On June 15, 2022, Mandy and Matt opened their hearts and home to Noor, forever changing the course of his life. This is the remarkable tale of Noor’s search for freedom, family, and a place he could truly call home. We had the honor of sitting down with Noor and Mandy to talk about their experience. LSSNCA placed Noor into the family’s home through our Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Foster Care program last year.
Noor’s Journey
Noor’s journey began amid chaos and uncertainty. In the wake of the fall of Kabul in August 2021, Noor, who was then 15, and his family headed to the airport, hoping for a chance to escape the clutches of the Taliban. Noor, with his heartfelt recollection, describes his family’s attempt to escape Afghanistan: “We heard that Americans were helping people go to America. We tried to go to the airport, but the Taliban checked our paperwork and decided to return us back.”
With his father working for the United Nations, and his brother serving in the Afghan army, their lives were in grave danger.
“I pretended as if I was going to get water and when the Taliban officer yelled ‘come back’, I ran straight. I managed to get to an American officer, I beg[ed] him to take me. They helped me get the necessary paperwork and escorted me onto the plane.”
Noor arrived in Qatar a few hours later. He was sure that his family had managed to board the plane and that they would be reunited. He spent two weeks in Qatar, waiting for his family to join him. However, as days turned into weeks, he realized he was alone.
I was hopeful that my family would meet me in Qatar. After 15 days in Qatar, I managed to make a phone call to my family and learned that they are still in Afghanistan. My dad said, ‘don’t think back, go and make your dreams come true.’
“It was a rollercoaster,” Noor continued, his voice filled with a mixture of nostalgia and sadness. “Imagine one minute we were fine, living in our house, and the next minute we had to go, all together. And then suddenly, I was going alone.”
Noor was staying in a military camp that was designated to host Afghan refugees. He was later sent to a shelter that housed minors only. In this new shelter, he found a familiar face from Afghanistan – Ahmad*. Noor spent a month and a half at the shelter before being moved to another shelter.
Constantly being moved around stirred fear within Noor’s heart. The absence of paperwork and family made him worry about being sent back to Afghanistan.
“One day, they took 15 of us to the airport and we got on a plane. I remember how anxious I was thinking I had been sent back to Kabul. When I realized I was in the U.S., I was so happy.” Noor recalls.
As Noor shared his experiences, Mandy could sense the whirlwind of emotions that followed his journey. The long flight included two stops and an overnight stay in Chicago, before arriving in Michigan where Noor would finally be enrolled in school. Noor’s face lit up as he reflected on that moment, expressing his genuine happiness at finally having the opportunity to receive an education, a chance that was denied to him back home.
Mandy interjected, eager to add another significant detail to the narrative. “Noor had a friend from Afghanistan, Ahmad,” she said, urging Noor to share their reunion story.
Noor smiled and continued. “Yes, we saw each other in Qatar, and then we got separated again. But when we got to Michigan, I met my friend Ahmad again,” he said, his voice brimming with excitement. Noor went on to describe their time in Michigan, living in a shelter where their movements were limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He found himself bouncing between shelters, searching for a foster family when Noor finally got the news that there was a family in Virginia waiting to welcome him.
Mandy and Matt: Worlds Collide
Mandy’s life had been a whirlwind of adventure, traveling across the globe due to her husband’s work for the U.S. Navy. Along the way, they had been blessed with four beautiful children. For eight years, they immersed themselves in different cultures, navigating the challenges and joys of raising a family abroad. But eventually, their nomadic journey came to an end, and they settled in Virginia in 2014. However, Mandy’s husband, Matt, was sent on a mission to Afghanistan soon after their return. While deployed in Afghanistan, Matt encountered a kind-hearted translator who assisted and protected him. The translator’s noble character left a lasting impression on Matt. When Afghanistan unraveled in August 2021, the translator managed to reach out to Matt from California, where he had sought refuge. However, his family back in Afghanistan, including his siblings, were in hiding, facing immense danger.
Driven by a deep sense of responsibility and compassion, Matt and Mandy devoted countless hours to writing emails, making calls, and doing everything within their power to help his translator and his family. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the unfolding chaos and limited evacuation opportunities prevented them from fulfilling their mission of bringing the translator’s family to safety. The weight of guilt settled heavily upon Mandy and Matt’s hearts.
Motivated by their feelings of disappointment and a desire to make a difference, the couple resolved to offer support in any way they could. They reached out to multiple agencies, expressing their willingness to help in various capacities, such as teaching English or hosting families in their home. It was during this time that they received a phone call from LSSNCA regarding a foster care opportunity.
LSSNCA recognized their genuine compassion and offered them the chance to become foster parents. After a series of training sessions, paperwork, and thorough preparation, they submitted all the required documentation, eagerly anticipating what lay ahead.
In May 2021, their phone rang, and it was LSSNCA. Mandy and Matt’s hearts filled with joy and curiosity as they received the news of hosting a potential foster child from Afghanistan. They were grateful for the opportunity to extend their love and support to a child in need, but they also felt a sense of uncertainty about the journey they were about to embark upon.
