I recently took a college classmate, John,  with me to visit some of our new Syrian families. His senior research paper asks them “What expectations and problems have you had or faced once arriving into the United States trying to start your life anew?”   John was so excited to meet local Syrian refugees and has a heart to serve refugees as a life long job.  This young man is quite impressive as he has taken the Arabic language classes at University of Memphis and he is not afraid to try and speak it!  John is well traveled and has an amazing outlook on loving and helping struggling refugee families as he believes Jesus would want him to do. 

It is common culture for most all of the families we serve to display extreme hospitality when they have guest.  John, Mr. Jaffar and I were the guest last week of a new Syrian family and we were extremley blessed with hot tea and cookies as we discussed life in America and the goals and immediate needs this family has.  The father in this family took a great liking to John!  He put his arm around him proclaiming that young John was one that he was now devoted to and would befriend like a father.  He made sure that John had his belly full while we were visiting even offering him a bowl of Cocoa Puffs cereal (followed by another bowl of Chex cereal).  John happily enjoyed his Cocoa Puffs while I walked around the apartment explaining how to use some of the kitchen appliances to the mother.  I could not help but giggle at John sitting at their kitchen table loving life with his new Syrian friends and a bowl of Cocoa Puffs!  God is good!