For families living in poverty in our community, it can only take one small bump in the road to land them in an overwhelming and seemingly insurmountable situation. For many of us, it’s hard to imagine how one overdue bill or unexpected medical expense could leave us completely hopeless. But we see it almost daily with some of the communities we serve.
The good news is that one unexpected blessing can have just as significant an impact. And with the support of our partners and project teams, one week can change the life of a family or individual. Suddenly, they can breathe. They can figure out a way forward. They can hope again.
Take Mohamad Ajloni, for instance. Moh—as his friends know him—lived in a cramped one-room apartment with his wife and four young children. What was originally just a bedroom served as their kitchen and living room as well. A small curtained-off area became their bathroom.
Moh dreamed of creating a more comfortable living situation for his family. He was working on building an addition upstairs to give them more space, but with such narrow financial margin, it was a slow process. Soon his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and all their money went toward her care, eventually driving them into significant debt.
Sadly, Moh’s wife passed away, leaving him to care for their four children while facing an overwhelming financial situation. He decided to open a small bakery in one of the nearby refugee camps to make more money, but it was destroyed in a fire, practically doubling his debts.
At this point, Moh was utterly hopeless. Still grieving, not knowing where to turn for help, he, unfortunately, turned to drugs. As he battled with addiction, he eventually ended up in jail—his elderly mother caring for his children as he awaited release.
Last week, 12Stone Church in Atlanta, GA, brought a project team to transform Moh’s home and life. The team helped a local contractor complete the foundation for the next level that Moh was working on. They also overhauled the existing space with fresh paint and cleaning.
What this team was able to fund and accomplish in a week is something that Moh could probably never afford. But with this one helping hand, he can hopefully start to find his footing in life again. Stable housing will allow him to reunite with his children, build some financial margin, and get the help he needs to get his life back on track.
We visited Moh in jail to tell him about the project, and he immediately burst into tears. He knew what this meant for his children and his future. We were able to work through our relationships with local authorities to get him released in time to meet the project team and see the workers pour the foundation on the upper level.
It was an incredibly moving moment to see Moh reunited with his children and witness this dream that he had worked so hard on come true. Everyone was in tears—even the contractor! “I didn’t imagine being able to achieve this for the rest of my life,” said Moh. “I believe God put people in my pathway with kind hearts to help me.”
Mohamad is just one of the many lives that Seeds of Hope is able to impact because of your support. A one-week trip for our project teams is a lifetime of difference for the people they serve.
We’re so grateful for the time and resources that so many of you pour into Seeds of Hope. They’re making an incredible difference in lives every day.
