A Refugee helps his mom

It was time to leave Jacksonville and move to Charlotte. Thomas’ uncle works as a doctor up in Charlotte, and has some good leads for a better job there.

It’s a struggle for Refugees, like Thomas, to find employment that offers a living wage. Actually, that’s a struggle that too many Americans can relate to, right?  But it’s especially distressing for Thomas because, before he and his family had to flee their homeland, they enjoyed a stable life in a family business. Civil war erupted; they were targeted by their country’s army simply because of their ethnicity; they literally fled for their lives. 

In Jacksonville, Thomas and his family found friends and a fresh start. There are three school-aged sisters and his single mom to look after in Thomas’ household. 

As is often the case with Refugees, after arriving in the US, they will locate relatives from their homeland or friends from their Refugee Camp. But connecting with them often requires moving to a new city. Thomas’ plan was to move in with his uncle, and wire money to his mom each week. It’s a plan that often works well for families in need.

It was a sad day saying goodbye to my friend. But I had confidence that his plan would serve his family well. My confidence was bolstered when he wanted to make sure that I knew he had saved up three months rent for his mom; that she had the money in a safe place; that she would need some help figuring out how to pay their rent after he left town.

A Refugee and his first job

90 Days

The United States offers financial support for Refugees during the first 90 days after their arrival. They have three months to settle into housing, learn English, find employment, and become basically self-sufficient. This financial aid covers the simplest physical needs – food, shelter, clothing. It’s based on formulas and allocations determined by committees and agencies. It’s a well-developed process. 

But learning how to navigate through American culture is not a process that can be guided merely by formulas or committees. It happens “in the trenches” of doing life. Being a World Relief “Good Neighbor Team” means standing with our refugee families as they learn how to live daily life in America – how to engage life “in the trenches.” This involves helping them learn how to do basic things like paying utility bills, shopping for groceries, finding a bus route … and most recently, cashing their first paycheck.

Just one week after his arrival, Samuel quickly found a job with a local landscaping company. It seemed like God’s amazing provision for him and his family. Working in landscaping seemed like a perfect match. Samuel is physically strong, loves the outdoors, and wants to study agriculture. This job (his first job in America) seemed like a God-given opportunity, especially since this company had hired many other refugees through a local Refugee service agency.

No pay! No pay!

But after a couple weeks, Samuel called me. “No pay! No pay!”  I couldn’t understand what Samuel was trying to tell me in his broken English.  But he was obviously upset about not getting paid, so I encouraged Samuel that the first paycheck might take some time to be processed for a new employee. Hang in there. It’ll come.