With two young sons excelling in their elementary school classrooms, Andreina and her husband, Xavier, couldn’t be happier.
One son recently received a President’s Award, and the other was named Student of the Month.
“Our expectations for them are to be happy and free,” the mother of two said as she reflected on the journey of faith and perseverance that brought them to this moment.
Today, Andreina works for a nonprofit organization, and Xavier is a delivery driver. Both in their mid-30s, the couple are proud of their gray-and-blue two-story home in Camden County. New to the area, they are enjoying exploring their surroundings, which includes walking the neighborhood with the boys and their Jack Russell Terrier, Candy, as well as experiencing the local cuisine.
“My boys have learned to love chicken wings and pizza,” Andreina said with a smile.
And with the children active in youth soccer clubs, the whole family is excited for the World Cup.
Indeed, the family have come a long way from where they were two years ago – facing great uncertainty.
“God brought us here,” Andreina said of the family’s new home.
Winding Roads
Andreina and Xavier first met in their home country of Venezuela. Having a similar calling to help others, the two graduated from university with degrees in diet and nutrition. Instead of finding a job in their chosen fields, however, the two saw a need in the community for the production of cleaning supplies.
“We started a business manufacturing laundry detergent, fabric softener, bleach and dish soap,” Andreina said.
After the birth of their first son, their country became difficult to make a living in. “The economy was bad, the political problems were bad, there was a lack of medicine and food,” she explained.
So the family relocated to Peru, where there was an opportunity for husband and wife to work in their chosen fields.
“We worked in a gym, providing nutritional advice to clients,” Andreina recalled.
When Andreina became pregnant with her second son, the family faced a new hurdle: Xavier found out he was losing his job. As such, the family returned to Venezuela and their manufacturing business. Now 2020, the country was in the midst of a political power struggle and economic decline.
“We had a lot of fear and insecurity,” Andreina recalled.
Six months after returning home, they left for Colombia, where Xavier found work as an Uber driver. Andreina began working at a call center, where she learned English through interactions with customers.
Around this same time, Andreina got very ill and ended up in the hospital for a month. Overworked, stressed and barely scraping by, both husband and wife were determined to stay strong for their children.
“Some days, I didn’t believe I would make it,” she recalled. “But I just breathed and remembered I had these beautiful children who deserve a better future. … [After the hospital] I got back to work and tried my best.”
Hard Work
Around the same time, Andreina learned of the opportunity to apply for resettlement in the United States, through the Reception and Placement program and U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services. In addition, Xavier’s sister, who lives in the United States, agreed to sponsor the family’s arrival.
Applying in 2022, the family didn’t hear back immediately. “So life kept going,” she recalled.
The next year, officials contacted the family, and in December 2024, Andreina, Xavier and their boys found themselves in an apartment in Camden County, resettled refugees with the help of Catholic Charities of South Jersey.
“We had quite a journey,” Andreina said. “But we needed a better life for our family.”
They found a dedicated advocate in Jose Sánchez, director of Immigration, Refugee and Migrants Services for Catholic Charities of South Jersey. As their case agent, Sánchez assisted in finding the family a temporary place to live until they could find a permanent home.
Andreina quickly found work as an advocate for the immigrant community, while Xavier got a job as a machine operator for a local food company. After two years of working and saving, they relocated to their new home and neighborhood.
“My husband and I worked hard to be here,” she said. “But you know who works harder? These two kids. They’re coming here, learning a new language, and teachers only say beautiful things about them.”
Andreina said it is important to her and Xavier to give their children the opportunities to succeed in their new country – and to lead by example.
‘The Longevity of the Church’
In her role at the nonprofit organization, Andreina enjoys guiding others, just as many did for her.
“That’s what I Iove about my job; I help people pay their rent, learn English, and get access to food, childcare and education,” she said. “We received a lot of help when we first came, and it’s my turn to give it back. It’s rewarding to see the people you help achieving their goals, and making their dreams come true.”
Sánchez, in getting to know the family, sees a faith and youthfulness in all of them that the Church needs today.
“These migrants are coming to Mass and filling the pews and participating in traditions that bring them closer to their faith,” he said. “It is [in] welcoming the refugee, that the longevity of the Church will continue.”
Andreina, Xavier and the boys are looking forward to calling one of the Diocese of Camden’s Catholic churches their home, and all are excited to contribute their gifts.
“Faith is in our family’s veins, and it’s going to continue growing,” Andreina said. “Faith brought us here. I always tell my boys, ‘God always leads our path.’”
Appreciative for the work of Sánchez and Catholic Charities of South Jersey, she said there are “no words I can use to show how thankful I am. Their guidance has been amazing. They are family now.”
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