My name is Wala*, and I am from Syria. I used to work as a teacher in Aleppo and lived in the village with my elderly mother. Our life was stable until the fighting erupted in June 2011. Rebels took over our village, leaving us with no electricity or communications. Roads were demolished or monitored, leaving us trapped. After a harrowing escape with some neighbors and friends, we reached Aleppo, where my mother had surgery for an injured leg.

In July 2011, Aleppo was attacked by armed groups. For nine months, we had no electricity, water, food, or medicine and lived under continuous fighting. In late 2014, heavy fighting in our neighborhood forced us to hide in a corner of our home. All night, we listened to the sound of missiles falling. The following morning, we saw the destruction and smelled the death. Our survival was a miracle, but our neighborhood fell to these extremist groups.

Tragedy continued. In 2016, a missile hit our building, injuring my mother again. I stayed to care for her, unable to leave like my brothers. She remained bedridden until she died in 2018. After her death, I was alone, unable to work, had no money and was in great distress. A friend suggested I return to my village, but he was killed shortly after. Saddened, I felt insecure, was unable to sleep and needed therapy.

As a child, I had grown up in a Christian family, attended church regularly and followed the church’s rituals, but I struggled with the truth of the Bible. For years, I participated in church rituals but did not read the Bible. One day, I met a man who knew the Bible well. I shared with him my fear of relying on the Bible as a source for my faith. He explained how the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit and encouraged me to begin reading daily. Despite initial difficulties, I developed a daily habit. Day after day, my reading continued, sometimes for hours. I started to enjoy the Bible. Reading it created a great joy and desire to serve God.

In 2023, another tragedy struck. An earthquake destroyed my house and most of the places that had escaped destruction in the war. I moved to Erbil, Iraq, where I rented a room from a Syrian family. I found a caring, compassionate community at the FMC in Erbil. I now trust the Lord will not leave me alone. I am grateful He has accepted me as His daughter and am happy to be part of the FMC in Erbil. God’s Word and the body of Christ have made all the difference!

*Name has been changed to protect the individual.

Photo: Pixabay – Yerson Retamal