CNFA-Send Me St. Louis

On Saturday, October 27, Send Me St. Louis sponsored another of its semi-annual city wide servant events, this one including – once again – Christian Friends of New Americans. Almost 30 people turned out to assist with carpentry tasks, painting, extensive cleaning, sorting and organizing the extensive amount of supplies kept at the Peace Center, especially those used for the After School Tutoring program.

Participants included not only members of several LCMS partner congregations, but also a significant number of New Americans from Asia and Africa, as well as a half dozen students from St. Louis University.

Not only do events such as these help facilitate ministry at the Peace Center, they also provide a great opportunity to get to know new people, as several were first time CFNA participants. We extend our sincere thanks to all who took part in this special event, and especially to Send Me St. Louis for their sponsorship.  

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Another Home Bible Study

During the evening of Thursday, October 25 another (the 7th) CFNA linked Home Bible Study was started; this one in the home of the Ash and Atie Rai family on Chippewa. There were a total of nine people in attendance, including sons and daughters, as well as neighbors from the apartment complex in which the Rai family is living.

The Ria family arrived in St. Louis just two months ago from Nepal, and were referred to CFNA and the services it offers, by relatives already part of the CFNA network (the Basnet family), who are also members of Messiah Lutheran Church.

This Bible Study was started by Pastor Eddie Mekasha, working in partnership with Mr. Hank Saeger, a member of Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood. Interestingly, plans are already in place to quickly hand off this Home Bible Study to Rev. Alex Vieira, a Ph.D. student from Brazil now studying at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Rev. Vieira received his M. Div. degree from Seminaria Concordia, the major seminary of the LCMS partner church in Brazil. Presently, Alex together with his wife, are members of St. Lucas Lutheran Church in St. Louis, where they assist with various outreach efforts.

May our Lord continue to richly bless this and all the Home Bible Study efforts.

 

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Another Bicycle Gift

Alexander, a New American from Congo, is the second recipient of a new bicycle donation!

Alexander came to the United States in June 2012. He is still waiting to be reunited with his wife and two children, who are waiting in Tanzania until they can join him.

The new bike was given to Alexander by CFNA through the generosity of Chris Shearman, owner of the Gelateria del Leone located at 3197 South Grand Blvd. Chris donates $3.00 from the sale of every bag of the Gelateria’s specially roasted coffee. When a sufficient amount has been accumulated, he purchases a bike, complete with helmet and lock, and makes it available to CFNA. From the many who visit the Peace center, Rev. Adefris Mekasha selects a recently arrived family badly in need of help with transportation, and gives it to them.

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Peace Center Refreshed by Abiding Savior SendMe Saturday

A cheerful crew of 28 men, women, and children arrived at the Peace Center on Saturday, October 13, for a very busy day. They were one of 30 teams, involving a total 327 people, who responded to the call for servants for the fifth Abiding Savior Lutheran Church SendMe Saturday. Christian Friends of New Americans leaders and several New Americans who were present were delighted with the way the visiting team worked together and the tremendous amount of work they accomplished in just a day. Half a team worked with the cleaning of every surface in the main floor and second floor and left everything sparkling and smelling so fresh! The other half of the team, continued work to construct usable rooms in the basement of the Peace Center, painting walls, adding a door to set off the supplies room from the recreation rooms, repairing, cleaning, and organizing—what a transformation!

After breaking to eat sack lunches they had packed, they participated in a Bible Study on Acts 9 and also learned more about Christian Friends of New Americans. Then eagerly and happily they were back to the unfinished work. We praise the Lord for all those who answered “Here I am,  Send me!” on this special day. Abiding Savior is in South County at 4355 Butler Hill Rd.

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After School Tutoring Resumes

On Monday, September 10, CFNA resumed its After School Tutoring program for the current academic year.  Classes are offered for New American students between Kindergarten and 12th grade.  This year, between 40 and 50 students have been participating each week.

The program runs from 5 to 7:30pm at the Peace Center on 4019 South Grand Blvd every Monday and Tuesday night.  It is effectively led by Carol Buckman and Adam Ellsworth, and aided by a team of more than 20 experienced, loving and enthusiastic tutors.

