Today we registered and received our EIN number! I’m learning everyday what exactly that means for Asha’s Refuge. From what I understand, we can now accept donations under the Nonprofit name “Asha’s Refuge” and in the future when we obtain our tax exempt ID we can give tax receipts for donations.

I’ve been working on our logo and will be praying about who our board members should be. We need a team of strong leaders for Asha’s Refuge in order to move forward with parts of the business plan.

My mind isn’t able to stay totally focused on the background work of building the company because I am so involved on the ground work right in front of my face. This morning I took Alma to Immigration Services and helped her family complete Greencard Forms. After our meeting, Alma thanked me by making me breakfast! We had Samalian scrambled eggs with peppers and onion, toast, watermelon and tea. I had a wonderful time visiting with Alma and her family.

When I returned home, I received a phone call from another young refugee friend, we’ll call her Sadi. She was very worried about her sick young girl, Mary. (Here is a pic of Sadi and her daughter Mary.)Hearing another mom cry frantically on the other end if the phone and beg for me to come help was really hard. Her daughter was having severe headaches and nausea. The concern was great for mom because Mary had already experienced a gun shot wound in the head at five years old that initially left her blind and paralyzed on the left side. It wasn’t until three years later when Safia and Mary were approved as refugees and taken to Egypt that surgery could even happen. The surgery in Egypt must have been a real miracle because today Mary is 11 and is weak on the left side but not paralyzed and is able to see but not perfectly. Sadi has only one daughter and today she is very concerned about her headaches, nausea and vomiting.

It’s hard for me not to jump up and meet Sadi and her daughter at Leboneur Hospital. With very little English speaking ability and cultural understanding it’s hard for an unlicensed mother to find her way to and around the hospital and then explain and understand what’s going on with healthcare providers. Sadi needed an American friend to encourage her, link arms today and just be like family during this scary time.

I couldn’t go to her. I was at least 45 minutes away now. I had responsibilities with my own kids, but if I really have needed to, I would have. I got a hold of Sadi and Mary’s case worker who wasn’t far from them. I’m happy there could be someone there to help Sadi quickly.

I think Mary ended up okay tonight. Her CAT Scan came out normal. The doctors seemed to feel like it was a virus. They were giving Mary fluids and probably going to send her home by night. My friend and volunteer ESL teacher, Deborah, that works with Safia spoke to her and her doctor. Deborah was concerned for Mary too. She seemed to feel confident that the doctors had things under control and that Sadi now had some help near her. I’m so thankful for volunteer helpers like Deborah that really care about people.

Each day is a different experience working with my friends from other countries. There is much for them to learn that most Americans take advantage of. The average American is so educated and fortunate. I feel blessed and I often wonder, “Why Me, Lord?” I’m no better and I easily could have been raised on the other side of the world in the middle of a war. I feel like I’m supposed to move closer to my friends in Binghamton, but when and how? Perhaps it’s in my future. I don’t know.

Today was more than a day just to obtain the EIN number. It was a day to encourage and show love. It was a day to build on a friendship. It was a day I truly hope and pray that God was able to shine through me. “Your will God and not mine.”