Furnishing a home in 72 hours

On May 19, the White’s Chapel Refugee Initiative received a short notice call for help with an emergency arrival of refugees to DFW Int’l Airport.  Those en route would need orientation, transportation, a meal, and basic furnishings for newly assigned apartments within 72 hours. 

In record time, the WC-RI Welcome Committee – in partnership with the Islamic Center of Southlake and Muslims for Humanity – provided all that was needed and more. This multi-faith response under the extraordinary leadership of Holly and Greg Walsh is reflective of the WC-RI’s acton in all its outreach: We are called to support those forced to flee life-threatening oppression, no matter how short the notice or deep the need.

Thanks go out to all who collected, transported, prepared, assembled, and delivered the human face of Compassion to these beleaguered travelers – and others throughout the year.  Through you, these newcomers to America see how God cares for all his children in every place and circumstance.  Through Him and through you, these families will recover and thrive, contributing to their new country in ways as positive as your first encounter.

Discoveries Along the Way to English

I have met some amazing “strangers in a strange land”, people who have escaped not simply hard economic times in their home countries but abject persecution, immense fear for their livelihood (if not their very lives), and in some cases, unimaginable torture for their race, religion, nationality, or opinions. Some have had to flee, leaving their children behind. Having lived an average of 7 years in out-of-the-country refugee camps and being surreptitiously spied upon to ensure they meet strict guidelines, they have finally arrived as refugees in North Texas.

They are assisted by private agencies like Refugee Services of Texas and are cared for by WC Refugee Initiative Welcome Team coordinated by Holly Walsh. Holly and her team greet them at DFW airport and escort them to government-provided apartments that the Team has transformed from bare and empty to warm, inviting, and fully-furnished from donations, the pantries stocked with nourishing food. The Team provides them with a warm, welcoming meal and spends some time with them that first day.

But, the support and love does not stop there. The White’s Chapel Refugee Initiative (WCRI) helps the families acclimate by helping them acquire drivers’ licenses, find doctors, by driving them to appointments, and much more. Landlords sometimes try to take advantage of these tenants; members of the WCRI act as advocates on these refugees’ behalf. Some of the refugees are seeking asylum from the U.S. government. WCRI helps them find attorneys, like the ones at Justice for Our Neighbors, a United Methodist Immigration Ministry.

Although these refugees might have been lawyers, farmers, or factory workers,they often limited to menial jobs like those mandating graveyard shift hours. In order to sustain a minimum life style, many have found it necessary to work several jobs just to survive. Amazingly, most are self-sufficient within 4 months.

The most significant challenge they face is their language skill. They must improve their English. So, the Refugee Initiative holds English classes for adult refugees. The program is called the WCRI English Language Learning (ELL) and Laura Bussell is the Coordinator. Classes are held on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The curriculum is Cambridge Publishing’s Ventures. There are 6 levels and American culture is infused within each unit. But, ELL volunteers enrich it with other cultural events, like history lessons about the wacky tradition of Halloween and Thanksgiving, trick-or-treating down the hallways, reading Luke 2 at a Christmas party filled with Christmas cookies and carols and a lively game of Christmas bingo, potluck Friendsgiving celebrations, and patriotic picnics. In addition, they emphasize important habits for becoming a good employee like on-time attendance and participation by awarding incentive “dollars” that can be used periodically in “stores” filled with donated items.

Your Church – Your Opportunity

White’s Chapel UMC is assisting our community’s documented asylees and refugees via a number of caring programs.  These Strangers in a Strange Land come to us with needs ranging from enhancing their English skills to providing help navigating grocery stores, doctor’s offices, and the work place.  We answer the call.

1 John 3:18 guides us: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”   Here are two opportunities to learn more about the world these newcomers deal with and your chance to make a lasting difference.  Please join us as you are able and motivated. 

Strangers In A Strange Land

Loving outreach to legal refugees and asylees

Tuesday, Apr. 23, 7-8:30 P.M.

Rawlins Lecture Hall Room #3103

Guest Speakers

Graham Bateman, Exec. Director JFON

Mark Hagar, Area Director Dallas RST

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White’s Chapel United Methodist Church 185 S. White Chapel Blvd

Southlake, TX 76092

For more information, click here.

www.refugetexas.org for stories and photos www.whiteschapelumc.com for “outreach missions”

Refugee Initiative Director

Ann Davis davis.ann.k@gmail.com Refugee Welcome Coordinator Holly Walsh walsh.hol@gmail.com

ELL Coordinator

Laura Bussell lbussell8@gmail.com

Want to know more about the English Language Learning (ELL) program at White’s Chapel?

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

7:00-8:30 P.M.

RAWLINS LECTURE HALL

Interested in teaching English to adults or

helping with special ELL projects?

Then, we invite you to come take part in our:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING (ELL) WORKSHOP

Our own master teachers will share tips on teaching English to eager adults. We’ll then break into
small groups to look at an actual lesson across 5 different levels in our Ventures curriculum!

Let’s see how exciting we can make English when we collaborate!

WHITE’S CHAPEL UMC

185 S. White Chapel Blvd. Southlake, TX, 76092

For more information, contact Laura Bussell Coordinator lbussell8@gmail.com

Welcoming our newest neighbors

By Holly Walsh
Thank you for all of your contributions to help the family of nine get settled last month. They are from Afghanistan. The Father worked for our U.S. Military as an interpreter.
At the last minute, I was called to help pick them up at DFW when all 9 of them and their luggage couldn’t fit in the 2 cars already there! I was thrilled to get to meet the family. When we arrived at the apartment, they were in awe and had tears of overwhelming joy. The Father kept asking me how much he needs to pay for everything. I was finally able to help him understand people from our community all contributed to help them get off to a good start as they rebuild their lives. They were so grateful, surprised and kept saying thank you over and over. I promised I’d pass that expression of gratitude onto you. I apologize it’s taken me so long to let you know.
Refugees amaze me with their resilience, humility and gratitude. I’m so proud of us as a team that we can make monumental things happen in record time. Thank you for all you do and contribute to welcome the stranger and help rebuild lives.

Outing to the Dallas Museum of Art to meet Clemantine Wamariya

Took our guys to DMA to hear Clemantine Wamariya share her story as a Rwandan genocide survivor and author of “The Girl Who Smiled Beads”. She gave them autographed copies of her book and had an inspirational conversation with them after her presentation. The experience was very meaningful to our guys and helped them in their healing process.