All Peoples International Justice program supports our Afghan refugees who fled the violence in Afghanistan and are now seeking a peaceful new home in Kentucky. We thank Ky Refugee Ministries (KRM), the International Justice activists at both All Peoples and First Church for their selfless giving. Read Sheila Ward’s journal entry and some photos of our handiwork in welcoming our first family to Louisville!
REFUGEE JOURNAL
November/December 2021
By Sheila Ward
For many years, All Peoples has supported a number of refugee and asylum-seeking families coming to the U.S. This year, we decided to sponsor two Afghan families being settled in Louisville.
Sponsoring congregations are expected to provide $2,500 to Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) to pay for the first month’s expenses including rent, utilities, and food. As part of our fundraising efforts, we had Walter Lay and his band help us with another successful “Raise the Rent Party” on October 24. As a result of the party publicity, donations poured in for weeks afterward. Kathy Kremer and our friends at First Unitarian soon joined in on this effort and, within a month, we had plenty of furniture and household supplies donations for two families.
KRM liaison Maha Kolko later called to announce that our first family, the “Z” family, was arriving on November 9 – a young couple in their early 30s and their 2-year-old son (please note that we are not identifying their names for security reasons). We had a little over 24 hours to get the furniture into the apartment and set everything in place! KRM provided a truck with some strong young men to load furniture and supplies into two vans to haul to the apartment. We had three shifts of 2 to 4 volunteers from both congregations set up the apartment and stock the kitchen. Everything looked great by the time we had to leave for the airport.
November 9 – They’ve Arrived!
Several people from All Peoples and First Unitarian were there to greet our weary travelers at the airport. Our family seemed delighted to be met with smiles, signs, cards, and flowers. The little boy really liked the stuffed bunny and the soccer ball he received. Once they arrived at the apartment, they were greeted with a home-cooked meal.
November 12
Several of us visited the family a couple of days later with several items they had requested, including a tea kettle, Instapot, drying rack (for clothes), sewing kit and diapers. They were delighted and so truly appreciative of our help. The little boy was as cute and sweet as any toddler could be. We realized that the family needed a child car seat and we were able to provide one a few days later. Plans were made to take the family to the Laundromat and go grocery shopping the following week.
November 17
Several days later, several UU’s and a couple of women from the Guiding Light Mosque dropped by for a visit. The women from the mosque speak Farsi and Pashto, the native languages of our family. It was heartwarming to watch them all chat about Afghanistan while highlights of the conversation were being translated.
November 22
A washer and a dryer were installed on Monday, thanks to First U. We took them out that day for grocery shopping. We learned that the mom cut her hand while preparing food. She was taken to a health clinic, where she got stitches and bandaging. The case worker from KRM informed us later that her hand injury was improving and will not require further medical care.
November 28
Both parents are anxious to learn English. They participated in some language training in Germany and learned a few English words. Maha will secure a laptop for the family, which they can use for ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. They will soon start going to the local family center for English lessons on Mondays and Thursdays.
December 2
When we visited the Z family today. we were surprised to find two other Afghan refugee families visiting them – two mothers and four children. While our Z family cannot speak English, two of the visiting children – maybe middle school age – could speak some English which they had learned in Kabul and in their temporary refugee station in Germany.
Mr. Z was a policeman who worked with American soldiers in the two most war-torn parts of the northern country – Zones 1 and 2. He said there was fighting every night; some of his friends and comrades were killed, and eventually the Taliban took over their city. Using Google maps, he showed me the countryside and a photo of the new green two-story house his family had recently built before the takeover. The northern part of the country is a big producer of hazelnuts and has lush forests.
He and his wife are distant cousins who met through their extended families – his from the north, hers from Kabul where she was raised. The interpreter said it wasn’t uncommon to marry within one’s extended family. I was pleased that Ms. Z spoke frequently and easily, as did her husband, through the interpreter. She served tea, nuts and cookies.
We told them about All Peoples, how we supported everyone’s right to their own religions, and why we got involved in sponsoring them. We shared much about each other’s customs and traditions. It really brought home how much our refugees need to learn about the little things we take for granted.
December 17
We just learned that the father got approved for Special Immigrant Status. This means he will get his green card within 3 months and will have full benefits that regular refugees get. He will be able to get a job, access to health care, etc. He will not need to apply for asylum status, which can take years. This is really, really good news!
December 20
Since the family arrived last month with all their possessions in 2 suitcases, a clothes shopping trip is being planned for later this week.
THANK YOU!
We would like to acknowledge the generosity of all the people who have contributed time, money and furnishings to this refugee family project. Listed below is a partial list of folks who have helped in this effort.
All Peoples lead: Sheila Ward
First Unitarian Church lead: Kathy Kremer
KRM Liaison: Maha Kolko
| Chris Ashman | Jean Koehler |
| Liz Baber | Walter Lay and his Band |
| Will Baker | Lauri McDougall |
| Ellen Ballard and Dennis Neyman | Deborah and Bernie Novgorodoff |
| Katie Burke | Patty O’Malley |
| Gail Chandler | Kathi Peterson |
| Ruth Cloudman | Donna Riebel |
| Joanie McGuire | Shanda Shanagerger |
| Marcia Dorman | Elwood and Roxanne Sturtevant |
| Debra Emerson | Debby Sublett |
| Alan Godsave | Arlene Tuttle |
| Mary Goodwin | Ellen Sisti Wade |
| Jane Gross | Jan Weber |
| Marty Hoskins | Greg and Debbie Weeter |
| Mary Kinded | Rona (from Guiding Light Mosque) |
First UU Contributors
Donna Corbett
Kathy Drehmel
Carol Edelen
Uwe and Kathy
Susie Ems–donation
Kathy Gapsis
Joan Garrett
Genevieve Holtsclaw
Elizabeth Holtsclaw
Patty Kannapel
Rev. Lori Kyle
Nancy MacPherson
Beverly Moore
Patricia Ramey
Del Ramey
Janet Rink–donation
Ciaran Robinson
Claudia Runge
Jill Sherman
Steve Tonnemacher
Women’s Alliance