Last night we said good bye to Innocent.
We met Innocent for dinner and had a wonderful talk with him, learning more about his family. He has 5 children. Son 24, Son 22, Daughter 20, Daughter 18, Son 10 all who have not seen him for 6 years. As he would talk about each one he would smile as any proud father would do. Most of all I am sure is very anxious to she is wife. As we mentioned before she struggles with health issues, primarily diabetes and other related issues.
Innocent feels that after being gone for 6 years it will be safe for him to return. In 1995 he and his family fled Congo to Rwanda. He returned to Congo in 2010 to assist in the organization he was employed by and that was when he was captured. He said living in Rwanda will be safe. His wife has a job and makes a meager $250.00 per month which has been sustaining his family. He feels it will take him about six months to find a job.
We gave him the locations of the 3 branches in Rwanda and counseled him that the church will need him and he will need the church. He is planning on reaching out when he gets there.
After dinner we went back to his apartment and met Brother Weight the High Priest Group Leader of the Meadow Ward and gave Innocent a blessing. That is when the tears began to come. We have grown to love and admire Innocent for his courage and faith. We will truly miss him. I gave him my email address and hope we will be able to keep in touch.
He leaves Saturday on the bus for Las Vegas. The reason he is leaving from Las Vegas is the flights are less expensive out of Las Vegas, plus he left his passport their with friends when he briefly stayed there before he came to Utah. He leaves Las Vegas on Monday, flys to LA and then to Ethiopia and then on to Rwanda. It will be Wednesday when he arrives. He will have spent over 33 hours of traveling. He could have got there sooner but that would have been double to price.
We wish him well and hope to hear from him soon.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
What Matters Most
Last Friday I received a text message from Innocent saying that he has a family emergency in Africa and really needed to talk to me.
I was driving on my way to work when I got the text and immediately called him. I could tell something was wrong but I had no idea what he was about to tell me. He asked if I could come and spend sometime with him. I had things at work I needed to get to but immediately a calm feeling came over me to not worry about that and go see Innocent.
Innocent is usually so happy and smiling each time I am with him. With tears running down his face he told me that his 18 year old daughter tried to commit suicide the day before and is in the hospital. He further told me that this was not the first time. She had tried once before a few weeks ago but was not serious.
He then told me that he needed to go home and protect his family. He could not stay in America any longer. He said his family is broken and he needs to be there to bring them back together. Innocent has been gone from his family for close to 6 six years; 4 years of running, imprisonment, and torture and 1.5 years in America.
In previous discussions Innocent has stated that going back to Congo would not be possible because he would be tracked and most likely killed. His family is in Rwanda and he feels he can be safe there.
As the conversation went on I could tell that leaving was what would be best for him and his family. I began to ask myself how can we make this happen? Innocent does not have the resources to get himself back to Africa. The only money he has to his name is $400.00. It would take close to $1200.00 for a one way ticket. Further more he wanted to leave ASAP. I told Innocent I would call Bishop Kruger and let him know since he was his Bishop. Bishop Kruger was surprised as I was but felt this would be best for him as well. We talked about how we could financially make this work. He said he would talk with President Keller.
On Saturday I received notice that the church would pay for the plane ticket to Africa. The love that the Savior has for his children and the resources of the church are just amazing. Innocent will be leaving on Monday April 4th and arriving in Rwanda on April 6th. Both the Bishop and the Stake President felt that there was a reason for Innocent finding the church and excepting the gospel in America. They felt he would be a great asset to the small branch in Rwanda.
At church Sunday Innocent looked so happy and relieved. He and his family will be reunited very shortly. Barbara and I will be taking Innocent out to dinner this Wednesday evening and then his home teacher and I will be giving him a Priesthood Blessing.
I was driving on my way to work when I got the text and immediately called him. I could tell something was wrong but I had no idea what he was about to tell me. He asked if I could come and spend sometime with him. I had things at work I needed to get to but immediately a calm feeling came over me to not worry about that and go see Innocent.
Innocent is usually so happy and smiling each time I am with him. With tears running down his face he told me that his 18 year old daughter tried to commit suicide the day before and is in the hospital. He further told me that this was not the first time. She had tried once before a few weeks ago but was not serious.
He then told me that he needed to go home and protect his family. He could not stay in America any longer. He said his family is broken and he needs to be there to bring them back together. Innocent has been gone from his family for close to 6 six years; 4 years of running, imprisonment, and torture and 1.5 years in America.
In previous discussions Innocent has stated that going back to Congo would not be possible because he would be tracked and most likely killed. His family is in Rwanda and he feels he can be safe there.
