Stories
Graduating With a New Perspective
More than a skillset
Looking back on the last year I have spent interning with World Relief Quad Cities, I am so grateful for all the opportunities and the people I’ve met as a Communications intern.
This internship was exactly what I wanted and then some, as I was able to hone my skills in communications and journalism while writing some of the most meaningful and impactful stories I may ever write.
It’s been wonderful to work with so many great people in the World Relief organization and to make so many great and hopefully long-lasting connections as I continue on into my post-college journey.
My internship at World Relief has not only opened up my eyes to the Quad Cities community, but to the world as well. I was fortunate enough to interview many fascinating and inspiring people within the Quad Cities area that made me excited to write their stories and feature them in each month’s newsletter.
I have also gained a greater understanding of the world and the many cultures that I had time to get to know and interact with while writing these stories. It helped me realize even more how important it is to engage within one’s community and also with other cultures, and to share acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, in hopes of inspiring others to do the same.
Looking toward the future
As for me, I graduated from Augustana College with my bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Journalism and Mass Communications in May. I’m beginning my journalism career working as a weekend producer at KWQC in Davenport, as well as working on the production team for the Quad Cities River Bandits this season.
I’m excited for what the future holds in my post-college career, andI know I will always fondly remember my time at World Relief QC. I’m so grateful for how it has helped to sharpen my journalism skills and become more educated on the world, world cultures, and the Quad Cities community.
Thank you World Relief, and to all those that have made my time here so worthwhile and memorable!
Brady Johnson is a senior at Augustana College studying multimedia journalism and mass communications. He’s currently interning in Communications with World Relief Quad Cities, and hopes to be part of something greater than himself.
From Burma to the U.S.
Saw Sar Kapaw*, pictured above with his wife and son, worked as a lawyer and activist in Burma, also known as Myanmar. He sought out justice and had a passion for his daily work. But on February 1, 2021, everything changed. His fight for justice had just begun.
Burma, which sits just west of Thailand in Southeast Asia, has a history of British colonization, military rule, and internal conflict between ethnic armed groups. A democratic government finally emerged in 2015, and was re-elected by a landslide in late 2020. But then in the middle of the night on February 1, 2021 Saw felt uneasy. Something was not right.
At 2 AM the internet went down, and then the phones stopped working. He could not reach his wife, Yee Min who lived in a neighboring state. The next day, the military paraded into the main city and arrested key democratic leaders, making it clear the coup had begun. Saw was trapped with his colleagues, unable to go outside for days.
Seeking Justice
“After those days, the military said ‘you can go back to your hometown and stay freely,’ but we knew that with this condition, nothing is really like that because the people don’t accept the military coup. I had two options – go back to [my hometown]… or go back to Yangon and participate in the underground movement,” shared Saw.
Saw Sar Kapaw knew he had to advocate for democracy and freedom throughout his country, so he went on to the country’s largest city, Yangon, where he participated in the protests and supported those who were leading the movement.
Before long, violence spread wide as the military arrested, attacked, and killed those supporting and leading the pro-democracy movement. It became more and more dangerous to stand against the coup. Saw shared that “many of my friend’s houses were burned by the military.”
Saw fled to Thailand temporarily so he could continue his remote, underground work fighting for his people’s freedom. The U.S. embassy encouraged him to resettle in the U.S. and supported the process. Saw Sar Kapaw’s wife, Yee Min, and their two-year-old son were finally able to join him in Thailand, ready for their journey to the U.S.
Studying English
World Relief welcomed Saw and Yee Min to the U.S. on September 1, 2021 at Sea-Tac Airport. “First, we stayed in Auburn with a host family… they were very kind to us. We learned the American culture – how they eat, how they care for their children, how they spend their time.”
Saw’s family found a place of their own to live and he started a job at a hotel alongside all the hours he spent working online to support the movement in Burma. For the first 6 months, they felt rather isolated in their new lives. But slowly they began to settle in and build community.
One place they started to find community was at World Relief’s English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Saw and Yee Min meet with other classmates on Zoom twice a week and have self-guided lessons twice a week. “Even our son is taking classes. They have a family literacy class, so he has a chance to meet friends from Afghanistan and Ukraine” shared Saw.
