Clarkston, GA. Site Visit to Explore ESL Expansion March, 2013

Transcription

1 Clarkston, GA Site Visit to Explore ESL Expansion March, 2013

2 OUTCASTS UNITED A Refugee Team An American Town I didn t realize that I had met refugees of Clarkston, Georgia before setting foot in the town! New York Times reporter Warren St. John wrote a Cinderella story on the plight of refugees which was turned into a documentary film that I saw last year. Pictured with them is their coach, Luma Mufleh, a refugee herself from Jordan.

3 Beautiful Diversity! These little ladies represent the faces of refugees in Clarkston from over 50 countries! Hard to believe, but true. They are children of the families that received services during the weekend community outreach.

4 Richard Henderson Richard is a truck driver and local leader known and respected among the Chin and Karen groups in Clarkston. He is a strong advocate and wants to see an SDA church in Clarkston to meet the growing needs of the refugees. Richard talks with Huai Boih, a Chin refugee who speaks English fairly well. She wants to be a teacher.

5 Core group/local leaders I asked local leaders to organize a series of meetings for me so I could meet folks and hear from their mouths what their needs are. Suan Liang Mung (blue shirt) and his wife (next to him) allowed us to meet in their home to discuss the needs of local refugees.

6 Core group/local leaders Meeting to assess the needs. Clockwise from left: Richard Henderson, Huai, Sandra Thompson (red sweater), Sharon (co-founder of Friends of Refugees Providing Empowerment and Education (F.R.E.E.)

7 On Our Way.. As we were in route to the Stone Mountain Church for a site visit, Kelli Czaykowsky (local leader) spots Gregory, a refugee from the Congo (and newly baptized SDA) walking home. We stopped on the road to meet and talk with him. Kelli also had a box of big & tall clothing for Gregory which he gladly received.

8 Stone Mountain SDA Church We visited Stone Mountain (approximately 25 minutes away) to tour their established outreach program and to meet with their leaders & grant writer (black jacket). Stone Mountain has expressed a willingness to mentor Clarkston s core group in ministry development.

9 Stone Mountain Discussion You can see, Gregory, our young leader in the mix! He is not only a recipient of help, but wants to help make a difference in the lives of other newly arrived refugees. Each one, reach one. How awesome!

10 Stone Mountain Community Outreach Center Stone Mountain has a huge space. They also have an established working relationship with the city of Stone Mountain to operate as a food distribution center and other programs.

11 Stone Mountain Food Pantry Stone Mountain s aggressive community food bank. The community service leader takes stock of inventory.

12 Center of Clarkston This is Church Street, directly across from a row of several churches EXCEPT SDA. There is an old railroad track that runs through town. City Hall is also located on Church Street. I took this picture because it conveyed the feeling of Clarkston to me.

13 Temporary Place of Worship A small group of SDAs rent space in this United Methodist Church in the center of town. The church is large enough to accommodate the Chin and Karen in separate spaces on Sabbath.

14 Sabbath Worship A VERY warm welcome awaited me Sabbath morning starting with a greeting from Mrs. Mung and others. This was the first time both Karen and Chin worshipped together jointly on Sabbath!

15 All are welcome I experienced such a beautiful spirit among the refugees in Clarkston. Worship began at 10 with Sabbath school and ended around 5pm. There are about 35/40 SDAs, but by the end of service this room was filled to capacity with mostly refugees from the community who were not members.

16 Leader/Preacher/Teacher You remember Suan Liang Mung from our meetings in his home. Suan Liang completed theological training at the SDA seminary in Burma. He raised up several churches among his people, the Chin tribe, before religious persecution drove his family to flee to Georgia in 2006.

17 Language of love During worship I didn t understand much of what was said. The children sang one or two songs, and I recognized the tunes. The most important sense I got on Sabbath was that even though there was a language barrier, we all spoke the language of Heaven! Corny, but true, nonetheless

18 Karen leader Meet Twe Laing (no relation to Suan Liang). Twe is the leader among his tribe, the Karen. He spent 11 years in a primitive refugee camp on the Thailand border before resettling with his family to Clarkston in Due to language, Twe was interpreter for his people during Sabbath service.

19 Friends of refugees These three ladies are a large part of the grass-roots efforts to assist refugees in Clarkston. They are mothers, they are teachers, they are making a tangible difference. They are l to r: Sharon, Chunglee, and Kelli

20 My children need help! This was a separate meeting Sabbath afternoon with the Karen group. A handful are SDA, but the rest are refugees from the community who asked, what can you do for our children? Such a humble group.

21 Rice! Rice is such a huge dietary staple of many of the refugees. It is a regular food item which helping groups supply during the weekly, weekend outreach to several residential apartments in Clarkston.

22 Community Outreach Youth volunteers from Atlanta Academy along with participants from 11 area churches provide food, clothing, toiletries, and a myriad of other items to refugees on a weekend basis.

23 I got it! This little lady has gotten her rice and heading home like a line backer. I doubt anyone would be successful in tackling her for it.

24 Weekly Outreach Patiently waiting on line for whatever items Berean and various churches have been able to secure from the food banks and other donations.

25 Berean Pathfinders There is nothing like service to others it helps you to be thankful for what you have.

26 Food distribution What I witnessed was that everyone was grateful to get something.

27 Barber in your backyard Wow, how amazing is this. No long lines or waiting for the barber s chair. Randy Cabil is in maintenance services at the Duluth Adventist Academy, but he trained as a professional barber in his native Philippines.

28 Health Outreach A huge part of the weekly outreach includes health screening by two dedicated nurses. Barsha is a pediatric nurse who obviously loves children. She has such a contagious smile and helpful demeanor.

29 Say aaaaahhhhh Dr. John Kim volunteers to do dental evaluations on-site.

30 In-home visits These are members of Gregory s family. Arlene, his oldest sister is like the mother of the house. She shared with me that their Mom didn t survive a refugee camp. She, her 7 siblings, and Dad share a 2 bedroom apartment in this community. They graciously allowed me into their home. They are one of the lucky families.

31 Acupuncture This is Uh Ma (mother of Chunglee). She is a professional acupuncturist practicing her trade using ancient tools to relieve pain. Uh Ma wore a mask to protect the people due to a cold sore she had at the time.

32 Happy to be of service Uh Ma and Chunglee packing up for the day.

33 Key Collaborators for ESL Expansion These ladies will be key players in the weeks and months ahead as we look at providing services in Clarkston. From l to r: Rhoda Lapp, an ESL teacher who currently teaches Muslim adults in Clarkston, Laurie Stankavich, ESL professor at Southern University, and Loretta (SAU ESL student) who may be our 1 st NAD/ESL Intern.

34 Partners Laurie, Kelli, Sharon, and Loretta. We are looking at/projecting launching an ESL program in Clarkston beginning in September This timing will allow local leaders to secure a local venue for classes and ensure that Loretta is involved during the academic year.

35 Carol Reynolds Carol is another key player. She assists Terri Saelee (NAD Refugee Ministries Coordinator) from Chattanooga, TN. I had connected with Carol over the phone and via , but this was our first face to face.

36 UNITED FOR OUTCAST A Volunteer Team! A diverse and dedicated group of volunteers from all walks of life converge on Clarkston weekly in ministry.