We begin with an hour of homework assistance, or workbook and coloring exercises for the younger students, followed by snack time and a visit to the chapel to sing and learn about Jesus.  After Chapel we head out to the playground for some fun on the swingset or downstairs for a game of ping pong or air hockey.  At the end of each night we finish up our homework or enjoy some reading time.  Every session is sure to be a positive and productive experience, and a great opportunity to make new friends!

--Robert Lampros

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Peace Center Renovation

Rev. Bill Matzat and his coworkers from the Faith Place Bible Study class at Concordia, Kirkwood have returned to the Peace Center to provide yet another renovation.  This time they are replacing the Plexiglas covered window panes in the computer room with a glass block window.  A double benefit is assured – added security and much better light.

Our thanks to Bill, son Todd, Brent Beumer, Matt Bayes, Tom Bickel, Matt Schelp and Gerald Brewah, as well as five additional New Americans who assisted with this project.

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Adopt a Student Ministry – 2012-2013

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In its sixth year, the Adopt a Student Ministry has expanded considerably. Twelve new students have been added, including two at Lutheran High South. The Lutheran Foundation continues to support the ministry by providing dollar-for-dollar matches to contributions from individuals and congregations for the scholarships for New American students. We are thrilled with the new students, who will benefit from both the academic quality and the supportive Christian environment of their schools and their congregations. The challenge for CFNA is to identify families and congregations to “adopt” these new students.

Not only have we added new students, but these students provide additional connections to New American communities. Although CFNA has been building relationships with the Bhutanese community, for the first time we will now have Nepalese students at Word of Life. In addition, Word of Life will have a Vietnamese student, continuing a longstanding relationship with that community initially served by King of Glory Lutheran School. Finally, Green Park Lutheran will have two Honduran students, the first from a Middle American country to be served by our program.

Eighteen students will be attending Word of Life this year, most of whom belong either to Timothy or Ascension. Because many of these students do not have transportation to school, CFNA and Timothy are cooperating to provide transportation for the children. The students will also benefit from a homework help service funded by the Lutheran Foundation. Because their families are not familiar with American educational practices they cannot provide the level of support their children need to be successful in school.

Two new schools have been added to the program this year. Grace Chapel Lutheran School has two students from Liberia; their family belongs to Immanuel Chapel. Green Park has two students from Honduras who are members of Resurrection.

The continuing student at Salem Lutheran School, Affton, is a member of Hope, where she was baptized this spring. The student at Christ Community Lutheran School is the member of a large family who are members of Messiah; two of her siblings attend Lutheran South with Adopt a Student scholarships. Four other students also attend Lutheran South.

Please consider helping to support this ministry. Prayer for these students and families is important. In addition, if you are interested in supporting this ministry, or know someone who might be interested, please contact Judith Meyer (judithmeyer@swbell.net or 314-725-5386). You might also consider asking an organization in your church to consider “adopting” a student. Organizations at Mount Calvary and Webster Gardens have done that in past years, and Judith would be happy to make a presentation to a group that might be interested.

The Lutheran Foundation supports this ministry not only by helping to provide scholarships for 30 students but by covering other costs of this ministry. The facilitators, strong Lutherans who are New Americans themselves, connect the children, the families, the schools and congregations. They were critical in identifying the new students this summer and helping them enroll. In addition, the Foundation helps support the transportation of students to Word of Life; many of their students live in South City, and thus cannot get to Word of Life easily.

A Bicycle for Solomon

Solomon Sennu is a Zomi speaking Burmese refugee who arrived in St. Louis nine months ago with his wife and two small children. Without transportation, he has been dependent on either the mass transit system, or assistance from friends and relatives. Now he has a bicycle which gives him another badly needed option.

It was given to him by CFNA through the generosity of Chris Shearman, owner of the Gelateria del Leone located at 3197 South Grand Blvd. Chris donates $3.00 from the sale of every bag of the Gelateria’s specially roasted coffee. When a sufficient amount has been accumulated, he purchases a bike, complete with helmet and lock, and makes it available to CFNA. From the many who visit the Peace center, Rev. Adefris Mekasha selects a recently arrived family badly in need of help with transportation, and gives it to them.

Sometime when you are in the area, stop by the Gelateria for a great cup of coffee, and say “hi” to Chris.

More info on the Gelateria:

Solomon

Solomon