Reaching out to Refugees

by Judy Herzog, St. Andrew’s Mission Team 

     Two St. Andrew’s groups have embarked on a joyful adventure this spring – that of being co-sponsors of a refugee family. It all began in January when Cherie Gray, a local missionary, came to St. Andrew’s to speak during Connections.  She told us of the 500+ refugees that arrive in Tucson each year through the United Nations resettlement program, and challenged us to become co-sponsors of a family and extend Christ’s love and friendship to them during their first months here.

     Many responded to her message and came to a training session in February to hear more. An agency caseworker finds housing for them and helps them to get immunizations, food stamps, social security numbers, jobs, children enrolled in school, etc.  Co-sponsors are asked to help furnish their apartment, stock the refrigerator and cupboards, provide a hot meal on the day of arrival, greet them at the airport, and visit them regularly during the first three to four months...helping them to learn English and to adjust to our culture.

     Two groups stepped forward to take families this spring, and within a week the first group was busy preparing for a family of seven from Somalia scheduled to arrive on March 5. Group members picked up the generous donations of furniture and household items made by our St. Andrew’s family. On the evening of arrival, Bob and Marianne Hadden, Clark and Chris Lantz, Diane Evans, Freeman and Rebecca Taber and Jason and Jennifer Caywood experienced great joy in greeting the family at the airport. Gary and Carol Cook are also part of this group that have enjoyed many activities with the Somali family. The opportunities both for sharing with and learning from our new refugee friends seem to be endless.

     The second St. Andrew’s group agreed to prepare for two single brothers and a single mom with a 10-month old baby…all coming from Burundi, Africa.  Two apartments were prepared and on March 29. Dave and Melinda Spoelstra, Steve and Jan Olafson, Lee and Claudia Harbers, Steve and Judy Herzog, Roger and Julie Taylor, Randy and Ginny Richardson, and Tom and Tina Bush welcomed them to Tucson. We soon discovered that two more brothers and their family had arrived the week before and live in the same apartment complex…so we are coming to know and love 13 people from Burundi. Each time we go there is a bit of fear due to the language barrier, but it is quickly replaced by deep satisfaction and joy.

     Have you ever felt the call to be a missionary but been unable or unwilling to make the sacrifice of going overseas?  Now we have a foreign mission field right here in our own backyard. If you’d like to be a part of St. Andrew’s outreach to refugees, please call Judy Herzog at 299-4430.

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