The First Encounter
Mandy reflected on the long and uncertain process they had gone through, describing it as a “wait and see” situation. Recounting their initial phone call with Noor, Mandy remembered her attempt to have all her family members on the call.
“The boys were in school, so we scheduled another call for him to meet the boys.” Mandy looks to Noor and continues “when we first talked to Noor his questions were all about freedom. Can I go out, can I have my phone, can I have friends, can I go to school? We said we have a plan to get him a bike and he can go around as he like(s).”
Then came the day Noor arrived, just one day before their second daughter’s graduation in June 2022. The timing was hectic with their extended family present. Mandy and her husband had reached out to and received support from the Afghan community for translators and cultural guidance. After an hour of going through the basics alongside his case manager and a translator, everyone left, leaving Mandy and her family alone with Noor.
“We showed him his room and walked around,” Mandy recalled. “The weather was warming up and realizing that Noor had only brought winter clothes from Michigan, we swiftly took him shopping …” It was during this outing that Mandy felt a sense of relief when she asked Noor if he really needed a translator. He replied, “No ma’am,” marking a pivotal moment of progress as he had relied on translation services for all communication until then.
For Noor, the experience was a mix of emotions. “I was happy to get out of the shelter and start school again,” he said. It was his first time meeting a family that was not his own. Noor vividly remembered that initial meeting, with the translator present, as he familiarized himself with their names and engaged in conversation. The following day, as he attended their daughter’s graduation and interacted with many people, he felt a sense of belonging and contentment. It affirmed his decision to embark on this new chapter of his life.
“Our house is always bustling with activity,” Mandy remarked. Recognizing that their own children were growing older and forging their own paths, Mandy and her husband encouraged Noor to venture out, make friends, and gain independence. They even supported him to get a job at a local Italian restaurant owned by an Afghan individual, where he learned to make pizzas and occasionally waited tables.
The community has also openheartedly rallied around Noor and his second family, Mandy emphasizes. “We had lots of connections and touchpoints. From complete strangers offering to translate upon Noor’s arrival, to other foster parents volunteering to tell us about their own stories. There were plenty of social workers as well who helped usher us through the process and were there to answer questions. Even after Noor arrived, people kindly volunteered support in many ways, from tutoring him in English at the library to donating clothing for him. The impact of generosity and kindness in the community has been quite meaningful and the ripple effect of even the smallest things has been extraordinary.”
Adapting to a New Life
Noor and Mandy smile as they recall Noor’s firsts in the U.S.
One unforgettable moment was Noor’s first trip to the beach. Mandy vividly remembers the look on his face, while Noor interrupts with a smile, recalling, “it was a big shock. I love swimming, but those first few minutes, observing how people dressed was shocking,” highlighting the stark contrast between the culture he left behind and the new world he entered.
The new experience continued as Noor faced his first day of school, wondering if he would be accepted. “I was afraid of being different, and I worried that people might not like those from other places,” Noor shared. However, he was pleasantly surprised. Making friends came effortlessly, and he discovered a school environment unlike anything he had experienced before. “It was different from Afghanistan because we went to school with girls, and people had boyfriends and girlfriends,” he adds, reflecting on the vibrant tapestry of American teenage life.
Mandy then asked to finish the story about Ahmad. Noor’s friendship with Ahmad held profound importance to him, and it was a challenge for Noor to leave his friend behind in the shelter back in Michigan. Noor carried a burden of guilt for leaving him behind. Luckily Ahmad was also placed with a foster family, through LSSNCA, in Virginia a few months later.
“Noor and Ahmad’s friendship remain unbreakable,” Mandy remarked. Despite the physical distance, they continue to nurture their bond. Noor frequently visits Ahmad’s new family for sleepovers, and Ahmad often stays with Noor’s family. Their connection is so strong that they talk on the phone eight times a day.
What the Future Holds
Since Noor became part of their family, Mandy and her household have experienced a certain level of adjustments and transformations. Mandy noted that the family dynamic remained relatively unchanged. Emory (Mandy’s third son) and Noor developed a close bond, with Emory driving Noor to school and looking out for him. They’re even set to graduate together from high school next year.
“His family has taken care of him for 17 years of his life and I always go back to how I would want a family to take care of my child if I wasn’t around. We want him to live his dream and to fulfill his hopes. In a bigger dream I want his family to come here and to reunite them.” Noor’s uncle was shot in the leg this year, and his brother is under house arrest. Mandy reaffirms Noor of her commitment to reunite him with his family.
“No one will understand how I feel,” Noor shares, his voice filled with gratitude. “This family supports me in my school, helps me with anything I need, and has shown me how life is in the U.S. I found a new family when I didn’t have mine with me. When someone asks me where my family is, I say in Afghanistan and in Virginia. “
As Noor reminisces about his life in Afghanistan, he shares a bittersweet reflection. “I just wish I had taken pictures of random moments with my family, like gathering in the kitchen,” he says, a touch of nostalgia coloring his voice. “How would I have known it would be the last?”
Serve Boldly 