A Day in the Life of Refugee Resettlement

What an adventure! The past two days have been filled with mission and detective work, and Jill Coughlin has become the master of this. This weekend, through much trial and error, Jill was able to figure out that Po Lone was very upset because he lost his backpack during his journey here. After Michelle had given Jill a CD with the pictures that we took of the family's arrival at the airport and their first glimpse of their new apartment, Jill was able to see that Po Lone had the backpack when he arrived at Terminal 4, but he didn't have it as we were leaving the airport.

That resulted in a phone call to Sky Harbor Airport, where Jill processed the necessary paperwork for Lost and Found. In the meantime, we placed frantic calls to Lutheran Social Ministries to see if perhaps their case worker had picked it up or if Po Lone had left it in their van. On Tuesday morning, we got the word from Sky Harbor Airport that they had a backpack that fit the description, so Joe drove to Sky Harbor to identify it and pick it up. Going through the backpack, he found what looked to be Burmese books, some dirty laundry, and lo and behold, some pictures of Po Lone and family and friends that were obviously precious to him. When Joe and Michelle returned the backpack to Po Lone on Tuesday evening, he was so overwhelmed with joy, we thought he was going to weep.

While at the apartment, we asked if they needed anything, and Po Lone translated for Ah Mee to tell us that they needed vegetables and fish "pace". We couldn't figure out what he was saying, so we asked him to write it, and he wrote "fish path." Because we had no idea what vegetables they needed, and no clue what fish path might be, we took Po Lone to Fry's and walked up and down every aisle, letting Po Lone choose the things the family needed. We never did find fish path, and he was very disappointed.

So today, we contacted Lutheran Social Ministries to try to figure out what they were looking for. Donna told us that it's fish paste, and it can be found in Oriental markets. This evening, Jill went to the apartment, armed with her new knowledge that fish paste in Burmese is a word that sounds like "gnaw boo". Ya Min and Mya Min were able to help Jill figure out that fish paste comes in a can, so Jill explained that she would buy 2 and bring them the next time she came.

Off to the oriental market she went, only to discovered that fish paste comes with a number of choices, including crab and shrimp. She decides that shrimp is a good choice, so picks up 2 cans of that. This made sense that Po Lone would write "path" because to the non-English speaker you might not hear the "s" sound. As she's scanning the aisle one more time, what do you think she finds? Fish pate, so now she's thinking, "is this what they meant?". So she got one of those too, and will bring them to them on Friday. She was never able to establish how much of the stuff a person would use or what they used it for, but it's definitely a learning process.

Jill's reaction to all this: "I feel like I don't know what I'm doing sometimes, yet it's fun and I don't mind. I know I wouldn't be doing these things if I wasn't involved, so thank you again for that."

If you'd like to join Jill on this bold, daring, reckless adventure of bringing Grace to a refugee family, email michelle@faceofgrace.org and we'll put you in touch with Jill. The fun never stops!!!!

Two Days After Arrival

Jill & Jacinda have been following up with the family, and they were happy to discover that the family is already making more friends! The apartment was full of people, just as we have often encountered with the Lams (the family we sponsored from Burma last year).

Ah Gate and Po Lone were wearing the shirts Jill had picked out and they looked very nice. The girls looked very pretty as they were wearing some of the clothes from the Kvittam-Barr girls.

Jill set up the time for Don and Yuqin to go clothes shopping with the family on Saturday. To help them to understand when they'd come for them, she drew a picture of a clock and Jacinda drew a July calendar.

Jacinda brought a music player, much to the delight of the girls. She tried to get them to know it was to share; I'm sure they all will.

Po Lone is actually doing better with English today. Although Jill's Burmese pronunciation always seems to be different (we think she has an accent from NoSa's area, because he's the one that has been helping her with her Burmese), everyone has been perfectly happy to help her. They were pleased when she said "good-bye" the way they taught her, although they did confirm that she also knew how to say it another way. Now she must practice both ways.

