If you’ve read along with our journey, a resettlement case study that I began on July 20, 2009, you know we started with two Karenni families from Burma.

This resettlement project has been a greater challenge for us than most.  With two families, who did often not get along with each other, and therefore quicker burnout of our team, the last couple months have been a greater stuggle than usual.

However, today I am happy to report that in this past week, for the family that has remained in our care in Waukesha, the father has secured employment!  This coming Monday he will go through training for his job.  Then on Friday he’ll begin work, which is a 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. shift three days per week.

Having a job is of crucial importance to self-sufficiency.  Obviously, we want the refugees to pay for their own existence, and contribute to our society, not be a burden upon society. 

Perhaps a little less obvious is the self-esteem gained by the employed, as he is able to contribute to the welfare of his own family.  We have found that more than anything else, the men of the families want jobs.  They don’t want to sit around and have people take care of them.  They want to be the providers for their families.

Once employment is secured, their relationships in their families improve.  Their perspective on society improves.  And, our relationship with the refugee family can start to diminish.

It is at the point of employment that we can first consider that our project may be coming to an end.  Sure, we’ll still have to help out with little things from time to time, but the biggies are behind us.  Housing, medical needs, schooling, shopping, language training, and more, have been handled.  It’s just the job that remains.  And now, for this family, the job is in place!

The family arrived July 21.  The hire date was January 13 and the job will begin January 22.  Six months?  Yes, I think we can call it a success!

(Check back within the next few days.  I’ll post a summary of our time and expenses on this project.)

Some weeks ago we learned that a number of Burmese refugees in our area, including a couple children in a family that we had sponsored would be baptized at a local church.  A week ago we received confirmation that the baptism would indeed take place.

The Karen people of Burma have, more-or-less, a Baptist background so they believe in full immersion at an age of awareness and desire (different from my own Lutheran background which has infant baptisms).

St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Pewaukee has sponsored a number of refugee families over the years.  We have sponsored a number of refugee families over the years.  Our separate efforts in the Burmese community managed to come together in a way that could be described as the Holy Spirit moving among the people.

Today we met at St. Bart’s.  They had arranged for a swimming pool to be set up outside the church so that the immersions could be performed with each person, one at a time.  A preacher speaking Karen was present, as was an interpreter, and St. Bart’s priest-in-charge – Father Tom.

The congregation of St. Bart’s parishioners was there for a “normal” Sunday worship.  They were augmented by a good contingent from Ascension Lutheran Church, clustered together in the pews.  Burmese families moved around with excitement.  And the Burmese choir had voices ready to provide the all-important sounds that this really was not a “normal” Sunday.

After the greetings, and explanations how today’s service would proceed, the service was underway.  When it came to the days message, those who speak the Karen language moved to a different room.  Those who understand English stayed put.  We each had a sermon in our own language before reconvening.

Then the baptism was underway.  The Burmese baptismal candidates, their families, sponsors, and curious onlookers headed outside.  The live action was broadcast inside as well so that everyone could witness.

Now imagine 50 degrees, light wind, cloudy skies, and a pool with two feet of water.  It was cold.  The two pastors got into the water, with the Burmese choir singing. 

The first young man stepped into the water as well.  When the choir stopped, the pastors said a few words, then dipped the young man backward into the water.  He arose a few seconds later drenched and shivering.  By the time he stepped out of the water the choir was singing again.  He was greeted with a warm blanket.

The ritual repeated another four times as two more boys and two more girls received their baptism with the words of the pastors, the song of the choir, the chilly water, and the gift from above.  Everyone present was moved.  This was not a typical Sunday service or a typical baptism.  No, this was special, and we could feel it!

With the immersion ceremony complete, we headed back inside.  For five young people and two pastors the first step was a change to warmer, dryer clothing.  The baptism was then concluded with the lighting of candles and anointing with holy oil.

The service proceeded to Holy Communion for all present.  Words were spoken in English and the Karen language as we received the bread and wine. After communion was complete, the worship concluded and was followed by a reception.

Through the years sponsoring refugees we’ve been invited to their weddings.  We’ve welcomed their newborn children.  We’ve seen them reunited with family members.  We’ve celebrated graduations.  We’ve witnessed the grand step of becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States.  We have rejoiced in good times and shared some pain in hard times.

Today was the first time we celebrated Holy Baptism with our refugees.  I’m happy I could be a part of this special moment too!

Wow, there was a lot happening today…

First thing this morning I got a call from one of our co-chairs.  She had gotten a call saying that a wash machine repair person would be at the house at 8:30 this morning, wondering if she could meet him there.  She agreed.

She was wondering if I knew about any other things happening today.  I said I thought we had drivers picking them up for a visit to the Workforce Development center today for their food and medical assistance meeting, but I didn’t think it would be that early.  She assured me it would be that early, but she thought it was tomorrow.   Together we combined to be one correct person.  The meeting was today at 8:30.  Clearly neither of us had checked our collective calender.  Fortunately those involved were all aware.

The driver arrived at about the same time as our co-chair.  With two Americans present they were able to convince the newcomers to leave their children at home to avoid the 4 hour appointment.  The crying only took about 15 minutes to stop so it worked out OK.  A noisy riding toy that was donated yesterday proved to be the trick to capture the attention of the crying boy.

Meanwhile the appointment at the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) did not take nearly as long as normal.  It was only about an hour and a half. 

If you read much of my writing in this blog, in other blogs, or in my book you’ll see that I am quite positive in my feelings toward the motives of other people.  I tend to give the benefit of doubt to others.  Some may call it naive.  I just happen to think that people are basically good and try to solve things in the best possible way, when they know how.  Where I do express some cynicism is in relation to “the system.”  Mostly though it’s a mocking humor because no one person could conceive of the craziness involved in various aspects of “the system.”

