The New Year has been quickly passing me by. One new refugee family after another, I feel like I am consistently being introduced to new faces. I am working hard to memorize so many names and stories. It’s exciting, but it’s also a lot to take in. The resettlement agencies are busy helping the families begin the early processes of resettling here in Memphis with getting immunizations, apartments set up, children in schools and providing some grocery assistance. Asha’s Refuge is helping to meet the needs of refugees who have been in Memphis longer than 3-4 months who no longer are eligible for as much assistance from the resettlement agency but are unable to successfully resettle. This group of families seems to be most refugees that come to Memphis. In our opinion refugees need a longer period of time to gain the necessary skills and important things that would be required for them to live their life in America on their own. And sometimes, Asha’s Refuge steps into the homes of new families as we are invited an begged to make a visit by the new families friends, our clients. We cannot help ourselves as we often still provide additional warm blankets, kitchen supplies, toiletries, transportation assistance, and teach necessary American life skills as we meet them. We want to encourage them to take one day at a time trusting the God above them.

Of course we want to teach our refugee friends to help themselves, “teach them to fish”, but we feel like it is important to help provide the tools and training they need to fish. Sometimes that means we may literally have to hold their hand and lovingly guide them in the direction they are trying to go. Sometimes it means we have to meet them part of the way cheering them on to reach their goals. Having good job skills, a basic education and American life skills are pertinent for their success.
So many refugees have very little to no education and do not speak English. Our students are begging for an additional day of American Life and Language classes. We want to one day provide them with more educational opportunities, but that will require continued volunteer and financial support.

Our Thursday morning borrowed large van is consistently full and I tend to make a couple of trips with our dedicated driver. I am thankful for Highland Heights Church’s volunteer, Sonny, who is always on time and ready to drive the church van for us. We usually trail another van or car and fill them all up with students. (Yes, we still need an Asha’s Refuge bus.) Some of our refugee students are driving themselves or getting a ride from a friend to class and occasionally refugees will walk to class. Our classes are full with refugees from the countries of Bhutan, Burundi, Congo, Samalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia to name a few. It has been great to see all the different nationalities represented in our classes and working with our organization. It has been exciting to see all the volunteer English teachers step up to teach the classes too. I can tell God is moving and working in really neat ways.

I’m looking forward to this Thursday. I love to see how God is bringing things together for His good will and purposes. I let go and pray that I’ll follow His lead. Asha’s Refuge is His it’s so not mine. I trust Him and I know He will continue to provide for our needs as He accomplishes the work He started in each of us. He is so good!