HABARI NJEMA YA MIUJIZA NA YA WOKOVU

CONGREGATIONAL LEADER, DESIRE KASI

Our church is made by refugees from different countries around the world.  We are here due to wars in our countries, and we are facing challenges adjusting to the American lifestyle such as culture, time, job skills, social rules, and laws.  Many refugees have been violated, tortured, raped, and traumatized during war.  Many spent more than 10 years in refugee camps with little to no education, no job skills other than farming, no health maintenance, financial crisis, little to no resources or information and lack of opportunities.  We do not know or understand how the American system works. When we arrive in the USA (NM), we are not informed enough about the American life.  For example: training, cultural orientation, rules, law and safety.  However, we are expected to fit in like Americans. Consequently, we have found that 90% of refugees are depressed, hopeless, anxious, jobless, and have issues with language barriers, transportation, housing (paying rent) and office miscommunication and misunderstandings.

These people need a support system including medical therapy for psychological needs and support as well as mental and emotional support.  As a pastor, I volunteer within my community to help them with transportation, shopping, food, office, Dr's appointments, church, jobs, e.t.c.

Other services that I provide or help them with include:

1 . Helping them to find jobs. Currently, I have helped six people get jobs, where I took them to the site and helped them apply for the jobs.
2. I translate and l interpret for them at the office (Department of Human Resource Services and other Agencies)
3. I also help them with getting their Driver's license and state ID's.   Currently, I have helped 15 people in get their Driving license and state ID's
4. We have begun offering English classes Mondays & Wednesdays 9am-11am and 5pm-7pm.