World Relief Minnesota Newsletters
6/15/10 WRM e-NewsletterSeasons. Many of us are enjoying the first weeks of summer. I’ve discovered that resettlement agencies also experience seasons – we’re just coming off a season of being monitored by both state and federal agencies. The official reports aren’t published yet, but our office received good feedback both on the services we provide and on our case management.
We’re now moving into a season of increasing numbers of arriving refugees: 6 in March, 27 in April, 34 in May, and 52 already scheduled for the first half of June! You can imagine how World Relief staff are ramping up to make this happen. We also need local churches and individuals to be part of this effort. You can read more about ways to be involved below.
Volunteer on!
_________________________________________________________
|
 Refugee Arrivals
May
34 individuals in 15 families:
Year-to-Date
96 in 42 families
|
|
Refugees are coming…
World Relief Minnesota is in the process of resettling more than 100 refugees with no family or friends in Minnesota. We need your help!
Churches can help by being paired with a single refugee family and befriending them through a program we call Refugee Life Ministries. If you’d like to learn more about Refugee Life Ministries, you can attend an informational meeting on June 7 at 7 p.m. at Bethany Church (6900 Auto Club Road, Bloomington MN 55438) or e-mail rlm@wr.org
There are other ways to support refugee resettlement through volunteering for specific tasks to donating household items needed by newly arriving refugees. For more information, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Katie Day, at MNvolunteers@wr.org
__________________________________________________________
|
 June Needs
|
|
I Love Tutoring!
submitted by Clarissa Willeke and written by Susie Prin
I thought you might all enjoy this account by Susie Prin about going to a recent naturalization ceremony with a student. Susie is a vetern volunteer tutor for the 10-week citizenship classes held at the World Relief office…
“I went to Marcelina’s ceremony yesterday at the courthouse in downtown Minneapolis. It was the first one I’ve been to. Her brother-in-law, William, was there and from behind me I heard that familiar rasp of Silvano’s voice, like an old grandpa of mine. There were 51 new citizens from 25 countries. It was a humbling experience. They invited me back to their house to celebrate. I came to their home expecting to stay for a couple hours, knowing that I had to be back at Hope Presbyterian for an appointment at 5:30. Silly me, what was I thinking?!
Conversation, cold water, soda, Marcelina in the kitchen preparing what turned out to be a fabulous Sudanese dinner, a stroll through her photo album, a dance video from their Thanksgiving celebration, a photo of Marcelina with her aunt and her mom in Sudan…and I had to beg off the rest of the album with an explanation that I had a promise to keep.
What a wonderful experience and what a privilege. I’ll have to share the photos when I see you next. I LOVE tutoring!”
__________________________________________________________
|
4/1/10 e-Newsletter
|
I’ve been working at World Relief seven months now. It’s a privelege to work among highly committed staff that do everything they can to resettle newly arrived refugees from Burma, Bhutan, Iraq, and numerous other nations.
A staff member at World Relief has afixed the following quote to the signature of her e-mail:
“Each person, and each culture, has a unique secret. Each is capable of knowing something of God which no one else knows. In the meeting of strangers we have the opportunity to share that treasure with each other.” –Bernard T. Adeney
There is so much truth to this saying. I’ve learned much about man and God from the Africans I’ve lived among. I challenge you to step out and spend time with refugees and learn something of the treasure they carry!
__________________________________________________________
|
Refugee Arrivals
March
2 Karenni families, each with 3 members
Year-to-Date
39 in 12 families
|
|
Church small groups needed to befriend newly arrived refugee families (Refugee Life Ministries)
We’re looking for small groups to befriend and mentor a refugee family during their first year in the U.S. There are a number of churches in the Roseville area that have been doing this for over five years. They’ve developed a program that trains small groups for this ministry and establishes a mechanism for on-going support. No one person is asked to address all the needs of a refugee family; instead the members of a small group divide a set of roles/tasks among it’s members.
Families from these participating churches talk about the joy they experience in spending time with refugees and learning about their culture. In many cases, these relationships continue long after the initial year. Caring for the stranger in our midst can be a blessing to both the refugee and the Christian living in Minnesota. God can teach us much through others as we witness how they persevere through hardship and support one another in close-knit communities.
If you’d like to learn more about Refugee Life Ministries, you can attend an informational meeting on April 6 at 7 p.m. at Roseville Covenant Church (2865 N. Hamline Ave., Roseville, MN 55113) or e-mail rlm@wr.org
|
1/4/10 WRM e-Newsletter
By Clarissa Willeke, WRM Immigration Counselor & Citizenship Coordinator
On December 10th, we wrapped up our second year of the Citizenship Class at World Relief. During that time there have been eight 10-week classes that have served 105 students from 25 countries. Thirty-six of the students have taken and passed the citizenship exam and now are naturalized U.S. citizens!Over the past two years, we’ve found that the majority of the students have come from places where there is no opportunity to hear the good news of the Gospel. Even though our students have lived in the U.S. for four or more years, most have never been invited into an American home, had an American friend or known someone who is a follower of Christ. As we start into our third year of classes in January, would you be in prayer for this ministry?
Thanks to our volunteers who teach and tutor these students! If you’re interested in this volunteer opportunity or other opportunities visit the volunteer portion of our website for more information.
