Refugee Transitions Dominion Intercessors Ministry, Inc. Newsletter Assisting in refugee acclimation to American lifestyle By Aliane Kubwimana and Happy H Iradukunda ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017 Management Esther Somayire Visionary and Chief Executive Officer Tabitha Uwimpuhwe Chief Operating Officer Board of Directors Board Chair: Jacob Massaquoi Dora Anim-Denson Lori Farr Varn Frank Samuel Ishimwe Jean Pierre Karenzi Eric Mbonimpa Sandra Pappenfus Alcoln Thomas Dominion Intercessors Ministry, Inc. 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization 1405 Wilmington Ave Dayton, Ohio 45420 Contact Us 937-732-4060 diministry10@gmail.com www.diministry.org Dominion Intercessors Ministry (DIM) is an Ohio, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps refugees and the needy. Specifically, we help refugees transition from hopelessness into fruitful, responsible, independent American citizens through the development of crucial linkages between immigrant community, low-income families and main-stream social service providers in Dayton, Ohio. WHO WE ARE Dominion Intercessors Ministry, Inc. (DIM) is a Non-Denominational Christian Ministry. Its vision is to intercede for the body of Christ and help people meet their savior Jesus Christ and make him their own personal friend. The mission of DIM is to evangelize, provide spiritual, emotional and material support to those who are broken-hearted. The Ministry of DIM spreads the gospel of Jesus Christ through Intercessors prayers, outreach program and evangelism. The Dominion Intercessors Ministry Inc. is committed to the intercession for the world and the body of Christ, networking with other ministries, and intercession for Peace, Unity and Reconciliation of the people of the world. The Intercessors component of the organization involves prayer and development of productive awareness among the disadvantaged (i.e. widows, orphans, homeless, and refugees). Community outreach and family support are among the objectives of DIM. The organization is dedicated to providing material assistance to the needy, and assisting incoming refugees transitioning from despairing situations into American life. We intend our efforts to ease the pain of incoming refugees by lessening the culture shock through teaching and coaching of the everyday little things of American life. 1
A Christmas Surprise On Sunday, December 18th, 2016, the Dominion Intercessors Ministry in Collaboration with the Miamisburg Seventh Day Adventist, provided Christmas gifts for seven families with a total of 40 kids with age ranging from 4 months old to 18 years. The families were pre-selected based on need. After the selection, Happy, a member of the ministry contacted the selected families in order to get ideas of what they needed and wanted for Christmas. Pastor Lori Farr (holding the baby), DIM Board Member and Miamisburg SDA church pastor pictured with refugee family I came to realize that most of the families that I got in touch with were in need of appropriate winter clothes, said Happy. The list of the families and what they needed were given to Miamisburg SDA Church. Members of the church lovingly prepared the gifts, wrapping the presents with the corresponding name of each kid. 2 Four teams of both DIM members and members from Miamisburg SDA church delivered the gifts to the families and kids. At the arrival of the gifts only joy and happiness could be seen on both the parents and kids faces. As most of the families had requested, they received gifts of appropriate winter clothes : jackets, shoes, gloves and socks. Miamisburg SDA church also generously provided toys for all the kids. The families expressed their gratitude and were amazed by the gifts that they had just received. HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: Cultural Orientation -Life skills training (use of appliances) -Opening bank accounts/budgeting -Use of appropriate clothing attire Social Activities -Baby Showers/Birthday Celebrations -Referrals for diapers and other necessities Reintegration Programs -Translation Services -Pro-bono Attorney Referrals -Driving Lessons
Dominion Intercessors Ministry, Inc. Assisting in refugee acclimation to American lifestyle Dominion Intercessors Ministry (DIM) is an Ohioan, 501c non-profit organization that helps refugees and the needy. Specifically, we help refugees transition from hopelessness into fruitful, responsible, independent American citizens through the development of crucial linkages between immigrant community, low-income families and main-stream social service providers in Dayton, Ohio. GRAND OPENING FREE EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Sunday, May 7 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Lutheran Church of our Savior 155 E. Thruston Blvd. Dayton, OH 45419 Featuring: Dayton Burundi Drummers! Rwandan Cultural Dancing! Food for Purchase! Highlights of our Programs and Services Cultural Orientation Social Activities Reintegration Programs Outreach Programs 3 Office: 937-732-4060 / Dieudonne: 207-409-3932 / Esther 937-901-3024 www.diministry.org / info@diministry.org / 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Organization 3
