For all of Sarah’s adult life, there has been political unrest in her home country of Iraq. In fighting between the Shia-majority and Sunni-minority has increasingly heightened since the Iraq War. Extremists on both sides have fought with, kidnapped and tortured one another. Then add radical Islamists into the mix and the situation has gotten even more violent. Sarah’s and her three sons fled the conflict and made it all the way to Finland.

The challenges go well beyond the physical. Sarah and millions of others living in warzones often naturally become hyper-vigilant to stay alive. This taxes the mind and emotions. It’s intensified when refugee women are looking after children or other family members. And these women have so much to think about. When they arrive in their new setting they often have to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture.

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:13, NIV