Re-Opening

Editor’s Note: In addition to cleaning, efforts are also underway to re-establish pre-COVID classes at the Peace Center. A few Driver’s Ed classes have been made available and ESL classes are now offered on Tuesday evenings. Here Carol Buckman tells us about re-starting the popular sewing class as well.

Missouri continues to take steps forward in the opening-up process as is CFNA. These pictures are from our June 6, Sewing Class. Summer Intern, Mariah Spaid, Dr. Nhung Tran, and I assisted Evangelist Nabin Samal at St. Johns Morganford with his class of 3 students. The fourth student, a gentleman was not able to attend. This was an intentionally small class as we wanted to exercise every caution possible.

We started in the chapel with prayer and a brief devotion in Nepali, registration including temperature taking, pattern explanation, and the cutting of the fabric. In order to keep everyone’s supplies separate, we carefully numbered the items (clipboards, paperwork, pens, sanitizers, and sewing kits) and everyone brought their own mask. Rev. Bill Matzat of Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood built 3-sided plexiglass partitions for the sewing machine areas. You may have seen some of the magnificent stained glass and/or wood artwork that he has done for the seminary, countless churches, and many other sites.

We made aprons on June 6 and blouses on June 20. Hot pads and jackets are scheduled for July 18 and July 25. Tell me if you would like to help in any way. Child care, general cleaning/organizing, searching for easy patterns, adding info to our database, calling sewing companies to gather information about jobs, teaching classes in person or via Zoom, assisting the teacher, finding a buyer for home-made masks (Nabin's Dad and uncle sew masks and are looking for buyers). Nabin’s and his wife, Rodha’s dream is to start a sewing business in St. Louis in order to build a medical clinic and a church in Nepal.

Carol Buckman (314) 517-8513 

Freedom

Charles (r) & Friend at CFNA 2019 5K Freedom Run

Charles Nshimiyimana came to America via a Uganda refugee camp in 2015. As a New American he has seen his share of struggles.

“When in the refugee camp I saw so much fighting. Other nationalities kept fighting with one another every day. I wanted to learn, to get an education, but it was so hard.”

Charles, the 2019 Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year at Roosevelt High School, enrolled at St. Louis Community College to study Information Technology and play soccer. “I wanted to go to a four-year school but even with the scholarships they were offering, it still wasn’t enough.”

For most of the past year, Charles has been serving with CFNA as a Ministry Intern. As such, he assisted with the monitoring of classes in the computer room, the distribution of food to families affected by COVID-19, with servant events, and more. All of this, however, came to an abrupt halt when he himself came down with coronavirus.

Both Charles and his mother became victims and his mother’s hospital stay was lengthy. After observing quarantine restrictions, Charles “suspended” his study program to work longer hours and help provide for his family. He also sends some of his money every month to the Uganda refugee camp to help children with their education. “Knowing Jesus helps me to want to help others.”

Preparing Meals for Delivery

His outlook on life has not changed, “The freedom I have in America to go anywhere I want and to do anything I want is new to me. And my faith in Jesus gives me freedom to help others”.

As a member of Timothy Lutheran Church, Charles hopes to resume his studies in the fall. “CFNA has helped me so much. They helped me learn the true meaning of freedom and they helped me learn the culture of America. They always share Jesus.”

You can help us to help Charles and so many like him. Please send a gift today. Just click the DONATE NOW button. I thank you and so does Charles.

Rev. Stanish Stanley CFNA Executive Director

Preparations for Re-Opening

Organizing the Pantry

Sanitizing Furnishings

Getting Started

The first week of June nine volunteers, mostly members of the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens, gathered a few times to help Pastor Stanish Stanley clean the Peace Center. He was prepared with masks, gloves, cleaning supplies, and projects that kept everyone distanced while they worked. The volunteers cleaned the kitchen, mopped floors, wiped down surfaces, and organized storage areas. As Dan Walther, who worked next to his wife Kathy, said, “it’s our way of helping them get back to operations like tutoring and sewing classes.”