Although Ah Gate doesn't speak (he was partially paralyzed by a stroke 5 years ago), he seems very aware of all that is going on, so that is good.

Big Day for Ah Gate's Family

On Tuesday afternoon, July 8, Ah Gate, Ah Mee and their three children arrived at Sky Harbor Airport after two days of journeying from the refugee camp in Thailand. They were greeted at the airport by the case worker from Lutheran Social Ministries, and by Jill Coughlin and Joe & Michelle Halonen from Grace.
After loading their 5 bags of belongings into our vehicles, we drove them to their new home. What a wondrous thing to behold as we watched them walk through the door of their apartment and look around to see all that had been prepared for them. Ah Mee was so overcome with emotion that her eyes continually filled with tears. Ah Gate, who suffered a stroke about 5 years ago, was obviously exhausted from his journey. When Po Lone helped him from his wheelchair onto the very cushy couch, Po Lone was so comfortable that he quickly fell asleep, even though he was sitting up.
Mya Min and Ya Min were giggly as they explored their new home, and were especially delighted with the bunk beds they would be sleeping in. Even though we couldn't understand the language, we knew they were each putting dibs on the top bunk.
Po Lone, who recently turned 18, has obviously taken on the role as leader for his family. He listened intently to all the instructions that were given about how to turn on and off the lights, how to regulate the air conditioner, how to use the vacuum cleaner and microwave and rice cooker and stove, and how to use the telephone.
It was fun watching Jill as she spoke a few words of Burmese with the family, and Ah Mee was deeply touched by Jill's desire to communicate.
Jacinda and Tayler Sartorius brought a roasted chicken, and together with Jill, they provided refreshments and dinner for the family's first dinner in America.
In these pictures, you can see Jill trying to communicate with the family using her Burmese word book, and you can see Jacinda showing Ya Min how to turn the living room lamp on and off. What a fun first day in America!

Preparing for the Ah Gate Family - July 2008

Jill Coughlin is heading up the team of volunteers who will be working with Ah Gate, Ah Mee and their family when they arrive this month. A lot of time, effort and amazing generosity of Gracer's has gone into the preparations for their arrival. Mike & Kim Ricker drove many miles throughout the valley to pick up furniture, and Jill & Ron and Michelle & Joe spent many hours sorting through the donations and getting the apartment ready.

February Update - Baby Lam!!!

We have a new baby!!!! On February 6, 2008, Zar Zar gave birth to That That Nai (pronounced Tat Tat Nay). Mom and baby are all doing fine. They came home from the hospital the following day, and the girls are delighted with their new sister. We've been able to provide a few basics such as a crib and some diapers, etc. Jill learned that when That That Nai is visiting her grandparents' apartment, she is sleeping in the doll crib we had found and brought over for the girls to play with.

NoSa has a new job....Hurray!!! He now works at the Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket in Chandler. His hourly wage is about the same, but he doesn't have to get up as early to take two buses like he did for his old job, and it seems that he has steadier work hours, which is really nice for him. If it's sold in Asia, this mega-store likely stocks it. Opened in 1990 by a Cambodian refugee (how encouraging for our refugees to see how well refugees can do in America), Lee Lee specializes in mainstream foods, such as soy sauces, noodles, rice and sesame seeds, along with the unfamiliar. The market's seafood counter, with barracuda, anchovies and live catfish, and its sprawling produce section, with daikon radishes the size of footballs, have no match. There are many languages spoken there and apparently someone keeps thinking NoSa should speak Indian (he was laughing at that joke).

Thursday, December 27

Dianne and Bob returned to the Lam's apartment on Wednesday evening for a follow-up visit.

NoSa very graciously brought them 2 cans of juice and a platter full of bananas, serving them on a little table that he set before them by the sofa.

He broke their hearts when he brought out his phrase book and earnestly and repeatedly pointed to the phrase "I need a good job." Interestingly it was right next to the phrase that said "I need a good paying job," but that was not the one he selected.