The classes are safe places where refugees and immigrants coming from all ranges of skill levels can learn English. Saw emphasized how his class was practical and helpful for his family’s daily life; “for the beginners like us, Americans speak very fast. So until now, I didn’t understand what they are speaking. In World Relief’s ESL class they speak very slowly; they try to understand us. Sometimes they use body language so we can understand what they are saying”
Saw Kar Kapaw is strengthening his English skills and improving his vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure, not just for his daily life, but for the pursuit of justice. Saw plans to become certified as a paralegal in the U.S. so he can continue his work in the U.S. advocating for justice and fighting for democracy.
Ali’s Story: A Refugee Pharmacist Using His Career to Give Back to Others
In 2010, a man named Ali AlQaisi arrived to the U.S. as a refugee from Iraq. At home in Baghdad, he had worked as a pharmacist. But when he and his family arrived to the United States, he faced the challenge of starting over entirely. He had to rebuild his life. He had to restart his career.
But the journey to gaining his credentials and returning to the health sector would not be an easy one.
The challenges could be easy to overlook In 2022, Ali is a clinical specialist with CVS Health and is board certified in geriatric pharmacy. By any standard, his is a story of massive success. He even won a 2021 Paragon Award, a recognition from Omicron of CVS Health that is “granted to an exceptional employee who best embodies the company’s values, is a model of excellence, and lives its purpose every day.”
But Ali is not just excelling in his career. Part of his mission is to help others in his community…so that all can succeed! One way he does that is by tutoring immigrant medical professionals preparing for pharmacy exams. Each person must pass the exam to practice in the United States, but this can be challenging to manage in a new language while working to support a family and navigating a new cultural environment. Ali walks with other immigrants as they study, and he helps connect them with internship and job opportunities so that they can grow in their careers.
“I know what an overwhelming experience it is to start over in a new country. If I can help ease the transition of one refugee, it is worth it.”
Ali AlQaisi, a refugee from Iraq
Hear Ali share more of his story below.
Fleeing Violence in Search of Hope
My family and I left our hometown in 2006 due to sectarian violence. This violence hits very close because I lost my dad to it. We left the country and went to Lebanon where we registered as a refugee with the United Nations. We waited there for four years and in 2010, we came to the United States.
I arrived here with my wife, my seven-month-old son, my mom, and my younger brother.
I can recall that day as the happiest day in our lives. It was also a day full of uncertainty and fear. As like with many other refugees, our main struggle was the language barrier, cultural gap, and adapting to the new system in the United States. When I say the new system, I mean every single detail in our daily life is a struggle for the immigrant and the new arrival.
When I came here, I was 30 years old, and I did not know how to get groceries or baby formula for my son.
I felt incapable of taking care of myself and my family. I look back and have no idea how we could have made it without the help and support we received from World Relief. World Relief was there from the first day as they waited for us at the airport. They provided us with everything we needed to settle down and they guided us step by step.
They provided ESL classes, helped us find jobs, they connected us with a community of well-established families and volunteers, and helped us adapt to the system.
A Career Pathway Back to Pharmacy
Our first year here, I worked in a factory. I was so happy and grateful to provide for my family while I was navigating a very complicated healthcare system in order to transfer my license as a pharmacist. Back then I did not know any foreign pharmacists who had gone through the same process, and this made it very challenging. I did not know how to start. I did not know when to start.
In June 2011, we had our second baby. At that time, I was preparing to take my first exam and I was so terrified and scared to fail that exam because the exam cost $800. I could not afford to lose $800 if I failed the exam, but my wife encouraged and supported me to take it. I took the exam and passed it. We were so determined to succeed. We did all that we could.
The first couple of years in the United States, we did not have a social life. We would work, study, and prepare to take exams. I worked seven days a week and studied for the exam. My wife took care of the kids and worked a part-time job while she was preparing to take exams.
In the beginning of 2014, I became a registered pharmacist in the state of Illinois. Today, I am a licensed pharmacist in 11 states and a board-certified specialist in geriatric pharmacy. My wife is a hospital pharmacy manager. We are blessed with three kids.
