Meet Amani and Obedi

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, their family fled their country as refugees in 2012 due to the ongoing civil war that has plagued their country for over 25 years. Obedi was forcibly taken by one of the militia groups who wanted him to take up arms in the fight. After spending two days in captivity, he escaped and fled to nearby Burundi to seek safety. When the militia group came looking for Obedi at his home, they threatened violence towards  Amani and the children if she didn’t tell them where he was. As a result of these threats, Amani and her children left her home, not knowing where Obedi was and if he was still alive. Similarly, after finding safety after three week of running, Obedi called home only to find out that his family had left without a clue to where they had headed.

Obedi and Amani would remain separated for over four years - Obedi missed the birth of his youngest son during this time as he traveled all over East Africa. By God’s grace, during these travels Obedi met someone who told him that Amani and their children were safe in a refugee camp in Zimbabwe. After briefly speaking with Amani on the phone, he began the journey to Zimbabwe to be reunited with his family. Unfortunately, when Obedi reached the refugee camp in Zimbabwe, he learned that Amani and his children had left the previous day to travel to Harare to fly to the United States where they would be resettled as refugees. With no time to hesitate, Obedi traveled to Harare to try to catch his family before their flight to the US. Thanks to God’s goodness, Obedi reached the airport just in time to see his family before their flight left. The family embraced and savored every minute of the two hours they had together for the first time in over four years.

When Amani and her three children arrived in North Hill they didn’t know anyone. She got a job working the night shift at a local factory and the children enrolled in school. Meanwhile, Obedi applied for refugee status in hopes of being reunited with his family. Unfortunately, it would be over 2.5 years before Obedi was reunited with his family in July 2018. After over six years of living apart as a family, Obedi and Amani are thrilled to become homeowners in their new home in North Hill.

Watch a video of the transformation of Amani and Obedi's home.