“Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord.” — Matthew 25:23
Today, we joyfully recognize Dr. Weems for his eight remarkable years of service with Asha’s Refuge as our Civil Surgeon in the Immigration Department. Since 2017, he has faithfully given his time, energy, and expertise each week to assist refugees and immigrants completing their medical exams—a crucial step toward obtaining permanent residency in the United States.
Through his compassionate care, hundreds of newcomers have found hope and healing as they journey toward a new life of safety and belonging. Even in his later years, Dr. Weems continues to serve with a humble heart and steady hands that reflect the love of Christ.
Dr. Weems, your life of service shines as a beautiful example of dedication and love in action. Thank you for walking alongside Asha’s Refuge and helping transform lives, one family at a time.
We invite you to watch this special video honoring Dr. Weems and his extraordinary eight years of service.
With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved friend and community member, Roza Nikuze, at the beautiful age of 90.
Nibimenya Nadine with Roza Nikuze, letting her know she was the winner of a World Refugee Day Cash Drawing
Roza was born in Burundi, where she once worked as a French teacher, nurturing young minds with patience and grace. After arriving in the United States, she became a cherished member of our elder English class—a class that, over time, became less about grammar and more about connection. While the lessons were simple, the love shared was deep.
Roza was a tiny woman, likely under five feet tall, but she carried a big personality filled with humor, warmth, and wit. Her joyful spirit and quick laughter brought light to every gathering. Though many in the class faced memory challenges and health issues in their older age, the time together brought laughter, dignity, and belonging—and Roza was often at the heart of that joy.
She was deeply loved and nurtured by the refugee community and by our family of volunteers at Asha’s Refuge, who surrounded her with friendship, care, and dignity in her later years.
As is common with many of our refugee friends, official birth records were not available for Roza, who was born in a remote village without access to hospitals or government registration. For this reason, her U.S. documents list her birthday as January 1—often a placeholder used by immigration systems when no birth certificate exists. Despite this technicality, what is certain is that her long life was full of love, resilience, and community.
We are grateful for the time we had with Roza and the beautiful legacy she leaves in our hearts.
Our Beloved Roza’s Memorial Details
Funeral Services Saturday, March 29, 2025 Visitation and Memorial: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 258 N Merton St, Memphis, TN 38112
All are welcome to join us in honoring the life of this remarkable woman.
À la douce mémoire de Roza Nikuze
1 janvier 1935 – 18 mars 2025
C’est avec une grande tristesse que nous annonçons le décès de notre chère amie et membre de la communauté, Roza Nikuze, à l’âge honorable de 90 ans.
Roza est née au Burundi, où elle a travaillé comme enseignante de français, éduquant des enfants avec douceur et sagesse. Après son arrivée aux États-Unis, elle est devenue une figure précieuse au sein de notre petit groupe d’apprentissage de l’anglais pour personnes âgées — un groupe qui, au fil du temps, s’est transformé en un cercle d’amitié et de soutien.
Petite de taille — probablement moins de 1,50 mètre — mais grande de cœur, Roza avait un sens de l’humour vif et un esprit joyeux. Elle faisait rire tout le monde avec ses remarques pleines de malice, et sa présence rayonnante réchauffait nos cœurs.
Elle a été profondément aimée et entourée par la communauté des réfugiés, ainsi que par notre équipe de bénévoles d’Asha’s Refuge, qui l’ont accompagnée avec amitié, respect et affection jusqu’à la fin.
Comme c’est souvent le cas pour de nombreux réfugiés, Roza n’avait pas d’acte de naissance officiel, étant née dans un village isolé sans accès aux hôpitaux ni aux registres d’état civil. C’est pourquoi ses documents américains indiquent une date de naissance au 1er janvier — une date fréquemment attribuée par les services d’immigration dans de telles circonstances. Mais au-delà de cette formalité, ce que nous savons avec certitude, c’est que sa vie fut remplie d’amour, de résilience et de lien communautaire.
Nous remercions Dieu pour la vie de Roza et pour les précieux souvenirs qu’elle nous laisse.
Cérémonies funéraires Samedi 29 mars 2025 Veillée et service commémoratif : 10h00 – 12h00 258 N Merton St, Memphis, TN 38112
Inhumation au cimetière : 12h30 – 13h30 Cimetière Elmwood 824 S. Dudley St, Memphis, TN 38104
Tout le monde est le bienvenu pour venir honorer la mémoire de cette femme exceptionnelle.
