Memphis

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.

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.”

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

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.

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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.

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.

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.

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

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.

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.”

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.

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.

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

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.