Anas and Wafaa, a Palestinian couple with deep roots in their faith and culture, found themselves on an extraordinary journey that led them to Bozeman, Montana. Anas, physician, and Wafaa, dentist, both share a story marked by resilience, hope and love — qualities that resonate deeply with the message found in 1 Cor. 13:13: "And these three remain: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.”
As a 15-year-old Palestinian exchange student, Anas set out on a path that would take him away from his home, family and country and lead him to an unexpected awareness of a new world that offered hope, opportunity and community.
In 2010–2011, he attended Mount Ellis Academy where he discovered a close-knit community. “School was like a family. Faculty and community families strengthened these relationships,” he recalled.
Being a Muslim in a Christian school allowed him to see the commonalities, devotion and community service that stem from religious values. Anas fondly recalls Sabbath afternoons spent in different church members’ homes eating good food, visiting and deepening relationships.
After breaking his leg skiing, Anas experienced firsthand the value of being part of a close-knit community. The support he received from his host family, teachers, church members and classmates who helped him left an indelible impression.
Following his injury and subsequent surgery, Anas remembers Darren Wilkins, former MEA principal, sitting with him in his hospital room offering encouragement and support. This experience deeply impacted Anas and led to his dedication to service and his patients.
This same community drew him and his wife to return to Bozeman. Expecting their first child and unable to return home to Gaza due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they knew they wanted to bring their son into the world surrounded by family and community.
Without having formed any connections yet in the United Kingdom where Anas is pursuing his doctorate in population health studies, the decision was easy. Anas and Wafaa returned to Bozeman for several months to stay with their American family for the birth of their son before returning to the U.K. where Anas will complete his doctorate.
Today, Anas and Wafaa hope to pass on the values of faith, hope and love to their child — a testament to the enduring impact of MEA and the community that embraced them. Their story is a reminder that love truly is the greatest of all, capable of bridging divides and building a brighter future.
Anas leaves us with this final message of encouragement: “Always have faith that things can go in the right direction. Take care of what you can control. I can’t stop the war in Gaza, but there are things that I can control. I can do well in my job. I can continue my education. I can help others and give a helping hand in whatever way I can. Be a part of a community. You don’t really know what kind of opportunities God can open up just by you being a part of a community."