A video memory of Roza:
Look for Roza, towards the end of the video learning to write with Ms. Analu.
A Venezuelan family celebrates their new beginnings in Memphis, sitting together on their new sofa in their apartment.
People wonder, and rightfully so, “Where do my donations go?” Well, this week, we are delighted to give you a glimpse into where your donations went this past week. Remember, this is the year of the “Holy Door” The Pope opens the door at the beginning of the year– symbolic of crossing the threshold into the presence of God. “The Door is Open!”
A family of three from Venezuela arrived safely in Memphis just before the new administration stopped the resettlement funds promised to help them get on their feet. They had not secured a place to live and needed initial groceries, cultural orientation, transportation help, and a job they were eager to begin. We are so thankful for a previous newcomer family that took them in for a moment until we could secure and set up their house.
We passed them the keys 🔑 to their new apartment 🏠 last weekend!! Your financial 💵 contributions helped us to cover their deposit for Apartment, the rest of March’s rent, and all of April’s rent. It also helped us get new mattresses, bed frames, a nice used sofa, and housing items not already donated by you, our Memphis community! The family says: GRACIAS!! (THANK YOU!)
The father was able to quickly secure a job and is so happy to be able to work to help his family. The family has been enrolled in culture and orientation classes and hopes to pick up some English classes around his job schedule. We spoke to the family today to check on them, and they said they were overwhelmed with their new apartment and said, “It was more than what they had imagined and had hoped for! 🙏💪💖”
Work in Progress: There’s a few additional furniture items that have been donated that will go to the family. We will work to help them with their initial utility fees, and are working with them for the rest of their services for post resettlement success. The family wishes to thank you all for pulling together to bring them a home and most of all, hope💖. Asha’s Refuge will continue working with the family to transport 🚙 the family back and forth to medical appointments and classes 📚.
I want to take a moment to fill you in on what we at Asha’s Refuge are dealing with after each new Federal funding mandate is announced. As you know, we provide service to lawfully present vulnerable people who fled to refugee camp areas worldwide and were approved to come to the United States to start their lives over. We also provide services to individuals approved in our American court system as an asylee or humanitarian parole. A “lawfully present” migrant is a non-citizen allowed to live in the United States.
Since the first hint of the shutdown was announced publicly on Friday, January 24th, 2025, our office has been inundated with frantic calls from confused and scared clients who do not know how to deal with the barrage of the news coming at them. We cannot deal with this level of calls, and we need your help to avoid confusion. We desperately need to increase our legal, trauma-related, and procedural outreach at this crucial time. You can join us to help. A vast amount of information is available, and our concern is that individuals may choose the “easy way out,” which could become a permanent option.
JOIN US TO RESTORE HOPE, CONFIDENCE, AND DIGITY TO OUR COMMUNITY OF DISPLACED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN DANGER OF FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND, THUS, MISSING OUT ON VITAL SERVICES THAT THEY ARE RIGHTFULLY ENTITLED TO AS LEGAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I. Asha’s Refuge cannot provide essential services to these individuals without sufficient funding.
–>$50 helps provide an individual with tutoring, transportation, interpretation, and advocacy to the doctor, a job interview, or the store – –>$100 helps provide individuals with school or class fees, ESL, Cultural Orientation, Financial Literacy, or Basic Computer Skills – –>$500 helps provide employment services and assistance for an individual while waiting to secure a job and initial paychecks – –>$1,500 provides emergency rent and utility assistance for a month – –>$2,000 helps provide for programs and services such as computer classes or immigration services needs for clients for a month – –>$3,500 covers our organization’s building space, wifi/internet, phones, and office supplies (paper) for one month so that we can hold educational classes and serve clients efficiently in the office
Change a life by becoming a monthly donor. Your donation will allow us to budget for programs and services vital to clients in need. You can set up your recurring donation through the link below.
Consider making a one-time or quarterly contribution to impact a life today.
Does the company you work with have a “match grant” or “grant” program? Have you ever considered making a matching gift contribution to inspire others to give? Let us know at jamie@ashasrefuge.org. You could help double our impact by donating a matching gift of up to a certain amount.
(Click Here to Let Us Know You are Interested in Volunteering.)
