Construction Project Leads to New Life in Jericho

It’s easy to see the immediate impact of many service projects. But for every short-term win, there are countless long-term impacts that may be harder to see but are no less important.

Take Simon, for instance. He grew up in Jericho and lost his mother at a very young age. After her death, the memories of his late wife became too painful for Simon’s father. Eventually, he chose to move his family and leave their home. Over the next two decades, the house gradually fell into disrepair. 

In 2019, a global(x) team visited and helped Simon begin renovations to make the home livable again. The immediate impact was clear: Simon made progress repairing his home, the global(x) team formed deep bonds with Simon and Seeds of Hope, and Seeds of Hope invested in the local economy and the community by hiring local workers.

But there was so much more happening.

Under the surface, Simon felt hopeless. Young people in the Middle East are under tremendous pressure from their families and society to marry. However, for young men, this goal is often contingent on the stability and security they have to offer their future spouses. Without a family home, Simon’s marriage prospects were slim.

Because he felt unable to put down roots in Jericho, Simon considered leaving the country—a common choice for young men in the area. He spent many years living in the UAE and was considering making it a permanent change. As a Christian, there are many other places where it might be easier for Simon to find community and establish himself. With so many young people facing similar situations, the population of Christians in Jericho has dwindled over the years—something Seeds of Hope is working to change. 

As Simon weighed his decision to leave Jericho or try to invest in a home, he reached out to Seeds of Hope. They intervened and gave him the encouragement and motivation he needed to stay in Jericho and build a life there. The global(x) team kicked off his project and helped him complete about 10 percent of the necessary renovations for his home—a welcome relief, but just the beginning of his journey.

Fast forward to 2023.

After four years of hard work, Simon completed his home renovations. Not only that, but the process of rebuilding gave him the confidence and security to find a wife. Simon and his new bride were married earlier this month.

"I wanted to start a life and family,” said Simon. “But Jericho felt like an impossible place to make that work. I couldn't do it on my own. Because of Seeds of Hope's help and kindness, here I am—years later, in my hometown of Jericho, recently married to my beautiful bride and living in a home that wouldn't be possible without Seeds of Hope’s generosity. If it weren't for them, I likely would not be in Jericho. I am so thankful they intervened and helped me!" 

We certainly couldn’t see this kind of change happening as our team was repairing drywall or painting woodwork, but this is the long-term impact that can happen on a global(x) journey. While the immediate results of our work are always encouraging, it’s important to remember that it goes way beyond that. When we get to work alongside our partners around the world, we often have the opportunity to meet individuals and families when they are at their most hopeless. Volunteering for just a few days could change someone’s life forever, and you could be part of it.

For Simon, his one week with Seeds of Hope was the catalyst for several years of growth and transformation. Additionally, Seeds of Hope was able to add another family to the thriving Christian community they’re working to build in Jericho—one that didn’t exist even a few years ago. And the larger their community grows, the greater their impact can be on those around them.

We love stories like Simon’s, but we don’t always get to see the long-term impact of the construction projects, spa weeks, medical clinics, and camps we volunteer for when we serve alongside Seeds of Hope. In those cases, we have to trust that the seeds we help our partner plant will grow over time and bloom in people’s hearts as they work to create lasting, generational change across the Middle East and beyond.