Sunday, November 23, 2008

I thought the picnic went well today with most of our team members in attendance. Several of us were present to teach them how to open their first can of COKE. Emery and I are also positive that it was their first time to pull back the tab! What a joy to share in their firsts. I hope they did not find our circle prayer offensive... Thanks to all for participating.

It is amazing to talk to Tika. He is like a sponge so ready to learn. Now about the calendar - they are ready and anxious to acquire so much knowledge and skills! We all want to spend time with them and offer them new opportunities in December. According to Ghanga they will probably start school and begin work in January. December is a great month to share our culture and our family Christmas traditions with them.

Mike is going to provide a common place for all of us to go view their schedule. He also will post activities that are sent by email on the "calendar". We are hoping that all of you will use his site prior to planning events with them. It would also be helpful if you check the calendar prior to doing your activity so you can inform them what is happening the next day. We'll need to evaluate if this is an effective approach at our next meeting.

This week we have the following activities already scheduled:
Monday- Elvern and Helen will go there at 10:00 and go to the post office, complete new address form, buy stamps, mail letters in blue box in their neighborhood, obtain mail key at the apartment, etc. The Rabayda's will drive to Cortez and Cactus Wren schools in the late afternoon on either Monday or Tuesday. Amy will need to confirm.
Tuesday- 1:30 PM Elvern and Carla will focus on laundry practices. We are considering asking him if he is interested in going with Elvern to our laundromat at 27th Ave and Camelback in the late afternoon. All work is honorable even mopping the floors, cleaning the machines and perhaps meeting the security guard for that area. He might enjoy meeting the culturally diverse customers at that store.
Wednesday????
Thursday Thanksgiving dinner in the afternoon with Carol and Tom
Friday ???
Saturday- Emery and Frankie will serve them chicken at their home in the afternoon.

What did I miss? Each of us have the opportunity to identify an activity and forward to the group.
There is so much to learn.

Carla what time is laundry on Tuesday?
Amy do you want to lock in a day and time for driving/walking to the schools?

Thanks
Helen and Elvern
Posted by at

1 comment:

Mike Darus said...

Team:
As we approach the end of our first week mentoring our refugee family perhaps we should reflect on what has been accomplished and those tasks yet to be accomplished.
Team, job well done. Thank you for all your hard work, long hours, focus, giving hearts and team work. Let our testimony be to praise and give glory to our great God.
If you have not read the literature given to us by Lutheran Social Services on the Refugee Resettlement Program or if it has been some time since you have read it I would encourage you to sit down for a few quiet moments and reflect on this material. They have been in this business since 1975 and have provided us with a comprehensive manual to assist us in all phases of our co-sponsorship.
For those members who recently joined the team let me take this opportunity to thank you for volunteering. You came at a time when we really needed you and you answered the call to service. Helen and Elvern will continue to coordinate the short term mentoring volunteers. As this tapers off Frankie and Emery will coordinate the long term mentoring volunteers. By request of Lutheran Social Services one team member is to call them with questions or concerns as they simply do not have enough staff to answer phone calls from multiple people every day. Remember, we are not the only co-sponsor church they work with. If our family has needs or issues/concerns please communicate those to me and if necessary I will place the call to Donna Buckles or Ganga.
Re-reading the material on the Refugee Resettlement Program I was struck by the number of times self-sufficiency was written in the manual. Our goal should be "to help foster self-sufficiency". As the manual states "Dependency is learned quickly when a family is handed everything within the first few months." "Put yourself in their shoes."
This is the first time I have volunteered to be part of a church service project. Please forgive my lack of experience and expertise. I'm sure I have caused consternation and frustration for many of you. Trying to cultivate humility and being rooted and grounded in love in a life long journey.
Finally, I agree with Carol that our family should be in our daily prayers. I would add to that our team. Please pray for us that we do God's will, abiding in His love to His Glory.
Kathy

11:44 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)