School has started back and our refugee families were all very excited about the new year. Thanks to The Church at Schilling Farms and Central Church in Collierville, TN for donating enough school supplies and backpacks to hand out to about 65-70 refugee children in need. Asha’s Refuge focused first on those refugee students who have disabilities themselves or parents who are disabled, widowed or single parents, parents with no education who struggle to find work or elderly parents. This focus covered pretty much all of the families we have as clients.

It was so good to see the children happily receive their supplies. One 1st grade child, a girl from Bhutan, giggled and smiled enthusiastically when she saw that she had a brand new box of crayons. A single parent of a disabled child, a teen and a middle school aged boy immediately lifted her hands and repeatedly thanked God when she opened her door and saw that we were standing at her door with three filled backpacks. One Kindergarten girl (who we had last year in our Kindergarten Readiness Program) was so excited to hold her very own pink school bag. A Somali boy, about age 13, enjoyed choosing his sisters and brothers backpacks out of the back of our vehicle with a smile on his face and gestures of thanks from his heart. Parents and children were grateful and they want to tell you, “Thank You”!

Going to school is exciting for refugee families. Older children realize the blessing because some remember what it was like to not have an opportunity to go to school or to try to go to school during war or while dealing with issues of famine in their land. Parents are extremely grateful for a way to educate their children. One parent once told me, “Education is Wealth”. That statement and how that thought may resonate with many refugee parents has stuck in my mind. Many American children dread getting up to go to school. Many American children go to school and do not put forth their best effort. It’s interesting to see the differences in the hearts of so many of our refugee friends who will attend school this year. It’s sad when refugee children go to school excited and are surrounded by the sights of other students who may act out, are disruptive or disrespectful to their teachers. This is shocking to most all refugee students. It’s not only the children that have a respect and pride for their school, but their parents do. And when parents are excited about the school year, this seems to overwhelmingly transfer over into the hearts of the children.

Please pray for the refugee families, American and other families, teachers and the school board as this new school year takes its course. And thank you Church again for all the school supplies as it makes it a lot easier for a refugee child to confidently walk into an American school. It also helps out our teachers and our parents. Thanks Church!