In this issue you will read about

• When “no speak English” is actually useful
• Ministry Milestones for Welcome Home
• An ESL project with Stanley Park Community Church

In this issue, you will read the story of

• Augusto, whose refugee claim was rejected and returned to his country 
• Love KW, a Valentine’s outreach from Elevation to refugees
• New staff and exciting experiences over the last 3 months

In this Six Month Report, you’ll find:

• How a “Canadian Big Brother” made a difference in an adolescent refugee’s life
• The new House Supervisors we found…or did they find us??
• Numbers that amaze in a recession year!

• Canoe tripping in the backcountry with Chris Harrison was a novel experience for our refugees, especially in the rain!
• Seven refugees Rode 4 Refugees this October.  What did they think and why did they ride?

Check out the July issue with

• Daniel’s Story
• Our 6 month update
• Mt. Salem’s Spring Cleaning Story

Happy Summer!

No, I’m not announcing the birth of my first grandchild, though this joyous occasion IS imminent. I’m celebrating that we have a new resident at Welcome Home and that it’s a female!

For months now we’ve been struggling with the challenge of overcrowding… in the men’s washroom, that is. At the same time, we have a lovely women’s washroom that was sitting mostly unused. Building codes notwithstanding, we were eager to have some women move into our home again. (Just over a year ago, more than half our residents were women.)

Women refugees are more vulnerable and therefore, fewer make it to Canada. It’s precisely the single woman refugee, however, that we have a vision for. Where better than a community setting, a safe place, a Christ-centred loving home for a woman who’s faced danger, torture, homelessness, loss of family and status, and courageously made her way to a new start in Canada? So, we’ve been praying and waiting.

Last week we made a decision, together with our landlord/partner, to reserve at least 2 of our 9 single rooms for women. That way when she arrives, she’s not waiting 4-5 months for the next available room. Where is she to go and wait? The local women’s shelters, though well-meaning, are not a great welcome to Canada for those who don’t speak the language or know the culture and long for some sense of security.

So, celebrate with us!! Two days after we came to this decision, our first woman arrived and is now enjoying her new home and community. As soon as another room comes available, we’ll be looking for the next one.

And, I’ll be sure to let you know when my grandchild is born.

It’s been several week since I started as an administrative assistant with Welcome Home and I must confess I have been a very slow starter.   Even with administrative work and about 12 other adults around plus kids I have not been able to shake the feelings of boredom this week. It’s much the same with several of the residents here.  Quite a few are out of work and many others have only been in Canada a short time and are still looking for work.  It seems that without something productive to do, all that is left is eating and washing the dishes, which does not please the men here at all.  Preparing food and cleaning is women’s work after all (I don’t believe this is true, but this is how people here feel) and they are bored with even these tasks.  This boredom really perpetuates the feelings of worry, unsettledness and unhealthy habits – particularly in the eating department.  Many of the refugees here are waiting and hoping for a country to call their own so they can settle down and contribute once again first to their family’s wellbeing then to society.  However, the struggle against boredom is not just a sociological thing, it is also spiritual.  Ultimately, God is the one who gives us purpose and fulfilling work to do.  No matter how much work we can find or what we can contribute to society, it will not cure our deepest needs.  I know from experience – it’s not just those who have nothing to do that feel this longing for God’s fulfillment. It’s also us who are busy, safe and well fed.

So what can I do about this, what can you do? Living here makes it easy to spend time joking and laughing with people or playing games which provides temporary relief, (by the way a donation of board games would be appreciated, we are down to about three options).  We can also pray and seek God’s provision for refugees to find jobs.  We should also pray that refugees are freed from their worrying; justice and mercy have been granted to them through Christ in both spiritual and sociological ways. Overall, seeking freedom from boredom is best done together. As we seek fulfillment where it can and will be fulfilled, others are freed to seek the same solution.  A creative imagination and a willingness to offer what we have can cure my boredom and yours, because together many good things can be created.

Check out the April Issue:

• Y’s story of refuge for her family
• Pastor Vicki’s unconventional Day of Rest

Invitation To Coffee House (Mar 9)

The Director, Sharon Johnson returned from a leave and immediately noticed their absence. Upon questioning, the following was discovered:

• Clue #1 A Bible Study recently began on Monday nights, complete with a worship time led by the former intern, Michelle.  Participation amongst the residents is building each week.

• Clue #2 Spanish/English New Testaments and Spanish Bibles, plus an Amharic Bible, have been generously donated by some of our champions, to enable the refugees at Welcome Home to read God’s Word in their own “heart language”.

• Clue #3 A prayer request has gone out to “ask God to give the residents at Welcome Home a desire to learn about Jesus, a spiritual hunger”

• Clue #4 The house supervisors, Sarah and Mohsen, have confessed to openly wanting to help the residents read and understand God’s Word

Conclusion: God is answering prayer!

Thank you, supporters, for donating and praying.

Thank you, Sarah and Mohsen for giving away these Bibles- there are many more where they came from!