Posts by chicagoland
Flying to New Heights: Ihosef’s Story
When Ihosef was a boy, he dreamed of airplanes. His mother Yolette worked as a legal consultant at an airport, and on the days when he came to work with her, the planes amazed him. “I was always good at taking things apart and putting them back together,” says Ihosef. “Planes especially interested me. I…
Read More13 Years of Separation: Now Welcomed Home
After coming to the United States as a refugee, Hodan communicated with her family only through phone calls and WhatsApp for 13 years. Her mother, Safia, and her sisters, Seynab and Yagsir, were 8,000 miles away in eastern Ethiopia. In September 2024, their long separation finally ended. Thanks to your partnership with World Relief Chicagoland’s…
Read MoreSewing & Group Connection: The Story of Amira
Amira* arrived in Chicagoland with a sense of great relief after she and her family fled Afghanistan. “When we first arrived in the U.S., I felt very good and happy. I was so relieved to have made it to the U.S. because we left the war in our country, and we are safe here.” However,…
Read More45 Years of Partnership: Wheaton Bible Church
“Wheaton Bible Church, you are sent…” These words resonate through the pews at the end of each service at Wheaton Bible Church in West Chicago, IL. They echo the powerful commands from 2 Corinthians 5 and Jesus’ words in John 20:21: “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you!” This message serves…
Read MoreWhy We Welcome: The Joy We See
This guest blog is written by Emily Waterman, the Cultural Orientation Coordinator in our Chicago Office The early days quickly passing after a refugee arrives here in Chicago sometimes all blur together. It’s a whirlwind of collaboration for our initial resettlement team as we work to establish new arrivals and provide for their immediate needs.…
Read MoreWhy We Welcome: The Hope We Have
This guest blog is written by Alisha L Garza, a Volunteer Coordinator in our DuPage Office To be human is to experience a variety of emotions—often conflicting ones. Like a woman in childbirth, there is the striking reality of pain and joy. Even Jesus was called the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), while the author…
Read MoreWhy We Welcome: The Prayers We Pray
This guest blog is written by Basma Outhman, staff member at World Relief Chicagoland Have you ever wondered what a refugee’s journey truly looks like? The simple answer is: hard, long, and complicated. But if you look closer, you’ll see that no two stories are alike. Every refugee has a unique tale to tell—one marked…
Read MoreWhy We Welcome: The Gift of Giving
This guest blog is written by Shelley Hiller, a long term partner of World Relief This summer, my church started a Good Neighbor Team. We were matched with a family from Syria who had been living in Iraq for several years while undergoing the vetting process for refugees. On the surface, there are many differences…
Read MoreThe Journey of Refuge and Hope: A Community’s Impact on a Father’s Story
This is the story of a father who fled Albania in 1990 and found a new life in the U.S., and of his daughter, Drina, who, inspired by his journey, is now dedicated to helping refugees. Their story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and the lasting impact that happened because of your support. Escaping Albania:…
Read MoreHow Youth are Impacting the Lives of Refugees
This is a guest blog written by Anne Quetua, Leader of the Youth Advocacy Board at Wheaton North High School We are the Youth Board for World Relief, a dedicated group of high school students committed to engaging our peers in supporting local refugees. My personal journey with World Relief Chicagoland was inspired by my…
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