II. Voluntarily serve with us. Here are some ways you could serve:
Professionals
Help us train our newcomers; let us know what profession you are in or what talents and skills you may have that will help our newcomer clients (attorneys, doctors, nurses, counselors, social workers, teachers, employment specialists, artists, auto maintenance/repair mechanics, office, accounting, data collection and reporting, etc.).
Areas where we need help
Education
Interpretation/Translation
Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Arabic, French, Dari/Farsi, Pashto, and other languages
Lead Teacher and Assistant Teachers Needed
English, ESL (need TESOL degreed individuals if lead teaching)
Reading, handwriting, conversational English mainly focused on adult current life needs
One-to-one tutoring, English conversation, handwriting, reading, and Math skills
Basic Computer Skills
Using a computer mouse, navigating keyboard basics
Getting familiar with the Internet for Education, Job, and Resource Searching
Learning how to set up and use an email
Attaching documents and replying to emails
Taking readable and clear document photos with phone and then sending them via email
Responding to emails professionally
Financial Literacy and Math Skills
basic and high school-level math
learning to count U.S. money
understanding banking, banking fees
budgeting and accounting for personal finances
understanding credit, consistent monthly payments, dealing with creditors
understanding the basics of interest
saving funds and budgeting for a large purchase such as a car
basics of how taxes work from employment checks
understanding common payroll deductions, insurance, Social Security, Federal and State Taxes, 401K
Employment Coaching: Help with resumes, locating jobs, dressing for success; connecting to employers, arranging transportation
Young Adult and High School
mentor young adults through college enrollment
teaching/tutoring high school subject tutoring
Drivers Education
Driver handbook Classes to prepare for written driver’s test
Getting to know the Car
Drivers Safety, child safety, car seats, seat-belts
Basic Car Maintenance
Understanding Auto Insurance, Purchasing Auto Insurance
Understanding Licensure, Tags, and Registration Processes and Laws
Cultural Orientation and Basic Life Skills
Common U.S. Laws and Rules (age for drinking and smoking laws/rules; ages for driving, ages for relationships, domestic violence, neglect of children/childcare laws and rules, etc.)
Getting to know the community (library, grocery and clothing stores, parks and recreations, suburbs of Memphis, general surrounding cities and states, government agencies such as DMV, Post office, etc.)
Weather: Tornados, 4 seasons
School procedures, communication with teachers, tutoring, and laws for all children in school
Employment system basics, being on time to work
Understanding personal U.S. documentation refugee/asylee status rights and pathways to U.S. permanent residency then U.S. Naturalization
Social norms for building relationships, politeness, respect, dealing with conflict
Good apartment living habits
Common social rules and laws about littering and trash pickup, volunteering, community service
Going to the doctor versus the hospital emergency room
Drive clients to and from appointments, classes, or job
Coordinate and help drive clients to clothes closets we partner with or store to help provide clothing needs
Drive clients to the grocery store, take them in the store, help them learn where to find the items they want, manage their money, and how to check out in the grocery line
Drive clients to medical appointments and stay with them to help them through the system, advocate for their needs while mentoring them to speak up for what concerns and questions they may have; communicate with our Asha’s Refuge team regarding follow-up needs for those appointments
Drive clients to the health department for immunization appointments, help them sign-in to complete forms, and then return them home
Trauma
Counseling / Mentoring
licensed therapist/counselors: partner with us to provide free or low-cost individual counseling
Talk Time: Licensed therapist/counselors: partner with us to provide free or low-cost group counseling
mentor women, mothers-to-be or parents
mentor men
mentor young adults
Provide ongoing Trauma Informed Training for Staff, community leaders, and volunteers by professional mental health providers
Interpretation/translation assistance (let us know if you speak other languages that may be helpful to us)
Helping clients complete forms and applications
Other
Events
Coordinate events; connect to volunteers and staff
Set-up/clean-up before and after events
Help Decorate for Events
Help with Event Marketing and Donor Engagement
Refugee/Client Advocacy
Speak to agencies on behalf of clients with medical, housing, benefits, bill, or employment needs
Website Maintenance
Social media experience – SEO, maintenance
Refugee/Client Next Steps
Employment Concerns
Locating Homes / Home Set-up Processes
Internet /Phone Connection / Understanding Wi-Fi/Data
Handy Helpers
Be on our “handyman/lady” team – help with minor house/office repairs or needs
Be on our “Pickup Truck Driver Team” for Pickup Truck Owners/Drivers—Occasionally, we have donated furniture or appliances. You can volunteer to drive your truck. Our team will meet you at the pickup and delivery locations to help lift and do the hard work. You will help us in a mighty way to get items needed to clients. We will call you ahead of time to plan it.
coordinate the collection of donations, collect, organize, and sort donations – usually toiletries, household items, cleaning products, and nonperishable foods
Decorate our office – long time need, low budget, need help
Company Volunteer Programs
Does your company have a volunteer program with local nonprofits?
