As I lie cozy under my sheets and blankets in my bed, I cannot help but to think about Jalal, the seven year old Syrian boy and his family I read about yesterday. You can read the same article I read here: Jalal, Syrian Refugees. I also think about the many refugee ongoings and stories I have heard and witnessed in this city.

It is hard sometimes and I can feel so unworthy that I have a warm bed, safe place to live, with lots of food to eat while knowing a child anywhere struggles to find these needs met. I cannot sit idle doing nothing. My mind and heart passionately search for a way to help. While I cannot save the world, I can do my part by living my life in a way that seeks to be the light sharing real hope which does not come from finding safe shelter or from eating food but from knowing Jesus. I pray for opportunities to be involved in the lives of others who may not know the everlasting hope I speak of. I pray for change in the hearts of those who seek to harm or oppress others to make way for their own gain.

Please join us in prayer for refugees across the globe. While Asha’s Refuge exists to serve those refugees who have beat all odds and made it to Memphis to start their lives anew, we recognize the millions of displaced people (most of which are women and children) all over the world. We are watching the news just like the rest of you and are aware of the mass number of Syrian refugees fleeing from war and terror, desperate to find help. There may be opportunities in our future where we will be able to assist Syrian families to resettle right here in our city. We want to pray now for their journey, their safety and most of all for their hearts and ours to cry out to Jesus. If you have a heart to understand better the refugee situation right here in Memphis and want to ready yourself to serve those new refugee families coming into our city, please contact us via email at jamie@ashasrefuge.org or deborah@ashasrefuge.org.

(Jalal, 7, has been at the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan for six weeks. His arm was injured in an attack in his hometown of Da’ara, Syria.)