Update and Transition – June 27, 2022
The Afghan refugee family we sponsor is doing well. Their apartment now has air conditioners and curtains to help with this heat – they tell us it is rarely this hot in Afghanistan! The younger boys (ages 16 and 11) have finished the school year and happily report that they did well. The oldest boy (age 19) is working part-time to support the family and is studying part-time at community college. Four of the six children now have bicycles, including most recently the 6-year-old daughter. All three little girls (ages 1, 4, 6) are a smiling welcome committee for every visit. The mother is the mainstay of this loving, hard-working family since her husband’s death less than a year ago. They are fortunate to have a large extended family in the immediate area – six of the mother’s siblings and their children are all close by and fully engaged in helping each other.
Our formal six-month commitment to sponsor the Afghan refugee family through Refugee One has come to an end. The family faces many challenges, especially financial. Our Core Team, both Fair Oaks and Grace members, has chosen to stay connected and involved this family. Our relationship will be less structured, with fewer visits and more focus on specific needs identified by the family. We see ourselves as friends to the family, enjoying time together and sharing experiences, also being available for new concerns. The Mission Committees of Fair Oaks and of Grace will continue to be a resource and Refugee One will remain available for support and assistance as needed.
The generosity and kindness with which the entire Fair Oaks congregation has welcomed the family has been wonderful. Every request for clothing, household items, phones, toys, books, bicycles, school supplies, food, and volunteer work has been met with an overwhelming response. People often reach out to one of us on the Core Team to inquire about the family and how they are doing. Just as the Core Team is staying involved, we trust that your interest and willingness to help will continue. You can expect to continue to hear updates and as always, feel free to contact us with questions.
Thank you, Fair Oaks!
To read more about this mission effort with Refugee One and the family, click here.