Bearta Powell - Orphans of War

"When I was five, my parents died leaving behind five young children. Because of continuous religious and political conflicts, we lost our parents and virtually every relative, but we gained brothers and sisters at the orphanage that took us in. Through anything that came our way - death, war, hunger, misery, rejection, failure, and happiness, we were there for each other. Our unbreakable bond, support, and love for each other, but most importantly our love of God, helped us grow stronger as we searched for the positive in the remnants of each experience . . . no matter how horrific. Though I was born in Lebanon, I immigrated to the United States when I was nineteen years old. My sixteen year old sister made the journey with me. I am an American and I say that both proudly and modestly. Despite my childhood, I have learned the power of human resolve. I have learned that people are not only shaped by the fragmented remains of their past, but also by the promise of their future. I live in Raleigh North Carolina and have a belly dancing business. I have an incredible family. I have three beautiful boys that know only of war-torn Lebanon through my stories and battle-scarred photographs. I have a supportive husband who gives me comfort when memories swell up and paralyze me with remembrance. Though I am proud to have received my Bachelors of Art in Business from North Carolina State University, raising my sons as proud Americans while honoring their heritage has been my greatest joy. I am grateful to America, for she has given me new memories and the resolute strength of a survivor."