Rich in Friendship! by Debs Munn, JHC Housing Coordinator

Transcription

1 Journey Home Community News Rich in Friendship! by Debs Munn, JHC Housing Coordinator Serving Refugee Claimant Families in Metro Vancouver Volume 7 Issue 2, November 2013 Mother Teresa The greatest form of poverty is not illness or destitution, but loneliness. Hardly a month goes by when we don t hear it said that Vancouver is one of the best cities in the world to live in. However, many people find themselves isolated and lonely. A recent report by the Vancouver Foundation found the most pressing citywide issue isn t poverty or homelessness, it is isolation and disconnection. Refugees, who arrive in hope of finding safety and support, also experience this same issue. Gitara and Lina (not their real names) met in the Dubai airport while on their way to the United States for a conference. As female government officials in their home country, they both were experiencing mounting danger and feared for their safety. After confiding in each other their intention not to return, they used the trip as an opportunity to escape. It dawned upon us that we were no longer alone and could face this terrifying journey together with more courage and confidence. recalls Gitara. This provided a powerful catalyst for their friendship. When Gitara and Lina arrived in Vancouver they were quickly connected to Journey Home. Looking back, I don t know what we would have done, or where we would have gone without Journey Home, because we arrived with little money and knew no one. Gitara recounts. They were invited to move into one of the Olivet Welcome Houses, which became their home for their initial four months. For many refugees, these initial months of arrival prove to be the most challenging. It was during these months that Gitara and Lina experienced the reciprocity of being cared for, and in turn caring for others. Gitara tells of her surprise at the genuine welcome she received from the volunteer hosts at Olivet, Mark and Michelle. I was amazed they welcomed us like we were old friends and soon became like family to us. we can no longer say that we don t have family here because we do. Contact us: / journeyhomecommunity.ca

2 When the Stranger Calls us Home by Jennifer Galicinski, Friend of JHC I wouldn t like Journey Home if it was only a place to get clothes, or food, Sahara told me as she put another stitch in the bag she was teaching me how to make. Especially because I came here alone, without my husband or my family. What I needed most was friends. We were sitting at my living room table, drinking tea, with scraps of material scattered all over. In three days we planned to sell little reusable snack bags at my church s annual craft sale, and it is Sahara that is saving me from pulling my hair out due to the panic of having left it to the last minute. She loved talking about her husband, and was eager to tell me about how they met and what he s like. And when she asked me about my relationships, I shared my stories with her. Since then we ve had many long talks over tea she teaching me phrases in her language and have shared concerts and dinners. And now she s teaching me to sew. Sahara has, in many ways, called me out of my self, out of my self-centered ways, into more of my true self, who God made me to be. At the center are authentic, reciprocal relationships, where I am At the center are authentic, reciprocal relationships, where I am welcomed just as I welcome, and where I am listened to just as I listen. In her home country she helped her sister to make dresses, and she is a master seamstress. It was about this time last year that we first met, and I ll never forget how deeply sad, alone, and confused she felt then. During our first conversation, she was sitting across from me in the JHC office, picking away at some food for lunch with a glazed look in her eyes. At 30 years old, she had just fled for her life, leaving behind her husband and family, and had just spent a terrifying two weeks in a Canadian prison cell with convicts while awaiting her ID documents to arrive from her country (a usual measure by Canada Border Services Agency when one arrives without documents). welcomed just as I welcome, and where I am listened to just as I listen. She has told me often that she is so thankful for me, but I secretly think I m the luckier one. Sahara has, in her unique way, called forth my buried compassion, my silliness, and my creativity. And she has also listened to me and offered advice when I have needed it, as good friends do. I asked her about her interest in art and photography, and she mumbled a few polite comments. It was only when I asked her about herself and if she was married (having seen her ring) that she lit up. Yes! A relational connection. Contact us: / journeyhomecommunity.ca Image courtesy of michelroohani.com

3 A Stranger s Friend: The Refugee by Kelly Dycavinu, JHC Board Member It s a seven-letter word that conjures a wide variety of feelings and associations for those who hear it. Try it. What do you think or feel? For some, there are feelings of uncertainty. What exactly is a refugee? In what ways are refugees different from immigrants? Refugee = Foreigner: someone from the outside, someone different and unknown. For others, there are feelings of anger. Why should we allow these foreigners into our country? They drain our welfare resources or take our jobs. Refugee = Leech: someone who sucks the life-blood out of a nation. And for others still, there are feelings of fear. What if we let in the wrong person? What if they are not who they say they are? Will our safety and security be compromised? Refugee = Terrorist: someone who wreaked havoc in their own country and has come to do the same in ours. For a few, there are feelings of compassion, a sense of injustice. No one should lose their livelihood because of their ethnic origin. It s not right that women and children suffer as people fight for political power. Something must be done to protect those in constant fear for their lives. Refugee = Victim: those who have been oppressed, povertystricken and denied their human rights. For me, when I hear the word I feel guilt. I live a comfortable lifestyle. Refugees don t. Add to the mix a sneaking suspicion my comfortable lifestyle is established and secured at the expense of some of these refugees. I feel fear. What would have to change in my life for me to create a positive change in the refugee cause? Am I willing to step beyond my comfort-zone, to make a sacrifice? I feel doubt. Even if I m willing to try, what significance would come of my efforts? Can I navigate the political systems? Can I make a difference? I feel overwhelmed. There s too much injustice in this world, please don t talk to me about yet another social concern! So what s a person like me doing on the Board of Directors of Journey Home Community, an organization that assists refugee families and advocates on their behalf? Well My feelings of fear, guilt, and doubt certainly fail to motivate, but I m called to action by what I know and believe. I believe in a Creator, an Artist who designs with care and attention the deepest and most detailed aspects of a person s being; and I believe in the inherent worth of every created being of every man, woman and child. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 I know my history. Once, my own people, my ancestors, were foreigners in a strange land. Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. Exodus 22:21

