Page 23 - Samaritas Fall/Winter Our Hands 2022

CONGREGATIONAL CONNECTIONS

Who is my neighbor?

Last fall, all of us at Samaritas began preparing to welcome record numbers of
refugees from Afghanistan. I have continued to be amazed at the stories I have
heard of people taking long, long journeys, often with infants and children, and
then making their homes here in Michigan.

It’s obvious to say, but refugee resettlement is hard work. It’s hard work for staff,
for co-sponsors, and for our new neighbors themselves as they adjust to what life
is like here in Michigan. But the overwhelming response I have heard from the
refugees themselves is gratitude for the hospitality of Michiganders. This makes me
so proud of all of you who have taken this chance at the “long welcome,” knowing
that it won’t always be easy.
One such team who took a chance and welcomed a family is the one from Sojourn Church in Traverse City. This was considered a
“remote resettlement” as it is far from the usual services, but Sojourn’s team and the refugee family rose to this occasion.

I wanted to share some parts of this beautiful letter sent from the team leader, Rebecca Kase:

“Thank you again for taking a chance on doing a remote resettlement in Traverse City. In the short time [the family] has been here their
needs have been met in ways that have exceeded all of our expectations.

On the sixth month anniversary of their arrival here they will be moving into this 4-bedroom home. Sojourn Church voted and agreed
to buy this property for them to rent to own/build equity.

They have a 7-passenger Town and Country van that is paid for. Both [parents] have full-time employment and [the high school student]
is working part-time while he goes to high school. The oldest boys will begin college classes in the fall.

Six people served as the core of the Team. We have all fallen in love with this family, and helping them has been a privilege. We are
learning that much can still be lost in translation so we are still helping with important mail and issues like auto insurance, etc.
Because they are Christians they have chosen to attend Sojourn Church though I made it clear to them at the beginning that while they
were most welcome to come they should not feel obligated to attend. Our church would have treated a Muslim family in the same way
with no strings attached.

But because we have so much common ground with them as brothers and sisters in Christ it has helped them integrate with our church
family which has benefited all of us.

Samaritas has helped this past year through you and your co-workers there. Thank you for letting us be a part of this good work.”

Jonathan Shotwell, the sponsorship coordinator for Samaritas on the west side of the state, offered this beautiful reflection on the work
with Sojourn Church:

"Sojourn Church in Traverse City has lived into their call to love thy neighbor, thy new and foreign neighbor. With remote staff support
from Samaritas, a committed group of volunteers from their church welcomed our New American clients into their community with
extravagant hospitality. Their compassion mobilized an abundance of resources in both time and money that has undoubtedly set our
clients on a path to self-sufficiency. We are thankful to have had Sojourn Church join us in this important humanitarian relief work.
This is exactly what we dream of when we imagine fruitful community partnerships."
This is what it’s all about! Thank YOU for being a part of this work, whether it’s been through prayer, financial contributions, “drives”
for household and hygiene goods, or simply bearing witness to these stories as they unfold.

May God bless us as we seek to love one another in word and deed in the name of Jesus, who continues to ask us,
“Who is my neighbor?”
Please let me know if your congregation would

Peace, like to receive my monthly updates. We also have
Pastor Beth Birkholz many opportunities for engagement and outreach.
Director of Congregational Engagement I'm here to help connect Samaritas with
Beth.Birkholz@samaritas.org
Good Samaritans!

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