Pastor Stanley and Kelly Teuscher confirmed that CFNA hopes to resume evening English as a Second Language classes by early July or perhaps sooner. All the rooms and supplies have been sanitized and procedures are in place to ensure proper personal spacing when groups gather.

The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens has long been a partner with Christian Friends of New Americans providing prayer and financial support as well as a variety of volunteers. The Webster Gardens Missions Leadership Team supports CFNA because they do a great job reaching many international refugees and immigrants right here in St. Louis. They meet specific needs as well as share the Gospel message. Additionally, CFNA adapts to those they serve, accepting all, with a unique and practical love.

We wish them and the New Americans they serve our Lord’s richest blessings!

By Kathy Odegard Webster Gardens Lutheran Church

We Gave It All Away (Almost)!

Elsie Vamboi

The first appeal was launched on Wednesday, March 25. Since then 120 donors provided all that was needed to provide gifts of between $200 and $500 to 140 of the neediest of New American families. All of them had members who had been laid off or had their work hours reduced. Six had members who had been infected with the coronavirus. One family had three members under quarantine!

A small amount, less than 10 percent, remains in the fund and has yet to be donated. No doubt more requests will be received. None of the donations have been used to cover administrative costs, nor have any been set aside for this purpose. In other words, with the exception of the small remaining balance, we gave it all away!

Ascension, Messiah, Trinity, and St. Johns Lutheran Churches played a key role in this distribution. CFNA sent the money to them, and they gave it to the New American families deemed to be most in need. Several of the recipient families are members of these congregations, but many are not. Either way, this translates into approximately 700 New Americans linked in some way to these four congregations.

Many expressions of gratitude have been received from the beneficiaries. Mahawa Jewel Fofana, a refugee from Sierra Leone, West Africa said, “I want to send my profound appreciation to Timothy Lutheran Church and CFNA for remembering me in both my spiritual needs (for all your prayers) and my financial/basic needs (I received $200 from Mr. Brewah on your behalf) during these trying times. My heart is full of gratitude. May God continue to bless us all and replenish the givers in Jesus' name. Amen. Thanks so much. Jewel.”

Elsie Vamboi, also from West Africa sent this message. “I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave their resources to help immigrants like us. The support came just at a time I needed it most to take care of myself, my daughter, and grandkids. Indeed, people like you make God become real in our world. I truly appreciate you all. On behalf of my family I wish to say thanks to you all who gave and are praying for us and our world. May God continue to bless and prosper you.”

Families under quarantine still need our help and no doubt additional cases will be brought to our attention. If you want to help you may make a donation via the “donate button” below or make a check payable to CFNA. Write COVID-19 on the memo line and mail it to CFNA, 4019 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118.

By Rev. Al BuckmanBoard Chair, CFNA

Help and Hope Update

Boris Dukovs

It began seven weeks ago when Rev. Stanish Stanley, together with a small group of volunteers, handed out 57 meals to the children of New American families who had been laid off or had their work hours reduced. This number rapidly expanded to 175 meals delivered to 40 families three, and later, four days a week.

The recipients are from nine birth nations, but whatever our national or ethnic origins one thing has become clear; all of us have the same desire and need for a relational closeness. To be sure, current COVID-19 restrictions have turned this into a genuine challenge. Nevertheless, CFNA remains committed to keeping relationships in place, and generating new ones whenever possible. Presently, this is being accomplished by making available financial assistance, COVID-19 related “care packages” and meals for children of affected families.

The food required for the more than 5,000 meals delivered to date has been provided by UMETULISHA (You Have Fed Us), a CFNA partner agency. What began with just a couple of people grew to a group of more than 15 volunteers from four congregations and a mission society, in addition to students from Lutheran High School South. Moreover, a community service group from Webster Gardens Lutheran Church provided five $100 gift certificates which were given to families with special needs.

Boris Dukovs, a Croatian refugee from Bosnia, arrived in St Louis some time ago. He was doing well until the coronavirus started. Shortly thereafter he lost his job and has been looking for work ever since. In an expression of gratitude he stated, “Thank you for the food and for the money.  And thank you for talking to me every day. I used your money to charge my phone so that I could try to find work. Even during this difficult time, we did not go hungry because of you. May God bless you and your work here.”