Giving Back as a Pharmacist
Since the first day our struggle ended, we made a commitment to support new arrivals and refugees on their journey.
My story is a great example of when you are helping an individual, you are not just helping one person, but you are helping the community. It has an exponential impact.
Leading From Where You Are
Ali demonstrates what it means to lead from where you are. He is actively engaged in the Chicagoland community using his professional expertise to help newly arriving refugees navigate the American health system, ensure they attend medical appointments, and reduce language and cultural barriers to support adherence to their treatment plan. And by supporting others in their careers, he is helping build a stronger community.
He is creating lasting change.
Continue reading:
5 Ways You Can Lead in Your Community
Partner Spotlight: Greg & Olivia Evans on “Who is my neighbor?”
Clare Stephenson Helps Moms in Need
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Clare is a mom who does it all, going above and beyond for anyone who steps into her office. Here’s her story.
A guide for mothers
Clarissa Stephenson knows how hard being a mother can be. Not only is she the mother of her two and a half year old son Amir, but she also spends her time helping mothers recover and stay strong during some of the hardest times in their lives.
Stephenson is the Preferred Communities program manager at World Relief Quad Cities. She’s in charge of helping refugee mothers get the care and assistance they need.
She interned with World Relief QC during her time as a student at Augustana College. In the fall of 2020, she was hired to take on the role as the program manager for the Preferred Communities program.
Her tasks include managing the program budget and helping her clients by providing medical or mental health services they need. Right now, 35 people rely on her.
A better parent
When discussing the struggles of this position, Stephenson said that hearing stories about personal trauma these mothers have gone through and hearing the stories of loss of family members and children can take a toll on herself.
However, she says that hearing from these parents can help her become a better parent to her own child, and that her clients can serve as an inspiration to stay strong even in the hardest of times.
“This position requires a lot of hours that may be intrusive to my family life, but these parents inspire me to be a better parent myself,” Stephenson said. “I’ve learned a lot about being resilient from these parents I’ve worked with and I’ve been able to transfer that into my own homelife as well.”
Stephenson wants more than anything to be a helpful and friendly face to these mothers in this role and to serve as a supportive figure in the lives of these resilient women, whose stories she thinks our community as a whole can learn a lot from.
“I just want to be another person in the community to them,” Stephenson said. “They can always come to me as a friend and for any support they may need.”
Brady Johnson is a senior at Augustana College studying multimedia journalism and mass communications. He’s currently interning in Communications with World Relief Quad Cities, and hopes to be part of something greater than himself.
Free From Persecution: Eddy’s Story
The Democratic Republic of Congo has 25 provinces and over 200 tribes, but they all experience violence and discrimination. Eddy recently reunited with his brother, niece, and nephew who stayed behind in a refugee camp after losing their home. Here’s his story.
Followed by War
Edouard “Eddy” Iranzi was born into war. In 1996, fighting had escalated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Unrest grew in the Katanga province as rebels captured territory from the militaristic government, and his parents knew they had to act soon. They fled to the Kivu province while Eddy was just a few months old.
In the high tropical mountains of the Minembwe territory was a large village lined with small houses. Here, people made a living through cultivating the land and raising cattle. Eddy’s dad was a farmer with cows of his own. After the chaos in Katanga, the village felt like a place where they could catch their breath.
But when Eddy was old enough to understand what was going on, he realized that they hadn’t escaped the war. There was constant fighting between the tribes in his village.
“They all speak different languages, lots of different dialects. They hate each other because they don’t understand each other. There was so much fighting that every clan had its own defense group,” he said.
A Village Destroyed
His own tribe, the Banyamulenge, suffered some of the most discrimination. His family kept their heads down so they wouldn’t be targeted. Then, everything he knew was disrupted by government violence. It was the worst day of his life.
“They burned my house. They took my cows. We fled . . they burned it all until there was no one left in my community,” he continued.
The fires displaced nearly 15,000 people that day. As his family hid in the jungle watching flames consume the village, 11-year-old Eddy realized they would have to leave again.