As the conversation went on I could tell that leaving was what would be best for him and his family. I began to ask myself how can we make this happen? Innocent does not have the resources to get himself back to Africa. The only money he has to his name is $400.00. It would take close to $1200.00 for a one way ticket. Further more he wanted to leave ASAP. I told Innocent I would call Bishop Kruger and let him know since he was his Bishop. Bishop Kruger was surprised as I was but felt this would be best for him as well. We talked about how we could financially make this work. He said he would talk with President Keller.
On Saturday I received notice that the church would pay for the plane ticket to Africa. The love that the Savior has for his children and the resources of the church are just amazing. Innocent will be leaving on Monday April 4th and arriving in Rwanda on April 6th. Both the Bishop and the Stake President felt that there was a reason for Innocent finding the church and excepting the gospel in America. They felt he would be a great asset to the small branch in Rwanda.
At church Sunday Innocent looked so happy and relieved. He and his family will be reunited very shortly. Barbara and I will be taking Innocent out to dinner this Wednesday evening and then his home teacher and I will be giving him a Priesthood Blessing.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
If it's not one thing, it's another!
Three months ago Alicia and her family moved into her new apartment. Her apartment (Fourplex) was recently sold and when inspections were being done they found that the previous renter in Alicia's apartment was cooking meth and because of that her apartment and the one next to her are contaminated with meth. Therefore, she has had to move out and stay in a hotel for the next three to four weeks so that Utah Has mat can come and clean the apartment.
The worst part of this is that she could not keep any of her furniture, or any thing that was made of wood or fabric; such as tables, couches, mattresses, etc. So the furniture we got her just three months ago when she was evicted from her other apartment because of beg bugs had to be taken to the dump. Luckily, the mattresses that the Bishop got her from DI, she never took the plastic cover off, so she can keep those.
Barbara and I spent a Saturday afternoon two weeks ago taking two loads of furniture and personal things to the city dump as well as moving other things to a storage shed that the new landlord is paying for while the apartments are cleaned and the meth contamination is removed from the walls, floorings, and air ducks.
When Alicia called to tell us this development we immediately went to see her and to help calm her down. While we were there I received an email notice that a couch, loveseat, and oversized chair...a matching seat was just posted on our resource website. I immediately called and we now have the furniture in our garage waiting for to give it to Alicia when she is able to move back in. The Lord and His tender mercies!
The worst part of this is that she could not keep any of her furniture, or any thing that was made of wood or fabric; such as tables, couches, mattresses, etc. So the furniture we got her just three months ago when she was evicted from her other apartment because of beg bugs had to be taken to the dump. Luckily, the mattresses that the Bishop got her from DI, she never took the plastic cover off, so she can keep those.
Barbara and I spent a Saturday afternoon two weeks ago taking two loads of furniture and personal things to the city dump as well as moving other things to a storage shed that the new landlord is paying for while the apartments are cleaned and the meth contamination is removed from the walls, floorings, and air ducks.
When Alicia called to tell us this development we immediately went to see her and to help calm her down. While we were there I received an email notice that a couch, loveseat, and oversized chair...a matching seat was just posted on our resource website. I immediately called and we now have the furniture in our garage waiting for to give it to Alicia when she is able to move back in. The Lord and His tender mercies!
Provo City Temple Open House
We took advantage of the recent open house of the Provo City Temple to take Alicia and Innocent. Both of them expressed interest in going but did not fully understand what they were going to experience.
Alicia knows enough about the temple that she expressed excitement at the possibility of going. Innocent has been to the temple to baptisms but, as well, has not seen the inside of one of the temples before it was dedicated.
Both learned more and it was fun to explain to them what goes on in the temple of what some of the symbolism means. Both Innocent and Alicia are young and tender in the gospel and any opportunity we have to help them feel the spirit, we want to take advantage of that.
Alicia knows enough about the temple that she expressed excitement at the possibility of going. Innocent has been to the temple to baptisms but, as well, has not seen the inside of one of the temples before it was dedicated.
Both learned more and it was fun to explain to them what goes on in the temple of what some of the symbolism means. Both Innocent and Alicia are young and tender in the gospel and any opportunity we have to help them feel the spirit, we want to take advantage of that.
Building Trust
At the beginning of our mission we were told one of the key elements of our success with the people we work with is building trust with them. If you show genuine interest in them, express support and love, and back it up with actions, they will respond.
We feel we have built that trust with both Innocent and Alicia. Innocent trusts and values my opinion and advise; particularly in helping him with his asylum applications.
