God is working through caring Christians to help Zaid overcome the trauma of a kidnapping and an accident.

Syria

Healing the Broken in Spirit

The care and concern demonstrated by Christians provides evidence to a teen-aged boy that God answers prayer

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At the age of 15, Zaid has already lived through more tragedy than any boy should have to experience.

He was abducted by militants on his way to school in Baghdad four years ago, and held in a dark room while his kidnappers demanded hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom from his parents. The ordeal lasted for 17 days as his family tried desperately to raise the vast sum needed to save their child.

“The kidnappers would call and tell us they would chop off Zaid’s head if we didn’t pay,” said his mother, Miriam. “I cried every minute of the day.”

After selling everything they owned, his parents raised enough money to rescue their beloved child. But the threats against them and their Christian neighbors continued, and within a month they fled to Syria. There, they received assistance from a church supported by Samaritan’s Purse.

“Pastor Edward gave us food and other things we needed,” Miriam said. “We started going to the church, and Zaid seemed to be getting past the trauma of being kidnapped.”

Last year, the family had to travel home to Iraq to renew their immigration papers. On the journey back to Syria the bus turned over, almost killing Zaid. His arm was crushed, and several facial bones were broken.

“He couldn’t move, but I kept hearing him call out to Jesus,” Miriam said. “Even as he was being transported to the hospital he kept whispering Jesus’ Name.”

Pastor Edward heard about the accident and met the family at the hospital.

“His support showed us that Jesus had heard us,” Miriam said.

The church paid for a prosthetic arm and plastic surgery to help repair Zaid’s face. Members of the congregation have also demonstrated unconditional love as he struggles to overcome the emotional stress.

“They tell him he is beautiful,” Miriam said. “He is even starting to smile again.”