In the quiet village of Aatanit in South Lebanon lives a boy named Ali Ousso. At the tender age of 12, Ali’s life bore the weight of displacement, his family being Syrian refugees of Kurdish descent. Yet, amidst the challenges, a glimmer shone in these dark days he was living through.
Ali’s journey began when he first stepped into the welcoming embrace of the Hope Center at the age of 6, his heart filled with the promise of education and community. However, his family wanted him elsewhere, and Ali found himself torn from the warmth of the center, and forced into a different school. His heart remained tethered to the Hope Center.
For two long years, Ali struggled in his new environment, his spirit restless until his father, sensing his son’s silent anguish decided to relocate him once more. Ali’s joy knew no bounds as he returned to the familiar halls of the Hope Center, where he belonged. Yet, Ali’s transformation was not just academic. Within those walls, he found his voice, shedding his introvertness and restoring his confidence. Inspired by his teachers’ guidance, Ali decided to start teaching his illiterate father the lessons he learned each day.
In those intimate moments of learning, Ali didn’t just teach his father academic subjects but also imparted profound moral lessons. He shared stories from the Bible, including the teachings of Jesus. Ali once told his father, “When people treat us badly, we shouldn’t respond in the same way. Instead, we should show them love, just as Jesus teaches us. That’s how we become more like him, as his children.” Through his example and the lessons he taught, his family accepted Christ and became hungry for more.