Barbara's blog

I went to Catholic Charities--did the usual form filling out. And then it was off to take Jacqueline to an appointment. And to see Nadine. What a joy to see her so surrounded by the love of her family-it brought tears to my eyes to see her smiling again!! It's been a while since I heard her laugh out loud--music to my ears. Her Mom is so sweet and was such a good sport about going to her appointment . Though we do not share a common language, we managed to get where we needed to go. At the appointment we found out that she had yet a second appointment 2 hrs later at an entirely different location I did learn a very important fact--she does not eat chicken!!!That's what Nadine always got so I foolishly made an assumption that the same was true for her. She eats beef--not chicken. Again she was so sweet - I didnt know why she would not eat her lunch, so I called Nadine. Thursday I took Jacqueline to get some lab tests done. When I arrived Nadine was playing with Cecelia [youngest]. Again I was so thrilled to see her interactions with her family. Keep up all your wonderful encouragement for our family--we have been blessed to be involved --prayers do get answered--in His time, not ours. Melissa,Elsa and I have encouraged each other with those words. They are all too true- Barbara Gamsberg

Debbie's blog

From Debbie Shaver

Jim and I had the special opportunity of witnessing the reunion of Nadine and her family at the San Jose airport on September 4, 2009. Nadine was quite emotional as she waited for her family to arrive. Several times she wiped tears away from her face and said, “I am so happy.” I think we all had butterflies in our stomachs as we waited for the family to appear. Finally, we saw Reza from Catholic Charities escorting the family toward us. The oldest sister was the first to spot Nadine. Her face broke into a huge smile, and soon, Nadine collapsed into the embrace of her sister and mother. Nadine collapsed physically and emotionally, and suddenly I could sense the weight of the last two years of being a refugee in the U.S. and undergoing very serious medical procedures without her family. The rest of the family huddled around and didn’t quite seem to know what to do. Finally Nadine was able to hug her father and a few of her brothers.

Then the hugging stopped and the family looked around waiting for what was going to happen next. The moments that followed felt rather awkward to me. The family members were obviously extremely exhausted and overwhelmed. They followed Reza to the baggage claim area, but there was little talking or hugging. The oldest sister was the only one who seemed relaxed and able to talk with Nadine as we waited. The rest looked completely shell-shocked, especially the mother.

It was an intense experience for me to witness this emotional reunion. After being away for the weekend, it was so heartening to read the previous posts and learn that the initial shock had dissipated and that a sense of family had taken over.

I can’t even imagine the family’s emotions as they have traveled across continents and cultures to join their oldest daughter and start a new life in the U.S. I am overwhelmed as I think about how difficult the next few months will be for them, but I know that all of this has happened for a reason and that God has a good plan for them.

Debbie

Melissa's blog

From Melissa Kreisa...

Hi All,

Just home from church camp and DESPERATE to get an update on how things are going. So thankful to read your blog notes Wendy and Tricia – wonderful! You’ve inspired me to write too… Wendy, this is my first time as well…

OK, I’ve been a total spazz all weekend. It is kind of like that surreal feeling after you give birth – where everything looks new in the world. .. like you are looking at it all through a different lens. Also, kind of the birthing mood swings -- wanted to cry one minute and scream for joy the next! It was pretty much this way all weekend. Hosted Steve H and Nancy for dinner on Friday night and my husband kept poking me saying, “please let someone else talk or ask someone else question”. I hogged the entire conversation -- a big Nadine ramble-fest.

Thing was, it was only a couple of hours after the airport arrival and I was trying to process it all. My three kids and I (along with Debbie and Jim) met the family on Friday at the airport. Debbie, Jim, Nadine and Idris (translator and caregiver to Nadine), and a driver for Catholic Charities were waiting there when we arrived. Reza (Director at CC) was waiting for the family at the gate. Nadine was very sweet and calm. My kids were running circles around her (and people coming off of the plane, sigh). She was smiling and giggling as I was sharing with her how crazy and ill-behaved my kids were being. Then Idris came over and said the family was coming. We all turned the corner of the waiting area. Nadine flew into her mother’s arms screaming and crying. It was an incredible moment. We sort of all stood there speechless while they embraced. Reza gently broke things up and started guiding everyone to baggage claim. My kids and I waved and went to walk the other way towards the parking lot. My oldest Julia (9) stopped us and looked at me and said, “Mommy, I have a feeling in my heart that I have never felt before . . . can I do a cartwheel?”

As I write this, the lump in my throat is welling up again so I’ll stop. Ending this note with a giant prayer of gratitude on my heart to God and to you all who are surrounding this family with so much love and care.

Blessings!

Melissa

Wendy's blog

From Wendy Duke

Hi friends! Sept. 6, 2009

I have never written a blog before but I have decided that writing about my experience today – joining Elsa in preparing and delivering dinner to our new brothers and sisters is perhaps the best way I could imagine to give my “blogging skills” a try. To be honest, when Elsa asked if I would write about our experience the first thoughts that came into my mind were: too busy, what will I say? Okay, I’ll try. So, here it is!

