A Leaf of Hope

It didn´t take long and Youseff learned about Mary´s interest to create an NGO to help orphans in the Middle East. Studying International Relations was part of that plan. She wanted to see how governments interacted and resolved conflicts involving children. She was a born visionary and, at the same time, had an amazing gift to interact with children.  Youseff decided to start calling her using a nickname:  Dove. He said she reminded him of the dove presented in the Genesis account of the flood, described in the Old Testament Scriptures. That tiny dove had taken in its peak a leaf of hope to Noah, indicating that the waters were finally going down. Mary, now Dove, was like that. A courageous and selfless person who always had a word of hope to impart to others, particularly children, even in the midst of great tragedy. Youseff loved Mary even more.

Nothing but a miracle

Youseff and Mary started a relationship that would lead them from visions of a life of bliss, a nest of love for them and their children, to adventures and dangers never imagined and to a sudden and painful rupture that would break their heart to pieces, leaving both of them distanced from one another, disoriented, lost. Even so their destiny was bound to create a movement that would spark life and hope to future generations in a region of the world that, for centuries, has seen only conflict and hate. Nothing but a miracle would make that happen. But they don´t know that yet, after all, they have just met.

Her name is Mary

“No, thanks, I´m fine. By the way, my name is Mary, and, who are you? Where do you come from?” Youseff went blank for a few seconds. The conversation went on. They talked about world affairs, issues they both wanted to study about and find the solutions for. He found out she had great interest for the region in the world he came from.  He was particularly struck when he learned about her plans to devote her life to orphans in the Middle East. He simply could not imagine he would meet someone with that type of ideal in life. Someone who would want to inspire life to little, abandoned ones. That was how he met Mary. And that Mary would make all the difference in his life.

An unthinkable invitation

It didn´t take long and Youseff was pulled into the group, as students, professors and some administrative staff happily interacted with one another. The overseas students were kind of overdressed for the occasion. Some even wore ties. The grilled chicken and potato salad were simply great. He had never tasted anything like that. As he slowly moved around trying to find a place to sit down, he heard a female voice coming in his direction. It sounded like a whisper. One of his new class mates, as he would soon find out, was inviting him to sit next to her. That type of invitation would be unthinkable in the culture where he came from. He knew he was in a different place though and was not bothered by that. He timidly accepted and said: “Thanks! It is very nice of you to invite me to sit with you. My name is Youseff.” As he said that and made himself comfortable he noticed she didn´t reply. Impressed by the graciousness of her presence he looked straight into her beautiful blue eyes and said: “Is everything ok? Can I get you anything?” She smiled at him. And that was it.