Page 13 - Our Hands FALL 2019

NEW AMERICANS

Wilson, Nadine, and their newborn baby, family, Bonheur Nyonzima, who is now 13 Bonheur’s burns healed and he has been
Gift Nsengiyumva, fled the village and ran years old. One day there was a storm and living with the Nsengiyumva family ever
towards the border. They heard Tanzania lightning struck their neighbor’s home in since. When the family was notified of the
was a safer country and, despite poor the refugee camp. Each family member opportunity to be resettled in America,
health, traveled hundreds of miles to seek died, except a young boy, Bonheur. The they insisted the child join them. They
refuge in the neighboring country. They Nsengiyumva family found the child will continue an adoption process now in
took a boat over Lake Victoria and then severely burned and rushed him to a clinic America.
Wilson disguised himself as a goat herder for medical care. They said the boy had
to cross the border. serious burns on his face, hip, and stomach The family currently lives in Hamtramck
- resulting in damage to his internal and has been receiving a variety of
“If I traveled by bus or car, the officials organs. The first clinic gave them basic Samaritas services including: support
at the border would know I was coming paracetamol and said they were unable with public benefits processes, medical
from Congo and maybe stop us and send to handle such a severe case. The family appointments, housing, transportation,
us back,” Wilson said. “So I pretended took him to a second clinic. And a third school enrollments, and household items.
to be a goat farmer so they would not ask clinic. Each one said they did not have the The family said they have goals now to
questions.” resources to treat the child. Nadine said work, learn to drive, learn more English

When they arrived in a nearby she used home-based (they are multi-lingual), receive medical
care, and are especially excited about the
city in Tanzania, they contacted “It is by God that we solutions to care for children going to school and hopefully one
UN officials to claim refugee have lived and that the child, including day universities.
status. They did not, however, God brought us here to putting honey on the
have any identification or wounds. “It is by God that we have lived and that
documentation with them America,” said Wilson, They called many God brought us here to America,” said
so they had to wait several reflecting on their doctors and found one Wilson, reflecting on their experiences.
months to be cleared to even experiences. “Thank you hospital offering help, “Thank you Samaritas and thank you so
be relocated to a refugee camp. but it was very far much God.”
The family was transported to Samaritas and thank away and Wilson was
the camp, where they ended you so much God.” unable to walk such a To learn more about helping New
up living for six years. It was long distance due to Americans, including mentoring,
here they experienced food and water his previous leg injury. Finally, they found providing community support or supplies
shortages and difficulties to find work. a Chinese doctor who was willing to treat for a new home, please contact Mihaela
Mitrofan at (248) 663 - 8125, or email
During this time, they gave birth to two Bonheur for free and conducted a skin mmitr@samaritas.org.
other children, Given and Gilian. They graph. Nadine said it took more than two
have also added another member to the months to find this doctor.

Be the Rock That Starts the Ripple

N E W A M E R I C A N S
• English as a second language (ESL) tutors
• Mentors
• Sewing machines and supplies (for our combination ESL Sewing class)
• Donations for refugee family support
Please contact Lauren Brosch at LBros@samaritas.org to learn
about more ways to help our newest Americans!

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