their cases. Then the office wanted to start the interviews all over again, this time in Nairobi. This was a major setback as the family had already gone through this once and now David needed to find a way to pay for his kids to travel from Uganda to Kenya, which would be very expensive.
Not wanting to give up, David reached out to the office again to plead his case and allow the process to continue in Uganda. The Lord provided. “God was good. After I talked with the field officer, she decided to reschedule the appointment in Uganda. So, I said, “Ah thank you God!”’ Though being able to finish the process in Uganda was a blessing, that was not the last hurdle they had to jump. They had to repeat the DNA testing and the medical exams multiple times as they kept expiring due to their long waiting period. Finally, they thought they were about to be approved when the Covid19 pandemic hit. This led to another year of waiting.
“God was good. After I talked with the field officer, she decided to reschedule the appointment in Uganda. So, I said, “Ah thank you God!”’
In May 2021, after six years and four months, David was reunited with his son Jonathon. Soon after, his family slowly but steadily arrived: first in June, July, and then September that year. The last of his children finally came in January and February of this year. By the time all of his children were back home with him, he had become a grandfather of three beautiful grandchildren as two of his daughters had started families of their own while in Uganda.
Throughout this whole process, David never lost hope, even though it was devastating to be apart from his family for so long. While they were apart, David shared that he would contact his kids and remind them not to lose hope, “Just know the time will come no matter how long.” While he was working here, he was able to send money back to them to make sure they were able to stay in school while they were waiting to travel and so they would have what they needed. Now that they are together, many of his older children are working and going to school and college which David is very proud of.
Reflecting over his entire journey, David shared how World Relief gave him a solid foundation in his early months here. Helping with cultural orientation, housing, and finding a job, he was able to take those lessons and skills and apply them to advocating for his family, buying his own home and car, and now starting his own business. He shared about his dreams and plans for the future saying “My dream, I want to be my own boss. I also hope to own rental properties one day. Right now, I offer landscaping services.” His goal is to be a part of people loving where they live. (Check out his business at Prooftobelieve.com LLC and contact him at zion@prooftobelieve.com)
As we ended our conversation, David wanted to share one last time the importance of patience.
“It wasn’t easy. All these challenges in life, you can’t avoid them. Challenges are always there in life, you have to face them. But, it is the way you focus and stand against challenge and overcome them, that matters. As I told you, patience pays. It’s not easy to wait, but like Jesus commanded the apostles in Acts 1-4, you must wait for the Father’s promise.”
We are so thankful for David for sharing his family’s story and allowing us to share it with you. Through all of their hardship, it is still so clear to see God’s faithfulness in bringing this family back together. Here at World Relief Memphis we have seen Gods faithfulness these past ten years through the support from people like you. We thank you for joining us on our journey in making Memphis a more welcoming community.
Writer: Kara Spencer
Communication Coordinator at World Relief Memphis, recent graduate of Harding University, and Memphis native.
Photo Credits: Emily Frazier
If you would like to learn more about World Relief Memphis in the coming months, follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on events and volunteer opportunities.
If you are searching for an opportunity to begin making a bigger impact, join our new monthly giving program, The Path, for exclusive updates, virtual events, prayer chains, and stories of hope from the women, men, and children whose lives you change.
10 years of World Relief Memphis: Valentyna’s Story
Over the ten years World Relief Memphis has been in operation, we have had the privilege of serving hundreds of refugees, asylees, and other vulnerable immigrants. Over the past couple of months, we reached out to some of the first families and individuals we welcomed, to our newest arrivals.
As most of us are aware, in February of this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin began his invasion of Ukraine. The war that has unfolded has caused yet another humanitarian crisis with little sign of letting up soon. The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) currently estimates that there are more than 7.2 million refugees from Ukraine in various European countries and the U.S. They also estimate that there are more than 6.9 million currently internally displaced within the Ukraine. Over the past few months World Relief Memphis has been able to resettle some of these individuals and families. Valentyna is one of those individuals.
A few weeks ago, we were able to sit down with Valentyna and her daughter Olga, who has lived in the states for about 5 years. Through Olga’s interpretation, Valentyna shared about her life back in Ukraine. As she is 69 years old, she has been happily retired for 9 years living on her own in an apartment in the downtown of a large city. “I had everything. I was happy.” She lived a comfortable life with everything she needed within walking distance. “Everything was fine until the early morning of February 24,” the day the army began their invasion.
Because of the time difference between the U.S. and Ukraine, Olga found out what was happening before her mom. “It was maybe 10pm and we start hearing that Putin announced that they are starting the war. It was 4:30am Ukrainian time and I texted Mom “has it started bombing?” and she checked the TV and said “yes, yes it has started.” Although there had been talks of a potential invasion since October of the year prior, no one wanted to believe it. Olga continued to tell us how she immediately told her Mom to get water and non-perishable food, and to think about getting somewhere safer.