Boris and many other New Americans join us at CFNA in thanking each of you for having made these gifts possible.

If you would like to donate, click the Donate button or send a check to CFNA at 4019 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118.  Thank you.

By Rev. S. Stanley with Rev. A. Buckman

Scholarship Assistance

Edwin

Joseph

Wayea

Grace

COVID-19 has been the great disrupter, forcing changes everywhere and the CFNA Scholarship Assistance Ministry has been no exception. Nonetheless, encouragement may be taken from the fact that all 23 (12 elementary, 11 high school) students completed their on-line classes. None dropped out!

Other highlights include:

-All four high school graduates plan to go to college or join the military. Grace (Vietnam) has been accepted at Harvard. (She was also accepted at M.I.T. and several other universities). Joseph (Sierra Leone) will be going to Millikin University. Wayea (Liberia) is considering three universities, including Valpo. Edwin (Liberia) is joining the Army.

-Lutheran teachers and administrative staff kept a close watch and followed up diligently with the students. As Grace said, “Lutheran High School South teachers stretched me academically and encouraged me to think outside the box.”

-CFNA met its fundraising goal of $32,000 required for the scholarships. Those dollars were matched by a generous Lutheran Foundation grant, thereby enabling this ministry to finish yet another academic year in the black.

-Our numerous individual donors, to whom we remain grateful. Additionally, the LCMS Domestic Grant program as well as numerous congregations including especially Concordia, Kirkwood, contributed significantly to this ministry.

-The six Lutheran schools including Christ Community, Grace Chapel, Immanuel Olivette, Word of Life and Lutheran High Schools North and South these students attended.

-The nine birth nations of these students including Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Vietnam) speak to the continuing diversity of this program and indeed, all of CFNA.

In a recent meeting the CFNA, Board of Directors determined to expand the program to include scholarship support for Kindergarten and PreK students. It is anticipated this will assure continued opportunities for scholarship assistance and corresponding diversity in the years to come.

Should you wish to support this vibrant, Christ-centered ministry you may make a donation via the “Donate Online” below or make a check payable to CFNA, write “Scholarship Assistance” in the memo line and mail it to CFNA, 4019 South Brand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118.

By Judith Meyer, Director, Scholarship Assistance Ministry & Rev. Allan Buckman, CFNA Board Chair.

Week of Giving

l to r: Hawa Bass & Gerald Brewah

“I didn’t know what might happen next!”

Hawa Bass arrived in St. Louis as a refugee from Sierra Leone, West Africa. She managed to find work as a housekeeper shortly after her arrival, and though the budget was always tight, she managed to support herself and three children without undue anxiety, primarily by sticking to basics. That was until three weeks ago when she was laid off from a job she had held for nine years.

This came as a shock and with all of the uncertainties surrounding the spread of the coronavirus, the future suddenly became very uncertain. In Hawa’s words, “I didn’t know what might happen next.”

What happened next was totally unexpected. Hawa became the recipient of a gift from her congregation, Timothy Lutheran Church, that had been made possible by contributions to CFNA’s COVID-19 Assistance Fund. It provided both Help and Hope!

Hawa put it this way, “This was my first time of being out of work since coming to America. I knew CFNA helped refugees and immigrants in many ways, but what I never expected was to be receiving money from them. That meant a lot to me because I didn’t know where the money would come from, so I could pay for rent and utilities. But now I know God will continue to touch the hearts and minds of someone out there to help save His servants.”

The CFNA network has raised $5,700 from generous donors as a challenge match. Would you give to be part of helping people like Hawa who really need us now?

Today is Giving Tuesday and May 7 is GiveStLDay. We invite you to participate in this WEEK OF GIVING by donating through CFNA’s GiveStLDay page at https://www.givestlday.org/cfna.

Help and Hope

Assembling meal packs

More than meals

Rhoda picking up meals

Even though we have recently received news regarding the lessening of the COVID-19 virus, the needs of the most vulnerable are far from over.

