Jill's February Update

I thought since we were embarking on a new adventure that I could briefly update a somewhat open entry from last fall, just in case anyone was reading. In fall 2010, I was going to help a former Burmese refugee whose wife was a refugee in Malaysia get her to come to the U.S.A. I had little idea of where to start and at first I didn't have any luck.
Then I emailed the International Office of Migration which was actually able to give me a date of when she was coming! He had had many false hopes but we felt very confident when the IOM gave us a date. Unfortunately, Lutheran Social Services wasn't the sponsor for her so I wasn't able to be her volunteer helper.
She came just after Thanksgiving. Her husband rented an apartment and the two of them have been starting a new life together after being separated for many years. I finally met her in late January and she speaks some English and is a lovely woman.
We also had a family move away from Grace but before they did they were kind enough to inquire if the refugees we help needed any furniture. They donated a high chair to the family with a baby, and the family put it right to use. So the spirit of Grace has continued to help these people even after they have been in Arizona awhile. We look forward to the next family we are able to meet.

Christmas gifts for Mying Mying's family

Judy, Ron and I delivered Christmas gifts to the Mying Mying family today Lutheran Social Services likes to give each family gifts the first year they are here.

Only Mying Mying and some friends were there. The kids were at a religious service.

Not only did we bring them gifts but we also received some as Mying Mying had purchased a cake and some soda for us. She has always been very giving which seems a good lesson for me that if you want to share, you can find a way.

We inquired about her job and it is going well. She will get a shortened week for Christmas and New Year's. Since she works those long overnight hours, it's nice she will get a break from them but I don't know if she doesn't get paid.

We also saw that the kids were doing well in school and had received honor certificates which were hanging proudly in the livingroom.

I recently learned how to say "thank you very much" in Karen and was able to say that and the friend commented on how I was learning some Karen. They really seem to appreciate when you take the effort.

So for the whole experience I say (phonetically) "da blute pa dough".

Mying Mying has a job!

Update from Jill:
Mying Mying was happy to tell me that she starts work on November 22 at the Royal Paper Company. This is the same location where Ah Mee worked before they moved to Minnesota. It is the same hours too, unfortunately--10 hour days overnight, putting tissue in boxes and paper towels on rolls. It is a start, though.

She seemed to indicate her English classes were over, although she can still go because they're during the day, but at first she will probably be tired. So I won't be going over there every week now as she liked me to review her lessons with her. I would be happy to still go, but think she thinks I'm only supposed to help her with that or other small things. I will miss seeing Mying Mying every week but will figure out something to keep in touch.

Ron, Judy and I will be delivering Christmas presents in December. Lutheran Social Services looks for sponsors to give each new family Christmas gifts the first year they are in America. It's fun to bring them surprises.

November Update from Jill

Mying Mying is feeling confident to go to the bank to make a deposit herself. She told me what she would say in English--"I want to deposit"--and I understood her perfectly and then we practiced it a few more times. I am proud of her.

Most of the refugees are aware of the upcoming November 7, election in Myanmar. It is the first in 20 years. In preparation the leaders changed the country's name to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (from the Union of Myanmar) and created a new flag.

Jill's Latest Endeavor

My latest adventure is trying to help a refugee who came here in 2007 and who I met through the NoSa Lam family. I am trying to help his wife come here from Malaysia. She has been a refugee there for two years. They have been apart for seven years. This weighs on him a lot as they have been apart most of their married life and he feels his chances for having children are dwindling until she gets here.

I learned last night that Malaysia has no refugee camps, so the refugees who are there must pay for their own apartments, etc. They are registered by the UNHCR, and today on their site, I learned that 90% of the refugees there are from Myanmar (Burma). It is interesting to find out all the differences in refugee life.

So far I have not had luck with what this person asked me to do, but I will keep trying. I was able to contact the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia but they said the case number was not in their files, so I am waiting for the UNHCR field office to see if they reply.

The Mying Mying's At School

The Mying Mying family has been here 6 months now. Everyone is going to school. The children are in grades 4-8.
Mying Mying is taking English lessons at the complex and also takes classes at Shepherd of the Valley on Fridays with a Burmese group. They seem to learn a craft and about childcare. It is a set program with graduation in December.
Jill says, "I go over weekly and she reviews her English classes from the prior week. She writes notes in Karen, but that is okay as I write notes in English when I am trying to learn a new language."
Thanks, Jill, for doing such a great job taking care of this family and keeping us part of the process. What a blessing you are!

July Update from Jill

The Mying Mying family is doing pretty well. We had the problem today of them getting a piece of mail and not knowing what to do with it. I am pretty good at solving mail-related problems so I was happy to help. There was a problem with Mu Doh Paw's insurance. The hardest part of the whole thing was getting them to realize I needed to see her insurance card as a copy had to be sent in with a form. That took quite a bit of explaining and showing my own card, but then Mying Mying figured out I needed the card and got it. It was just 1 number wrong. The second hardest part was finding a place to copy the card but eventually that was done, too.

In getting the card they showed me some other paperwork, and I learned they were registered as refugees in 2005. Compared to NoSa Lam, it wasn't that long ago, but how traumatic it must have been to have to leave your country. It turns out there also is another living sibling but I do not know if she is still in camp or in another state. They frequently ask me about Omaha, so I believe someone important is there but our exchanges don't allow me lots of questions still with the language difference. My vocabulary list of Karen is progressing but is only words. They have taken to telling me how to say a lot of the things in Karen that we see in workbooks, etc., that I say in English. It helps me feel a little more connected.

The experience is wonderful and I enjoy the hugs from the younger children and look forward to my visits.