4 When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:33-34 I believe the following is music to the ears; a song to sing today and tomorrow as in yesterdays come and gone. Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. I know what the Lord says. Psalm 82:3-4 This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3 I believe there are some things that can make God both sad and mad. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice. I know Jesus was a refugee. Ezekiel 22:29 After the wise men had gone, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up! Hurry and take the child and his mother to Egypt! Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is looking for the child and wants to kill him. That night, Joseph got up and took his wife and the child to Egypt, where they stayed until Herod died. Matthew 2:13-15 I believe Jesus fulfills these words: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free I know a question to ask him. Luke 4:18 Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and show you hospitality or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? I believe his response. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these you did for me. Matthew 25: She smiles often. It s a beautiful smile and I wish to seem as joyful as she. We talk as our sons play ninja, running up and down the hall. Two hours now and they show no signs of slowing down. Sweat-soaked and laughing, they kick and jump. Boys. We laugh at their antics. She talks of her husband. We share about the kids at school. But when she mentions her home country, sorrow steals the smile. There is pain. There is danger. There is no going back. And I hope she won t have to. It s a whole different feeling when Refugee = Friend. Available online at kellydycavinu.wordpress.com Contact us: / journeyhomecommunity.ca

5 A Great Place to Work A A Great Place to Shop by Doug Peat, Manager week. Marion comments, I think of one man from Japan who volunteered a lot of time in the store. He took a lot of ownership, using his artistic skills on signage. We saw him flourish in a country that was not his own. If I was dropped in another country and someone extended an open arm, this would really impact me. Pooja Gupta, one of our volunteer cashiers Journey Home Thrift, a volunteer initiative of JHC has been voted as Burnaby s Favorite Thrift Store for the second year running. The 60 plus volunteer staff reflect the vibrant diversity of Burnaby s Edmonds community, bringing their different cultures, religions and languages, along with a wealth of skills and perspectives. Yet unity permeates, making the store a welcoming place for all. The reasons for volunteering are as varied as the staff themselves. Carole shares, I wanted to be part of something in the community that gives back, and I really look forward to being here each Charlotte speaks of a new volunteer staff whom she has been training as a cashier. I have learned so much from her as she has learned. To see my culture through her eyes is really interesting, and sometimes funny. When I hear of what some of the staff have been through in their own countries it makes me proud to be a Canadian. Rebecca summed it up well. Working here is the best way I know to meet friends from other cultures and serve the community. So what is next? We are working at providing a structure that helps our refugee volunteers build their skills. Evans Rubera, a Tanzanian master s student at York University, spent a month with us, studying the needs and experiences of refugees. He found that Most of the newcomers to Canada share language and Canadian experience challenges regardless of their backgrounds. We believe that the store can help refugees in both these areas, making it easier for them to find

6 RIDE for REFUGE 2013 was a great event and achievement for Journey Home Community. Our 89 riders woke up to perfect riding weather and joined with 400 others to bike 10, 25, 50 or 100 kms, finishing off with a hearty lunch. We set an ambitious goal of raising $36,000 for JHC and, thanks to our generous donors, we surpassed our goal! A huge THANK YOU to all our captains, riders and donors for making RIDE 2013 such a success. Come join us on October 4, 2014!! The Buzz On May 1, 2013, JHC welcomed Doug Peat as our new Thrift Store Manager. On August 1, 2013, JHC welcomed Debs Munn as our Housing Coordinator Thank you to Marvin Miller, who completed a pilot project as Employment Developer to provide supports to refugees seeking jobs. Marvin remained with JHC as Event Director for the 2013 Ride for Refuge. Thank you to Jen Galicinski, who completed her work as Housing Coordinator on July 31. We appreciate Jen s one year of service at JHC. Get involved Ways to be involved in Journey Home Community: volunteer join the prayer team donate quality used items to Journey Home Thrift make a financial gift. For more information, contact the JHC office: Journey Home Riders, Miriam Soet and Seyon Kim Proud to Protect Refugees Join the PROUD TO PROTECT movement. * Get involved * Educate yourself * Speak up * Change the conversation Did you know Journey Home is online? journeyhomecommunity.ca facebook.com/journeyhomecommunity If you wish to unsubscribe from our mailing list, please contact us by mail or Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby BC, V5J4J3 info@journeyhomecommunity.ca JHC s program is funded in part by the Government of Canada s Homelessness Partnering Strategy. The opinions in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. Journey Home Community acknowledges and thanks our partner organizations