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We are so thankful to Highland Heights Baptist Church for allowing us to share space in their building and have a playground area for our preschoolers to play outside in.  We are enjoying our courtyard playground.  Today we decided to spruce up the old playground a bit so that our refugee preschoolers will be able to enjoy it more.

We teamed up with The Church at Schilling Farms and Operation Broken Silence and worked hard together this morning mowing and weed-eating the grass, cleaning out and retrenching the ditch area, powerwashing and painting the swing sets, raising the height of all of the swings, power washing play equipment and blocking off of bricks so our children will not find them as interesting to climb on.  The grass and weeds were getting tall.  One of the refugee girls, we will call her Hannah, parted the tall grass in front of her as she excitedly ran out to play last Thursday.  (Keep in mind that refugee children are not familiar with playground/park play equipment.  This outdoor play area is very exciting for them.) Our preschoolers will really appreciate our hard work this morning when they see the play area this week during class.  Thank you Church at Schilling Farms and Operation Broken Silence!

We are so thankful to Highland Heights Baptist Church for allowing us to share space in their building and have a playground area for our preschoolers to play outside in.  We are enjoying our courtyard playground.  Today we decided to spruce up the old playground a bit so that our refugee preschoolers will be able to enjoy it more.

We teamed up with The Church at Schilling Farms and Operation Broken Silence and worked hard together this morning mowing and weed-eating the grass, cleaning out and retrenching the ditch area, powerwashing and painting the swing sets, raising the height of all of the swings, power washing play equipment and blocking off old bricks so our children will not find them as interesting to climb on.  The grass and weeds were getting tall.  One of the refugee girls, we will call her Hannah, parted the tall grass in front of her as she excitedly ran out to play last Thursday.  (Keep in mind that refugee children are not familiar with playground/park play equipment.  This outdoor play area is very exciting for them.) Our preschoolers will really appreciate our hard work this morning when they see the play area this week during class.  Thank you Church at Schilling Farms and Operation Broken Silence!

Our preschool playground space needs sprucing up. We have an outside courtyard area that our refugee preschoolers enjoy playing on each week while their mothers are practicing their English. The space is thankfully provided for by Highland Heights Baptist Church. We are looking for help in making the play area a little nicer and safer for the children. Can you or your small group help?

We will meet this Saturday at 9:30am at Highland Heights Baptist Church (where we share building space) at 675 National, Memphis, TN. Our location is one block west of the intersection of Summer and Highland. We already have a few youth and adult members from The Church at Schilling Farms willing to help and hopefully a few college students from Operation Broken Silence. We will block off old bricks children like to climb, paint the swing sets, weed eat the grass area, pressure wash some areas, possibly add an outside toy box and use the creativity of those helping to just spruce up the area. Asha’s Refuge is short on funds therefore we appreciate any tools and supplies you can bring or donate. Perhaps one day we could even put in a new playground set boxing it in pea gravel.

If you can help this Saturday, please meet us at 9:30am this Saturday. Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you may have. And thank you in advance for your help.

September 11 opens up so many thoughts in my heart and head. Considering the tragedy and memories of this day in 2001, my heart yearns for understanding. Some things I may never understand.

I have Muslim friends who have family members and friends who were persecuted, killed and torn apart by the evil of others. They too grieve for what happened on American soil 11 years ago. Many refugee families I know are saddened by the memory of 9/11 and want us to know how sorry they are that evil came to our land and hurt our families. They are thankful for our involvement at trying to stop those who tear families, villages and cities apart and understand how difficult and complicated the situation is.

On this day, we want to remember those lives lost and those families who were surprised by the happenings in our new world, America. I believe God is a God who loves ALL people and wants ALL people to know Him as love and not hate. While I do not believe world peace can really happen until the King of Peace returns, I aim to walk unashamedly in His likeness here on earth and help make life as much as heaven on earth as God wills it to be. That does not mean I’ll make no mistakes along the way. It does mean I can learn from others as I have already learned first hand how misinterpretations and misunderstandings can lead to unresolved heartache, jealousy, anger, and fights. I am also hopeful and reassured that God will bring together His people in order to accomplish His great purposes. It kinda gets confusing to me or complicating to publicly express. All I do know is when it seems to get messy and confusing my call is to first, just love…ALL people. I’ll let Him handle the rest. And just perhaps others will one day come to know Him because of my sincere expression of love. If I can just love…I might be just a bit ahead.