For example, in regard to the Workforce Development Center today, the appointment only took 1.5 hours instead of 4.  It turns out that the person helping out today has not handled a case like this in years.  So I joked that she wasn’t experienced enough to remember how to drag out a 1 hour meeting to 4 hours anymore. :)

One member on our resettlement team has worked exclusively with Burmese refugees over the years.  She has developed quite a network within that community.  So, for today’s WFDC visit, she was able to get a former refugee to help interpret.  It’s quite a convenience when we can get an interpretor that has been through a comparable experience.

A story from a few days ago was brought up at our team meeting tonight.  It concerned some blankets that were found at the house on move-in day.  It appeared to be a box of ratty blankets, the type we would wonder who was trying to pass off junk as a good donation.  One of the co-chairs took the box out to the garage, where we triage before committing goods.

The next day the box was back in the house.  Clearly someone wanted them.  The co-chair asked about them wondering if they “really wanted these old smelly things” and received confirmation that she believed meant they did want to keep them.  With the washing machine not working at the time, she decided to take them and wash them.  She had to give assurances that she’d bring them back.

As she pulled the blankets out to wash, she noticed writing on them that was clearly not English.  Finally it dawned on her that these blankets were precious possessions that a member of the refugee family carried with him in his luggage.

When she returned them the owner picked one up and sniffed it.  He said, “not smelly.”  And then, she believes, he tried to tell her they were from his mother.  Another good lesson for us.

While unpacking linens that were donated for the family, some napkins were uncovered in the box.  The women in the family were very excited, certainly more excited than we would expect, to see the decorative cloth dinner napkins.  Has it been so long since they’ve had a fine napkin to set on their lap or to wipe their hands?

They quickly started looking for the nicest ones.  Each woman selected her favorite and promptly put her choice on her head.  They also found one for the head of the youngest child.  Oh, now we get the cultural lesson.  The cloth napkins were just the right size for headcovering and much more glamorous than what had been available in a refugee camp.

One of the children had their first medical appointment today.  I won’t go into details because medical information must be kept private.  Let’s just say that it was a difficult process.  The clinic has access to a language line and was able to get a Burmese interpreter.  The mom speaks the Karenni language, not much Burmese.  In the future we’ll have to have the father along to speak to the language line.

After that the entire family went to the public health department for their required TB tests.

And then, a miracle happened.  The telephone was installed today.  I call this a miracle because getting telephone service is often a problem.  What helped simplify the telephone application process this year was that we had a social security number by the time the family moved into the house.  That meant that we didn’t have to jump through some of the usual hoops.

By the end of the day they the telephone number was assigned and the telephone line was working.  This is a great step forward.  It means that if there are any serious issues we can get them on the phone with an interpreter to help move communication forward.  Things are moving forward nicely.

Things still moving forward, but slowly so I have combined two days into a single entry.

Day 9

We made appointments for the family at the Waukesha Public Health Department.  This is a necessary for every arriving refugee family. Typically everyone needs TB tests.  Sometimes blood tests are also required.  It’s good to get these appointments in as soon as possible.

Day 10

A case worker at Lutheran Social Services conducted an orientation with the family today.  The orientation is designed to be very informational for the family, explaining the process they are going through.  An interpreter must be present to make sure communication is clear.

Although not a requirement, we recommend that the cosponsor be present at this meeting.  In fact we insist on being present because we want to  understand what the family is being told so that we can support that perspective and answer questions relative to that understanding. 

Furthermore, with an interpreter present the family can ask questions of the cosponsor and the cosponsor can ask questions of the family.  This creates a great opportunity to build a stronger trusting relationship.

Oops, we weren’t invited to this meeting and only learned about it after the fact.   That’s too bad since we always enjoy having this opportunity.

We picked up a copy of the house lease today with the hopes that the family will sign it tomorrow.  Then we can begin to firm up move in plans.

One member of our refugee resettlement team has worked with Burmese refugees for nine years.  She got started at a different church before joining our church and our resettlement team.  Where many of us on the team have worked with refugees from several different countries, she has worked just within the various Burmese communities.  This has helped her tie in quite closely and have several solid relationships.

Here’s some information she put together for our team (thanks Jo) which I have paraphrased:

Nine years ago our community welcomed Burmans from Burma, two years ago we welcomed Karen people from Burma, now we welcome Karenni people from Burma.  These are different ethnic groups with largely the same problems, all related to the repressive military government in Burma.

Examples of the problems include:  religious persecution, human rights abuses, burned out villages, theft of food, and forced labor, among others.

Our newest refugee family is from the Karenni tribe.  Karenni are a break off of the Karen ethnic group.  This break happened many generations, centuries ago.  Since that time they settled in an area of northeastern Burma and have developed their own language.  The Karenni refugees are generally from a refugee camp in northern Thailand.

Tomorrow we will receive two Karenni families from Burma who have been living in a refugee camp in Thailand.  Lutheran Social Services (LSS) has a large number of families arriving over the next few weeks and requested our help.  We have never helped resettle two families simultaneously.  We have never received a family biography just one day before their arrival.

What we do know is that every resettlement experience is different from every other one.  Yet there are certain principles that hold true each time.  We are an experienced team and it looks like we’ll have 12-15 team members to help pull this off.  That’s a good number to help share the load.

I will attempt to capture the major accomplishments and related stories on this blog so that you can see how it works through our example.  At the same time I will be making final edits to my refugee resettlement how-to guide.  Be sure to come back regularly to see our progress.  Also get your name on my mailing list so I can let you know when the book becomes available.