A refugee's long journey searching for identity and peace
Afaf Musallam, born in Haifa, Palestine, shares her story of becoming a refugee as a child. Soon the whole family settles in Lebanon. Life there is beautiful, but only until religious tensions escalate quickly and the country becomes divided with fierce daily fighting. Her life continues through waves of peace and war, making many necessary choices for her safety and future. Journey with Afaf, as she battles with fear, identity and the guilt of having to leave her elderly mother behind. Through it all, she recognises a God who provides and cares about the very details of her life, leading her to experience true peace, purpose and identity wherever she finds herself.
'I started writing my story more than eight years ago. Every time I stopped writing, I found another coin, as if reminding me not to forget to tell the story of A Handful of Pennies. That was just the beginning. Would you like to hear my story? It begins in 1948, in Palestine...' - Afaf Musallam
About the Author: Afaf Musallam belongs to three countries. Born in Haifa, Palestine, she was forced to become a refugee as a child in the 1948 war. She eventually managed to settle in Lebanon, where she gained a higher education, but was subsequently forced to flee again due to the destruction of the country’s civil war. Eventually, the UK became Afaf’s second adopted country. Although Afaf’s journey has been a difficult one, her early encounter with Christ set her on a course towards finding her identity, along with peace, joy and a sense of contentment. Throughout her life, she has seen numerous answers to prayer and has experienced God’s continual hand of protection. Afaf co-founded the Jaffa Orchard Community Coffee shop, a Christian venture in Bedford, which ran from 2001 to 2016. Afaf is now involved in interpreting and befriending Arabic-speaking refugees in Bedford.