As I sit here in my kitchen this morning (iPhone on Pandora playing sweet Praise and Worship Music – sipping on my homemade ice chai tea – after sweet quiet time with Jesus–life cannot get any better than this), I begin to look over my email. I came back across one that absolutely warms my heart and overwhelms my spirit. It’s entitled “Successful Fishing Trip”.

About 2 plus years ago I learned more about a refugee family I knew. If you’ll go back to a post entitled (I Refuse to Be Another Picture on a Wall) you’ll read some of that story. I learned something that truly tugged and grabbed at my heart and it involved a refugee father of ten. This father, we will name him Patrick, had been a successful fishermen in his country and longed to go fishing here in the States. I informed him that fishing around Memphis, TN was not going to be anything like the kind of fishing he might have been use to and he was even more eager to go. My being a woman (even though I’m the daughter of the best fisherman I know – my dad – and loved and went fishing a jillion times as a young girl) didn’t warrant me an appropriate opportunity to take this gentleman fishing. Nevertheless, my heart desperately wanted to see this gentleman get to go and in my heart, I had imagined my daddy taking Patrick to fish.

Now, for me to ASK men to take another man, especially a refugee man, fishing was challenging. Unfortunately, my own father’s health has gotten so bad that he is not a good candidate to have the responsibility of taking anyone new to fishing on an outdoor fishing trip. I casually mentioned to some of my American friends the gentleman I new who desperately wanted to go fishing and how wonderful of an opportunity I felt it could be if the Lord led any of them to want to do this. I imagined a Fishing Ministry, but was not sure how the Lord was going to begin it. I saw the need. I still see the sweetness in a Fishing Ministry and how so many men could come closer to God through it. But I don’t want it to be about my ideas…God has this.

So the email…many months ago I again mentioned that I knew a refugee father who wanted to go fishing and how I thought several refugee teenage boys would also enjoy this. A brother in Christ heard. Here is his email and I couldn’t help myself, I have posted pictures. The Lord is working through my new friend Dan and his wife Jil…I am thankful to them for their time and hearts commitment to serving by first, just loving. (If you’re a man and you might be interested in going fishing with refugees, please let me know.)

[For those learning more about the future of Asha’s: I guess we’ll need a large lake on our land stocked with fish!]

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Hi Jamie: See the 3 photos below from our successful fishing trip this morning. I asked God to bless our time together and He did!! We caught 25 lbs of fish in about 2 hours, but we didn’t see anyone else around us catch anything. Ahmed and Fidel had never been fishing and it was fun to hear them shout and laugh as they landed their first fish ever, and second, and third . . . It was a blast. Danny

Tomorrow we will have our Thursday American Life and Language Classes. They are from 10am until 12 but our time with our refugee friends tomorrow is from about 9 to 1 because of the time allotted for bus pickup and drop off. We have our borrowed van tomorrow. We are thankful that Mr. Sonny will be able to drive again for us. He will make two trips most likely. In the future it will be good if some of our refugee friends could get themselves to and from class themselves. We understand though that there will always be a need for some transportation help. Again, Asha’s needs a van/bus.

Many families only have one car and many have no car at all. If they are fortunate to have one car and a driving individual in their home it’s usually the father who drives himself to work. This leaves moms at home and since most of the refugee moms we work with are uneducated they are eager to come to class to learn to speak English and be educated. Refugees who have disabilities are often really stuck at home. Asha’s Refuge wants to help get them out and active in their community learning and in positions to give back.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow. At the same time, I’m a little anxious. We are in new borrowed building space and I want to be sure I am respectful and show my thanks to those who have allowed us to share this great space. I know there will be some activities going on at the church and our refugee ladies may get to meet some members of the church. That will be a sweet time. I am always unsure what to expect with serving my refugee friends and working along side of others. I always expect the unexpected and here lately the unexpected seems to be chasing me!

Serving in the capacity that we are at Asha’s Refuge has been challenging to say the least. It’s been a huge blessing at the same time. Deborah and I keep on keeping on as the Lord directs our path. It’s not easy though…we are doing something we have never done before. I learn new things every day. I am thankful for supporters and for those who are like minded that root me on, scrape off my knees when I fall down and lift me up pointing me on my way.

