'There are no words to express how we feel' - Christians anticipate returning to their homes after ISIS is driven out

'I'll see my home and my country again, the place that I love.'

Myriam, the little girl who forgave ISIS its atrocities years ago, is ready to return to the home US-backed Iraqi forces have nearly liberated.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Two years ago, Myriam was interviewed by SAT-7, where she said she forgave ISIS for running her family, and families across the Middle East, from their homes.

She asked God to forgive the militants who threatened their lives in a recording that was viewed by over 200,000 people within only 42-hours.

"God loves everybody," Myriam said. "I'm not angry with God because we left Qaraqosh, I thank him because he provided [for] us. Even if we're suffering here, he provides for us."

Revisiting Myriam, SAT-7 discovered the girl maintained her forgiveness and is now looking forward to returning to the home she was forced to flee.

"Surely I am happy and joyful to return home and see my friends who didn't leave," she said. "I'll get to see them again. I'll see my home and my country again, the place that I love."

Myriam's father, Waleed, added: "There are no words to express how we feel. But we say in Iraq, Wenseh, which is the feeling we have when we are home. It doesn't matter if [we are living] under destruction."

The family currently lives in Ankawa, a suburb of Erbil, along with several thousand other refugees waiting to return home.

"If they are that joyful in Ankawa, then how will it be when 40,000 persons return to their homes?" Waleed asked. "Imagine the joy we will feel!"

Myriam and her family sang God praises when they heard Iraqi troops have cleared away a New-York sized section of Mosul and its surrounding cities.

Waleed announced his family has been believing they would return to their home and have relied on God's peace to get through the difficulties of living as refugees.

"Peace is the peace of Jesus and not worldly peace," he stated. "Peace isn't in a house or in the land. Even in fire you can have the peace of Jesus.

"As long as we have it we will be stronger than those who threw us out. When you love Jesus, no one can conquer you."

Father Thabet, a priest from Mosul, said the city is home to "only a few" Christian families since ISIS arrived. He said the Church awaits the time when the Nineveh Plain is safe for Christians to return but in the meantime, prayers are all they can offer.

"We need to make sure the liberation process is final and the area is secure and the path to return is safe as well as adjust the infrastructure and stabilize the economic situation so they can return home," Fr. Thabet said.

"It is great that the liberation comes at this time especially after two years have passed but our joy will be complete when everyone is back home safe and secure. We want to double our prayers in order to have stability in Mosul so it becomes better than it was."

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