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO LET US KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO HELP US RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE LIVES OF NEWCOMERS BY VOLUNTEERING WITH US!
Separating Facts From Fiction Did you know there are over 100 different types of United States legal visas and processes where one could be legally in the United States (one immigration attorney services website suggests 185)?Just because a person does not fit the profile of what a person believes a legal immigrant should look like does not justify the person’s rights to be violated. Ethnic profiling is a grave human injustice; it hurts people and is a violation of civil liberties.
-> Asylees (those displaced individuals in the United States who have been through an intensive court hearing with the United States immigration officials and have been approved to be lawfully present in the United States due to well-founded fear for their life if they were to have to return to their home country). Asylees are individuals in the United States who have undergone intensive court hearings with immigration officials and have been granted lawful status due to a well-founded fear for their lives if they were to return to their home country. Many Afghans entered the United States through military flights and were subsequently required to go through a lengthy process that included 1 to 3 years of distressing and re-traumatizing court hearings. This process involved extensive vetting, medical screenings, and professional translation help during the interviews.
-> Paroles, which could mean individuals temporarily in the United States due to wars in their home country, such as the Humanitarian Parolees from Ukraine
-> Refugeeshave been displaced and thoroughly vetted by United States officials and processing centers in their home countries. This rigorous process can take an average of 10 years. Once invited to the United States, refugees are promised financial assistance, which currently amounts to $2,275 per person , to a sponsoring agency or approved private sponsor group. Of this amount, approximately $1,200 is allocated to resettlement agencies to cover administrative costs associated with helping families settle in. Refugee travel is coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the cost of these flights is charged to each refugee. They are expected to start repaying this travel loan six months after arriving in the United States. As a result, refugee families arrive with debt, but an opportunity to build credit.
Understanding the Usage of Already Minimal R&P Funds The resettlement agency must use the remaining Reception and Placement (R&P) funds to secure an initial home for an individual or family. Examples are transportation, housing deposits, the first month’s rent, utilities, trash pickup, and ensuring the client has a phone for critical communications regarding essential services. Additionally, these funds are used to stock the pantry and fridge with food and provide clothing, shoes, school supplies, bedding, furniture, and other initial household necessities for newly arriving families. The current amount of funding is insufficient to cover the initial resettlement needs of families. It does not allow resettlement agencies to assist clients during their first 90 days fully. The resettlement agency continually applies for various grants and cash assistance programs, such as Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and the Match Grant program. However, not all refugees qualify for these programs, especially during their initial working days when they have not yet earned enough income to start their lives. For example, they may struggle to purchase a used vehicle for transportation to work, the store, or medical appointments.
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Recap of What’s Going on Now and Our Need Recently, the Reception and Placement (R&P) initial funding has been cut off to resettlement agencies, which can cause more newcomers to rely on community agencies for their initial resettlement assistance, such as Asha’s Refuge, Refugee Empowerment, Latino Memphis, the Memphis Islamic Center, and others. The available funding and duration of services were already too low and too short for effectively resettling this group of displaced individuals. As resettlement agencies are forced to close their programs due to the abrupt halt in funding, families are being turned away, and many are coming to our Asha’s Refuge door for assistance by word of mouth. Asha’s Refuge desperately needs funding to serve these individuals. Please take action today by clicking the link below to join our mission of welcoming displaced individuals and providing them with vital services.
More Resources on How the U.S. Immigration and Migrant System Works Listen to the following videos to better understand lawfully present “qualifying non-citizen” migrants in the United States who are often confused by government agency clerks/staff/supervisors such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Office, Department of Health / Food Stamp Office, Health Insurance, Employers, HR Departments, Police Officers, general court staff, etc., and other American people:
Our quarterly newsletter just came out. I am thankful for everyone who helped to pull the articles together and for everyone involved in providing programs and services to our community. Thank you to Shea Reyer, who led us through the newsletter’s production and helped us remember how important it is to recognize and share our accomplishments and ongoings along the way. We get so busy in the day-to-day services of clients that we often do not take the time to sit and reflect on all the wonderful things happening. While we are familiar with changes within the work of post-resettlement, we are also experiencing many changes as the U.S. administration changes. Please pray for our team and those displaced people and now a part of our community.