Barbara, in particular, with Alicia has developed a tremendous trust level. Alicia suffers from mental illness and depression. She is on medication but recently had a relapse. She feel into a deep depression. To add to her situation her back and leg pain flared up not helping her depression. I tell you this, in terms of trust, because one night Alicia text Barbara saying she can't take this any more and just wanted to die. She wanted us to come and spend some time with her. The next day we did. I gave her blessing. It also was very evident that she and her family were in a mess so we went to McDonalds and bought them dinner to relieve some burdens. Since then Barbara has been reaching out to her regularly with positive quotes about life and struggles. She has since been back on her medication. She asks Barbara for advise now on many things. We feel now we can encourage church attendance and the blessings of the activity in the gospel now without Alicia thinking that is our only motive. She knows that with all the help and support that we give her as well as Bishop Kruger she needs to participate more. We are seeing a change in Alicia. We hope it is for the better and sustainable.
We feel we have built that trust with both Innocent and Alicia. Innocent trusts and values my opinion and advise; particularly in helping him with his asylum applications.
Barbara, in particular, with Alicia has developed a tremendous trust level. Alicia suffers from mental illness and depression. She is on medication but recently had a relapse. She feel into a deep depression. To add to her situation her back and leg pain flared up not helping her depression. I tell you this, in terms of trust, because one night Alicia text Barbara saying she can't take this any more and just wanted to die. She wanted us to come and spend some time with her. The next day we did. I gave her blessing. It also was very evident that she and her family were in a mess so we went to McDonalds and bought them dinner to relieve some burdens. Since then Barbara has been reaching out to her regularly with positive quotes about life and struggles. She has since been back on her medication. She asks Barbara for advise now on many things. We feel now we can encourage church attendance and the blessings of the activity in the gospel now without Alicia thinking that is our only motive. She knows that with all the help and support that we give her as well as Bishop Kruger she needs to participate more. We are seeing a change in Alicia. We hope it is for the better and sustainable.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Striving to Get Ahead with Limited Resources
The amount of money we make and the goals we have to get ahead, I have found to all be relative to our individual situations and circumstances.
Innocent for example wants desperately to send money home to his family in Africa. His desire is to send $500.00 per month. This is to help his wife and to provide money for his children to go to school. He also however, needs to take care of his own circumstances here as well.
The job Innocent had with the landscaping company was to make that happen. However, the work was inconsistent and did not pay what was presented. On his own he got a job with Convergys paying $13.00 per hour. He was encouraged and hopeful. With having a steady work schedule during the day he then could find a part time job in the evenings. He found a job at the airport cleaning offices for a janitorial company on the grave yard shift for $10.00 per hour. All was good and thought he meet his goals. At Convergys he soon realized that his computer skills were preventing him from succeeding during training and was let go.
Now he is stuck with the airport job, working grave yard, working on Sundays and not able to attend church with the block schedule beginning at 9:00 am.
When he can he still sends money home to his family but in doing so he gets himself in a situation where he needs help from the Bishop. I have to admire him for trying so hard. I think that many of these immigrants and refugees think the USA is paved in gold and money is easy to come by. They come to realize that it requires a lot to just survive. For example, Innocent was given a car by another refugee friend. Well he now realizes he needs insurance and the car needs repairs. Rent is $700.00 per month plus utilities. It is expensive, in his situation, to maintain his work status. He had to renew his work card, drivers license, etc. He did not have the money so Bishop Krueger helped with that. His car needed new tires and on his own he found some for over $300.00. I told him I could help him find tires at a better price. I negotiated 4 new tires with Big O Tires in downtown SLC for just over $200.00. He paid that himself. He was sad because his family did not get money last month.
The need for new tires is a story in itself. Innocent was driving home and both tires on the driver side went flat. He did not know what to do so he kept driving home. When he arrived he noticed that both tires were ripped and torn, barely on the rims. He called me for help. I found him the deal at Big O Tires. So one Saturday morning I helped him take the two rims off, put them in my truck and took them to Big O Tires. They mounted two new tires. We went back, put them on, then drove his car back to Big O to have the others replaced and mounted.
Innocent is trying to be self reliant. I truly admire him. In Africa his highest wage he earned was $1200 per month. That was good money. In USA $1200 per month does not make ends meet.
We are coming to realize the biggest service we can offer is to set a good example by mentoring and providing hope. That is what the Savior did during his ministry. Mentored, Loved, and provided Hope.
Innocent for example wants desperately to send money home to his family in Africa. His desire is to send $500.00 per month. This is to help his wife and to provide money for his children to go to school. He also however, needs to take care of his own circumstances here as well.
The job Innocent had with the landscaping company was to make that happen. However, the work was inconsistent and did not pay what was presented. On his own he got a job with Convergys paying $13.00 per hour. He was encouraged and hopeful. With having a steady work schedule during the day he then could find a part time job in the evenings. He found a job at the airport cleaning offices for a janitorial company on the grave yard shift for $10.00 per hour. All was good and thought he meet his goals. At Convergys he soon realized that his computer skills were preventing him from succeeding during training and was let go.
