When 20-year-old Leila from Afganistan arrived in Greece with her two children and her mother, she was wrapped in a black veil of depression. In her suitcases she had packed not only her belongings but also the bad memories of her ex-husband, who beat her and eventually abandoned her, leaving her to fend for herself.

Mother and grandmother, together with Leila’s two children ages 3 and 7 years old, sought help in Athens and found hope and comfort in our Medical & Social Center, ‘The Good Samaritan’. Leila vividly remembers the moment they entered the Center; as soon as she set foot inside a 'weight' left her and her heart was filled with peace. She could not explain it, but every time she went to the Center her mind became calm. Leila and her family received help for both physical and mental health needs, learning to stand on their own as a family and how to move past the mental trauma of their journey.

She soon agreed to participate in the women’s Bible fellowship, where she learned of the salvation that Jesus offers to anyone who accepts Him and chooses to follow Him. Leila had heard about Jesus from her mother, who had learned about Him from a doctor in Iran while cleaning his house. However, Leila was not interested in learning more about Jesus until she began to participate in the Bible fellowship at the Center; through these Bible studies, she learned who her Savior was. After her decision to accept and follow Jesus Christ, the change in Leila was evident. The smile returned to her face, her look and mood changed, and she decided to become a volunteer at 'The Good Samaritan'. When volunteering there she takes care of the children and serves them food with a lot of love - the same love she claims she received in one of the most difficult phases of her life.