As she walks home from school, Reem imagines smelling the aroma of freshly prepared koshari – a traditional food of North Africa – and embracing her mother in a warm hug before enjoying her delicious lunch. She imagines playing with her siblings on a safe playground and laughing with friends.
Many of us have enjoyed a childhood like this, but sadly, this is just a dream for Reem. In her reality, the story goes much differently.
Reem’s mother found herself abandoned by her husband in her home country of Sudan. With four children in tow and persecution mounting against Christians like her, she fled to Egypt to find refuge.
Hoping for a better life for her four children in another country she persevered through the long journey. Unfortunately, after arriving there all hope began to fade. Instead of a new home, the young family found poverty and disdain from the locals.
Reem’s mother is providing for her children's survival by cleaning houses – the only job she’s allowed to have in her new country. Her income barely covers the rent, but somehow, they scrape by. Each day they thank God for the one meal a day they can afford.
With only the few items they could carry on their backs, there are no toys for the littles ones. But there is plenty of sharing the workload and caring for one another.
As the firstborn daughter, Reem is responsible for the care of her siblings, Namasha, Malas and Remes, while their mother is working. Thankfully, a kind neighbor occasionally steps in to help with the children.
Even their apartment offers little hope. With no stove in the kitchen, they use a tiny gas cylinder to prepare the little food they have. The running water doesn’t work in the bathroom, and the bedroom contains only a damaged mattress. Paint peels from the broken walls, and a single lamp provides light to the windowless apartment.
From our own comfort we wonder why Reem’s mother holds on to hope at all. What gives her the strength to keep fighting for her family when all seems lost and hopeless?
We find the answer hanging on the wall – the only decoration in the tiny flat is an image of Jesus Christ. She knows where her salvation comes from.
Isaiah 58:7
“Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Guided by this Bible verse, we were driven to ask for support from our friends and family members. We sought others to help us provide this family a restored house - a place of refuge, love and joy.
And God used many to help!
While we worked on their apartment, preparing to be the love of Christ to these loved ones, the entire family was so excited to see the life-changing results.
Every hour, one of them would run up to the door and knock to ask if it was ready yet! At the end of the day, we saw the overwhelming joy of their hearts shining on their faces.
Please continue to include Reem’s family in your daily prayers. Even more, we encourage you to bring help to another family like this one and experience the joy of helping these loved ones of God find hope for the future by sharing in their dreams.
Song rights: HungryGen Worship – As Long as I Live (Thank you for allowing us to use it.)
Video and Text by: Steven Walker’s Team