Within the first few days, Valentyna had a “to-go” bag packed with essentials which included her important papers she would need for travel. While still in Ukraine, Valentyna described the first few days of the war as chaos. Bomb sirens were going, traffic jams were everywhere, and everyone was rushing to the store and the bank. People began to utilize basements and old WWII bomb shelters at night, but due to her eyesight, Valentyna couldn’t continue making the trips to the shelter every night. “I was tired so I put a pillow and a blanket in the bathtub, like the tornado rule.” Soon people in her apartment complex started to leave. She shared that anyone with a car packed up what they could and left when they felt things were getting worse. That was one thing she could not do. With no car and no family in the area, she would have to find another way to leave if the time came.
As Olga continued to describe the war and the evacuation process, she shared that Valentyna went through all the stages of denial and acceptance. “She had said to me, “You know I’m 69. Whatever happens, happens.” Olga went on to share more of how she had tried to continue to push the urgency for her Mom to leave, but there is only so much you can do on the phone.
“On April 12, her birthday, she just called me up and said, “I don’t know where to go but can you get me a ticket somewhere, I’m just ready to go.”
After a little over 2 months, Valentyna was ready to leave. “On April 12, her birthday, she just called me up and said, “I don’t know where to go but can you get me a ticket somewhere, I’m just ready to go.” Olga was able to buy her a train ticket to Lviv where she stayed for couple days to rest and then made her way to Warsaw, Poland by bus. For 10 days, Valentyna was able to stay at one of Olga’s old college friend’s places. Next, she traveled to Vienna with another one of Olga’s friends. While there, Olga and her husband had time to plan out next steps.
Since Valentyna needed a visa to come to the United States, the next travel steps were tricky. A few years prior, Olga and her husband had their first child and they had tried to get a visa for Valentyna, but it had been denied and they were worried that it would happen again. Then President Biden announced the U.S.’s intentions to help in the crisis and welcome 100,000 Ukrainians. They were immediately encouraged, although still apprehensive about being able to get a visa quickly enough. Without seeing another option, they all booked a hotel and flights to Mexico to then try to cross the boarder together. It was almost the day to travel when President Biden announced “United For Ukraine” which would allow Ukrainians to apply for humanitarian parolee status. Once they researched the process and used Olga’s husband as the American tie and sponsor, Valentyna was approved and was told she had 90 days to travel.
On May 10 Valentyna finally made it to Memphis. Once here, they quickly realized how expensive this process would be as Valentyna needed regular medical help along with required U.S. vaccines and medical screenings. With no insurance, the bills quickly pilled on. On May 21, things started to look up as another act was passed to provide Ukrainians with the same benefits as refugees during their allotted 2 year stay. This meant that Valentyna could now get a monthly stipend and insurance. They needed to find a place where they could start filing for these benefits. That’s when they learned about World Relief Memphis.
After reaching out via phone and email, they were able to get connected with their caseworker Peyton. Peyton helped show Valentyna all the benefits that she qualified for and got her started on filing for the various programs. Olga shared how big of an advocate Peyton has been for them. They have had to deal with frustrating situations at places like the Social Security office, but Peyton helped them persevere. “It’s been a big help. I don’t know how we’d do it without her.” Olga went on to share that “before we got to World Relief Memphis it felt like no one cared.”
“Before we got to World Relief Memphis it felt like no one cared.”
Although she has enjoyed being able to be with family, especially being with her grandson in person, Valentyna’s wish is to return home. In America, and in a city like Memphis where there is little to no public transportation, you don’t know the culture, and you don’t speak the language, it can feel very isolating. Valentyna expressed feeling loss of independence and isolation. Olga commented that “It’s almost like someone with a disability, having to rely on someone else and not being able to leave home without help.”
Accepting that she will at least be here for the winter, Valentyna hopes to be able to return home next summer. Until that day comes, they are all soaking in as much family time as possible. They are even thinking about taking a trip to Alaska as Valentyna has enjoyed watching a show about it on the Discovery Channel.
Although Valentyna’s story is not over, she has already accomplished so much and shown her bravery and determination in seeking safety and advocating for herself. We are so thankful for Valentyna and Olga for sharing their story and allowing us to share it with you. World Relief Memphis has been serving in this city for 10 years because of support from people like you. We thank you for joining us on our journey in making Memphis a more welcoming community.
Writer: Kara Spencer
Communication Coordinator at World Relief Memphis, recent graduate of Harding University, and Memphis native.
