World Relief Seattle helps displaced people start a new life in the Pacific Northwest. These are some of their stories, and the stories of volunteers who have made a difference.

how you can help

At 65 years old Ida’s body was wracked with painful arthritis and her spirit weary with so many years struggling to protect two grandchildren orphaned by the Liberian civil war. When Ida arrived in America she hoped that this would be the end of 12 years of fleeing from gun fire, bombs and the heart-chilling scenes of rape, pillage and total terror.

Ida and her family are refugees who have come to Seattle.

Last summer Ida opened her apartment door to welcome Amber, her World Relief caseworker. As soon as Amber walked in, the grandchildren began bombarding her with stories about what had been happening since she had seen them last. They were all laughing and talking, having a great time.

Suddenly the fire alarm went off.

There was a scramble for the fire escape as the noise from the alarm reverberated through the halls of the apartment building. Amber and the kids ran down the fire escape, only to find that Ida was nowhere to be found.

Amber ran back up the stairs to look for Ida. When she found her, Ida was terrified. Her body was shaking and she was speaking hysterically in her native language. Ida was scared and confused, and couldn’t move fast enough to get out of the apartment.

Amber lifted Ida onto her back and carried her down four flights of stairs. Safe with her grandchildren, Ida hugged Amber sobbing, still speaking in Krahn.

“What’s she saying?”

Amber asked the grandkids.

“She thought she was back in the war. She was so frightened. She says that for the first time, someone came back for her.”

You can volunteer with local refugee families in need of friendship

World Relief, along with our team of volunteers and donors, helped over 600 refugees begin new lives last year in the Puget Sound.

Amber comforts Ida, who suffered through 12 years of civil war in Liberia.