We are People on the Move
I learned the other day that, at least according to a far-flung Rowaan family member who has done a lot of genealogical research, “Rowaan” is simply one of the Dutch ways to write “Rouen”, the city in northern France. (Check out the Wikipedia page for Rouen in Dutch if you don’t believe me!)
What’s more, this guy has traced our family tree back through the Netherlands to a Andrew (Andreis) Rouwan who was born in Scotland in 1560 and got married in Leiden, Netherlands in 1585.
As someone who grew up around a LOT of Dutch-Canadians and relates strongly to that story and culture, this is a twist. If this genealogical researcher’s theory is correct, then our family story somehow winds through France, Scotland, the Netherlands, Neerlandia AB, and now Ontario. (Don’t ask me how—the family tree he made is in Dutch!)
(Speaking of migration, we moved recently. This is our housemate Idrissa making some Malian tea. )
Migration is part of human life. Always has been. And as we see throughout the biblical story (think Paul, Jesus, Moses, Ruth, many members of the early church….) refugee journeys have always been part of the human story too, though the internationally accepted definition of a refugee didn’t come to be until the 1950s when the world was grappling with numbers of post WWII refugees that were, at that time, the largest refugee numbers in recorded history.
It’s thought-provoking, isn’t it? Migration isn’t the exception—it’s the rule. And the label we give ourselves is just about how far back we trace the story, which culture(s) we feel tied to, which communities claim us and are claimed by us.
And as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation reminded me recently, I’m a guest on this land too.
(My fam riding in the Ride for Refuge. They did an amazing job!!)
Some highlights recently from my work with people-on-the-move:
We got a call about a Colombian woman who was 8 months pregnant and needed a place to stay. Poor girl, flying so late in her pregnancy had caused some issues but she couldn’t go to her ultrasound appointment because Immigration had put her in quarantine for 2 weeks as a COVID precaution. So here she was, far from her family and her country, and worried about her baby in a hotel room for 2 weeks. Thankfully, we were able to find her a host family here, and amazingly, one of her hosts is a labour and delivery nurse who is well-connected in that field. So now she is settling in to her host home and has already been able to get her ultrasound and get connected to a midwife here. She has an eager Kinship Circle that’s supporting her as she gets ready for baby to arrive. It was a good week!
I’ve been able to interpret for a refugee Guest from Chad as he meets with his lawyer. It’s a privilege for me to be part of those conversations, and to understand more fully what they’re like. They’re hard conversations for him. But I am grateful to be there as his French-English interpreter, rather than a stranger. And it’s great interpretation practice for me, so I’m grateful that he’s given me this privilege.
Several Open Homes friends (whether past Guests or volunteers) had successful refugee hearings during the pandemic, so now that it’s relatively safe to have outdoor parties, we threw a party to celebrate them! A successful refugee hearing opens so many doors—people can apply for Permanent Residency, which means: access to OHIP, universities and colleges, and, most important for most people, reunification with their families. It’s worth celebrating! A volunteer videographer captured the video above at the party. I hope you enjoy this peek into our community!
(Our friends’ daughter did a Climb for Refuge instead of a Ride. It was the cutest thing.)
And some things to pray about…
We found out that we didn’t make it on the short-list for a big grant. We had really hoped that our Letter of Inquiry to a particular foundation would be successful so that we could hire 2 Kinship Circle Leaders with lived newcomer experience. It seemed like we were a great fit it, but it was very competitive and we didn’t get it. Now we’re searching for other opportunities that could help us fund these part-time positions, because we’re convicted that expanding the diversity of our team is the way forward.
Housing searches are only growing more difficult, and we are looking for a new housing search volunteer to help out. Our friend Sarah has been taking the lead on housing searches for Guest after Guest with tenacity and patience for 3 years now, and she’s going off on maternity leave. We need someone with similar grit to take up that role—maybe it’s you or someone you know!
My dear friend had her refugee hearing last week and is waiting to hear the result. Please pray that her refugee claim is accepted!
Thank you as always for your support and interest in creating communities of belonging with refugee claimants in Hamilton. I feel my village behind me!