We would like to thank Andre Fowlkes, and the entire Startco team for leading us through the Ford Urbanite Mobility of Memphis grant process. We intend to use the proceeds of the grant to rekindle hope, dignity, and confidence in our community of displaced individuals who are in danger of falling through the cracks and, thus, missing out on vital services which they are rightfully entitled to as legal members of our community. Over the past fifteen years, we have found that our clients feel they have no voice and, thus, are unable to avail themselves of these services because 1) they do not “Know Their Rights” and 2) do not know how to advocate for themselves. Your generous grant will help us give voices to the voiceless who have silently struggled to navigate complicated systems that were un-intendedly designed in a way that silenced them, stifled their confidence, took advantage of their vulnerabilities, and kept them frustrated and stuck.
Classroom In a Car — Handle With Care
Ford Motor Company has a long history of focusing on the safety of its passengers, “precious cargo” was how they were designated in ad-speak. This initiative has evolved from internal safety matters like seatbelts, car seats, etc., to external concerns like rear camera back-up cameras for those who “don’t always look out for themselves.” Our “Classroom in a Car” initiative is actually an extension of that motif because dealing with our clients on a daily basis we discovered that we were dealing with people “who didn’t always know how to look out for themselves.” Many did not know the language, where they were going, if they would be welcomed there, and a variety of other basics that we as residents take for granted. “Classroom in a Car” is exactly what it sounds like. We introduced the idea because of 1) our client’s lack of familiarity with U.S. customs, culture, language and all the services lack of knowledge in those areas negate for them, and 2) the average car journey was 30 minutes, we already had a captive audience, so we thought, let’s us enhance the driving experienced by using the time to help our passengers on their integration trip, while on their car ride, into feeling comfortable and thriving in the U.S.
We currently have two drivers who provide this service. The drivers, who we put through a rigorous training process, were selected for their empathy and ability to communicate, teach, and allay the fears of their passengers. In reality and real time our drivers are not only transporting our clients, they are providing interpretation, education, advocacy, and a friendly face. We are already seeing people begin to thrive in their new jobs, homes, schools, and even giving back to the Memphis community. Unfortunately, we have only two drivers servicing over 700 clients. Our goal is to not only add 4-6 more drivers, but also to expand the number of revives we currently offer in the car.
Again, thank you so much for helping us “handle with care” the precious cargo of lawfully present newcomers who are working hard to start their lives anew after having fled for their lives.
Their “journey has just begun” on the road into integrating into our community and country. We see our drivers not only as drivers, but also as leaders, teachers, and shining examples of the power and potential “Knowing you Rights.”
Before December 7th Asha’s Refuge and Bethany Christian Services will receive nine refugee families and that number is expected to grow before the end of the year. Our Memphis area numbers as a whole from both resettlement agencies (World Relief and Bethany) from now until Sept 2024 will receive more than 500 lawfully present newcomers fleeing for their lives to start their lives over after much hardship and loss. You can be a light of hope by donating on this Black Friday and through the end of year to help us have what we need to set up homes for the families and provide wrap-around welcome services. You can give by clicking this link: at https://ashasrefuge.kindful.com/ You can also donate housing items or serve with us to help set up homes for new arrivals, provide food for their empty pantries and fridges, donate a coat, drive a person to a doctor or another appointment, help teach or tutor English, Basic Computer, Job Skills, Drivers Ed, Life Skills, or Cultural Orientation classes. There is much you can do to be a part of welcoming someone from war. Please don’t wait. Give today. Let us know you want to help by emailing us at serve@ashasrefuge.org.
Did you know that this week starts the beginning of Ramadan, the holiest month that Muslims observe? It begins sundown on Wednesday, March 22nd and ends with Eid al-Fitr on Friday, April 21. Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar. Over 2 billion Muslims will be taking part in this time by fasting, serving others, giving to charity, reflecting, and praying. Muslims will fast from things like food, drink, smoking, and sexual activities between dawn and sunset each day. Fasting is required for Muslims, except for those who are ill, pregnant, breastfeeding, menstruating, elderly and frail, younger children before puberty, or traveling! If someone is in the middle of their fast and passes away, a close family member will need to make up that fasting time on their behalf. Women menstruating must make up their days of fasting afterward. Did you catch that a Muslim doesn’t have to fast when traveling? It seems that many people get confused with the times while traveling and it is better to not fast than to dishonor and fast at the incorrect times. Muslims will try to avoid negative actions such as gossiping, lying, and arguing during this month.