This time, they fled to a refugee camp in Burundi. Safety never felt so out of reach.
“We said, ‘we have to leave this country.’ But leaving your own land, your home, it’s a big challenge. And then to be in a refugee camp and not have needs or wants, it’s really hard,” Eddy said.
The family was in the camp for over 10 years, always prepared to pack up and leave at any second. Food was scarce, and police would stop and interrogate anyone coming or going.
His dad became sick and there was no treatment in Burundi. In 2015, a case opened to treat his father in the U.S. Now, Eddy had a new fear. He didn’t want to lose his father.
Free from Persecution
It took four years to process their case. In 2019, they boarded the plane that would take them to their new home. When Eddy saw the smiling faces waiting for him at the airport, he didn’t feel unsafe or threatened. All he felt was love.
“Love from the church, love from World Relief, from the family that was living here. Big love,” he said.
He found answers to his fears in every place he looked. In the refugee camp, Eddy could hardly imagine what it would be like to live comfortably. Now they had a house of their own, a fridge that was always full, and enough clothes to wear. And with enough medical assistance, his dad was soon healthy enough to start a full-time job at Tyson.
Eddy felt safer with each night he spent in his new home. He’d always lived in communities ruled by violence and hatred. However, his new community didn’t just accept him, they celebrated him. The new support system changed his family’s lives.
Full of Love
“There’s no discrimination like in Africa. I felt the change in my lifestyle by love. I can sleep and not be scared something will happen tonight, and I feel safe. No one can touch me because there are rules,” Eddy said.
He was free to drive for miles or eat a lot of food. It also meant that he could follow his calling to help others. Back in the camp, he volunteered as a teacher. He taught others about hygiene, how to be healthy, and how to stay safe. He said casework at World Relief is “kind of the same thing.”
Eddy loves working with refugees because they’re from the same background. And in helping others, he feels himself growing. Above all, he wants to share that overwhelming feeling of love. Now that he’s safe, his future is bright.
“This country has lots of love. When you’re safe and free, your mind spreads. You can achieve a lot of things, and you can feel yourself everywhere . . . in all corners,” he concluded.
Want to help refugees like Eddy and his family? Fill out a volunteer application, learn what to donate, or make a gift.
Erica Parrigin manages communications at World Relief Quad Cities. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a BA in English in 2020. She believes that stories are powerful, and that learning to empathize with other perspectives is the key to making a difference.
Confronting our Comfort Zones: Q&A with Victor Wallace
By Nathan Spencer // Sometimes, God pulls his servants in directions they are not expecting, often without warning. In these moments, God insists we put aside our fears and lean on our faith in him to direct our steps.
After his home church made the difficult decision to dissolve, Victor Wallace and his wife felt called to a new church that would push them to serve their community — an area Victor felt his former church failed to focus on. Though they did not know which church would become their new home, this mission and call to serve others was unquestionably on their hearts.
“I believe God ended that church for our benefit and his glory,” Victor said. “In 2008, we arrived at Summit, and through people there who were already connected, we heard about World Relief. We had no prior engagement with refugees before asking to become volunteers, but we took on that responsibility and owned it.”
Quickly after becoming Friendship Partners with World Relief, Victor felt the weight on his heart pulling him lift away. This was the mission he and his family were called to take part in.
“Right away, we were partnered with our first refugee family, the Tamangs, in October 2010,” Victor said. “We are still friends to the day. A few weeks ago, their son emailed me, and we had a video chat just talking about life.”
Victor continues his mission in all walks of his life. At his business, he currently employs five refugees on his staff and is looking to hire more in the next few months. He has also assumed the lead World Relief volunteer role at the Summit Church in Durham, NC where he shares his story and encourages more members to act on God’s call to serve.
Read the rest of our interview with Victor to learn more about his journey with World Relief and his passion for service.
Do you have a favorite story from your partnership with World Relief?
What immediately comes to mind is a special moment with the Tamang family. The mom, dad and youngest son came to America first. The oldest, Vijay, arrived over a year later in 2011 with his wife. They had a baby a year or two afterward, and they gave us the honor of naming their child. We called her Grace Tamang. That was a mind-blowing experience for us and illustrated just how important our friendship with the Tamangs was both to them and us.