Photo Credit: Emily Frazier
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‘We need the community to surround them’: Triad resettlement agencies prepare to help people who fled Afghanistan
Arrivals to the Triad area from Afghanistan will be welcomed by World Relief Triad.
Our Executive Office Director, Rob Cassell, spple on behalf of World Relief Triad’s involvement as an agency accepting Afghan parolees.
Various resettlement agencies across the Triad have been made aware of the possible arrivals. Those from Afghanistan are referred to as “humanitarian parolees.” Humanitarian parole is a status that some receive response to a crisis. It grants immigrants the ability to enter the country when otherwise they would not, such as with the arrival of Haitians and Cubans.
What this status means for these individuals, though, is that that they not receive the same rights and benefits as refugees, as Executive Director of World Relief Triad, Rob Cassell, points out as something to call upon Congress for in taking action.
“As things go right now, there are a lot of gaps to cover,” said Casell. “We all need connections. We all need people to help us. The success of these families and individuals will be based on their ability to make those connections and integrate into the community.”
Read more at News & Record Greensboro.
An Open Letter
To the people we serve at World Relief,
We want to express our unwavering support to you and express our deep grief over the events of January 6th, when a group of rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol. The scenes we all witnessed left us feeling sick and unsettled and were reflective of the divisions that the country is facing.
We acknowledge that many of you may be fearful as you witnessed violence, terrorism, anarchy, and instability — all resembling the dynamics you may have left behind in your countries of origin, and which you never expected to face again in the United States. We also acknowledge that refugees and immigrants have often borne the brunt of a hostile political narrative that has discounted or diminished the validity of your story and experience and your tremendous contributions to our country.
We also recognize that at least some of the confirmed perpetrators of the attack espoused explicitly racist and white supremacist views. We grieve that the response from law enforcement to this attack stood in stark and unjust contrast to the violence with which largely peaceful demonstrations against police brutality were met in the past year. We know that you may be seeing and experiencing historical events unfold that are often checkered with racism and bias against people of color. And the American church has been complicit in perpetuating untruths that do not affirm the image of God in every person. We want to recognize that we, as part of the church, have often placed an allegiance to a distorted vision of our country over our commitment to God. But, the view of the people we saw at the Capitol building does not represent the view of all Americans. In fact, Christ calls us to be peacemakers and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We know pursuing peace is not a passive act but an active one that seeks the good of our neighbors and our communities.
We condemn in the strongest terms the riots last Wednesday and the scourge of conspiracy theories, anti-democratic misinformation, and white supremacy that plague our nation. The continued assault on truth, decency, and our basic democratic ideals is not just emanating from the far corners of our society but carried out from the highest levels of government.
We mourn the lives that were lost in the violence and grieve the ongoing trauma that refugees, immigrants and people of color, in particular, experience in this country. At the same time, we commit to continue our work in creating welcoming, just communities where you and your families can find safety and thrive.
We pray for peace, for reconciliation, and for justice and accountability for those who perpetrated the violence in our nation’s capital last week. We pray for truth, decency, and the rule of the law to prevail. We pray that there will be no further bloodshed and that a peaceful transition takes place. And beyond that, we pray that the seeds of division and discord begin to wither in the light of truth.
Most of all, we are praying for you. We are praying for your families to be safe during this time and for you to continue to find a welcoming and loving community that represents the best that this country has to offer.
We do not write today because we have answers to offer but, as an organization that has served over 400,000 people like you and whose staff is composed of many refugees and immigrants, we want to affirm our commitment to continue serving you as best as we can. To that end, please do not hesitate to reach out at any time to any of our staff if you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone to speak with. Please note our list of local offices on our website at www.worldrelief.org/us-locations.
We thank you for allowing us to journey with you and believe we can work together to contribute to the healing this land needs. We want you here. We recognize you. We stand with you.
With respect and affection,
World Relief Chicagoland
A Letter to Our Clients
We at World Relief are sad about the events of Jan 6th at the U.S. Capitol.
We know that many of you may be scared as you saw the violence at the Capitol. This may look like the situation you left behind in your country.
The beliefs seen at the Capitol building are not the same as World Relief and not the same as all Americans. In the Bible, God tells us to love our neighbors and be peacemakers.
World Relief does not agree with what happened at the Capitol.
We are sad about the people that died in the violence. We are sad about the difficult times refugees, immigrants and people of color are experiencing in the United States.
World Relief’s goal is to create welcoming communities. We want everyone to be treated fairly and feel safe in the United States. We want each person and family to find peace and hope for a good life in the United States.
We are praying for you and your family to be safe during this time.
Please let someone at World Relief know if you feel scared about the situation in our country, including the pandemic, and need someone to talk. We see you, we are glad you are here, and we stand with you.
-World Relief Chicagoland