Rhoda’s family came to St. Louis in 2015-16 via Georgia as refugees from the Congo (DRC). Presently, both parents work at SLU hospital in entry-level jobs to support their eight kids. As changes were put in place to respond to the virus crisis, they were thankful they still had jobs. Recently, however, they were informed their work hours had been cut in half. What had once been a barely manageable challenge regarding family groceries had suddenly become a near impossibility.

To date, your gifts have provided help and hope for over 70 New American families with members who have been laid off from work or have had work hours reduced. Apart from setting up a COVID-19 Assistance Fund to support hurting families, CFNA is partnering with UMTULISHA Food Ministry (Restore St. Louis) to provide meals to refugee families with children 18 years of age and under. The first delivery was made on Tuesday, March 24 when 57 meals were given to 12 families. This effort has since expanded to 150 meals delivered three days a week to 30 families.

“You're all are very nice… even when people are afraid, you do a lot to help us,” observed Rhoda as she received eight meals for her family on that first Tuesday. “This is what Jesus did for us, “(Mark 10:45 ff.)…” and who knows, maybe one day you will serve us when we have a need,” was my reply as Rhoda nodded in approval.

As we seek our Lord’s intervention in this crisis and seek His Kingdom (Mt. 6:33), our sincere thanks goes to each of you for blessing refugee families and their children with these meals.

If you would like to donate, click the button below or send a check to CFNA at 4019 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118 with “Help and Hope” on the memo line. Thank you.

By Rev. Stanish Stanley Executive Director, CFNA, St. Louis

COVID-19 Assistance Fund

CFNA Executive Director, Rev. Stanish Stanley, describes the needs New Americans are facing in this crisis.

A little over two years ago Lewi Jermiya, together with his wife and daughter, arrived in St. Louis from the Shimelba Refugee Camp in Ethiopia. He had lived in that camp for over 15 years.

Shortly after coming to St. Louis, Lewi was hired as a maintenance worker by of the St. Louis casinos. It wasn’t the greatest job but it was a place to start. More importantly, it enabled him to provide for his family.

Today we are surrounded by the uncertainty of coronavirus.

Shortly after the social distancing restrictions were put in place, Lewi was laid off. He wasn’t the only one. A quick survey of the approximately 350 New American families within the CFNA network revealed that more than 50 were dealing with layoffs, reduced work hours or were desperately searching for grocery money to feed children who had been receiving their breakfasts and lunches at school. To be sure, there are many more.

Of all those afflicted by the uncertainties of the coronavirus, New Americans are likely among the most vulnerable.

Through the generosity of three donors, a COVID-19 Assistance Matching Fund of $10,000 has been established. Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, and here is how you can get involved. Make a donation via the “donate button” below or write a check in any amount payable to CFNA with “COVID Fund” in the memo line, and mail it to CFNA, 4019 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118. Please note: All new donors are matched two for one; i.e., your one dollar becomes three! Through Lutheran congregations in south St. Louis city, CFNA has begun making grants of $200 to $400 available to afflicted families. Please join us in this much-needed effort.

Thrivent Members! Did you know you have FREE money to help even more?!? Directing your Choice Dollars to CFNA can do this. Click HERE to select CFNA on Thrivent's Website or call Thrivent at 1-800-847-4836. March 31 is the last day to designate 2020 Thrivent choice dollars.

Rev. Allan Buckman Board Chair, CFNA

Jermiya Family

Lewi Jermiya

Muslim Background Believers Accept Christ

Kadija Kargbo

Khadija Kargbo and Baindu Brown Mansaray, originally from Sierra Leone, recently turned their lives over to Jesus Christ through baptism and are now part of the growing African immigrant population at Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis Missouri. The number of African immigrants (mainly from Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Eritrea etc.) at Timothy has been growing steadily during the past decade. This was made possible due mainly to the strong and effective partnership between Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) and Timothy Lutheran Church.

