MEET DALILA

My name is Dalila and I have seven children between 11 years old and three months old. Back in Syria, we used to have our own house in a nice neighborhood. My husband worked as a driver and we had all we needed. In 2013, the war was raging in Syria and we heard that there would be bombings on our neighborhood, so my husband and I decided to flee and seek refuge in Lebanon. We were not able to take much with us, just a few clothes and the little valuable items we had. I was very scared, especially for my children.  We had three children at the time and the oldest was only four. Shortly after fleeing, we received the news that our house had been heavily bombed and that there was nothing left of it.

At the time we reached the border, it was snowing and the car that took us was not able to continue. So we had to walk all the way, for several hours in the snow. I had my youngest in my arms, my husband was carrying another child, and the oldest was walking. Once in Lebanon, we settled with my brother-in-law’s family to start with. We didn’t even have mattresses to sleep on, and the room was very small for two families to live in. Our plan was to stay only for a little bit, until things got better back home. But the situation in Syria never got better, quite the contrary! After a while, my husband found a job and we rented a small room in a basement, which was very humid and had no natural light at all. I hated this place but it was all we could afford.

Relatives told me about the nearby church which was helping families in need. It was in 2014. I had never put a foot in a church before, so it felt weird at first, but I was warmly welcomed. I met brother David and other people, each treating us very well and helping us as much as they could.

I have been receiving food vouchers, milk and diapers, and many other things. The assistance always arrives right at the time we most need it! With the food vouchers, I usually buy things that I know my children like to eat, like eggs, milk, chicken, or noodles. But now everything has become so expensive and we cannot afford most of these items. So we are reducing the quantity of meat, chicken, and even milk we are buying, and I am cooking more grains like lentils, rice, bulgur.

During this pandemic, and because of the economic crisis on top of it, things have gotten so much more difficult. During the lockdown, we were not going out of the house and my husband could not work anymore. We now accumulated a $3,200 debt and I have no clue how we will be able to repay it.

The most important thing for us is our children. It is crucial to provide them with healthy food, milk for the youngest ones, medicine when needed, and education. My children were enrolled in public school, but it is very hard for them. They would need intensive language courses to catch up to their grade’s level and be able to follow. But of course, we cannot pay for that and I don’t know how to teach them. Because of the lockdown, they haven’t been to school for months and it concerns me that they are not learning anymore. My two youngest children still wear diapers and drink milk. I need about two packs of diapers for each child every month but they’re so expensive. Sometimes I leave my 1.5-year-old daughter without diapers during the day so I can save some.

Brother David thinks about us every time his church receives diapers! I am so thankful for him, because he is always here for us, and because the church is sharing our burden. Thank you to everyone who donated to make this possible. Please pray that the schools reopen so our children can continue their education, that we can find work, and that God would shorten these difficult days.