Flight to Freedom
This is a fancy chart put out by the organization I work for, Exodus World Service about how refugees come to the United States.

It appears to be really tiny--- hmm, note to self, ask Judi to post this document at the website...

Anyways, It basically says that refugees go on a long journey from the horrors that have found them in their homes down a long road to a refugee camp. The average stay in a camp (yes, camp-- dirt and tents, maybe bamboo huts, depending on the country) is 10 years. 10 years of just waiting, life on pause.... imagine even just what that part of the journey alone is like......Imagine.

Imagine if you went to church or school one day and someone locked all the doors and windows, guards were posted around the doors. It would get old after a few hours I think, but days? You had plans, you have a life you need to get back to, you have dreams and aspirations. How about a few weeks? You have neighbors and family and friends you need to get back to. Food is shipped in, but it needs to be shared with everyone else in the church and there is simply not enough. What about your children? They need to go to school. They have a life to live. How about a few months? You just sit. There is no work for you to do, nothing to pass the time except what is before you. Your kids are hungry, they want candy and fight over toys with the other kids. They have a birthday and you have nothing to give them. How about a few years? No beds, no real privacy, no showers and limited food. So you begin to "set up camp" realizing you are not leaving anytime soon.Someone with administrative skills assigned portions of the church to each family unit-- a school of sorts of is created for the kids, you set up some sort of sub-life. People get married, children  are born, crimes take place, people get sick and die. Imagine if more and more people came to your church everyday and were locked in with you. No one told you "after 5 years we will let you out" at least THAT you could plan for, as awful as it would be. You have no idea if you will ever leave or if this is just your new "normal". 

Currently we have refugees from Bhutan coming to the United States. They have been in camps in Nepal since the early 90's. Imagine. 20+ years in a refugee camp.

While in the camps, some refugees have the opportunity to apply for resettlement on a 3rd country once it is determined that there is no possible way for them to return home.

Every year the United States (among other countries) invites refugees to begin again. Refugees are assigned a resettlement agency which helps them get on their feet with some of the more "social-service-y" things, such as, finding an apartment, helping get a job, enrolling in English classes or school for the kids etc... 

The organization I work for, Exodus World Service partners with resettlement agencies in the Chicagoland area to provide volunteers for refugees resettling in the area. Volunteer a warm welcome to refugees wiht household items for their first home in the United States, and/or a lasting friendship to ease their loneliness and help them navigate their new lives in an unfamiliar place. 

Please consider supporting us during our Run/Walk for Refugees this year.

Please contact me if you are interested in volunteering with a refugee family!