Thank you church community!

Refugee Resettlement Church and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

On Friday, September 28, 2007, LSS-SW’s Phoenix Refugee Resettlement Program hosted a Church and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, www.sov.us in Phoenix. Held biennially, the appreciation dinner serves as a wonderful forum to express our gratitude to the many church congregations and individuals for their partnership in “Making a Difference” in the lives of hundreds of refugees they have truly helped welcome into our community.

Burmese children in traditional clothing charmed the volunteers and staff

LSS-SW’s Church Sponsorship Coordinator for Refugee Resettlement, Rev. Donna Buckles, helped emcee the evening and served as chairperson for planning the event. Our program staff and several refugee clients served as hosts for the evening, which helped make nearly 120 guests feel right at home. Craig Thoresen, our Division Director, introduced several distinguished guests from Church World Service, www.churchworldservice.org, New York: Francis Tinsely, Associate Director for Resettlement and Processing, Erika Iverson, Domestic Programs Specialist and Sponsorship Coordinator; and Charles Shipman the State Director of Refugee Programs for Arizona. Other honored guests included: Chris Brelje, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services Advocate, www.lirs.org; and Jose Olagues, Presbyterian Associate Executive Director for Arizona.

We also applauded three very special people for going above and beyond in their service to our refugee families: Jim Soudriette, a member of the First Baptist Church of Scottsdale, has worked with such organizations as the Rotary Club to refurbish hundreds of computers and deliver them to refugee families. Myra Adamson has served as a translator for many of the African clients from the Congo and Burundi, both in our home office and at countless appointments throughout the community. Kristin Stringer, RN, of Palmcroft Baptist Church, was honored for her dedication and specialized curriculum she developed for helping to educate refugee women about significant health issues.

This group of talented young people from the Congo is part of a larger Congalese choir.
Their voices are so powerful they decided only four would perform

The beautifully decorated community room set the tone for a festive evening with Asian flair. Rev. Buckles and her husband, Michael, designed our table-centerpieces out of orchid and bamboo. The entertainment for the evening made everyone feel they were part of a large, warm and welcoming family. There was also a slide show presentation of our church sponsors greeting refugees upon their arrival at the airport, on various outings, and during holiday celebrations.

We are truly grateful for all of the congregations and volunteers who have helped us welcome these refugees into our community. They have not only helped provide for their physical needs in setting up apartments and providing transportation, they have also tutored refugees in English and America culture. But perhaps most significantly, they have helped us provide the emotional and spiritual support necessary to make their transition much easier and live life with greater dignity.

SuSu sang a medley of religious songs praising the gifts of our Lord.

Since 1982, LSS-SW has resettled thousands of refugees. Our present staff of 16 reflects the diversity of the people we serve and are fluent in 24 languages. With national and local support, we provide arriving refugees with the basic necessities for starting life anew to include food, clothing, medical care, employment, housing, furniture and other necessary items. The emphasis is on helping refugee families become self-sufficient as quickly as possible.

Thank you to the following congregations for sponsoring refugee families:

During the past two years these congregations assisted refugees from Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Liberia, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, and Viet Nam. In appreciation, a representative received an original painting done by artists from Ghana to bring back to their congregation.

First Baptist Church of Scottsdale
Monte Vista Baptist Church
Chalice Christian
Central United Methodist Church
Lakeview United Methodist Church
Christ Community, Reformed Church of America
Church of Beatitudes, United Church of Christ
Shadow Rock, United Church of Christ
Central Christian Church
Church of the Master Presbyterian Church
Gilbert Presbyterian
Historic First Presbyterian
Mesa First Presbyterian
Mission del Sol Presbyterian
Orangewood Presbyterian
Palo Cristi Presbyterian
Scottsdale Presbyterian

ELCA Lutheran Churches, www.elca-grandcanyon.org:
All Saints Lutheran Church
Desert Cross Lutheran Church
Community of Grace Lutheran Church
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Love of Christ Lutheran Church
Peace Lutheran Church
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Trinity Lutheran Church
Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church

The following congregations and organizations received a certificate of appreciation for supporting the refugee resettlement-program

First Christian Church of Glendale
West Dunlap Baptist Church
Palmcroft Baptist Church
Dove of the Desert Methodist
First UMC of Sun City
Shepherd of the Hills UMC
Shepherd of the Valley UMC
Faith Presbyterian Sun City
Mt. View Presbyterian
Westminster Presbyterian
Valley Presbyterian
West Congregational UCC
South Mt. Community
All Saints Lutheran
Alleluia Lutheran
Community of Grace Lutheran
Grace Lutheran
Holy Trinity Lutheran
Living Waters Lutheran
Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran
Lutheran Thrift Stores: East & West

For more information about the refugee and asylum programs, or to receive more information on how to support this program or become involved as a congregation or individual volunteer, please contact Donna Buckles at (602) 248-4400.