Another story that comes to mind is about a refugee who came to stay with us at our home for a couple of weeks. He was a Buddhist monk. I casually invited him to Summit, and he was vehemently opposed. We were okay with that and didn’t push. Eventually, he moved and settled elsewhere, but we continued to visit him.
His wife at the time spoke no English, but she met some other Vietnamese immigrants who worked at a hotel and got her job. One night, my wife and I went to visit them in their home. I had been trying to figure out how to engage with the man about the gospel. He was opposed to talking about it, and I didn’t want to push. So, I bought a pop-up book as I felt it was the most accessible thing I could get.
That night I brought the pop-up book to give it to him, and I noticed he had a Bible on his table, and he had a shirt with John 3:16 written on it embroidered on the shirt. I made a joke in my ignorance, “Oh, the irony. You don’t even know what you’re wearing, right?” This sparked a conversation.
He told me, “Well, my wife met these people and invited me to church with them. I received the gospel, and now I’m a born-again Christian. We are brothers.”
The women his wife worked with were Christians preaching the gospel through their work. Their pastor lives in Greensboro, so they drive from Durham to Greensboro to go to church.
I looked down at my little pop-up book and laughed, “Well, here’s a gift for you, anyway.”
It was so encouraging for me to be a witness to how God is active and sovereign in all things.
How have you experienced personal transformation?
You’re not going to engage anybody different from you unless you get out of your homogenous neighborhood. I’m not saying living there is terrible, but unless you do something very intentional, you will never engage people who are different than yourself. It was a significant change to move neighborhoods, but it is something we do not regret in the slightest.
It took many nights of prayer, but my wife and I have been blessed by the Lord laying this challenge on us. You make your plans, but God directs steps ultimately.
Beyond being a volunteer, we have committed to employing refugees at our business – a car wash and detail service – since 2010. Currently, we have five Sudanese people working there, and we’re looking to hire more as well. Typically, we have three to seven refugees working with us at one time. Currently, my wife and I are partnered with Sami Ali, who lived in Sudan, as Friendship Partners.
What is your hope or vision for your community or the world, and how is your partnership with World Relief leading you towards that vision?
God changes us over time as we engage with his word and light. Ezekiel and Isaiah look up and see God in this perfect light, and it changes them to serve. His light is not condemning; it’s life-giving. That should be a pattern for all believers. If you’ve genuinely seen God, you should be changed to want to serve others. Offering ourselves as a living sacrifice hurts, but we can get over that.
14 Years of Volunteering
When Karen first heard of Word Relief in 2008, she thought to herself, “What is that?”
Once she realized there was a need for donations, she gathered some towels and home goods left over from her move and brought them to the agency.
Karen drove a Volkswagen van. The man who met her at the office jokingly asked if her van was also up for donation, which she thought was “pretty good.”
That man was Ratko, our Immigration and Resettlement Director and longest-standing staff member. At the time, the Moline World Relief office was staffed by just 4-5 people. She knew that she and her international family would fit right in.
14 years later, she’s dedicated herself to setting up houses for refugee families as if it were her full-time job. Our staff wanted to share some kind words about her for volunteer appreciation month.