CFNA continues to draw and bridge immigrants and refugees by providing incentives such as Scholarship Programs for immigrant and refugee children to study in Lutheran elementary and high schools, monthly Health Screening, an After-School Tutoring Program for immigrant and refugee children and teaching refugees English as a second language, to name a few. Timothy Lutheran Church, on the other hand, continues to attract immigrants and refugees due mainly to their embracement of diversity, and their tolerance for immigrant cultures and their way of life.

It was not therefore surprising to see Khadija Kargbo become a Christian through baptism on Sunday, January 5, 2020. Khadija grew up in a Christian and Muslim home in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Her mother was a devout Catholic and father a devout Muslim. In their household, they equally celebrated Christmas and Ramadan. In reality, she was neither a Christian nor a Muslim at the time. Khadija came to St. Louis as a refugee on July 30, 2002. Previously, she had lived in a refugee camp in the West African country of Mali from 1992 to 2002. She is currently enrolled in a new membership class at Timothy Lutheran Church.

Baindu Brown Mansaray, on the other hand, had been a practicing Muslim in her hometown, Kenema, Sierra Leone before coming to the US. Upon arrival, she moved in with her daughter, Mahawa Jewel Brown-Vamboi, and son-in-law, Prince Vamboi, and always enjoyed babysitting one-and-half-year-old Xander Vamboi. Prince and Mahawa are members of Timothy Lutheran Church so after Baindu arrived she joined the family in worship services there.

Baindu Brown Mansaray

When Khadija received baptism at Timothy, the question Baindu asked her daughter was, “Can adults be baptized?” The answer, of course, was yes. Baindu, being a Muslim, had seen many babies and young children baptized at Timothy so she was not sure whether she would be given the chance. She then told her daughter that she also wanted to be baptized so on Sunday, January 26, 2020, she accepted Jesus through Baptism. Baindu still has six of her children back home in Sierra Leone. All of them need your prayers.

Personally, it brought tremendous joy to our hearts when my wife Yewah and I were asked to serve as the baptismal sponsors for Kadija and Baindu.

By Gerald Brewah Timothy Lutheran Church Photos by Gerald Brewah

Emerging Church Leaders

Martin (front center) and the CFNA Tutors

A year ago, four LCMS pastors committed to participate in a CFNA sponsored Leadership Training Program designed to equip emerging New American church leaders for enrollment in Concordia Seminary’s EIIT (Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology) program. In addition to Revs. Matt Clark (Ascension LC), Mike Tanney (St. Johns LC), Stanish Stanley (CFNA) and Al Buckman (CFNA), Mike Okine (Messiah LC) also joined the group.

The program attracted eight Nepali and Eritrean candidates, all of them serving recently established Bible Fellowships attached to the above-referenced congregations. Recently, Martin Basnet, John Gurung, Ratna Mangar and Nabin Samal, all of them from Nepal, submitted applications for admission into the EIIT program. Subsequent issues of CFNA E-News will provide brief profiles of each of them. In this issue, we are pleased to introduce Martin Basnet.

Born in Bhutan and raised first as a Buddhist and later as a Hindu, Martin, together with his father (his mother had passed away) and six siblings, were driven out of Bhutan to Nepal. There, together with thousands of other displaced Nepali people, they lived as refugees. Martin was six years old at the time.

Martin’s father, who had been a farmer in Bhutan, now had no farm or employment of any kind, and the family was forced to live on whatever the various relief agencies such as Catholic Charities and Lutheran World Relief, were able to provide. In 2008, after living for 19 years as refugees in Nepal, the Basnet family was selected for resettlement and was subsequently flown from Nepal to St. Louis.

Martin Basnet

While in Nepal, Martin was somehow attracted to the words of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and though he began attending worship services, he was never baptized or confirmed. After arriving in St. Louis, he together with his wife Meena began attending various churches, but never felt entirely satisfied. Finally, after a pastor from Messiah Lutheran Church paid them a series of visits, they began to experience a feeling of peace. On August 2, 2011, Martin and Meena were baptized and confirmed. Their infant son Joel was also baptized.

