First Lutheran Church welcomes refugees from Iraq

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. — Leviticus 19:34

WINDSOR, Ont. – Tomas, Mehasin, and their son, Marcelino, turned up at First Lutheran Church one Sunday. They had landed in Canada just one month back, flying in from Turkey where they spent seven years as refugees, fleeing the atrocities perpetrated by the Islamic State on the Christian population of Mosul (the ancient biblical city of Nineveh).

In June 2014, the Islamic State captured Mosul, resulting in a complete Assyrian Christian exodus. The Islamic State targeted the Christians of Mosul by marking their homes with the Arabic letter nun, marking them out as Nasarah (“Nazarene”). Christians had three choices: convert to Islam or face execution; pay the Jizya tax, a permanent tax for non-Muslims living in Muslim controlled areas; or leave the borders of the Islamic Caliphate within a specified deadline.

Tomas and Mehasin’s Life before and after the Islamic State

L – R: Huda (Translator); Mehasin; Marcelino; Tomas

Before the occupation of Mosul, the family lived a comfortable life, owning lands, livestock, and jobs. The Islamic State takeover resulted in loss of all their property—homes were burnt to the ground and valuables looted.

Mehasin’s sister was shot and killed on the road travelling Mosul to Baghdad, when the driver failed to stop quickly at a roadblock by the Islamic State.

The extended family was forced to flee to various countries of the world, including, France, Germany, and Italy. Tomas’ family joined a long convoy of displaced Christians who fled to Turkey and lived for seven years in Yozgat, a city east of Ankara. 

Life in Yozgat was not easy. Being Christians, the family faced various forms of discrimination. Tomas, a trained electrician, and Mehasin, a teacher, could only find menial jobs while Marcelino, who was admitted to a local school, was ridiculed and bullied by his classmates and finally, refused to go to school. Using his cell phone, Marcelino studied the English language, in which he is quite proficient and can translate for his parents.

To Canada

After spending seven long years in Turkey and being supported by siblings who had fled to European countries, the family landed in Canada and made their way to Windsor, where they contacted First Lutheran Church. They were welcomed with open arms and joined the ESL class being run by Windsor Essex County Lutheran Outreach (WECLO).

Presently, the family is doing quite well. Mehasin has got a job working in a factory which is near their house, and she makes an effort to improve her English. Marcelino is attending school, doing well in his studies, and plays soccer. Tomas is unable to work as he broke his back in Iraq and cannot stand for a long time or lift heavy weights, however, he looks after the requirements of his family. 

The First Lutheran family is always ready to help in any way they can, and they feel blessed that the Lord has brought these people into their lives.

Windsor Essex County Lutheran Outreach (WECLO) 

WECLO is a multi-cultural ministry reaching out to many diverse cultures and ethnicities through educational programs (such as ESL courses); social integration and hospitality efforts; sports programs; and, above all, sharing the Word of God as they build long-lasting relationships with immigrants and refugees who are new to Canada.

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Learn more about WELCO here: www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/missions/weclo

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