Haroon (far right) with Jessica and the girls (center) at the Elkhorn Coalition wall raising this year.

Family Connections: Haroon and Jessica

Their eyes locked, and, in a single breath, Jessica fell in love, leading her to make several decisions that would forever change four lives. It all started earlier that day, when Jessica received a phone call from a childhood friend seeking help for her sister. Without hesitating, Jessica jumped in her car and drove to the shelter the sister was staying at to see what she could do.

When she arrived, she found the woman and saw a baby in a car seat, about to be taken away and placed into foster care. “…I immediately fell in love with this sweet little blessing from heaven,” says Jessica. “Her mother asked me if I would take her and I agreed.” Her name was Jade and she was only 5 weeks old.

She started by taking Jade home to meet her then 5-year-old daughter, Narissa Faye. A few months later, when the state found Jade’s biological father and two older sisters, Jessica fell in love with them too and started picking up all three girls every other week for “girl’s week.” Deep, lasting bonds began forming between Jessica, her daughter, Narissa Faye, and the three sisters.

Then, on October 24, 2016, their lives were thrown upside down following a horrific accident. Jade and her other sister were placed with Jessica, instantly doubling the size of her family.

She started looking into the possibility of adopting Jade, quickly learning the state doesn’t consider an apartment a permanent home. The time had come for her to become a homeowner. But how?

Jessica first met Haroon when he brought a group from his church to volunteer at her workplace and again when she volunteered with a street ministry after work. They quickly realized Jessica and Haroon’s wife, Carla, had a mutual friend; they seemed destined to eventually meet.

They became friends and when he learned about her situation, he suggested she apply for homeownership with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha. She felt a little hesitant, so Haroon, who became a Habitat homeowner with his wife last year, gave her some insight on the benefits of homeownership by sharing their story.

Haroon, Carla and their daughter Hadassah at the family’s Home Dedication last year.

They met at a church service in Pakistan, where he was a missionary and Carla, a Nebraska native, was working as a nurse helping women and children with no easy access to health care. They fell in love and married, starting their family in 2010 when their daughter, Hadassah, was born.

Fortunately, they returned to the States for the birth of their second daughter, Arayshel, who was born severely disabled and wasn’t even expected to live. Quickly reassessing their situation, Haroon and Carla decided to stay in Omaha where they have the support of their church, friends and family.

Now Hadassah has her own room and a yard to play in. Their lives have improved dramatically and Haroon and Carla, grateful, started looking for ways to share the blessings they’ve received.

He started by recruiting his church to join the Elkhorn Coalition and volunteers on the build site most weekends.

According to Janneane, Special Project Manager at Habitat Omaha, when their home was under construction, he and Carla were “constants on the work site, shifting work schedules and nursing care of their daughter, so they could work alongside all the volunteers building their house. They are truly generous, giving people,” she says.

Homeownership is a big step and Jessica still felt a little uncertain, so Haroon, Carla and the volunteers all prayed with her. It was a powerful moment, and convinced Jessica to apply. Now, happily juggling sweat equity, the girls, and her job she is hoping to adopt both Jade and her sister and bring them, along with her own “little pumpkin” Narissa Faye, home soon.