We started in the late afternoon, teaming up to make dinner for Nadine and her family. The meal consisted of chicken stew (okay, easy enough) with some simple stir-fried collard greens, sweet tea, and a tray of ugali. Ugali? It is pretty much what it sounds like, a paste made from stirring together boiling water and fine cornmeal, topping it off with a couple spoonfuls of butter. As it turned out it was easy to make and, of course, it is always wonderful to learn something new – particularly with a friend like Elsa. After an hour and a half of cooking and chatting we were more than energized for the visit and we headed off with our 6 year old daughters. Let me say at this time that as we drove off to south San Jose I truly had no idea what to expect. I just knew I was going. For a couple of years now (roughly) I have been listening to Elsa talk about her many wonderful stories of transitioning refugees and, somehow, I managed to stay on the sidelines as a spectator, creating in my own mind what it was all like. I was comfortable here. I loved to listen. In my mind, I am sure I believed that by listening I was helping. I can tell you now that I don’t think this is exactly what God has in mind for us. Listening? Absolutely. I think listening is a God-given skill today. However, listening without doing? Probably not quite meeting His expectations. Just my opinion after our visit yesterday.

We arrived at the transitional home in 15 short minutes. I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. My thoughts at this moment were: Nice street, nice house, well-kept. Lovely place for anyone to start their journey. Within seconds of arriving we were greeted outside by Moses (a friend) and Sanjai (the house manager). Wow, these are some wonderful people. Words that came immediately into my mind when I shook hands with these men were gracious, charming, genuine, Godly, and friends.

I was nervous and excited as we entered the home. Jasmine, my daughter, and Elsa’s daughter Elizabeth just went right in without pausing. Kids don’t over-think things. I love this. Meanwhile, being a private person myself I had this gnawing feeling that perhaps we should say hello, drop the meal off quickly and go. I truly didn’t want to intrude on their space and privacy. However, it was clear that Elsa (having done this before) felt very much at home and had other plans, so I followed her lead and I am glad that I did. When we greeted everyone inside the house I was struck immediately by the closeness of this family. Nadine was quietly sitting in a chair and taking in every moment with her family. She seemed completely at peace. The younger children were like rays of sunshine in the house bouncing around the rooms as they followed us around while we introduced ourselves to their parents who were sitting at the table quietly. Mom seemed “overwhelmed” but in a good way. Not by our visit but perhaps by all that God has set before her and her family in the past few days. I could see how this might be all-consuming. She literally beamed when we spoke with her. There were friends visiting and everyone welcomed us with open arms and genuine expressions of gratitude. Within minutes really, we were drawn into this family with hugs and smiles and the common ground of a journey that we all know has just begun and that has so many unanswered questions attached. Not to worry, God has the answers.

Elsa pulled out her camera and, at the first mention of taking a photo, the children went to their rooms to put on their best clothing. I felt tears coming, and before long the entire family was organized on one sofa for a family photo. I would like to add that they managed to position themselves, all eight of them, in less than half the time it takes our family to do the same for our annual Christmas photo. There was no fussing about who gets to sit next to who, or “bunny ears” over little sister’s head, or silly faces. They simply came together instantly, joyfully and lovingly for a photo that perhaps would be the first of them all together like this, in this place. It was a beautiful moment. At this moment the thoughts running through my head were: family, love, joy, belonging together, new beginnings and God is at work. Are we listening? What are we doing?

May God continue to bless this journey and provide as many people and resources as is necessary to accomplish all that He has planned for this family – our new friends.

Blessings!

Wendy

Nadine's first meal with her family

I have just come home from one of the most memorable experiences of my life!

It was my first visit to the house in Sherman Oaks Drive where Nadine's family is staying temporarily until they find a permanent home. It's a lovely two-storey house, new kitchen, freshly painted walls and plenty of beds for mother, father and 6 kids! I was warmly welcomed when I carried in the sticky rice and chicken! Beaming faces and brilliant white smiles told me that these people were hungry and ready to eat!

Nadine and her father and sister Justine (16) did most of the talking at table, Nadine was just so happy, her smile was permanent from the time I arrived until I left a couple of hours later. I tried to make myself inconspicuous while they ate so they could enjoy each other's company without my intrusion. The baby of the family snuggled onto Nadine's lap while she ate as though she'd known her all her life, even though they'd never met before. Mum was exhausted and didn't feel like eating so joined the table after the meal was finished to catch up on the conversation with Nadine and her father.

I took a couple of photos of them all at dinner with my phone, and after dinner entertained the kids in the living room with group shots of them in various poses - they got such a kick out of seeing themselves on my phone!! Unfortunately the TV and video didn't work so they couldn't watch anything. But they kept laughing and fooling around even though they must have been exhausted after 3 days and 5 different planes to get here from Tanzania!

I felt so privileged to witness this family together at last. Idris, their caregiver from Catholic Charities told me he had told Nadine he would take her back to her apartment at 8pm and she said "No, 10pm". She wasn't about to let go of her family so soon. So he and his wife and 6 month old baby were going to spend the evening there until it was time to leave and say a temporary goodbye to Nadine's family.

There's a lot of work to be done to get each of these individuals acclimatised to their new life in Silicon Valley. And together we can walk with them on their journey. And the first step is done - Nadine is reunited with her family. God be praised!