Yaneth and Manuel Live Out Perseverance and Hope Through Faith

Fleeing Uncertainty: A Journey Toward Hope

Yaneth and Manuel landed in Spokane on January 16, 2025, just four days before President Trump signed the executive order suspending refugee resettlement. They had left Venezuela in search of safety and a secure future for their family of four.

In Venezuela, there was never any certainty that their basic needs would be met. Food was scarce, and they often waited in line for 24 hours just to receive something to eat. Sometimes, they would go without food for two days. Diapers and formula for their young sons, Emanuel and Mathias, were often impossible to find. Power and clean water were unreliable; shortages were part of daily life. When Manuel explains the circumstances they endured, Yaneth’s eyes swell with tears.

Realizing that Venezuela would never provide what their family needed to survive, they made the difficult decision to move to Colombia. There, Manuel found work driving trucks and buses. Although they could make a small living, the constant threat of crime and violence still made daily life unsafe.

The Refugee Resettlement Journey

One day, Yaneth learned about the refugee resettlement process from a neighbor who was already in the interview phase. That neighbor shared her knowledge eagerly, and it gave Yaneth and Manuel hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a path to a new life.

Over the course of a year, they went through a long and uncertain process interviews with IOM and USCIS, recurring medical exams, and travel every three months to continue the vetting process. At one point, Manuel considered traveling alone through the jungle to try to reach the U.S. and send for his family later. Thankfully, he listened to his wife whom he calls “wise” and waited, choosing to have faith that God would provide a safer way forward.

At last, they received the news: they had been approved for refugee resettlement and would be going to Spokane, Washington in just six weeks. Their earlier experience of starting over in Colombia gave them the confidence to begin again, this time with hope.

A Warm Welcome and New Beginnings

On that cold winter night when they landed in Spokane, they were greeted by an employee from World Relief and a group of volunteers from Spokane First Presbyterian Church. The volunteers held signs and balloons to welcome them. Manuel remembers being surprised and deeply moved by the warm reception, thinking, “Here is a place we belong.”

Now in Spokane, Yaneth and Manuel feel happy and safe. Their apartment is fully furnished through generous donations, and Yaneth has lovingly made it a home. Their young sons are already modeling their parents’ hospitality—offering fresh fruit to welcome guests. The home is filled with love, joy, and peace.

Life is finally predictable. Both parents have found jobs. The boys are in school. And for the first time in years, they can begin to think about their future. Though they miss the family they left behind in Venezuela, Yaneth is grateful for the opportunity to prioritize their immediate family’s safety and stability here in Spokane.

“Here is a place we belong.”

-Manuel, recalling their first night in Spokane.

Political Context and Call to Prayer

On January 20th, 12,000 people from around the world—already vetted and told they would be going to a new, safe home in the U.S. were left waiting after President Trump signed an executive order suspending refugee resettlement.

Please pray that the order will be lifted soon so these families can begin their new lives in the U.S. We are eagerly waiting for them. In the meantime, pray for their safety.

Stacy Ott, the author of this article, is the Refugee Simulation Coordinator at World Relief Spokane. She loves to travel with her family, keep her houseplants happy, and read. Her favorite book genre is memoirs!