Jordan: A Happiness That Could Not Last

The Legacy Collection: Jordan

“In Jordan, we were so happy”.

These were my mother’s first words, over 30 years later, as she recently recalls our time spent living there. Jordan wasn’t just a sanctuary for Iraqis (as many other countries did not allow Iraqis to enter as refugees), but it was a place where we could feel safe and find hope again.

As difficult as it is to leave your home, my parents were always able to find joy wherever God placed us. And in Jordan, we truly did.

We found community there. Whether it was family or strangers, people were always welcomed to stay with us, gather with us, and become part of our daily life. Even when we had very little, my parents never stopped helping others, our door was always open.

Jordan felt like a breath of fresh air. For the first time in a long time, we experienced safety and joy together as a family. We even saw snow for the first time there, a rare treat!

But even in that peace, we knew it was temporary. A future in Jordan was not guaranteed. My parents began saving for visas and travel, holding onto the hope of what might come next. Because we had family in the United States, my aunt helped send money so we could continue our journey to finding our new permanent home.

My mother, who was in good standing with her company in Jordan, was also offered an opportunity that allowed our family to travel through Tunisia. They told her that if we ever needed to return, she would always have a place there. My father was more of the risk taker and my mother certainly was not, so I know that reassurance must have meant a lot to her.

Jordan, in many ways, became a home away from home.
But we knew it was a happiness that could not last.

Two years later, it was time to say goodbye and continue forward to Tunisia.

The Legacy Collection is a watercolor series created to honor my family’s journey through war, immigration, displacement, and ultimately, freedom. More than landscapes, borders, and national symbols, these artworks represent sacrifice, survival, faith, identity, and the courage to begin again.