“Karen is a person who acts more than she speaks, she is a woman who lives out her passion to serve the vulnerable and love the stranger without expecting recognition in return.” – Alejandra
“Karen is who I want to be. She has a huge heart that comes out in toys she places in homes, the way she matches bedsheets, the way she cares for the staff. She has incredible energy and passion for the work, clearly sees what needs to be done, and although she could (and may want to) be the one to say what happens and who should do it, she is very respectful of those she works with and for. She could have given up at any time–she’s had dear ones in this service pass away, she’s been underappreciated and taken for granted at times, and sometimes the workload has been overwhelming. BUT. She perseveres and shows love in a thousand ways to the WR family and clients.” – Leah
“We are so lucky to have Karen in our office. Karen has a great personality and cares a lot about our clients and the things we do for them. She always makes sure that every detail of the job is delivered in a perfect manner.” – Najib
“Every single refugee we have resettled through WRQC in the past decade has, in some way or another, been blessed by Karen. Whether she’s on her hands and knees scrubbing dirty floors in new apartments or organizing the countless donations we receive to our office, she does so with a servant’s heart and a love for the families we receive. The donations team could not do the work we do without her, and we are so thankful for the years of service she’s given to our organization.” – Beth
I honestly don’t know what we would do without Karen. She is an irreplaceable presence in our office and she makes every person that enters feel wanted and appreciated. We are so blessed to have someone so loving, dedicated, and joyful be part of this team. – Clare
“Michelle Obama said it best: ‘Hey, Queen! Girl, you have done it again, constantly raising the bar for us all and doing it flawlessly. I’d say I’m surprised but I know who you are. I’ve seen it up close and personal. Girl, you make me so proud, and I love you.’ I adore Karen we’d be lost without her.” – Lupe
“I consider Karen a beating heart of our office. She connects everything we do to our clients. All of the background work in our office expresses itself through Karen’s hard work, bringing smiles and happiness to our refugee families. There are no words that can describe my appreciation and gratitude for Karen for all these years of dedication and service to World Relief, our clients, and our community. It’s been an honor and privilege knowing and learning from Karen for all these years.” – Ratko
Karen is one of our shining stars. She is very smart and kind in her work. She always works hard. – Amir
Karen has the energy of a toddler, but the wisdom of a centenarian. I think getting to learn from Karen has been one of the most important, everlasting impacts of my career at World Relief. Also, I appreciate a person that recognizes their privilege and is not afraid to recognize if she makes a mistake. She has taught me so much about true humility and grace. – Habie
“She is such a dedicated and committed woman to the work that she is doing! She is an excellent example of how hard she works to all of us!” – Ahmadi
“Karen is a very kind and caring person who enjoys helping the most vulnerable individuals. She is charismatic and has excellent problem-solving skills. Also, she encourages growth from our team members and the people we serve. It’s very remarkable how much of a difference she makes daily by helping people who are in the process of being resettled in the QC area. I feel privileged working with Karen and appreciate her very much for all she does.” – Bekzod
“Words cannot express the impact Karen has had on World Relief Quad Cities, on all our newly arrived families, and on our team. She is part of the World Relief family. I introduce Karen as my boss because she could make a General stand at attention and give her 20; her heart is so full of love but watch out if she’s on a mission to finish a project because she’s a force to be reckoned with. In actuality, she’s a friend and mentor who I can confide in, gain wisdom from, cry with, and laugh with. She always puts others first. I am honored, grateful, and blessed to have Karen in the lives of our refugees and part of our WRQC team.” – Laura
Erica Parrigin manages communications at World Relief Quad Cities. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a BA in English in 2020. She believes that stories are powerful, and that learning to empathize with other perspectives is the key to making a difference.
Partner Spotlight: Greg & Olivia Evans on “Who is my neighbor?”
When their children were school-age and began attending the neighborhood school right around the corner, Greg and Olivia Evans quickly realized something. The students their children were sitting next to in class did not look like them. From a distance, they watched school counselors and teachers meeting the needs of recently resettled refugees. They saw these students learning a new language and navigating a huge life change.
Connecting with World Relief Chicagoland
As they saw this, Olivia (and Greg) began wondering: “How can we be a part of this? Is there a way for us to give kids equal footing in the same way we want to provide for our own kids? Is there a way for us to help make a difference? And that’s where we met World Relief.”
From this point forward, the Evans’ partnership with World Relief has only expanded. They’ve brought multiple neighbors onto the journey with them. They had friends saying – “I can drive a car.” or “I can be of service.” In fact, their neighbor around the corner is still involved. He will say, “I’m doing an airport run tonight.”
For the Evans, it all comes back to the concept of loving your neighbor. Loving your neighbor can be grand or simple, and there is room for all of that in World Relief’s work. It’s just a matter of asking yourself, what will I do?
Answering “Who is my neighbor?”
One of the ways Greg and Olivia are responding is through financial partnership. Each year, they take time to talk with their kids. They talk about where they can have a tangible financial impact and what feels important to them. For the last several years, World Relief has been at the forefront of what is important.
