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Refugee Family Resettlement
 One
of the goals of “Faith in Action” at Covenant is to continue our Refugee
Resettlement efforts. Since the 2010 effort to welcome the Khati Family was
such a positive experience for them and for us, the Social Justice Team
decided to help resettle another family in 2011 in partnership with Lutheran
Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. That resettlement goal has
been accomplished! Covenant supplied furnishings for an apartment for a
family of four in September. In addition, Covenant helped supply some items
for two other families!
Most of the furnishings had been accumulated at no cost to our congregation
thanks to donations and Craig’s List-Free. The most important and rewarding
task is becoming acquainted with and helping the family feel welcomed. Watch
for further updates as this important ministry continues.
Sharing Experiences For a Better Life
As refugees arrive in the United States, they face a myriad of hurdles,
large and small. In the first few weeks after arrival, many individuals will
have their first experiences with automobiles, electricity, or indoor
plumbing. Others might be entering a school for the first time, or attending
their first job interview.
Though many families might be similar to the
average American family in various ways, refugee families are experiencing
American society and culture for the very first time. Everyday tasks for
American families can present tremendous difficulty to a refugee. Knowing
the proper change to use at the laundromat, where to take household garbage,
or how to keep and store food properly are small tasks that make a big
impact on the daily life of a refugee. Most refugees arrive in Wisconsin
alone, with no local relatives or friends who are experienced in the
transition from refugee to American.
Having a local and accessible support network is
crucial to the success of a refugee in acclimating to their new life here.
Refugees, as an individual, have an official resettlement agency (LSS of WI
and Upper MI) and caseworker assigned to them as a resource. However, these
individuals are charged with ensuring the basic needs for many newly
arriving refugees each year and have difficulty in responding to the
day-to-day challenges that new arrivals face. They need a Cultural Mentor as
well.
What is a Cultural Mentor?
A Cultural Mentor fills the role of teacher, advocate, and guide to the
community for the newly arrived refugee.
A Cultural Mentor is assigned to a single family
or individual, and is asked to assist in the small daily challenges that are
sure to present themselves. Being a Cultural Mentor is a way to understand
the journey and experiences of a refugee family more deeply.
A Cultural Mentor is not responsible for taking
refugees to appointments or grocery shopping, though they may choose to do
so. Rather, the role of the Cultural Mentor is to help acquaint the family
with the community around them, doing activities together such as:
Taking a bus tour around town
A trip to the zoo
Speaking English while you are together
Teaching a family to bargain shop
Helping the family determine what is important mail and
what is junk mail
These activities can go a long way in reducing the
amount of stress that a family might be experiencing during their first
months in a new country.
A Cultural Mentor’s relationship with an
individual or family is reciprocal. Newly arrived refugees have so much to
learn about life in the U.S.A., but they have much to share about their home
country, their traditions and their family. Acting as a Cultural Mentor
allows a volunteer to have a genuine international exchange while imparting
the knowledge of American life they have gained through decades of
experience.
Cultural Mentor Commitment
LSS recommends Cultural Mentors engage in a 12-week long commitment. This is
often long enough to engage in a cultural exchange that allows both the
volunteer and refugee to grow in their knowledge of the broader world.
During the 12 weeks, the Cultural Mentor will meet with the family
regularly, and will likely get to know them personally, while maintaining a
professional and cordial relationship.
If you wish to know more or to become involved as
a Cultural Mentor, speak to Pastor George, Solveig Carlson, Linda Muller, or
Dan Oakland; they have been working with the Khati family since October
2010. They will share their experiences and help get you connected to LSS.
Yes, we are called to serve one another… perhaps this call is for you!
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Lenten Faith in Action:
Offering Food to the Hungry
God gave the prophet Isaiah ears to hear God and
boldness to speak God‘s word. Isaiah de-clared God‘s word that encourages us
to care for the hungry and afflicted; we read in Isaiah 58:10, “…if you
offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then
your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.”
