Refugee - Stories

Bethany Christian Services
Refugee Profiles

For over 20 years, Bethany’s Refugee Foster Care program has been working with families in the Grand Rapids area to give children from all over the world a chance at a new life. By helping these children become established in our country, we have learned about ourselves and our world. Please look at these faces and read these true stories, and consider joining us on the path for a brighter future for refugee children.

Marvin is from Honduras. While in Bethany’s foster care program, he has been on the honor roll, and has excelled in high school sports playing soccer and baseball. He also has participated in his youth group at his foster family’s church. Marvin was able to help others by tutoring fellow students in his Spanish class.

Abraham is one of the first Sudanese young men resettled by Bethany in 2000. He sings in his church’s choir, and speaks to church groups to help educate the community on the plight of the refugees from Sudan. He is a Senior in High School.

James’ village in Sudan was attacked by Arabs in 1989 when he was 5 years old. His older brother fled to a refugee camp in Kenya. When both of his parents were killed 4 years later, he crossed deserts and dangerous rivers to a refugee camp to join his brother. He waited there for 5 years before being resettled in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2000. He is now a Junior in High School. James is a very quiet and well-mannered young man and is liked by all his peers and agency staff.

William is in college and is studying political science and law. He was a teacher in the refugee camp, and has served as a spokesperson for the Sudanese community on a number of occasions. Initially placed in a high school principal’s home, he is now renting a house with three other Sudanese young men.

William waited for his younger brother Gabriel (center) to be able to join him in America. It was hard for William to know that Gabriel, with all his potential, was waiting in the camp with an uncertain future, while William was benefiting from life in America. Gabriel is now in an independent living home.

Adapting to the seasons is one of the many new things foster parents get to enjoy watching African refugees adapt to. One teacher took her whole class outside to share the experience with their Sudanese classmate who looked up into the sky in amazement as he witnessed his first snowfall.

These young Sudanese men graduated after less than 2 years in a new country speaking a foreign language. Their determination and love for learning make them a joy to study with. Many study long hours, and one youth honored his foster parents by being elected class president.

Soccer and basketball bring out smiles on the faces of most Sudanese, who are among the tallest people in the world. The soccer teams of many Grand Rapids schools have benefited greatly from the influx of Sudanese refugees.

Marco is from Honduras. He has earned Student of the Month and is an Honor Roll student in the 11th grade. Marco has been employed in roofing, landscaping, and construction. He bought a car with his own money and pays for his own insurance. He attends vocational training in automotive mechanics. When not studying or playing soccer, he boxes at Golden Gloves in Grand Rapids, and to the joy of his foster mother, Marco is learning to cook for himself!

Thank you for visiting our site! If you see one of the refugees about town, please smile and greet them! They enjoy meeting new people and are grateful for what the community is doing for them!

LINKS
www.casa-alianza.org