Tomorrow I’ll keep on keeping on. Pray for us if you think of us. Pray for me friends, I want to be and remain in the very center of Gods will even when it’s tough.

Asha’s Refuge needs a van of her own. It’s time. We struggle each week to be sure we can pick up our students and take them home. Transportation is one of the biggest problems refugees face. And getting those refugees who are in a wheelchair on a tall vehicle is complicated. I would feel more comfortable if Asha’s Refuge had her own vehicle as we often feel like we are maybe burdening others with trying to borrow theirs. These are the kinds of things financial donations would help us to be able to do or maybe…just maybe…there’s a bus/van God would have for us that could be free! Ha, ha. I’m not laughing at God…He just never surprises me these days.

(And yes, I’m willing to go get my own bus driving license!)

While I cannot share all of the vision for Asha’s Refuge, I’m feeling that it could be helpful for me to share a little more about what some of our hopes are for the future. When refugee families come into our city in about 4 months they are expected to be able to achieve a successful resettlement. For the disadvantaged refugees we’ve met (those with a disability, no education, widows, single parents and/or the elderly) the task to resettle is just not doable in this short period of time. Additional assistance is needed and without it refugees struggle. Younger adults (especially women) are vulnerable to becoming victims in human trafficking. Sadly, some refugees become easy targets of bullying and other crimes in our city. In some cases I have witnessed, elderly refugees who are bored, lonely, increasingly depressed and have actually mentioned suicide. With little to no English or a basic education, refugee men struggle to find jobs to support their families. Non English speaking or culturally socialized preschoolers begin school in America at a disadvantage and can stay behind for a good part of their school life.

Asha’s Refuge has a plan to help but I believe it will take our city truly coming together in acts of love and kindness in order to do so. A piece of our vision includes having a large plot of land where refugees are able to come and find “a place of hope”. The land will have various business sponsors and supporters who will actually help out refugees by offering the necessary job skills they need to be successful in the various businesses. For an example, a hotel could help us build a model guest room or suite. Asha’s Refuge will work with refugees to help train them on how to appropriately make beds and clean the room. We will teach them the language necessary to do the job all the while the refugee stays on the Asha’s Refuge land being immersed in English, basic education and American cultural and life learning. Another example could be a shipping company that would somehow create a package moving area that could work as a safe training place for refugee men or women to learn a new job skill.

The Place of Hope that Asha’s Refuge has a dream to be will invite refugees to come, be educated and also encouraged to give back to their city. As mentioned many times before, the refugee families we’ve worked with are eager to work, they just need encouragement and a helping hand to start them off. We must remember most all of the adult refugees in desperate need of a job in our city were refugee children not long ago living a challenging life of war, famine and persecution brought on them as innocent children. They have beat all odds to make it to America alive. With one look into any of my refugee friends eyes there is clearly a child’s heart wrenching difficult story to tell.

Asha’s Refuge has an idea to have The Taste of the Nations Restaurant (name given to me in a dream, restaurant idea my husbands) where diners can enjoy tasting the different foods and learning more about other countries and cultures. There will be a Kindergarten Readiness program for preschoolers. Refugees will actually help run Asha’s Refuge, manage the gardens and land, work in the restaurant, help in the office, maintain the buildings and small homes, etc. It will be a learning place…a way for refugees to gradually be introduced into our American society ready to support themselves and not be stuck on government assistance. God willing, it will be a place of true hope all the while it will be a place with a people that gives back.

Today we will register a group of adult refugees for school. I am excited. They are excited. I am already receiving phone calls this morning from students who want to be sure they don’t miss the sign up opportunity this evening. We all know what a great opportunity they have here in America to go back and get their basic education. It’s a reminder to me of how some people take for granted their education.

Messick Adult School has an accredited adult ESL and education program that offers uneducated or partially educated adults a second chance. They offer a pathway for adults to obtain their GED which will be accepted in colleges and in the business world. Good English skills and a High School Diploma or GED is imperative to have in order to have a lot easier time finding work here in America. Finding work is a must for refugees to successfully resettle and to help them provide for their families. And “work” is exactly what refugees want to do. The refugees I have met are eager to give back to America as they are grateful to our country for bringing them into what feels to them like a safer place to live.

