Oftentimes it unfortunately takes an act of hate to showcase the true power of loving one another. A family from Iowa learned this the hard way. The Samels, a Muslim family, immigrated to the United States in 2010 and became naturalized citizens in May 2015. With the help of Habitat for Humanity, they moved into a home in December 2015 in Iowa City, Iowa. Amar Samel and his wife, Muna Abdalla, along with their four children were living the American dream for less than a year, when one day Amar returned to his home to find a hate-filled letter on the door. This letter suggested that the Samels were unwelcome and unwanted due to their religious views.
Word of the incident spread around Iowa City and inspired neighbors, friends and strangers alike to band together to send loving gifts to the Samels. Cookies, cards, flowers, balloons, and chalk drawings on their driveway were coordinated so that they never felt unwanted or unwelcome again. Only a few short days later, the Samels had received more than a hundred loving and kind cards and letters from people all over their community. Sometimes it takes acts of hate to remind people of how powerful and wonderful their love is. Love can overcome any hate… because Love Transcends.
