MEET KHALED

Khaled and his family in front of their tent in Syria, greeting the church’s representative visiting them.

My name is Khaled and my wife and I have eight children. Before the conflict, my family and I were considered to be well-off. We lived in our house, and we owned many lands that we lived off of. Because of the war, our house was completely destroyed. So, we were forced to flee for security reasons and migrate to another part of the country in order to preserve our family’s safety and wellbeing.

My family and I have been living in this settlement since 2013, and it has not been easy on us. We live in a tent, and we sleep on the dirt. There are not enough rugs and mats for us to spread on the ground. In the winter season, we are surrounded by water; we sleep on mud after the rainwater seeps into the cold tent floor. The biggest challenges we face are securing food first for our family and finding a decent job opportunity. We also are struggling with finding a decent house and with educating our children. My health situation is not the best either. I have an illness that prevents me from working, so my wife is the breadwinner. She wakes up early in the morning to work in the field as an agricultural worker in order to secure income. We are sometimes able to get medicine when the church gives us the food ration. Our main expenses are food and medicine which are our priority.

One day, we were blessed to meet with the priest, along with his team. They visited us and saw our struggles. They sat and listened to our needs and complaints. They visited us many times, and they registered our names so we can receive assistance. We have been receiving food assistance for the past three years, and the past visit we received blankets and boots. They also gave my wife a jacket. I swear to God this assistance helps us so much. It sometimes relieves my wife from going out of the house and working so hard. We are now able to secure medicine and even buy clothes for our children!

I thank the church so much; the team feels and has empathy for us. They never disappoint us. I feel so happy when the church team comes to visit us and when I see the priest. Because of them, I feel secure especially when it comes to our food needs knowing that we receive assistance in a pre-scheduled time. My children also appreciate the blessings we receive from the Lord, who we know does not abandon His servants.

We feel as though we have known the church from a long time. They are our family. They visit us, and we frequently talk over a cup of tea. The assistance we get is much more than just something material. They help us regain our value as human beings, and they give us moral support. We feel proud when the church comes to visit us. I am inspired by what they do: they give without condition and without asking anything in return.

My only hope is that tomorrow will be a better day and that my family and I are able to live in a decent room instead of the cold tent. I swear we are dying of the cold, and I hope I am one day able to provide everything for my children. We are struggling with paying rent, and everything is much more expensive than what it used to be.

For now, we are thankful for everything we receive, and we count on God. We remember what Christ has said “or I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me.” There are still good people out there, and this is what gives me hope and makes me feel that the world is still a good place.