Difficult Transitions Vestine is a refugee of Civil War in Central Africa who had the opportunity to move to the United States with her family in October of 2016. A single parent to seven kids, her children range in age from 13 months to 20 years. Most of her children are enrolled in school and her oldest child recently found a job. Vestine recalls her first days in this new country as foreign and uncomfortable. She had no family or friends that they knew in the United States and no understanding of the new lifestyle they were submerged in. When they first arrived Vestine and her family were given a place to stay, a grocery food card, and then left on their own. While they were able to go to the grocery store, they were unfamiliar with the food in the store and unaware of what they could buy. Vestine and her family starved for a long time because they could not find the food they are familiar with at Kroger and never dreamed that there could be an African grocery store nearby. It was believed by Vestine and her children that no one would look, eat, or talk like them in the US. For their first three months, she and her children would go and sit outside to wave at any black person they would see passing by to see if that individual would pay attention to them. They were very afraid of other people because before they came to US, they had heard that white people ate humans. During their first few months they even wanted to return to the refugee camp where they came from but did not know who to tell to take them back. One day, they waved at a man, who came close to them, and he started speaking their language. In addition, he brought them to an African grocery store to buy the food they were familiar with. This store is privately own by Esther Somayire the visionary of DIM, hence it is a central place for DIM outreach program. Not only does Vestine go to this African grocery store for food but also to mingle with other people who look like her and speak her language. Life is described as difficult for Vestine and her family. While her twenty years old son works hard to bring income to the family of seven, they still have necessities to be fulfilled. Preparing meals for a family of 8 with only a few used pots and plates is not the most ideal situation but they make do with what they have. Acclimating to the weather also proved to be challenging for the family. Being familiar to more tropical climates, adjusting to appropriate attires for Ohio winters was a process. The family was able to acquire coats and jackets for the season but lacked other items such as hats and gloves. To add to their list of needs, the youngest member of the family at 13 months still wears diapers. Vestine told a story of how one of her caseworks used their own personal money to purchase diapers for her child when she first arrived. At the time of the interview for this story only 2 diapers were left for use. While the American life seemed glamorous before arriving, Vestine s experiences have proved otherwise. 4 Continued on page 5.
Continued from page 4 There are many other individuals and families in this area who have experienced or are experiencing similar accounts to Vestine and her family. Dominion Intercessors Ministry (DIM) has objectives in providing community outreach by assisting incoming refugees transition into American life. Recently the ministry was able to visit Vestine and her family to donate $100. Vestine was very thankful for the donation and expressed her gratitude and thanks to the ministry and to God for providing for her in a time of need. Much can be done for families like Vestine s and it all starts with awareness. Vestine s story of challenge is not a new phenomenon but it requires your attention for significant impact. BABY SHOWERS One of DIM s most common outreach social activity are Baby Showers. The organization host baby showers frequently for pregnant refugee woman in the community in need of basic supplies for their new baby. DIM has established its presence in the community so that when there is a baby shower being hosted several families in the area are willing to participate and bring gifts for the new baby and mother. It is common for these baby showers to provide the mother and baby with up to 6 months to a year s worth of diapers. This is a heavy burden that is lifted off of these mother s shoulders. The mothers usually do not have work due to being recent refugees in the country and soon to be expecting. Something as simple as diapers can make a significant difference. Continued on page 6. The American Way of Life: Insurance Car insurance companies can be very difficult to work with at times, even for natives. Deo is a refugee who came to the United States in 2015. He has experienced many of the hardships several of new refugees are facing but has begun to settle into the American life. While DIM was checking in with a new refugee family, Deo had also stopped by to visit the family at that time. When the goals of the ministry were explained to Deo and he was asked how the ministry could be of assistance to him, he told us his experiences with his car insurance. Deo stated that he recently changed car insurance companies for a cheaper alternative. He was in a car accident in which he was not at fault but because he could not explain himself well he was faulted and this resulted in an increase in his insurance bill. This new insurance company charged him $330 per month and for the following month charged him $530 for a full coverage plan. Unable to understand the bill he tried to go to the insurance company s office to explain himself and better understand the charges. He was still charged the money for which he paid for with cash. Deo works a minimum wage job and has a full family to support along with bills and payments. For him to maintain a $330 per month bill on car insurance is impractical. DIM took on Deo s case and assisted him with his situation by figuring out why the payment was so expensive. Alternative suggestions were also given to Deo for better financial spending and planning. DIM would like to continue to assist individuals and families in situations like this. Without full time case workers, however, the organization is dependent on the commitment of volunteers and from community supporters. 5
