MEET ROULA

“I was living in a nice house with my husband, our newborn son, and two daughters. One day we were told that ISIS was coming to our neighborhood. I left the house immediately with my children. As we were running, snipers started shooting at us. I was holding my son across my chest and my daughters by the hands. My son was hit. The bullet went through his shoulder to his heart… He died before I could take him to the hospital.

I felt very lost and depressed when we arrived in Lebanon. It was snowing and I had to settle in a tent shared with other families. But in all this the MERATH partner church made things easier. They provided me with fuel, mattresses and blankets, and food when we needed it. They also gave my girls dresses and toys and helped them get an education back.

Today I am the mother of five beautiful girls but being responsible for the Little Friendly Space, I feel like a mom to many more! It is an amazing project! 60 children aged two to five years’ old attend the LFS in shifts – learning, singing, playing, and having a chance to be with other children and possibly a completely different future than they might have had without the developmental opportunities they are now accessing at this critical age.

In the beginning I was so afraid and not sure if I could fulfill this trust placed in me – but I was also excited – and then after we started I saw that the children were so happy to be here, I thought, ‘Yes, I am able to do it!’ Now I feel about myself that I am doing something, I have a purpose – I’m responsible for these children.

Now that I feel useful again, I can be a better mother to my daughters. My personality changed and my depression went away. One day I believe I will see my son in heaven, and this is what keeps me going. The church gave me this hope.”

Now that I feel useful again, I can be a better mother to my daughters. My personality changed and my depression went away. One day I believe I will see my son in heaven, and this is what keeps me going. The church gave me this hope.

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