IS YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS? (AKA a thought on the refugee crisis)

The issue of immigration, asylum seekers and refugees is a long standing and complex one. I don’t know how leaders and officials balance a desire to be a safe place and refuge for those who genuinely need it with the need to protect the jobs, safety etc of their own population. For every statistic there is another one contradicting it, and even within myself, I WANT to be a place of safety and welcome for the broken and oppressed......but not if it means some of the negative things that I’ve seen, heard and experienced.

One thing I AM certain of though, is that with rights and privileges go responsibilities. With a cry of ‘we want justice’, we have to be prepared to make the sacrifices to make that happen. I can’t cry “End abortion” if I’m not prepared to adopt or support someone through the consequences of that birth taking place. I can’t cry “Save the [insert some environmental cause] is I’m not prepared to make changes in my own life to cut the demand for that product. The same is true with the refugee situation. How can I say “Let them in” without also being willing to take a step toward answering “And what happens when they get here?”. The reality is, many of us like the IDEA of our country welcoming those who need refuge, but then don’t like the burden that becomes on the systems that can then not longer do as much to support us, or, we simply forget about them and forget that arriving is only the first step of a LONG journey toward being able to thrive in their new country. Last week I saw a meme I liked. It was tongue in cheek but it showed two photos, one of a rally/march/protest and another an official saying something to the effect of every protester leaves with their own refugee to take care of. I don’t like the heartlessness and lack of compassion that likely spurred that, but I do like the very real challenge that OK, you say ‘Come in’.....but what happens next? Who takes care of them? Who teaches them about the banking system? Healthcare? Education? Who feeds, clothes and provides for them? Transport? Language?

So, my question today to everyone who would like their nation to be allowing more refugees to enter, what are YOU doing to help prepare for their arrival? What can YOU do to help them thrive in your society? Need ideas?

• Donate goods you no longer use to a charity or ministry in your area that meets the needs of refugees

• Set aside money each month to be able to help a family in need

• Volunteer a skill at a shelter/through a ministry or charity. You’d be amazed at the variety of things that can be offered, from dentistry to helping someone figure out local transport to cutting hair in a women’s shelter through to DIY......if there’s a skill set, there’s a need for it.

• Offer help with paperwork for school enrollment, forms for getting ID, banking, insurance, benefits

• Teach an English class once a week

If this last one appeals to you, how about getting trained up to do it? Many people find that simply being an English speaker doesn’t make you an effective teacher. There are many ways to get trained, simply do a google search. And I will do a shameless plug for a TESOL school very close to my heart right here in NY! Visit www.ywamny.org/tesol/ for details and get trained up to be a practical support for a refugee family – it’s a good one!