I had my mind trained on the fact that two families were signing contracts that were going to enable them to build adequate shelter for their families. This is something they may not have been able to do without the help of Extended Family International.

To look in the eyes of Hastiar Anwar and Banaz Jalal as they each signed their loan documents was more than enough to warm my heart. It was as warming as the hot chocolate that Banaz served – cup after cup – insisting that we drink more. They couldn’t offer much, but whatever they could offer was given with all of their heart. It was their small way of saying thank you for the helping hand that is EFI.

Banaz and Hastiar are brother and sister. Banaz and her family are currently renting half of her mother’s home in Sulaymaniyah. On this day I had the pleasure of handing over all $3,000 of the Jalal family’s loan so that they may build the foundation of their new home and install a well.

I also had the honor of presenting Hastiar with half of his family’s $5,000 home loan. This will allow him to begin adding a second story to his mother’s home. The second story will provide a safe haven for his family. EFI is only $1,300 away from raising the total amount needed for the Anwars – our third partner family!

It was quite special to see the mother of Hastiar and Banaz as she watched her son and daughter both get the financial assistance they have been in need of for so long. The joy spoke through her eyes. She was so grateful that our organization was able to help both her children build homes for their families. She kept saying “zor zor spas, sir chow,” which translates into “many, many thanks my dearest!”

Each family hopes to begin construction on their homes in March. The Kurdish people commemorate the coming of the new planting year in March with a celebration called Naw Roz. This March our two families will be celebrating a new chapter in their lives as they begin to finish their homes. Please consider helping us raise the remaining $1,300 for the Anwar family loan so that this spring they can celebrate the coming of the New Year by finishing the construction of their home.

Thank you for making this opportunity available to the Anwars and the Jalals, and for allowing us to do continue to build a sense of safety and community in Kurdistan.

-Bruce

I recently made the voyage back to Bestansur to visit the Mahmouds. What a transformation! The walls were painted, the carpets were installed and the house had become a home for our first partner family. As you can see, much of the outside is completed, as well.

As usual, the Mahmouds were more than hospitable and were so happy to have me as their guest so they could show me what they did with their home since the last time I was there. We got caught up over tea before they served an amazing meal of lemon chicken and rice and squash soup. It was truly like visiting with family as they welcomed me into their home with bright eyes and warm handshakes.

There is still some work to be done outside of the home, including installing stucco and pavement on the walkway. Rashed plans to complete this work during the spring months when the weather is nicer. But outside a garden is already planted so they can grow fresh vegetables to feed their family. And Rashed also is in the process of building a cold cellar to store food for the winter months. So much is being accomplished with the money so generously donated to this cause!

This most recent visit also marked the due date of the Mahmouds first loan payment, which was paid in full. We will be able to recycle the funds back into our organization so that other families in this region can be helped with their homes, as well. Rashed is very excited to pay off this loan and even asked if he could make larger payments than necessary in the future. Most touching was how the family could not stop thanking us for the help they received from EFI.

As I left the Mahmouds’ home that day, I couldn’t help but feel comforted knowing the changes that had taken inside the hearts and minds of these individuals. As I’m sure you can see from the genuine smiles on their faces and the warmth in their eyes, this new home has done much more than simply give them a place to live. It has given them a place to thrive and truly be alive. Myself and the rest of the EFI team cannot thank you all enough for being a part of this transformation.

-Bruce

They could not wait to usher us into their new guest room, where we sat and drank juice and ate sweets. Every wall had a fresh coat of paint — of course, VERY bright colors! The guest room (which also will serve as their main gathering room) was a bright lime green and had such a warm feel to it. Each member of the family had huge smiles on their faces — many times just staring at us and smiling. It was a true joy to see the happiness this new home has brought them.

The kids were quick to show us their own sleeping room (the three kids will share this room). And you can imagine how happy Rashed and his wife were to have their own sleeping room after 13 years of sharing one with the kids!

We then took a walk to the property where the old house existed. It was really emotional for Rashed to see his first family home now empty — a dream he has had for 10 years! As he walked through the home he was still pointing out the problems with living there. It was so great to know that we helped him move out of this inadequate home and into a new functional home with his family.

We then walked back to the Mahmouds’ new home for the very first dinner in the newly completed interior. After dinner, we sat around eating nuts and practicing our Kurdish language skills (which for me, are VERY limited!). We had a lot of fun talking with the kids and looking through their primary school books (not quite our level, yet!).

It truly was an amazing experience to be able to sit in the home that would have taken Rashed four more years to complete without EFI’s help. And now it is now almost finished! I have to thank you, our supporters, for making this all possible. With your contributions, we were able to help the Mahmoud family and hope to help many other families in need. Thank you for being a part of our work!

-Bruce

When I got to the village, I was greeted by everyone. Rashed was very excited for me to see his home so we went there first. WOW, I was so moved when I walked up and saw the home that used to be just a shell now complete with windows, doors, electricity and interior finishes! At this exact moment it hit me that what we were doing was really making a difference. Rashed and his family toured me through the home, asking how I liked every detail — down to the tile and door handles! They were so thrilled to show me through their new home, and I was thrilled to have a part in helping them complete it.

Most of the interior is complete. There are still small things to be done like the ceiling, lighting fixtures, flooring and tile. With the first $3,000 EFI gave him, Rashed was able to buy everything for the interior of his home. The idea was to complete the inside, which would allow the family to move into the home. Rashed could them complete the outside as he has time — once EFI raises the remaining $2,000. He could not stop thanking me for how EFI has made such a difference in their lives. I felt honored to represent all of you who have made this home loan possible.

The building project was a family affair. The entire Mahmoud family was there; even the women! Rashed’s wife and daughter were helping to keep the concrete wet by adding water and mixing it. The boys were outside building their own homes in the dirt, just like their father! It was so great to see the family unity as they worked on this project together. I could tell just how much this house meant to every member of the family.

We then went to Rashed’s brother’s home for a meal. Many guys from the village came to visit while we were eating. It was really great to spend this time with Rashed and his family. The village is a close-knit community and I feel privileged to be a part of that. Rashed asked me to thank each one of you, as well, for making this all possible. It was amazing to me to see first-hand how lives can be changed with a little generosity and compassion. Thank you all for being a part of this!

-Bruce

We spent the morning with them in their existing home — eating, talking, watching Kurdish TV, and of course drinking cup after cup of sweet tea! We then went outside to sit in the warm sun and talk about life, the village and Rashed’s plans for his future home. Rashed was so anxious to continue the work on his home that he rode back with us to Sulaymaniyah to buy supplies for his home that day. He told me that every day he dreamed of working on his home and could not wait until Fridays & Saturdays when he could work during his days off of work. It is great to see his ambition for completing his family’s home, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of making this dream come true.

Thanks to each of you for playing such a huge part in the completion of the Mahmouds’ home. They are so grateful to each and every one of you as you continue to loan finances to them and support them. As Rashed said himself, “Without this organization, my dream of completing our home may have taken 5 to 6 years, but now with the loan from Extended Family it will be complete in 5 to 6 months. Thank you!”

With the weather warming up in Iraq (the temperature has been around 65 degrees daily), Rashed was very anxious to get started on the construction of his home. We thank you for being a part of this team and making this family’s dreams a reality! Keep checking back for updates and pictures of the construction of the Mahmouds’ new home.

-Bruce