NoSa's Malaysian friend earnestly and patiently tried to explain to them that NoSa does not make enough money to pay the rent, while his Malaysian friend is just fine, as he is single, lives with 2 other men, so his share of the rent is just $200+. Dianne was shocked when they brought her 2 paystubs that showed NoSa worked only 20+ hours one week and 30+ hours another week. Not only does he make just $7/hour, he's not even working 40 hours/week - not even close. NoSa is very concerned about his ability to pay the rent - and probably also to pay for food and to pay back their transportation debt for coming here. This must weigh on him, because it's clearly a request that he's made to both Jill and Dianne. Dianne told him that we are praying for him and talking to people about his job need. She also tried to emphasize the importance of practicing English: "good English, good job."

Here are some other observations that Dianne made as they visited with the Lam's extended family:

It seems that men and women don't share the same sofa. And they certainly defer to men. They immediately offer the sofa to Bob, Dianne is clearly secondary. When the Malaysian friend came in, ZarZar's mother quickly got up and gave him her seat on the sofa and she stood, though there was plenty of room for them both to sit without touching. Then she sat down on the white plastic bench in a very cozy arrangement with ZarZar and the little girls.

Dianne and Bob have a brand new ink jet printer that they're not using and will bring to the Lams. Our desire is to get them anything that will facilitate their English. She wonders if the printer wouldn't be more useful in apt 328, given that there are 3 children in school in that apartment, but since they (and their possessions) travel freely back and forth, it will get used wherever it's needed the most.

Tuesday, December 25

On Christmas Day, Jill returned to the Lams apartment with Dianne and Bob as they brought over a "new" used television. NoSa had told Jill that the old one broke and became "basura" (which is "trash" in Spanish), and when Jill emailed the team, several of our team members offered to bring over a used television for them. The Lams seemed very happy and surprised, too.

It was especially gratifying to see that the girls were actually wearing the outfits Jill had picked out. They solved the problem of the too long pants by rolling them up.

It is clear that Jill has developed a special bond with this family through her consistent presence in their lives. She has a very useful phrase book that makes some translation actually possible! And she has learned some useful Burmese phrases that clearly give great pleasure to the Lam family - it's pretty clear that they feel very honored by her effort. The little girls just flock to Jill, and the whole family really looks to her.

They never seem to be passive recipients of our gifts, but curious and active participants in creating their new life here. They are very polite in greeting and shaking everyone's hand - even the little girls - very polite in saying their hellos and good-byes. They sit on the floor and motion us to sit on the couch. It is clear that they have a pride in treating their guests warmly. They are always enthusiastically grateful.

Can you picture this...

• Jill sitting on the floor trouble shooting the computer
• Bob and NoSa also on the floor setting up the tv
• ZarZar sitting on the floor (7 months pregnant!)
• ZarZar's dad in a chair off to the side - the patriarch quietly observing the action from the sidelines
• TinSay crawling in and out of the crib and over the top of the dresser - she's very active
• ThaZin curled up on the couch next to her aunt (Tin Say and ThaZin carry their Christmas present princess dolls everywhere)
• ZarZar's mom next to Dianne on the other side on the couch, with her youngest 8 year old daughter (ZarZar's sister) at her side

It was fun to be in that room with everyone. ZarZar's mother is very outgoing - very eager to tell how many brothers and sisters she has here in this country. Of course, this is all done with hand gestures and a (very) little bit of translation by ZarZar's sister and Jill's phrase book, so it would surely be pretty comical to anyone watching from the outside.

ZarZar's sister is still not working. She is the one who lost her papers, so we don't know quite what is going on there. She is also very outgoing and enthusiastic- more like NoSa than like ZarZar (who is more quiet and retiring). Given her little bit of English, she would be a good candidate for a job.

What fun for these amazing volunteers to make Christmas so special for this refugee family from Burma.