Martin, who presently serves as an Elder at Messiah, also works full time as a translator at BIAS (Bilingual International Assistance Services). As a volunteer, Martin provides the same services for Nepali people seeking assistance through programs offered at Messiah or more frequently, at the CFNA Peace Center. In other words, Martin is already reaching out to other Nepali people to tell them about Jesus. As a high caste Hindu who became a Christian (a rarity), he finds that other Nepali people are often willing to listen.

Please join CFNA and members at Messiah in praying for Martin’s success as an EIIT student, and for the strength and courage, he and Meena require as they continue their witness to other Nepali people.

By Rev. Al Buckman, CFNA Board Chair

Reaching Out

LCMS Mission Advancement Team

Every year during the Christmas and/or Advent Season, the people serving the Synod in LCMS Mission Advancement at the International Center in St. Louis choose a team service project. Mission Advancement intentionally chooses a Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of the LCMS to support. In 2019, the team wanted to support Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) in St. Louis.

“Our team was inspired after learning how Christian Friends of New Americans assists immigrant and refugee families make the transition to becoming a valued part of their new metropolitan community, helps them through the process of gaining citizenship, and coordinates skills and job training, and health care. But most important, we wanted to support CFNA because it deliberately and openly shares the Good News of Jesus in both word and deed. CFNA connects people to area Lutheran congregations, like my own. Thus, called by the Holy Spirit into a saving faith, these new Americans are given the opportunity to become disciples of Jesus for life, which many did not or could not have received in their birth country” said Mark Hofman, executive director of Mission Advancement.

One member of the Mission Advancement team who coordinated the collection and delivery of donated resources to CFNA said, “When people go about selecting items to give to a (humanitarian aid) nonprofit, most immediately think about food/pantry items. Rarely do people think about the household items that serve to make “a house a home” for families. CFNA shared that reality with us, and it gave us the opportunity to help fill some of that gap. It was nice to be given alternative donation suggestions that are so important: blankets, towels, cleaning supplies, etc.! We were pleased to have had the opportunity to partner with CFNA in this way for mission outreach among New Americans.”

By Mark Hofman Executive Director, LCMS Mission Advancement Member, Ascension Lutheran Church

Editor’s Note: The numerous household items received from the LCMS Mission Advancement Team will be combined with yet other donations for our next community-wide Give Away. These Give Aways enable CFNA to reach ever more deeply into the numerous ethnic refugee communities located in urban St. Louis.

Harold Melser

Harold_Std

CFNA Associate Harold Melser, fulfilled his work here on this earth on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at the age of 77 with his loving family by his side. Read his obituary HERE.

Note this article from 2016:

Harold was named Volunteer of the Month in 2016 by the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission. The honor was bestowed on him in recognition of his service as at the Forest Park Visitor’s Center, as well as at conventions, conferences and shows at the America’s Center.

Since his retirement from Lutheran Hour Ministries as Director, Ministry Advancement, Harold has been volunteering as a CFNA Associate, Co-Chairing their annual Walkathon. He also serves as a member of the Lutherans in Medical Missions Board, and will soon join the Family Shield Ministries Board as well.

Congratulations Harold, for your honor, and for your excellent volunteer service.

ESL Kickoff Party

On January 11, an ESL class consisting of a dozen New Americans from five birth nations (Nepal, Afghanistan, Sudan, Congo, and Cuba) and staff had a party to kick off the new year.

Please know this class isn’t just about learning English. Rather, a twin goal is to provide students with the skills they need to be successful in their communities. Examples include the basics of money management and how to have a successful job interview. Drivers' education and cooking classes are offered as well as part of the curriculum.

Also, ESL is not just about the meaning of words, word order, or proper grammar. It is also about spiritual nurture where students are encouraged to share their concerns during prayer time. There is also great fellowship, and this is where the Kickoff Party comes in. If the purpose of the ESL class is to learn English, the purpose of the Kickoff Party was to help build relationships. And it is working. When asked why she enjoys coming to English class, one of the students replied, “I not only come here to learn to speak English better. I come here because I like the people. Everyone wants to help.”

