Source: www.persecution.org
Date: July 29, 2024
Iraq (International Christian Concern) – Roua lived a normal life with her family in Bartella, Iraq, attending school while her father worked. Their lives were disrupted one morning by the sounds of shelling and explosions. Fearing for their safety as ISIS approached, they fled to Erbil, the only safe haven for Christians. The journey stretched for hours due to the influx of displaced people. The fear of ISIS’s advance haunted Roua as they waited at the Erbil checkpoint.
Once they reached Erbil, Roua’s family moved into a church with two other families. They endured difficult conditions, separated by curtains, and the hot summer months made life particularly hard. Despite these challenges, Roua’s father urged her to continue her studies. She persevered, completing high school in makeshift caravans with scarce resources.
After three years of displacement, Mosul and the Nineveh Plains were liberated, and Roua’s family returned to find their home destroyed. With the help of the local church, they rebuilt their house. Roua graduated but struggled to find a job. She decided to start a resin art business to support her family. With assistance from ICC, she acquired the necessary supplies and expressed immense gratitude for the support, which renewed her hope and optimism.
“I am very happy and optimistic in life because there are people like you who help those in need to improve their work and live through their efforts. Now, I confidently tell people that I am the owner of a resin project because all my materials are of a high quality,” Roua told us. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart because you have revived hope in my life. My prayers and gratitude are always with you. I will never forget your kindness.”