A Refugee’s New Life in Italy

Akin* arrived in Italy with nothing more than the clothes on his back after a treacherous sea-crossing from Africa. His official documents had been lost along the way; now, he had no way to prove his identity or his plight as a refugee.

In Italy, he asked for help at a nearby shelter for displaced people but was excluded because he was a Christian. The director, a Muslim, preferred to assist those who followed his own religion. With no hope in sight, Akin took shelter in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town and survived on the meager food he managed to purchase through coins given to him by generous strangers. “His shelter was forgotten by everyone,” the ministry leader said. “And his life was lonely and precarious.”

Good Samaritans Restore His Hope

Akin spent much of his time outside a supermarket, where he gathered coins forgotten in shopping carts or accepted donations from others. A Christian family that routinely shopped there began to notice him, and something about him stirred their hearts. “It wasn’t just his silent presence, but his face and dignity,” the ministry leader said. “Their hearts were moved by the desire to help him, to be a neighbor to him and not look the other way.”

“The couple invested time, energy, and patience, and our assistant supported them every step of the way.”

The family introduced themselves, and upon hearing his story, they brought him to an assisted ministry. There, a worker agreed to help. Together, the worker and the family found a lawyer who could help Akin with the necessary paperwork to obtain legal status in the country. “It wasn’t easy,” the ministry leader said. “The couple invested time, energy, and patience, and our assistant supported them every step of the way, whether it was just a phone call, a clarification here or there, or a word of encouragement.”

In the end, the collaboration was successful, and Akin found hope again. He still suffers from hives, a result of his previous unsanitary living conditions. But he now has a safe place to sleep, he has a doctor and medical coverage, and he will receive treatment. He is also taking Italian language classes at the assisted ministry. When he completes the course, he will receive a certificate that will be included in his official documentation, an important step to show his desire to integrate into the country.

“Today, we look back on this story with gratitude.”

But what is perhaps even more beautiful is the discipleship he is now undergoing through his language teacher and his participation in a local church after a period of anger toward God. “Today, we look back on this story with gratitude,” the ministry leader said. “Gratitude toward God, who never abandons His children. Gratitude toward the family that chose to reach out to him. And gratitude toward those who, with discretion and faithfulness, support the work of our mission.”

Help Support Missionaries Assisting People Like Akin

Please consider a donation today to support missionaries who work with people like Akin, people who have lost all they have and who are burdened by the weight of past trauma. The ministry leader also has this prayer request: “We ask that you continue to pray for Akin and for all those who, like him, carry invisible wounds and difficult stories and who we are striving to help with love and expertise. Without your help, these stories of rebirth would not be possible.”