Not only do we help meet the needs of others but our own spirits soar as we
care for others as God cares for us!
Offer your food to the hungry…We
of Cove-nant offer food to the hungry in several ways. We provide meals to
members in a short-term need, support Stoughton Food Pantry, serve Our Daily
Bread (a monthly community meal in Stoughton hosted on a rotating basis by
several congregations), serve at The River Food Pantry (a Friday community
meal in Madison for peo-ple, most of whom are low income or home-less), and
contribute to ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
During Lent 2012, Covenant encourages all to offer
food to the hungry. This FAITH IN ACTION emphasis gives us opportunities to
express our trust in the God who meets our needs. You are invited offer food
to the hungry in one or more ways. For details, please see page 6 of the
February 2012 issue of The Promise, Covenant's newsletter.
Click here.
2012 Adult Service/Mission Trip
In November six members of Covenant joined Pastor George for a
service/mission trip to Nashville. They have expressed interest in an-other
service/mission trip in 2012. Pastor George has contacted Lutheran Disaster
Response in North Dakota. He received this letter which he shares with all
of us at Covenant: (click
here to download). Plans need to begin this month for us to serve in ND
late this spring or early summer. Those who served on Covenant‘s LDR Team in
2011 (Pastor George, Linda Muller, David Nelson, Dan Oakland, Richard Shilts,
Greg Vodak, and Penny Vodak) will happily share their perspectives. The cost
of lodging with the meals included is $20.00 per person. If you have any
interest or want to learn more, contact Pastor George at 576-4916 or
pastor-george@chorus.net or speak to him or a 2011 team member following
worship the weekend of January 7-8. A meeting will be scheduled for later in
January.
Stoughton Food Pantry Needs
Coffee, Complete meals in a box or can, Condiments (ketchup, mustard, pickles, salt), Flour, Salad Dressings, Snacks, Sugar, Tacos, Tea, Cake Mix, Cookies, Cookie Mix, Baking Goods, Vegetable Oil, Deodorants for Men and Women, Dish Soap, Hand Soap & Body Wash, Laundry Soup (powdered), Paper Towels, Shampoo, Tissue, Toothbrushes/Toothpaste, Paper & Plastic bags
Compassion International
We are struggling to make our commitment to Compassion International, a
ministry we have been supporting for over five years. We
are in the process of determining if we can continue to support our 3 youth. Information about each of the children (including
some wonderful letters from them) is available on the Youth bulletin board
in the upper education wing. The Covenant Youth contribute $114/month to
sponsor these three children ($1,368/year).
If you are interested in helping the youth meet
their pledges, please contribute in either of the following ways: 1) There
is a piggy bank on the Social Justice table by the office which is earmarked
for Compassion International – you may contribute bills or change here, or
2) You may contribute by making a check out to Covenant Youth, with
Compassion International in the memo section. Thank you for your help!
Transportation Assistance
Providing transportation for
those under 55. Coordinating efforts to assist people with appointments,
special needs, transportation to the Madison Bus depot or Job Assistant
within Dane County. Covenant is looking for interested Volunteer Drivers
willing to spend a few hours a week helping another in need. Requirements
include a background check, proof of driver’s license and record of driving
over the past couple of years. If you are interested, we will see that you
get an application.
Newborn Kits and Hospice Kits
Our newborn and hospice kit ministries are ongoing. ANYTIME is the right
time to donate the items or dollars which can be used towards purchasing in
bulk. We joyfully receive all that you are able to give. For example: you
may donate an entire kit collected and assembled or items for use in kits
and/or monies. An exciting Faith in Action goal is to double our efforts
from previous years! This translates to 500 Newborn Kits and 300 Hospice
Kits. We are well on our way to the Newborn Kit goal with a current total of
294 newborn caps hand crotched or knitted! Thank you for all your efforts
AND keep up the wonderful, loving work!!!
For kit instructions,
click here.
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