Walking into the airport terminal in Grand Rapids, 15-year-old Ibadete Sinani knew little English, much less where to go and what to do.
Friendly faces of strangers greeted her and her family with signs and flowers, and took them to a new home, and a new life, in Muskegon.
Like many across the United States in the late 1990s, Sinani’s family were refugees fleeing war-torn Kosovo.
They were taken in by Olivet Evangelical Free Church in Fruitport Township and welcomed to the Muskegon-area.
Nearly two decades later, by a chance connection, Sinani has reconnected with the church that first welcomed her to a new home.
When the war between Serbians and Albanians broke out, the family had to split up during evacuation.
“We were told we had 24 hours to leave our homes with just the clothes on our backs,” Sinani said, the memory still vivid in her mind. Her grandmother went with some cousins in a vehicle to Albania.
“The Serbian military was at the border, they were harassing certain individuals, specifically targeting young females, and my dad didn’t want to take the risk,” Sinani said.
So, the family walked on foot to Macedonia, the trek spanning more than 12 hours and across mountains, some areas laden with heavy snow and blizzards.
They were given refuge in a mountain village before moving to a refugee camp. It was a “difficult decision,” but her family, once from a small town and a home that spanned generations, signed up to immigrate to the U.S.
“Not knowing the language, not knowing anyone, not knowing what to expect, leaving everything behind – there’s all these emotions, but also kind of excited,” Sinani said. “I don’t know what my parents must have been feeling. For them, it was probably harder to leave, but also they’re thinking it’s a fresh start either way. The strength it must have taken to leave the familiar and just to start anew.”
The Muslim family was greeted by members of Olivet, a Christian church, at the Grand Rapids International Airport.
They were driven to Muskegon, where they stayed in a fully furnished, five-bedroom home owned by the church. There was a translator who helped facilitate communication with the sponsors, who helped set Sinani up in school and connect her parents with resources, like a pre-determined job for her father and English as a second language classes.
“They were just really lovely people, really friendly,” Sinani said. She said they were invited to the church but her family wasn’t interested because of their faith. In turn, the church never pressured her or her family to participate.
“They didn’t see us any different and we didn’t either,” Sinani said. “It’s almost like we formed this bond despite our beliefs, despite culture, race, religion, any of that. One of them actually became like a family friend, her and her husband and kids would come every weekend and hang out with us, celebrate birthdays, holidays, everything. We became really close and sometimes they would just take us shopping or take us bowling, give us experiences that we never had.”
Ibadete Sinani, middle, stands with her kids outside Olivet Evangelical Free Church in Fruitport Township. On the left is Devin Welch, 18, and on the right is Hadiya Sinani, 12. Photo taken on Feb. 5, 2026.Kayla TuckerSinani, 41, still lives in Muskegon and is raising her two children. She teaches ESL on the side and hopes to one day help others through motivational coaching and meditation.
Last year, she was knocking on doors to offer her home-cleaning services and came across a woman named Elaine Shaw. Hearing an accent, Shaw asked Sinani where she was from.
That snowballed into a long conversation between the two, where Sinani shared her life story and found a connection with Shaw, a newer member of Olivet Church.
Shaw brought Sinani to the church and there were members that remembered her and her family from all those years ago. One woman said she continually thought about and prayed for her family.
“I was just shocked that there were some people still here that remembered me,” Sinani said. “I was very welcomed by everyone and it has been so far a great journey … of faith, connection and just shared humanity.”
Kevin Newton is an elder at the church and was around at the time Sinani’s family sought refuge in Muskegon.
He said the church welcomes anyone through its doors, no matter what, but that the bigger message is about God and not one church’s actions or a political stance.
“Christ brings out the best in you,” Newton said. “He wants you to love, he wants you to forgive, he wants you to listen and have compassion and care. He talks about taking care of the poor, more than money, loving your neighbor, all those things … If your identity is in Christ, your priorities are going to be way different than if your identity is in politics … That’s not who you are, that’s one little piece of your life, and people make it so big.”