“Share my Story with the World”: Suffering For Christ is Our Joy
 
Profile: The Majid family, Christians from Tehran, Iran
Current location: Thailand, Bangkok
Risk of returning: Arrest, torture, death (the punishment for converting is death)
Need: Private sponsorship to Canada, $20,500 USD (or 28,700 CAD) which become $21,100 after 2.9% of GoFundMe's fee in fundraising
Advantages: Excellent English skills, employable (painting, tiling, wiring), active in the community and their ministry, UNHCR certified
Friends: Amin Hope (in Thailand), Hojatollah Akbari (in the US), Fariba Salar(Massi's sister in the US), Mattew Salar(Massi's brother in law in the US), Stephen Watt (in Canada), Reza Gachpazian(in Canada).
 
The Davoodis were once an ordinary family in Tehran. Majid (David) drove a mini-bus and his wife Masoomeh devoted herself to raising their two lovely daughters, Sara and Sayna. They were able to provide a good life for their children, who went to the best schools and made their parents proud by getting straight As.
 
The good news: as refugees registered with the UNHCR, they can be privately sponsored to come to Canada.
 
Says their friend, Hojatollah Akbari, who is living in Los Angeles but became close to the family in Bangkok. He launched this fundraiser:
 
“This family is very smart, kind, and caring. They've helped me emotionally while I was alone and far apart from my own family. They helped me to endure the loneliness. I feel they are my family and I've been trying to help them as much as I can.”
 
Their Story
 
The Davoodis once a normal Iranian family, going through life without any ideas of what their future will bring, Now live in constant fear of being captured and imprisoned by immigration police, without any legal status, full-time jobs, or even schooling they have put all their heart, mind and trust in Jesus Christ. 
 
{In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.} - 2 Timothy 3:12
 
 
This Iranian family has been persecuted in their country and cannot return because of their Christian faith. They are now barely surviving.  
 
 
The Danger in Thailand
 
They registered with the UNHCR and even though they achieved their official refugee status, The family still does not have the right to work, go to school, or even move freely in the country. After fleeing their country their challenges had just begun, Because the local police do not recognize UNHCR cards, and since they do not have a valid visa they face the constant fear of being rounded up and detained in one of Asia’s notorious refugee prisons. 
The country is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention, which means refugees do not have a legal right to stay and are treated as illegal migrants. 
They risk being caught and arrested whether they stay at home or go outside. They live in a state of constant fear and depression.  The daughters have been prescribed anti-depressant medicine.
 
 
 The husband occasionally does construction work such as Painting, wiring, and Tiling, The wife cooks jam to sell at the church and some times does nanny jobs. The kids also do their own part to help out by working for a pastor. All of which are few and far between. 
 
 
 
The daughters, once straight A’s students now have missed 8 years of their studies, and as a result of that, they have become depressed and lonely. Sara ( their older daughter ) is doing some self-study for law and hopes to be a lawyer. 
 
“ I feel like I have lost so much time and opportunity in these last years. I wanted to study, graduate, and bring honor to my family, now all I can do is pray and hope for a better future. Losing my teenage years here has made me more and more determined to work harder in the future to make the best life for my family " -Sara
 
“ if you are a parent you always want the best for your children, to have a safe and peaceful home, good education, and good childhood. As a mother watching my girls grow up in a foreign country without a good education, without the freedom to go out without worries of being arrested has been a daily agony for me.” -Massi 
 
 
Says their friend, Hojatollah Akbari, who is living in Los Angeles but became close to the family. He launched this fundraiser:
 
 “This family is very smart, kind, and caring. They've helped me emotionally while I was alone and far apart from my own family. They helped me to endure the loneliness. I feel they are my family and I've been trying to help them as much as I can.”
 
After getting their UNHCR acceptance they were hoping to leave their life of stress and fear aside and start a new life, but unfortunately, they lost all hope after years of waiting without any way to leave this state of being stuck with no way out, Until they heard of private sponsorship to Canada.
 
 
 The good news: as refugees registered with the UNHCR, they can be privately sponsored to come to Canada.
 
 The Davoodis with their friend Hojat, now living in Los Angeles
Majid and Massi Davoodi with Amin, Hojat, and Fariba & Mattew Salar(Massi's sister and brother in law).
 
There is Hope
 
As UNHCR refugees, the family is eligible for Canada’s private sponsorship program. A group of private citizens in Toronto - including Stephen Watt - have teamed up to bring the family to a better life. Under the PSR program, we must raise enough money to cover David's family rent and living expenses for one year.
 
The big challenge is funding. The minimum set by Canadian immigration is $20,500 USD (which is $28,700 CAD) to settle the family for one year. This amount covers the following financial needs, as defined by Canadian immigration in Canadian dollars:
 
·      12 months of income ($21,200) for:
·      Shelter: $11,328
·      Food staples: $240
·      Startup costs: $7,500
·      Household needs: $375
·      Furniture: $2310
·      Clothing: $1295
 
As soon as this money is collected, it will be held in a secure trust fund managed by the sponsoring group, Community Matters Toronto, a registered charity. When the family arrives, the money will be disbursed under guidelines laid out by the Canadian government.
 
The Opportunity
 
The family is creative, motivated, talented, and hardworking, and would make a wonderful addition to this country. If you can help, please click on the “Donate “button. Every dollar brings us one step closer to a peaceful life.
 
We are also building a team of sponsors to bring them to Canada. If you would like to join, please contact Stephen Watt on Facebook.
 
You can also contact their friends: Amin Hope (in Thailand), Hojatollah Akbari (in the US – who created this GoFundMe) – both are featured in the group shot below. You can also contact the family directly by reaching out to Massi on Facebook.
 
Thank you for your support. And help spread the word by sharing this post!
 
The Davoodis with members of their church in Bangkok, including Hojat (in front) and Amin Hope (in the light blue shirt)