Now he is stuck with the airport job, working grave yard, working on Sundays and not able to attend church with the block schedule beginning at 9:00 am.
When he can he still sends money home to his family but in doing so he gets himself in a situation where he needs help from the Bishop. I have to admire him for trying so hard. I think that many of these immigrants and refugees think the USA is paved in gold and money is easy to come by. They come to realize that it requires a lot to just survive. For example, Innocent was given a car by another refugee friend. Well he now realizes he needs insurance and the car needs repairs. Rent is $700.00 per month plus utilities. It is expensive, in his situation, to maintain his work status. He had to renew his work card, drivers license, etc. He did not have the money so Bishop Krueger helped with that. His car needed new tires and on his own he found some for over $300.00. I told him I could help him find tires at a better price. I negotiated 4 new tires with Big O Tires in downtown SLC for just over $200.00. He paid that himself. He was sad because his family did not get money last month.
The need for new tires is a story in itself. Innocent was driving home and both tires on the driver side went flat. He did not know what to do so he kept driving home. When he arrived he noticed that both tires were ripped and torn, barely on the rims. He called me for help. I found him the deal at Big O Tires. So one Saturday morning I helped him take the two rims off, put them in my truck and took them to Big O Tires. They mounted two new tires. We went back, put them on, then drove his car back to Big O to have the others replaced and mounted.
Innocent is trying to be self reliant. I truly admire him. In Africa his highest wage he earned was $1200 per month. That was good money. In USA $1200 per month does not make ends meet.
We are coming to realize the biggest service we can offer is to set a good example by mentoring and providing hope. That is what the Savior did during his ministry. Mentored, Loved, and provided Hope.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Bed Bugs
When we started our mission we were told that bed bugs are a problem and most likely those who we work with will have them. As we mentioned before Alicia was evicted from her apartment due to having bed bugs.
The reason I bring this up is Dolly, one of the sisters we visit with from time to time, has a severe case of bed bugs. We have researched these little critters and they are quite the creature. They actually feed off the blood of those they bite.
Well on a recent visit with Dolly I brought home one of those critters. It attached its self to my wool suit. We found it, when on the way home, we participated in an event in our home stake and one of the members of our home ward, whom we were visiting with, noticed something crawling on my suit coat and brushed it off and when it hit the gym floor it made a small blood splatter. WOW was I surprised. When we got home Barbara would not let me in the house and I had to undress in the garage. My suit hung there for a few days and then went to the dry cleaner. I guess we need to be more careful. Creepy!
The reason I bring this up is Dolly, one of the sisters we visit with from time to time, has a severe case of bed bugs. We have researched these little critters and they are quite the creature. They actually feed off the blood of those they bite.
Well on a recent visit with Dolly I brought home one of those critters. It attached its self to my wool suit. We found it, when on the way home, we participated in an event in our home stake and one of the members of our home ward, whom we were visiting with, noticed something crawling on my suit coat and brushed it off and when it hit the gym floor it made a small blood splatter. WOW was I surprised. When we got home Barbara would not let me in the house and I had to undress in the garage. My suit hung there for a few days and then went to the dry cleaner. I guess we need to be more careful. Creepy!
Immigration (Asylum) Next Steps
Innocent has been so gracious and appreciative of our help. I am truly amazed at his meekness and humility.
As requested by the Immigration Attorney were able to get an x-ray of Innocents left arm and discovered three needle size implants (tracking devices). See attached picture. Barbara and I are amazed at this. Only in the movies have we heard of such things as implanted tracking devices. Even more amazing is that the bad guys actually use them.
The attorney asked us as well to have a medical doctor perform a physical inspection of Innocents torture scares, and in the opinion of the doctor, authenticate these scares and markings. Elder Cannon, who serves with us in the Meadow Ward, is a medical doctor and agreed to perform the inspection. He took pictures and prepared a statement of authenticity. These scares will be with Innocent the rest of his life.
We will be meeting the attorney soon to submit our findings and argument for granting asylum to the immigration department in Texas. The hope is then his case will be heard in Utah.
As requested by the Immigration Attorney were able to get an x-ray of Innocents left arm and discovered three needle size implants (tracking devices). See attached picture. Barbara and I are amazed at this. Only in the movies have we heard of such things as implanted tracking devices. Even more amazing is that the bad guys actually use them.
The attorney asked us as well to have a medical doctor perform a physical inspection of Innocents torture scares, and in the opinion of the doctor, authenticate these scares and markings. Elder Cannon, who serves with us in the Meadow Ward, is a medical doctor and agreed to perform the inspection. He took pictures and prepared a statement of authenticity. These scares will be with Innocent the rest of his life.
We will be meeting the attorney soon to submit our findings and argument for granting asylum to the immigration department in Texas. The hope is then his case will be heard in Utah.
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