Over three years ago, Partners Relief and Development (PRD) started their journey of bringing hope to many refugees and those affected by war in the Middle East! The focused efforts of PRD have included food and water distribution, rebuilding schools and clinics in Syria and financially supporting a local trauma center for the refugee children in Iraq.

Last summer, the PRD team reached out and asked me to come on board with serving in the Middle East. We planned a two-week trip to scope out the possibilities of what could be done in Northern Iraq to empower the women who have been traumatized by ISIS. We agreed that I would need to bring another woman with me to help pioneer this work.

Heading back to the states, I asked a friend named Elisa, who I had met earlier that year to join and she agreed to come! So far, Elisa and I have spent the past two and a half weeks in Thailand training with PRD in preparations to go!

Once we arrive in Iraq, we will focus on building relationships with these women and by doing so, we will find out what they are most in need of. We desire to bring hope through providing a sustainable project with the women if this is a need within the camps. We will also be partnering with the trauma center, teaching classes to the children while we are there.

Most importantly, we are there to be a light in the darkness. To give the love of Jesus Christ and to allow God to work to heal their broken hearts and to rebuild and to restore all that was stolen.

I am excited to be given the opportunity to love these women and children with Christ’s agape love.

Thank you Firstlight Team for standing with me in this great work!

~ Jenna Biernesser