Ultimately, for Greg (and Olivia) it comes back to the question: “Who is my neighbor? Everyone is my neighbor. How do I show love? In any way I can.”
Welcoming New Neighbors
World Relief Chicagoland relies on the generosity of partners, like Greg and Olivia, to welcome and walk alongside immigrants and refugees as they rebuild their lives. For over 40 years because of the generosity of others, World Relief has welcomed thousands of new neighbors helping them reach stability and responding in love.
Will you give to build welcoming and just communities for immigrants and refugees to thrive?
Starting Small
It’s Volunteer Appreciation Month! Here’s to our dedicated volunteers and all the work they do to make a difference in our community.
A new role
When Leah Lesh learned about the many refugee families living in the Quad Cities through an event at her local church, she realized she needed to help these families any way she could.
Lesh, a mother of 3, started volunteering at World Relief Quad Cities a year ago after having much more time to fulfill her goal of helping these refugees.
“When my children were in school, I had so much time to be able to volunteer,” she said. “I learned about World Relief from that event at Bettendorf Christian Church and from there I became a part of the organization.”
Lesh started small in her new role as a volunteer at WR by doing simple things such as collecting donations for the refugees, and eventually putting together houses for these families. This would be one of the most rewarding experiences she would have with WR as she and her family were able to join in on the fun as well.
“It was a great time with the family setting up the house and having the kids have fun helping as well,” Lesh said. “They loved seeing the empty house and couch shopping so it was a fun family outing for a great cause as well.”
Worth the challenge
Among the struggles for Lesh were the language barrier and the many different miscommunications that can occur when trying to communicate with these refugee families.
“It can be really frustrating sometimes trying to communicate with them when we both have trouble speaking each other’s languages.”
However, she says that for those on the fence about volunteering, she realizes that the language and culture barriers can be intimidating but in the end it is more than worth it.
“There’s so many ways to connect with people beyond the language barrier,” she explains. “Through the tough times we’re going through in the world, it’s important that we do all we can to help people locally and volunteering is an amazing way to accomplish this.”
Brady Johnson is a senior at Augustana College studying multimedia journalism and mass communications. He’s currently interning in Communications with World Relief Quad Cities, and hopes to be part of something greater than himself.
Making Connections
It’s Volunteer Appreciation Month! Here’s to our dedicated volunteers and all the work they do to make a difference in our community.
A new purpose
When Trisha Poole heard about the refugees from Afghanistan at the end of last year, she knew she had to help any way she could.
“My heart just yearned for those people, and I asked my husband ‘can’t we just take them all in our home?’”
Poole, a mother of 4 and a part-time worker with exchange students, began her work volunteering with World Relief a month ago, and is already feeling inspired with her new role.
“It makes me feel like I have purpose,” Poole said, “I love learning about other cultures from the families I help and the exchange students I work with.”
A learning process
She has been volunteering twice a week with World Relief and helping refugee families in the area any way she can, from grocery shopping to providing transportation to appointments.
The language barrier and budgeting have been the biggest obstacles for Poole as she begins her volunteering journey so far.
“I usually have Google Translate as a backup in case we have a problem communicating, but sometimes it’s hard to use for certain languages,” she explains.
“Everything costs money too, so it’s been an interesting time helping these families learn to budget their money and resources as well.”
A welcoming community
Through these struggles, however, she is rewarded for the meaningful relationships she has made with the families and seeing how her help has positively impacted these families’ lives.
“It’s amazing to see how grateful these families are for what we do for them, and it means even more to become such good friends with these families as well.
For those on the fence about volunteering, Poole says, the best thing you can do is to get out with these families into the community and show others how volunteering can lead to those connections and relationships that go beyond the language barrier.
“It can seem intimidating at first with the language and culture barriers to go out and volunteer. But being out in the community with these families helping them and showing others how wonderful taking in these families can be can inspire others to take action as well.”
Brady Johnson is a senior at Augustana College studying multimedia journalism and mass communications. He’s currently interning in Communications with World Relief Quad Cities, and hopes to be part of something greater than himself.
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