Our Partnership with World Relief

You will probably be hearing more and more for me as we prepare to host refugee families this summer and fall. I encourage you to pray about how you can get involved with this vital ministry. This past week (on Saturday) Quest participated in the Refugee Project in the International District and then on Monday we had a representative come and teach on the ways in which we can volunteer to bring support to refugees who are moving in the area.

The Refugee Project was a powerful, transformative experience. I hadn't participated in it before and felt very challenged in the process. It is a simulation experience which requires participants to really look at the refugee journey from the viewpoint of the refugee. It is painful and discouraging at times to realize the difficult and sometimes impossible process it is for refugees to relocate to another country and to realize that most will never have the opportunity to experience resettlement. Here are a couple facts and statistics we learned:

• THERE ARE 14 MILLION REFUGEES WORLDWIDE. OF THOSE 14 MILLION LESS THAN 1% WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE.
• THE AVERAGE STAY FOR A REFUGEE IN A REFUGEE CAMP IS 17 YEARS!
• IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED A REFUGEE YOU MUST CROSS A BORDER INTO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND THE REASON FOR YOUR CROSSING MUST BE THAT YOU ARE BEING THREATENED OR PERSECUTED DUE TO YOUR GENDER, RACE/ETHNICITY, RELIGION or POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
• THE REFUGEE RELOCATION PROCESS IS A RIGOROUS ONE THAT INCLUDES A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS. REFUGEES ARE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH A SERIES OF STATIONS FOR FOOD RATIONS, MEDICAL CARE AND THE US STATE DEPT. BECAUSE THERE ARE LESS THAN 1% ALLOWED TO RELOCATE ANY SLIGHT MISTAKE IN THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS CAN DISQUALIFY YOU FROM BEING ELIGIBLE FOR RELOCATION.
• REFUGEE CAMPS ARE GENERALLY NOT SAFE AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE DISCOURAGED TO GO OUT AFTER DARK FOR FEAR OF RAPE OR BODILY HARM.
• LAWS ARE CHANGING WHICH CAN DIVIDE FAMILIES-- MAKING IT NOT POSSIBLE FOR FAMILIES TO RELOCATE TOGETHER.

I don't know about you, but I find these facts to be staggering. If anything, growing our awareness should deepen our compassion and our need to provide advocacy with injust situations. Maybe that feels a little daunting, afterall where do we start? What power do we have to bring about change, but I think the answer is very simple: we must act in some way-- even if it feels like its the smallest act. We must act and we must speak out against these injustices.

Perhaps we can't travel to all the needs of the world but what we can do is we can act in our very own neighborhoods. This summer there will be families coming from Nepal and Burma (Myannmar) who we can build relationships with around some practical acts of service. Here is what the needs are:

• HOST FAMILIES/HOMES- HOSTS OPEN UP THEIR HOMES FOR A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS FOR A REFUGEE FAMILY. THEY GET THEM ACQUAINTED WITH THE AMERICAN LIFESTYLE AND HELP WITH THE TRANSITION TO THEIR OWN HOME.
• CULTURAL COMPANIONS- IN ADDITION TO THE HOST HOMES WE SCHEDULE VOLUNTEERS TO HANG OUT WITH FAMILIES. THESE VOLUNTEERS TAKE THE FAMILY TO THE BANK, THE GROCERY STORE, GOODWILL AND ON TRIPS AROUND THE CITY. THESE VOLUNTEERS ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE HOST FAMILIES.
• VOLUNTEERS TO COOK AND PREPARE MEALS FOR THE REFUGEE AND HOST FAMILIES.
• WE ARE ALSO COLLECTING HOUSEHOLD AND CLOTHING DONATIONS FOR REFUGEE FAMILIES WHEN THEY RELOCATE INTO THEIR OWN HOMES.

We are currently recruiting for volunteers now to prepare for the families who will be arriving this summer and fall. Please contact me if you are interested in getting involved in some capacity.

Blessings,

Pastor DeAnza