“I came with a small heart. I was afraid. But I saw that you were nice, and that you treated us like family. You treated the children like your own, which is not how we were treated before.”

— Azam, Rohingya refugee resettled to Houston, TX

“We have learned to love unconditionally, to persevere when it is tough, to speak a few Arabic words, to laugh at ourselves, and to enjoy the simple things in life. They are such dear friends to us now, we will never be the same since they came into our lives.”

— Adam & Carissa, Welcome Team Volunteers for a Sudanese family of 9

“Our [Welcome Team] supports our family in everything. I love them very much. They are my family. Not friends. They are my family.”

— Samira, Iraqi refugee resettled to Houston, TX

“If I could share an encouragement with others, it’s that one is never too busy to love a refugee family. We learn over and over that we are the ones being blessed when we bless others. No language barriers are greater than the love we share that comes from Jesus.”

— Mike, Welcome Team Volunteer for a Congolese family of 7

“We have learned that refugee families need friends and advocates. I think we have to lay aside all our tendencies to see their situation as a problem to solve but instead slow down and just see where we can join them on their journey, trusting that God is allowing you to intersect in their lives for a purpose.”

— Joy, Welcome Team Volunteer for a Rohingya family of 5

“I initially wanted to serve refugees as a way for my family to serve together, for us to be able to be in relationship with others who were different from us. What I have learned is that my children are unfazed by those differences. It’s heartwarming and convicting at the same time.”

— Faith, Welcome Team Volunteer for an Iraqi family of 7