Amy DiMarcangelo is no stranger to serving refugees. For nearly a decade, she’s worked alongside resettlement organizations, built relationships with families who’ve fled unimaginable circumstances, and poured her heart into the margins. But this past year stretched her in ways she never anticipated.
Last fall, Amy traveled with Women of Welcome to the San Diego–Tijuana border—a trip that opened her eyes to new possibilities and new burdens. There, she learned about a program that empowers private sponsor groups to welcome refugee families directly into their communities.
“I prayed about it,” she recalled, “and I talked with people I knew had a heart for the nations, mercy ministries, and caring for people coming from vulnerable, hard situations.” A sponsor team began to form. Her church caught the vision too. They rallied around her group, helped fundraise, and offered tangible support.
Waiting with Empty Arms
By December, they were matched with a family. Travel was scheduled for February. Then it was rescheduled to January—only to be rescheduled back to February. Every shift in the plan brought a fresh wave of anticipation, uncertainty, and prayer.
And then came the news that refugee resettlement would be suspended for 90 days. “There was still a hope that the families who had travel booked would be able to come,” recalls Amy. “They were already given approval and a travel date, so how could we pull the rug out from under them?” But the waiting ended in heartbreak—the family wouldn’t be coming after all.
Still, Amy believed the experience wasn’t wasted, because her team could continue praying for the family by name. “God is still working. God can work through His church [wherever] they are.”
A Roller Coaster of Hope and Disappointment
After the pause, Welcome Corps directed Amy to Sponsor Circles, through which they could sponsor a family eligible through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) pathway—Afghan and Iraqi refugees who had worked alongside the U.S. military.
However, their next match chose to relocate to another state where they had a community. A third match ended up staying where they were, due to complex and sensitive circumstances. “It was a total roller coaster,” Amy shared. “But we trusted that God was still going before us.”
When Welcome Finally Comes
Then came Family #4.
By then, Amy admits she was skeptical. But when she got a message from the father saying, “We’re on our way to the airport,” it finally felt real. After three and a half years from their initial application, this family finally arrived. A pregnant mother, a weary father, and three young daughters stepped into a new life after 48 hours of travel.
“It was so joyful. There was so much tiredness and relief on the dad’s face.” The family moved into temporary housing generously provided by Airbnb.org, and the sponsor team jumped into action, setting up appointments, gathering supplies, and creating a support system.
Just 48 hours after arriving in the U.S., the mother went into labor—five weeks early. “Some of us stayed with the kids, and some of us went to the hospital,” Amy recalled. The mother had the baby in the middle of the night. Even amid the joy, the challenges were clear. “She was alone in a hospital where no one spoke her language. Even in God’s kindness, we saw how hard this is. No one is coming because this is a walk in the park, so how bad must things have been for someone to take that step?”
But there were moments of sweetness, too. “The family already calls one of the men on our team ‘Grandpa.’ The whole team feels so much love for them.”
Learning to Wait Again
The journey didn’t end with arrival. The family still faces barriers to long-term housing, education, and employment.
Amy’s team continues to walk closely with the family, navigating health care, housing, job searches, and school enrollment. “People don’t want to rent to those without an employment history,” she said. “There’s still waiting ahead for them.”
But in the waiting, God has been faithful. “We’re waiting on the Lord, and he is not surprised by any of this. And God is not limited by time,” she said. “When we rightly grieve things in the waiting, we can bring those trials to the Lord, knowing He is trustworthy.” The official commitment is 90 days, but Amy and her team hope to stay connected to the family long-term.
Through it all, Amy has become even more aware of our dependence on God.
“I’ve come against my limits,” she said. “No matter how hard I try, there are things related to this that are out of my control.” She says it’s important to remember she can’t fix everything for them. This season has brought her to her knees again and again. “I can either anxiously work and worry, or I can work and then bring my anxieties to the Lord. He’s the one who intervenes.”
To those considering sponsorship, she offers honesty and hope: “It’s so hard. And you can’t do it on your own. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t calling you to do it. He cares about these people even more than we do.”
An Invitation to Labor Faithfully
matters. Where are the immigrants and refugees in your community? Be faithful in the context you are in.”
Whether you’re a nurse, a teacher, or a landlord, she says, “There are immigrants in your regular circles. How can you steward your time and gifts in a way that welcomes them?”
And to her sisters in Women of Welcome, Amy shares this charge: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Go out and labor faithfully. Point people to Jesus, the reason for the hope within you. His heart is for the nations, and this is one way we can participate in that.”
Watch the full interview below to hear Amy’s story in her own words.
