In August I met a young Ethiopian lady who had just arrived in America.  She is beautiful, soft-spoken, and has good English.  I was particularly struck by her gentle manner.  Like many arriving refugees, she seemed so young to be alone in a new country.  I was very happy to see her again last week when she invited me to her apartment.  On the way down the sidewalk, we met a young man she knows.  She made introductions and put my hand into his to greet him.  After an exchange of pleasantries, she took me by the hand and led me around the corner to her apartment.  While we sat on pillows on the floor, eating fruit and drinking juice, she shared a little of her story.

This beautiful young lady is only 19 years old.  Can you imagine finding yourself a 19-year-old resettled in a new country without any family to help you?  She has limited education, no resources and only a year or two of English classes.  She must be a quick learner because her English is good.  She said things are very bad in Ethiopia and that she is so happy to be in America now.  I asked if she had other family in the US because this is true for some refugees I have met.  She replied no one, only a sister still in Ethiopia in a refugee camp and a brother.  We’ve all seen pictures of those camps on TV and my heart aches for the uncertainty and concern she must feel for her sister.   I did not understand exactly where the brother is or if she even knows. She has no parents.

Listening to my new friend reminded me of a blog Vivian wrote about “Hiding the Lambs”.  (If you have not read this powerful story, look for it on our blog archive.)  How vulnerable these young women are.  They come here with little education to make their own way in a very different world.  Yes, it is a wonderful land of opportunity, safety and peace, but it definitely presents its own set of challenges for these young women.  I think about all the love, resources and support my daughter and my nieces have from our family and friends, and I cannot imagine their lives without that.  I pray that God will guard these vulnerable young women and bring friends to them who will love and guide them as they build their new lives here in America.  God bless America for being a refuge to the least of these.