They’re Here!

“They’re here! After more than three years apart....It’s still hard to believe that they’re here!

“Noah”’s wife “Farishta” just held her husband for the longest time in the baggage claim, and Noah couldn’t lose the biggest grin I’ve ever seen on his face.

Farishta seemed incredulous for the longest time. Like she was in a dream. Finally safe, finally together.

Their daughters will be able to attend school. 

She and the children are no longer in danger from a brutal regime, praise God.

And Noah wouldn’t put down his youngest son, who he had never held before 

(Farisha was pregnant when Kabul fell).” -Timothy Paulson

This week we have had the opportunity to host an Afghan refugee family. The father has been here in the US for 3 years and his wife and 4 children were finally approved as refugees and have arrived in Minnesota. Our good friends Timothy and Molly Paulson are working with the father, "Noah", and are doing a GoFundMe to help cover travel costs for them. They are still working on getting permanent housing. We have been asked to help house them temporarily while they wait for their housing to go through, and we said yes!

Late Monday night - Early Tuesday morning we were able to welcome “Noah” and his family into The Duplex for a safe place to stay for the next week or so until they are able to move into their permanent housing. 

This situation has had me thinking about how important community is. It took a whole network of people and community to help this family get out of the horrible situation they were in and into a place of safety - to be reunited as a family - a world away. It took each person along the way, each doing what they do best, each playing the part that they are called to play and with all of us working together: a family gets to embrace and be back together.

It is beautiful. 

We need each other.

In times of uncertainty, trouble, chaos - we need each other.

In times of good, happiness, joy - we need each other. 

I (Teresa) have witnessed many holy moments over the past few weeks. Times when God’s light breaks into what feels like terrible darkness. This is what I will hold onto as we continue to walk forward and be a place of welcome to those who are living in the margins.