Double Refugees

What does a refugee "look like"? 

Never assume that you know these things, you'll be surprised.

Wissam and Nasheek have an incredible story.  They are both Iraqi Christians.  Nasheek is Iragi Armenian, born of a long line of Armenins living in Iraq from 100 years ago.  "They are more Iraqi than most Iraqis" she teases.

Wissam is an accomplished pianist, who has studied music at high levels for over 5 years.

And they are double refugees. 

Having fled from Iraq during the most recent war, both of them found refuge in Syria.  They lived in Alepo, Syria for 7 years, registered as refugees in the UN Refugee Services, trying to find a new home.

They met in Alepo, through a church choir.  Nasheek was just 18.  They dated for several years, and got married last July... just one week before the war in Syria began.

They tried to wait it out.  See if things would calm down.  They waited in Alepo for 6 months, but finally, afraid for their safety, they fled to Lebanon.  Thankfully, they were connected to a group in Lebanon who has been able to help them.  They had to leave all of their wedding gifts behind in Syria.

I stayed with Wissam and Nasheek.  They are joyful, they are fun.  Nasheek taught me to curl my hair with a hair dryer.  Wissam fixed my phone situation. We laughed a lot, and shared stories.

Their families are all over the world, scattered on the wind by war.  Yet they cling to home that one day they will be able to settle in a new home.