One of our Muslim clients says, “Yes, Ramadan is the holy month that makes us approach God with enjoyment and patience, and with enduring the normal days before sunset. God really has a special advantage; Glory be to God (S.K., 3/2023).”
During this month of fasting and reflecting, Muslims are hopeful to build gratitude for their blessings from God and empathy for others that are less fortunate. Many Muslims will hold fundraisers to collect food and other items such as clothing to help those in need. Prayer is a vital part of the Ramadan fasting month for Muslims as they will spend several hours praying (at least 5x a day) and reciting a special prayer called the Tarawih prayer (an evening prayer). For more interesting information about Ramadan so that you can better understand, visit http://www.30daysprayer.com.
During this Ramadan month of time, Christians are encouraged to join in prayer earnestly seeking the Lord on behalf of followers of Islam. Spiritual lostness is something believers in Jesus should be very aware of during the days of Ramadan. There is a heightened spiritual focus for Muslims during the Ramadan month. Many Muslims believe that dreams are ways that God will speak to them. We want God to reveal to them Himself and Jesus during this month. Jesus has been reported to have appeared to many Muslims in their dreams. Your prayers and fasting during this time as a Christian are encouraged.
Simeon and I met the end of 2018 online in a prayer group. The African refugee community of Next Gen hosted a meeting and they invited me to attend. Little did I know, I was in a group among many refugees who were in a camp praying for things like shelter, food, jobs, medical help, safety, school supplies, internet, and money to support themselves and their family. Simeon was tired and feeling pretty frustrated. He wanted to give up. At the time, I was sitting underneath a cozy blanket in my American suburban home on my living room couch. A nonprofit founder that assisted new arriving refugees in my city, I felt helpless and embarrassed. How could I begin to truly understand Simeon, his family, and his community’s great needs? Who was I and how could I possibly help? I felt very inadequate, but Simeon insisted that I could help.
I learned that it would only cost about 75 US dollars a month to help provide him with a better place to live, food, clothes, and even reassurance that he could be innovative to help his family and his community. The dollar was 9x more than what was equal to one dollar in Rwanda. Simeon lived in a Rwandan refugee camp in a mud home that often leaked water due to the many days of rain in their more tropical climate. As he told me that he really felt like giving up, I knew that I had to share with him the hope of Jesus. He was a Christian but he just felt unable to get himself and his family out of a very hard situation no matter how much he tried. He was so smart and had put forth serious efforts to learn things. He had learned English, attended school in the refugee camp, taught himself a lot of skills on the land, and volunteered his time helping educate the children. He enjoyed helping his community.
His family had applied for refugee status after his parents fled a terrible war in the Congo and had hoped to go to another country to start their life over since it was too dangerous for them to go back to the Congo. They had been waiting in a refugee camp for over 26 years while many others that came to the camp when they did had already left the camp to resettle elsewhere. He was confused at why his family and a few others were being overlooked. During our text and phone conversations, I didn’t think there was really much I could do to help him move along his refugee case. So we prayed. He and I both cried feeling hopeless to the situation. I felt like I didn’t deserve the blessings I had and had to deal with my own inner battle within myself with God’s help. I wanted to help Simeon and many others like him stuck in refugee camps for years or trying to start their life over after experiencing the traumas of war and or disaster.
Simeon and I became prayer partners for a time. He’d check on me and I would check on him. He always encouraged me with the nonprofit and serving individuals that sometimes were challenging. I found that I could explain to him cultural things I was trying to work through with the nonprofit to understand our newly arriving African clients better. And he could help me. If I knew better what their life was like right before they came to us then I could better understand their educational and basic life skills needs. Simeon volunteered to teach me about life in the refugee camp. He partnered with me and then I connected to a few other refugees in refugee camps so that I could understand. Simeon created some videos for me to watch and to share with other Americans to teach us all what life was like there. Simeon devoted himself more to serving his community and teaching the kids there what he had learned. I think I may have helped to inspire him to make the best of his life there because I knew God had a plan.
