By Zenit
Ragheb Elias Karash
Ten-year-old Helda Khalid Jacob Hindi, a fifth-grader, is not at a loss for words. She is passionate about her life, her future and that of her loved ones. Helda and her family—mom, dad and a younger brother—recently moved back to Qaraqosh on Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, after spending three years in exile in Kurdistan. She remembers vividly the night of Aug. 6, 2014, when ISIS overran her town and Christian families had to flee overnight.
Ragheb Elias Karash
Ten-year-old Helda Khalid Jacob Hindi, a fifth-grader, is not at a loss for words. She is passionate about her life, her future and that of her loved ones. Helda and her family—mom, dad and a younger brother—recently moved back to Qaraqosh on Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, after spending three years in exile in Kurdistan. She remembers vividly the night of Aug. 6, 2014, when ISIS overran her town and Christian families had to flee overnight.
She says: “Alarm bells rang out in our streets—we had to escape the
living hell of violence and terrorism. I went along, crying, with no
hope of ever returning to my town, my school; with no hope of ever
seeing my friends again. We had no idea how long we would be displaced
from our beloved city. The days passed and we lived in torment and
tragedy until we got used to it.”
Eventually, a new school was built for displaced children and Helda
and her family began a new life. She remembers: “I was sad, clinging to
hope of returning to my old school; but I made new friends. And today,
by God’s grace, we have returned to our town and I am back in my old
school among my old friends.”
Life in exile has been hard, perhaps particularly for a proud girl
like Helda, who says: “we felt humiliated when we were receiving
humanitarian aid, because we didn’t think that the day would come when
we would become like beggars, oppressed people, with no power or
strength.
“We had only God and we never stopped believing in his power and his
mercy for all those hurting in Iraq and around the world. Whenever we
approach him in prayer and faith, we feel joy and confidence without
end. My family, friends, and relatives never felt that God was far away
from us. As far as I can see into the past, God has been with me always.
God is with me everywhere and I make sure to always keep nearby some
pictures of Jesus Christ and a Bible.”
Helda proclaims she has her own ideas about her country. She
explains: “sometimes, I want to stay in Iraq because it is my home, my
beloved country. Sometimes, I want to leave, especially when I see
photographs and videos of terrorism striking innocent civilians. My
heart cannot bear those horrifying scenes, but when I feel scared, I ask
God to save me.
“Frankly I’m not really sure about my future here in Iraq. I would
want to go abroad with my family if we have to continue suffering war
and persecution; how long it will take for us to finally be safe and
secure? My message to the West is to do as much as possible to support
Christians in Iraq because they are close to extinction. Help us. Have
compassion, and you will be rewarded by the one who is in heaven.
“Stop oppressing poor people. We want stability and peace. Let’s work
together and pray together for peace and love—for all of us.”