Continued from page 5. BABY SHOWERS Baby showers are not only beneficial for the gifts but also for the social benefit. These events bring communities together where new refugees are exposed to others who look like them and speak like them. It is relaxing for the mind to be able to meet others in an uplifting environment where people are coming together to help others. DIM Members pictured with recipient of baby shower gifts hosted in February 2017 An Unfortunate and Unacceptable Situation Jeremie, a refugee, is a middle aged man and responsible father of 7 children. A few months ago Jeremie was driving to work when he was pulled over. He had other passengers in the car that he was carpooling with. As a recent refugee Jeremie does not speak English fluently. When the police pulled him over he was asked for his driver s license and Jeremie was able to understand and provide it to the officer. After giving the license to the police officer, Jeremie was asked to exit the vehicle. He was then immediately arrested, his car seized, and the passengers of the vehicle were sent away. Jeremie was confused and none of the people who were with him understood the reason why he was being arrested. Jeremie was taken to jail. His towed car accumulated charges and his family had no idea of his whereabouts. While in jail, Jeremie ate nothing. Each time they would provide food to him, he would say no English. He wanted to know why he was there and what crime he had committed. Jeremie s family was finally notified of his location and his 16 year old child went to translate for him in jail. Jeremie was told that he was there because the police were not able to find his driver s license in the system, even though he had it on him and had presented it to the police. After he went to Court, Jeremie was notified that the entire situation was a mistake, his license was actually valid, and he now had permission to go home. Situations like Jeremie s case validate the need for an organization like Dominion Intercessors Ministry in the community. DIM hopes to be able to connect those in need with pro-bono attorneys. While the organization is still in its infancy, the focus is on building connections with those who are able and willing to help individuals like Jeremie. 6
Dear Friends, The Visionary s Corner My story is not any different to a large number of refugees that I meet on a daily basis. That is the reason why I am dedicated to do what I do through DIM because I have been in the immigrant shoes. Because I made a promise to God to serve him if he were to take me out of the circumstance I was in after I escaped the holocaust of Rwanda in 1994. After witnessing the murdering of my own parents in Rwanda in 1994, I fled my homeland and became a refugee in Tanzania. Life was not easy; no running water, no food, no shelter and no hope of tomorrow. I was a newlywed and pregnant with my first child. Barely surviving on a once-day United Nations corn meal, I did not know where to go, or when to expect the next meal. Devastated with the conditions of the refugee camp with rampage diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and more; we decided to move to Nairobi, Kenya, to flee the unimaginable, especially after witnessing the death of my older brother in those circumstances. The real challenge was: where food and rent would come from in such a big city like Nairobi? But, with the help of the little money that my two sisters who were in college in the US were sending us from their part time jobs between classes, we managed to survive for two years. It is during this time of great distress that I had a conversation with God. I told him that if he were to take me out that place and put me in a place where I can work and live again on my own, I would serve him for the rest of my life. I also promised God that I will not forget the ones I would leave behind. That is the reason why I do what I do today, because God did his part, and I have to do my part too. I have not taken a salary from my position in the ministry for the 17 years I have been doing this and I love what I do! Each morning, I pray for my family when I wake up; and I also pray as soon as I arrive at my little shop where I sell African food. My prayer has always been the same for the most part. I ask the Lord to bring people at my store that I can be a blessing to. At each time, the Lord brings me those individuals. I encounter new cases each single day. I pray for and counsel an average of 10 to 15 people a day. The needs are enormous and diversified. Some refugees don t know how to read and write, can t open their bank accounts on their own, don t know how to check their balances and know how much money they have left, don t know how to pay bills, can t call for themselves when there is a problem, need to be taught how to drive, register children in school; the list can go on and on. It is my prayer and hope that DIM becomes financially supported this 2017 so that I can have the chance to carry on these tasks full time. If my husband and I were able to transition very well into full functioning, responsible, American citizen while we started from scratch with no word spoken in English, they too can. I believe that together, all of us can contribute something. Please join us in empowering refugees. We cannot shut the door to those of us who are most vulnerable. God Bless you! Esther Somayire 7
Dominion Intercessors Ministry, Inc. 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization 1405 Wilmington Ave Dayton, Ohio 45420 Dominion Intercessors Ministry Invites you to their GRAND OPENING Fundraising Festival Sunday, May 7 3:00 pm Lutheran Church of our Savior 155 E. Thruston Blvd. Dayton, OH 45419 Featuring: Dayton Burundi Drummers FOOD AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FREE EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SUPPORT DOMINION INTERCESSORS MINISTRY I would like to support DIM s mission, please find enclosed my donation in the amount of: $10 $25 $50 $75 $100 $200 Other: $ Name: Address: Phone Number: All donations are fully tax-deductible. Please make checks payable to Dominion Intercessors Ministry, Inc. 1405 Wilmington Ave, Dayton, OH 45420, USA, Tel: 937-732-4060 Email: diministry10@gmail.com