This was back in 2019. I ended up meeting his sister in Memphis and helping her some to resettle. We were all hopeful for Simeon to come with the others in his family. Then Covid19 happened. And then the Afghan war. And then the Ukrainian war. Many refugees were backlogged. It seemed Simeon and the rest of his family were included in those that had to again wait. Simeon and I spoke here and there to check in with one another. And finally, in 2022, we got word that he was coming to the US. Simeon arrived the end of 2022 and just recently more of his family (brothers and sisters and their kids) arrived to Ohio. We will one day all meet, but today I am so happy for Simeon and his family. We are still praying for his grandmother to follow and join the rest of his family.
One day, I decided to research Simeon’s situation. I made a phone call and sent some emails to Washington and to the Singapore US Embassy office. I didn’t think I would get any response. After all, who am I but merely a US wife and mom and founder of a small nonprofit on my city. But something in me told me to try. I was beginning to learn that my voice attached to my, professionally written letters, and my nonprofit organizational name could somehow help to amplify a voice for Simeon and gained us some kind of credibility to get the attention of people higher up in office. To my surprise, we got a response from Washington. They contacted the Embassy and UNHCR US officials closest to Simeon’s residence in the refugee camp. They scheduled a visit with him and others in his situation. They then scheduled an interview, researched, and vetted the individuals. After several months, Simeon and his family were on a list to come to the US!
As the family resettles, they are much like the other newly arriving clients that come to Memphis to start their life over. Most are a little anxious but excited. Depending on if they came from a long wait in a refugee camp or directly out of a war situation, they may have a lot of trauma to deal with. We are here to help to be a friendly face, a kind gesture, a helping hand, a voice, an advocate, and a praying heart. Please enjoy these photos of Simeon and his gaming who just arrived. I love this one of him on the airplane for the first time. He told me he was smiling so much on the plane. He will soon begin his first US job and is studying to take the drivers test. Please pray with me for Simeon, others like him, and the many individuals awaiting to get out of a refugee camp to start their life again. And remember, sometimes your voice is much louder than you’d have ever thought. Don’t be afraid to speak up for someone else in need. With prayer and a right heart, God will make a way!
First Plane RideArrival to USThe IOM Bag with all DocsArrival at US AirportFamily that Just Arrived to First US ApartmentJamie with Simeon’s Sister Back in 2019/2020Jamie and Simeon’s Sister RecentlySimeon in the Center Teaching Refugee ChildrenSimeon and his Students The ClassLearningSimeon StudyingSimeon Being an EntrepreneurBig Avocado!Simeon and His Grandmother
Somehow I get to be the one to sit behind this table to enjoy sweet Syrian treats and a cup of hot coffee while chatting with a group of Syrian ladies. The hospitality of newcomers absolutely astounds me. Since 2008, I’ve been the stranger welcomed into hundreds of homes of people from all over the world. The majority of the people that I meet are among families that are starting their lives over after war, natural disaster, or persecution. Most have lost or disconnected from loved ones and friends. When I visit families, I don’t expect anything when I knock on the door. I know there is often little extra funds for the family to splurge and whatever they do have they are eager to send back to their loved ones in desperate need.
Despite difficult circumstances, about 95% of the time, the newcomers I meet greet me and any guest that comes along with a warm welcome into their home and some type of treat to eat and/or drink. The customs and culture of the majority of our clients find it most proper for them to rise to an excellent level of hospitality to anyone who visits their home. Most will bring a tray of goodies to you with a genuine smile on their face because they truly are happy you took the time out of your otherwise busy American life to spend with them. It’s hard to not feel like royalty when visiting families and all I can think of is how can I give back to these families with any similarity of great respect and admiration?
The Syrian people have struggled and suffered a lot in the last decade. I have so many beautiful and kind friends from this country and want to help them to reconnect with their family of which many were separated from in the 2015 war. Now families are experiencing earthquakes in Syria and Turkey and desperate to reconnect to family even more. Together they could help one another more.
Would you consider giving today to help us serve Syrian families? https://ashasrefuge.kindful.com/ is the link to directly donate. The hospitality of Syrians, who did not know me at all when they first came to Memphis, is truly something indescribable and incredible. I know they are hard working people that want good for their family trying to live a life to own their own businesses and give back to their community. We are happy to know our Syrian friends and are praying for them.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” -Hebrews 13:2
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” -Leviticus 19:33-34
We invite you to watch this special video honoring Dr. Weems and his extraordinary eight years of service.
Asha's Refuge 