Coming up: " Support for Volunteers conference call this Thursday, March 16 @ 7:00 p.m.
Jean Arnott
First, a Share ...
These oil paintings were created by Farid Ibrahimi, a young husband and father who miraculously escaped with his young family to France during the very last days of the evacuation from Kabul. If you've been to training, you've heard some of his story.Ā Ā
Having worked with the U.S. military and longing to come to the U.S., they must wait.Ā He can't legally work yet inĀ France, but he can paint!Ā His volunteer, the LDS bishop near him, set him up with canvas and paints and Farid has now painted many dozens of paintings.Ā He told me that he wants to share"The Problem of Afghanistan" through his paintings. TheseĀ are just twoĀ examples.Ā Ā Ā
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After
a couple of misses, weāll be back together on Thursday.Ā Join us if you are able.Ā
(If you are new to this list,
welcome!Ā You are receiving this invitation because you have either been or
are deep into working with refugees, youāve had some experience, youāre just
getting started, or you have requested this information. If youāve been placed
here in error, let me know.Ā And, if you know someone who is working
with refugees or would like to be, Ā please forward it to them. Iām sure Iām
missing some.)
Note: Women of Faith Interfaith Service Community has an email googlegroup.Ā Emails are sent out once, sometimes twice a month, with updates, stories, and a list of most needed items.Ā If you would like to be added to that list, please respond to this email address and let me know.Ā Itās a way you can help ā and spread the word to others who are looking for ways to help ā even if you donāt have a refugee family to assist in your area.
Note:Ā The Welcoming the Stranger ā SO CAL ā Support for Volunteers Facebook page is up.Ā Go here https://www.facebook.com/groups/725621752220372 to request to join. Be sure to answer the questions.
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Dear Volunteers,Ā Ā
Join our next call thisĀ Thursday, Mar 16 @ 7 p.m.
Drop in just long enough to ask a question, give some counsel, share an experience, or stay the whole hour.Ā In addition to tender mercies that we recognize regularly, we have witnessed several really big miracles since we last met ā including successfully bringing a mother and young daughter to the U.S. after 16 months and evacuating a family to Brazil.Ā And in less than two weeks, we expect two child-brides-turned activists will be boarding a plane for Portugal where they have been accepted after months of waiting.
And now we are so thrilled that a group of 6 young adult Christians that have been evacuated to a safe house in Pakistan have now been accepted by a group in Canada who is acting as a āsponsor agreement holderā. Ā Ā This means that if they qualify ā and they will ā the Canadian government will welcome them as refugees and give them a home.Ā We are filling out loads of paperwork right now and hope the process will begin in the next couple of weeks.Ā Itās expected to be a l-o-n-g process ā two years! but that is where the miracle is. Come join the conference call and Iāll tell you all about it!Ā Asking for prayers that all will go well.Ā
About these conference calls ā What is their purpose?
Foremost, a place of support.Ā A place to bring your questions.Ā A forum for volunteers with all levels of experience to share with each other.Ā What has worked. What has not worked. A place for volunteers to connect with each other that can transfer beyond the call.Ā
Then a specific topic to discuss in an effort to continue our own education so that we can be more able to assist our new immigrant friends.Ā
Held twice a month and lasting an hour, you can choose to hang around after to connect with fellow volunteers if you like. Think ārefreshment timeā after a meeting š.Ā
Upcoming dates:
1stĀ ThursdayĀ of
each month atĀ 10:00 ā 11:00 a.m. ā Ā Apr 6, May 4 etc.
3rdĀ ThursdayĀ of each month atĀ 7:00 ā 8:00 p.m.
āĀ Ā Ā Apr 20, May 18, etc.
Ā Of course, if you have a question that canāt wait until the next conference call, please donāt hesitate to contact another volunteer for some direction. Support should only be a phone call away.Ā
The Zoom link will be the same every time.
Hereās the link:Ā https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81321407553?pwd=cVZaRndLbWMrSHVtRUNBY3VoazlEdz09
It seems that for most, the link is all you need. If the link doesnāt work for you, go toĀ zoom.us, click on Join a Meeting, and type in the following when prompted:
Meeting ID: 813 2140 7553
Passcode: teZx08
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FUTURE TOPICS:Ā Please let us know if you have specific topics youād like to have addressed and weāll do our homework and try to have experts on that topic available to address them š.Ā Ā Ā
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UPDATE ON REFUGEE ARRIVALS:Ā We are settling families in the following areas:
Alta Loma, Anaheim, Apple Valley, Brea, Buena Park, Burbank, Canoga Park, Carmichael, Claremont, Colton, Corona, El Cajon, Fontana, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Glendale, Granada Hills, Hawthorne, Hemet, Jurupa Valley, La Verne, Lomita, Los Angeles, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Northridge, Palm Desert, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rialto, Riverside, Sacramento, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Temecula, Torrance, Tujunga, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Victorville, Westminster, Winchester, and Yucaipa (plus Ohio and France.)Ā Ā
Families are arriving from all quarters of the earth. We have resettled families from: Afghanistan, Belize, Burma/Myanmar, Columbia, El Salvador, Egypt, Eritrea, Guatemala, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russian, Syria, UAE, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Sudan.Ā