Meet Sima.

Sima never dreamed she would end up in the United States. Born in a small city in Iran, she is proud of her Persian heritage and still loves her country.

Early in her adult life, Sima began to show symptoms of what some doctors thought might be cancer. Both Sima’s parents died young from cancer. When Sima hear this news, she began to prepare for the worst. It was during this time that God brought to her mind memories of her time learning about Jesus as a young girl with her family. Sima clearly remembers crying out to Jesus saying “If you are the true God, show me!”Only a few days later after saying this prayer, Sima returned to the doctor for more testing, only to find her symptoms had disappeared. Sima knew that the Lord has intervened in her life and had healed her--now she wanted to live her life for God.

Sima’s new-found faith caused tension in her marriage--her husband was Muslim and would not accept this change in her life. Tensions grew in their marriage until eventually Sima’s husband became physically abusive. Realizing she could not longer stay in her marriage, Sima was divorced from her husband and took her two boys to live on their own. As a result of her divorce, Sima had no place to live or work. Thanks to God’s provision, she found a job and a place to live. She eventually started hosting prayer meetings in her small apartment that eventually included over 70 people! As word of her meetings spread, Sima feared for her family’s safety so she fled to Turkey as a refugee with her youngest son. Unfortunately, her oldest son was forced to remain in Iran and was arrested for his Christian faith. Thankfully, he has recently been released from prison.

​Sima and her youngest son remained in Turkey for over 2.5 years as they applied to be resettled as refugees. Eventually, Sima and her son were approved to be resettled in Akron in spring of 2016. Since moving to North Hill, Sima has started her own business selling Persian Clay Flowers--click HERE to see examples of her beautiful work.

How has Legacies of Success impacted your family?
“This apartment is much larger and more affordable than what I could find on my own. It has helped me make a better life for my son and I in America. I am so thankful that God has given me such a great landlord.”

Sima's handmade Persian clay flowers.