9 Rhode Islanders return from trip to Israel

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — After days of waiting, nine Rhode Islanders are officially back home, safe from their trip to Israel.

Nine members of Victory Church Providence were on a trip to Israel to see holy sites.

The group said they were relieved to be back home and safe after days of wondering if they’d be able to get out of the growing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“There were cancellations, and there were people that were just there all day long, just hoping, waiting to see if they could possibly buy a ticket out of Israel,” Richard Sfameni said.

The Sfamenis were joined by seven other members of their church on a trip to Israel, near the Sea of Galilee, more than 100 miles away from the main conflict.

After Saturday’s attacks, they started looking for a way out of the country and grew more and more concerned as they watched their own flight get delayed.

“Then we find out it’s delayed from 1:05 to 2:40 a.m. and we thought, ‘Well jeez, we hope this is not the beginning of delay, delay, cancel,'” Lisa Sfameni said.

Their flight eventually took off without any other issues, and they arrived back in Boston early Thursday morning.

“You know, that was kind of a couple of tearful reunions,” Lisa said. “Because again, our families back here, all they’re seeing on television – which is very real and very tragic – they don’t know where we are in relation to what they’re seeing.” 

Tonight, the Sfamenis are planning to spend time with their grandson and taking time to decompress by looking back on a hectic week.

“I think it’s been very humbling, you know, thatthis little group of nine people from Rhode Island became so important to so many people,” Lisa said. “So it has been really humbling to see humanity at its best, that’s what we need to be seeing more in each other.” 

Lisa and Richard said that even after coming home today, they feel like they’re leaving a piece of their heart in Israel.

And even after all of this, if they’re given the option, they said they would love to go back again with more members from Victory Church.