Tracing Threads of Hope

Last September, several English cafe volunteers blessed two Afghan students (and first-time moms) with a baby shower. Little did they know the threads of hope and kindness would come back full circle in summer 2026!

Anna Diaz, Voice of Refugees’ ESL Program Coordinator, gives words of encouragement and blessing to two dear students as they prepare to be mothers for the first time, and in new country.

It was a most intimate, heartwarming time at the VOR patio. Volunteers lavished their love on Afghan friends Y and B with a most beautiful brunch spread and thoughtful morning of games, sharing, and tea. We decorated bibs by the babies’ names, Adrian and Niki, and prayed prayers of blessing over the young families.

After weeks of waiting, we were delighted to celebrate the smooth arrival of the two newborns. Y’s husband even delivered birthday cakes to VOR (one 8” cake per person!) to share his great joy with our team. Since then, every time Adrian and Niki showed up, heartfelt smiles spread around the whole room, as our whole community watched them blossom.

By the time summer arrived, Y and B had matured in skill, wisdom, and grace as mothers. B even established herself as a resourceful advocate in her community for other first-time moms in the Afghan community! The first time she attended VOR’s Health Awareness Navigator Sessions (HANS), B immediately thought about her friends M, P, and F. “They need to know this,” B shared with our staff. “It’s very important knowledge to have, especially when they’re going to be mothers.” And lo and behold, her friends all came along for the next session, eager to soak in everything presented, and warmly embraced by volunteers and staff.

Thread by thread, a picture is emerging. One of becoming family, of radiating joy, and hope seeding hope, one mother at a time.