Indeed—students, friends, and staff members enjoyed one another’s company over potato rolls and biryani: a rice dish with chicken, spices, and fruit (including oranges). This delicious dinner was prepared by a mother and daughter from Yemen with funds obtained through a Thrivent grant, provided by volunteer worker Christine Hoeman of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church.

ESL classes are offered at the Peace Center on Saturdays from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon. More tutors are needed; if this interests you, contact me at KellyTeuscher@gmail.com or 314-604-5982.

By Kelly Teuscher Webster Gardens Lutheran Church

Student Update!

Although we tend to focus on New Americans who have initially settled in St. Louis City and the challenges they and their children face, CFNA is also supporting students who are attending suburban Lutheran schools. In 2019–20, New American children are attending Christ Community Lutheran School in Kirkwood and Webster Groves, Grace Chapel Lutheran School in Bellfontaine Neighbors, and Immanuel Lutheran School in Olivette.

At Grace Chapel, Ellen, a fifth-grader from Liberia, has been supported since she was in first grade, following in the footsteps of her older brother and sister, both of whom now attend Lutheran North. Billy, a fifth-grader from Uganda, and Iye, an eighth-grader who lived in both Liberia and Ghana, have been supported for two years with CFNA scholarships. Iye and her family are debating between Lutheran North and Cardinal Ritter for high school.Daniel and Yusseff, whose parents came from Egypt and are missionaries to Arabic-speaking families in St. Louis, attend CCLS, where they are in second and third grades. With help from their congregation, Epiphany Lutheran in St. Louis, they have received scholarships for three years. Thelma, whose family is from Liberia, is a seventh-grader who has received scholarships since she was in second grade. Webster Gardens and Concordia Lutheran Churches have helped support her as well as her brother, who is now a senior at Lutheran South.

Immanuel Olivette has taught CFNA scholarship students periodically over the last thirteen years of the program. A new student, Ruth from Ethiopia, has just enrolled in fourth grade for the spring semester; fortunately, CFNA could help make that possible with a scholarship. She is very happy in her new school, saying, “The students are a little bit nicer and the work is harder and we get to learn about God. Thank you so much.”

In previous years, Salem Lutheran School in Affton and Green Park Lutheran School in Green Park have also had New American children enrolled with support from CFNA scholarships.

The support that congregations and individual donors provide for the CFNA scholarship program is critical for allowing these children to attend high-quality Lutheran schools in St. Louis County, where few other scholarship resources exist to help these New American families afford a Lutheran education for their children.

By Judith Meyer Timothy Lutheran Church

Swim Event

Teaching & Learning

**This event was featured on KSDK, which you can view online HERE!**

This winter marks the fourth year in an ongoing program designed to teach the children of CFNA life-saving swimming skills.

The program began after Henry Manu, a student at Lutheran High School South, drowned while swimming in the Meramec River. Henry was an immigrant from Liberia, and he had never learned how to swim. Wanting to honor Henry, members of the Lutheran South swim team partnered with CFNA to host their first winter swim program, with the goal of preventing a similar tragedy from occurring.

Today, both swim team members and additional students from Lutheran South are serving as swim instructors to the kids. For some, it is their first time helping out at the event, but others have participated for years. One experienced volunteer, Abigail McGue, said about the program, “CFNA swim lessons are very joyful. Every volunteer and kid is clearly having an amazing time.”

One look into the pool during lesson time is enough to make that statement clear. After being sorted into one of four groups based on their ability and experience, the kids are led into the pool by their instructors. There, they spend one hour learning new skills, practicing swimming drills, playing water games, and sharing smiles.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing to see is the progress that the kids make. Though many kids are hesitant to get in the pool during their first lesson, by the end of the program, they are able to confidently move around in the water. Some even manage to navigate the deep end and are able to swim across the length of the pool. For the volunteers involved, witnessing this progress is part of what makes the event so meaningful. As McGue puts it, “This experience has had a very positive impact on me, and hopefully just as much, if not more, on the kids we serve.”

The lessons will continue every Saturday 10:30–12:00 through February 8.

By Stephanie Kolm

Having Fun

New Swimmers!