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Missions and Outreach |
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The year of sponsorship of the two Karen families will soon be ending (July). For many reasons the sponsorships have been very successful both from the point of view of the sponsoring churches and the families. The coming together of the North Shore Deanery churches to take on the sponsorships was very exciting. The combined efforts and enthusiasm made them go very smoothly. Many people gave of their time and skills: ~~ obtaining apartments ~~ setting up a Google document so that there was an organized way of collecting furniture, household goods and clothes ~~collecting furniture and household goods from the various parishioners and delivering them to Surrey ~~ meeting the families at the airport ~~ spending time doing the required documentation with the families and the various government agencies ~~ teaching the banking system ~~showing them good sources for buying food ~~ taking them to medical appointments ~~ showing them the transit system ~~ talking to them about budgeting ~~ working with them as needed with the computers ~~ English lessons ~~ cooking lessons ~~ picking them up and driving them to various Deanery churches often with lunch following ~~ invitations to committee members homes particularly for showing cultural events such as Christmas and Thanksgiving ~~ budgeting with them ~~ taking them to the dentist many times ~~ Dr.Nick Seddon doing the dental work pro bono ~~ taking them to Stanley Park, Lynn Canyon and Ambleside Park ~~ going to their New Years celebrations and Ethanay's birthday to better understand the Karen culture ~~ getting the men jobs ~~ promoting the cause and understanding of the Karens through the media These were some of the challenges that not just committee members but others as well took on this past year. Even though the year is drawing to a close and our legal responsibilities are coming to an end we will continue to support them as they find their way. For instance, the Parry's are taking them camping this summer. The families are paying off the loan the Canadian government gave them for their airplane tickets. Each of the men is hoping to get his driver's license. Kler Paw has passed the written exam and various friends are helping him plus he is paying for the occasional lesson. Lu Wah is still working on the written exam which he finds more difficult as his English is not as advanced. The men,Lu Wah and Kler Paw now work in a Surrey recycling factory in the day time and go to English school with their wives Eh Moo Si and Pak Gay at night. The grandparents look after the children Ethanay and Laura. We can now speak with the women Eh Moo Si and Pak Gay on the telephone and most of the time we understand each other. It was certainly a year of learning and surprises. A pleasant surprise was that Pak Gay's parents came on the same plane as they did which was unexpected. One of the clergy in the Surrey area carries around with her a photo album so she can keep people straight, She thought Lu Wah looked very much like another man in her book and to the delight of Lu Wah it turned out to be his uncle. The head of Immigrant Services spoke at the New Years gathering and said that of the eleven thousand immigrants he has worked with the Karen people have been by far the easiest to settle. They very much want to be part of the Canadian culture. They are hard working, take care of each other and are proud of their own culture The families that we have sponsored have worked very hard to learn the language and settle into jobs and a new culture. They will be a credit to Canada. Written by Chris Trendell, member of St. Catherine's Anglican Church and a member of the Deanery Refugee Committee. Photo: Arrival on July 13, 2009 at Vancouver International Airport. From the right: Lu Wah, Kler Paw, Pak Gay holding Laura, Eh Moo Si with Eh Tha Nay, Delia's 2 daughters and Delia (Eh Moo Si's sister who came with us to meet them at the airport). | ||||||||
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(This page is maintained by Lynne Graham .) |
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