The registration process for non English speaking and non educated adults can be complicated. This is where Asha’s Refuge tries to help out. We transport refugees to the school in our personal vehicles because many refugees do not drive or have vehicles. It’d really be helpful if we had our own bus because we are making multiple trips and driving more than one vehicle. Once a group of refugees begin school they work well together to ride the city bus or figure out their own carpool. We sit with them as they complete the registration forms for the school. Our guidance is important today. We will help them through the processes of getting them into their school, tested for their appropriate level of classes, understanding of their test scores and then set up for a time frame and location of class that works best for their family. The whole process takes a few weeks of back and forth trips to the adult school. The Messick Adult School does the hard part though. We just help our refugee friends follow their lead. I think the Messick teachers are appreciative of our help because we are often more familiar with the refugee families and the dynamics of working with refugees.

We are very thankful for The Messick Adult ESL, Basic Education and GED program, supporters, staff and teachers. They have been truly a blessing to us.

Wow! How very good God has been to us. Asha’s Refuge came back together after our summer break and met in our new shared building space at Highland Heights Baptist Church in the Binghampton/Highland area of Memphis. It took a lot of work getting the message across to the students that classes would begin today, a bus would arrive to pick them up and we would meet in a new location closer to their home. The preschoolers, moms and volunteers were all very excited about what the day would hold.

Christy and Kortney, our preschool teachers/coordinators, are always ready to accept the preschoolers with open arms. They seemed eager to see the children today and eager to let the children know they love them, but even more God loves them. Kortney and Christy allowed the children to have free play time in their new surroundings and then grouped them for small group learning. They played outside on their playground and seemed to truly love it. We are grateful for the learning space that has been provided for them.

The adult ladies were very happy to be back in their American Life and Language classes. It’s interesting how much they look forward to learning and being a student. So many of the women were not given the opportunity to go to school when they were young girls. Deborah, Angie and Britany played a game teaching the more advanced students opposites vocabulary. This game is something the students enjoy and it helps the vocabulary stick in their minds a lot better. It was wonderful to see Angie return to help us and Britany to come for her first class.

Sarah, Chris, Heather, Addison and Ashlen all worked more individually with the students in the basic class. It was sweet to see everyone so gently working together on handwriting. Addison and Ashlen are home schooled teenagers who have committed to most Thursday’s to volunteer at Asha’s Refuge. We are grateful to have their help. I’m sure they are surprised to see grown adults having difficulty writing their name. Sarah and Chris are always very flexible as new students come in and are at a beginners English learning level.

Now, Mr. Mac, our bus driver from New Bethel, recently had back surgery. I’m not sure if he will be back to drive a bus for us. We are praying for his full recovery. I know he will feel a lot better if the surgery does what it’s supposed to. In his absence, we have been praying for a bus and a driver. Highland Heights Baptist Church was able to help provide us with a 15 passenger van and a gentlemen willing to drive. His name is Sonny. He was so kind and patient with us today as we picked up two van loads of students for school. I enjoyed my conversations with him and his wife Barbara as we rode around our route. Sonny won’t be able to drive all the time because he works some Thursdays. Actually, I am uncertain if he will be able to be permanent or not; we are praying about that. The 15 passenger bus was a true blessing today but we kind of need something bigger. The van was a very tight squeeze for our students and we had to make two trips, which is okay. Asha’s Refuge needs a van of her own. It’s time. We struggle each week to be sure we can pick up our students and take them home. Transportation is one of the biggest problems refugees face. And getting those refugees who are in a wheelchair on a tall vehicle is complicated. I would feel more comfortable if Asha’s Refuge had her own vehicle as we often feel like we are maybe burdening others with trying to borrow theirs. These are the kinds of things financial donations would help us to be able to do or maybe…just maybe…there’s a bus/van God would have for us that could be free! Ha, ha. I’m not laughing at God…He just never surprises me these days.

I am thankful for Sonny and Barbara today and to Highland Heights Baptist Church for opening their doors to us. Just like New Bethel Missionary Baptist, we are making friends and God is bringing His people together to serve the least of the least of these and make Himself known. I am thankful to the refugee families who have taught me so much and bless me every time I get to visit with them. I am thankful that the volunteers showed up…even our secretary, Elaine, and our first Intern from Rhodes College, Janelle! Today was a piece of heaven on earth.