Welcoming a new refugee family

Our Refugee Ministry has another family that will be in Warrenton for the next six months. They are Ahmad and Nadia, a young Afghan married couple here legally on Humanitarian Parole and seeking permanent asylum. 

Ahmad’s father worked for the U.S. as a bomb defuser for over 10 years, and Ahmad and Nadia escaped the Taliban in 2021. They have been moved by the U.S. Embassy from Germany to France, to Holland, then to California, New York, with a final destination in Northern Virginia, arriving July 2024. Saint James’ parishioners Terry and Lee Owsley have generously offered their basement apartment to Ahmad and Nadia for six months. 

Nadia is now a little over five months pregnant with their first child. Ahmad is a mechanic and is pursuing a job as a driver for Amazon. They will need assistance from Saint James’ to drive Nadia to doctor appointments, and for grocery shopping and to help Nadia learn English. Some assistance with food supplies, basic clothing and baby supplies will also be important. 

Please contact Joanne Charles (jcharles1331@gmail.com) or Cathy Byrne (catheeb@icloud.com) if you can help with driving, or donation of supplies. 

Our Afghan family of six is now settled in Manassas, the children are thriving in school and the father is very close to employment as a civil engineer. At this point, our Saint James’ ministry team has gotten them very close to full self-sufficiency and the family will be visiting soon on a Sunday to meet our Saint James’ community.