Spokane Blog
Meeting New Neighbors: First Impressions
Balinda. Anzhella. Rezvan. Ibadallah. Aziz. Ivan. Massuda. Elena. Haitham. Ivan. Abdul. Andrey. Morella. Halima. Viktorya. Just saying the names of a few of the people and new neighbors I have met in my first week of work at World Relief Spokane makes me smile. They come from the Ukraine, Congo, Afghanistan, Russia — places I…
Read MoreAlexis Dubreuil: Intern Reflection
I’ve always considered it a blessing to have been raised in an environment that exposed me to different types of peoples and cultures. I am one of a lucky few to have this blessing; the potlucks at my churches always presented a beautiful array of food originating from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean,…
Read MoreStories of the Season: Former Refugee Serves on Two Reserves
Ehblu recently graduated Spokane Police Department’s reserve training. This is his story. “My name’s Ehblu. I was a refugee. I came here in 2008, to Spokane, with my family. I was eighteen years old when I got here. “Before I came here, I was born and raised in a refugee camp. My family, they were…
Read MoreStories of the Season: Mustaba’s Restaurant
This Christmas season, we’re celebrating the accomplishments of former refugees in our community. This is the story of Mustaba and Tantuni Restaurant. “I’ve been in the United States five years and 2 months. I came to the US when I was 19 years old, and I started as a student in high school. Everyone told…
Read MoreAfghans in Spokane reflect on the situation in Afghanistan
Last week, we sat down with Sayed and Hashemi to hear their perspective on the situation in Afghanistan. Sayed and Hashemi had been friends for years before they each decided to move to the United States.
Read MoreManito Pres rallies around Palouse Trails community to address food insecurity during COVID-19
A simple act of love – something akin to the generous young child who gave up his loaves and fish for the crowd – brought Manito Presbyterian Church to the residents of Palouse Trails to help combat food insecurity during the pandemic. Food insecurity has long plagued residents throughout Spokane – an estimated 20 percent of…
Read More‘God’s answer to my empty nest’
Merilee’s faithful leap into volunteering has led to a whirlwind 30 years of friendship, challenges and God’s provision.
Read MoreSpokane man crafts 300 cutting boards for refugee families
Ron Johnson delivered a new batch of his custom-made maple & walnut cutting boards in July. Each of his one-of-a-kind boards will be given to newly arrived refugees as they start their lives in Spokane. Ron started making cutting boards four years ago. Since then, he’s crafted more than 300 of them, and now…
Read MoreCoffee with a Dreamer
Last week, we sat down with Denisse Lopez-Arce, a local CNA, medical interpreter and COVID-19 front-line hero working at Sacred Heart Medical Center. She’s also a Dreamer. Denisse arrived in the U.S. with her parents when she was just a year old. Since then, she has committed to serving her community as a stellar student,…
Read MoreStill Good: Reflections on Good Friday in a Pandemic
Two years ago I was visiting a refugee camp on Good Friday. It was my fourth and final day hiking the trails that connected dusty ridges and sandy ravines. The way was lined with unending rows of square bamboo and tarp huts. I had asked questions, listened to stories, taken photos, and shared hundreds of…
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