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.

Three months rent for his family totaled $2400. Cash. I was stunned. Thomas had saved that much money in only a few months. But then again, serving the needs of Refugees always brings the unexpected! 

In a very personal and sacrificial way, Thomas was taking care of his momma. As a young man, trying to start a new life in a new country, that money could have been used for lots of other more frivolous (and some not-so-frivolous) things. But Thomas wanted to take care of his mom and his sisters.

This is a common experience in the Refugee community: hard work, sacrifice, saving, all to reach the goal of self-reliance and a new life. 

Personal commitment to success and a strong work ethic to make sacrifices required along the way are character traits among many Refugees that simply go unnoticed by the rest of us. It’s a silent motor running in their hearts and minds. They know that there is no “safety net” for them. They’ve survived war or rape or the loss of a family; they’ve gone hungry or witnessed heinous crimes and violence; so perhaps, in the reality of a new life in America, working double-shifts at Walmart really is no big deal.  At least not for Thomas. 

When we see Refugees at the store or in our neighborhood, we see unusual clothing, we hear an unusual language, and we can feel uncomfortable or awkward. That’s pretty normal. But it doesn't need to be a barrier. We simply don’t know them yet. They are Refugees who have their own story that they’re working out today. 

Here is a quote by an American leader who exemplified hard work and commitment to success is a timely way to wrap this up – “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)