After a mixed bag of a night's sleep, we headed to the Clarkston Community Center once again. After a brief orientation with Melanie, our point of contact with Lutheran Services of Georgia, we split into groups of three, and each group visited the home of a refugee family (accompanied by an LSG staff member). Brief but impactful, these meetings are sure to be one of the high points of the trip, and one that will stick in our memories for a long time to come.
Jenny, Torrey, Sam, and LSG staffer Mary Emily met with Rawan, an Iraqi woman with one child. Rawan's husband is still in Iraq, and plans to arrive in the States "soon." Rawan shared her story, and her wedding photos!
Hallie, Josh, Malerie, and Melanie met with Tin Tiang and Sun, a beautiful Burmese couple who have only been in the U.S. for three weeks. They were overwhelmed, but so grateful to be here. They talked a lot about their faith taking them through the difficult and dangerous time in Burma, and then the Malaysian refugee camp they spent several years in.
Celina, E, D'Anne, and LSG case manager Crispin met Mbonekube (sp?), a single, Congolese mother of two, who was delighted for the company. During this meeting, it came up that E and Celina speak Spanish, and now have been given the opportunity to meet a Spanish-speaking family at the airport this Friday, to serve as interpreters, and the welcoming committee.
We spent the afternoon pulling lots and lots of weeds, and running from giant snakes near the fruit trees of the community center, and had an enormous soul food dinner at the historic Mary Mac's Tea Room.
A good one.
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