Trivia Night 2019!

Trivia 2019 was a record-breaker! With approximately 300 in attendance and more than $17,500 netted, CFNA has much to be thankful for. This twelfth annual Trivia Night was held on Saturday, November 16, and graciously hosted by Webster Gardens Lutheran Church.

After a welcome from Webster member Kathy Odegard, attendees heard a brief but inspirational story of Gagan Gurung, whose recently-published biography, The Unexpected Missionary, relates his journey from being a Hindu-Buddhist in Nepal to becoming a Christian and an American citizen. He and a group of young Nepali singers treated the audience to a musical presentation in their native language.

Trivia was, of course, the focus of the event with Joanie Harwell and Rev. Stanish Stanley reading this year’s questions. Throughout the evening, a silent auction offered baskets, gift certificates, and a wonderful assortment of other items, including Cardinals and other sports memorabilia. During one of the intermissions, Grace Ho, from Vietnam and a CFNA scholarship student attending Lutheran South, delighted the audience with her personal testimony.

Many helping hands contributed to the success of the evening. Volunteers sought and picked up donations, wrote trivia questions, organized registration, sorted auction items, set up tables and chairs, and served in countless other ways. The participants were the immediate beneficiaries. As multiyear participant Lisa Clark put it, “I love coming to the CFNA trivia night, as it is a great way to connect with my Ascension family as well as my CFNA family from around the area. This event is a great time to celebrate the incredible ministry of CFNA in connecting New Americans to all that they need—especially their need for Jesus.”

CFNA is especially grateful to the congregation of Webster Gardens Lutheran Church for the use of their facilities and for their helpful support. Appreciation is also expressed to our generous donors and sponsors for their gifts. Proceeds from the event assist CFNA in reaching out with the Gospel message to immigrants and refugees in our area. Thanks to all who gave, all who came, and all who served. It was a wonderful evening! 

By Bonnie Matzat Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood

Friends

Messiah LC table

Getting Started

Scholarship student, Grace Ho made everyone laugh uproariously when she told the story of her dedicated math teacher chasing her upstairs and downstairs to complete her math test only to have her give the wrong answer!

Turkey Blessing

Preparations

During the weekend of November 23 and 24, approximately 200 volunteer members of Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, packaged and distributed 1,000 turkey dinners, which included a frozen turkey, stuffing, green beans, gravy, and potatoes—enough to feed five people: 5,000 people in all! Recipients included hundreds of individuals, churches, and organizations, such as Church of All Nations, Christian Friends of New Americans, Caring Ministries in the City, and more.

This was the Fifth Annual Turkey Blessing Event, the purpose of which was to extend Concordia’s ministries of service and witness into all parts of the Kirkwood community and beyond. As congregation President Matt Schelp noted, “The service and witness opportunities that form the key part of this ministry provide many of us with a real sense of fulfillment and affirmation.” Indeed, the approximately 75 dinners distributed to CFNA alone were in turn distributed to New American families from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Nepal, and Bhutan. Some of these are countries heavily populated by Muslims.

The distribution took place on the Concordia campus; as the huge number of vehicles rolled through the distribution lines, each recipient was given the opportunity to make a prayer request. Several were received, so prayers were offered even while turkey dinners were being loaded into the vehicle.

This ministry is expanding, not only in terms of beneficiaries, but also in terms of participants. As Pastor Dave Meggers noted, “This year, we were joined by volunteers from Church of All Nations, CFNA, and Caring Ministries in the City. The fellowship that has become part of this effort is encouraging and even inspiring.”

Thank you, Concordia, for this excellent ministry of service, witness, and fellowship!

By Rev. Al Buckman

A grateful Nepali Recipient

A prayer request

Liberian and Sierra Leone recipients

Refugees to Citizens!

Gagan, Meena and Ethan

Gagan becomes a citizen

Gagan Gurung and Meena Rai lived as refugees in Nepal for over twenty years, even briefly in the same camp. But they had never met. That didn’t happen until shortly after their arrival in St. Louis five years ago. Earlier this month, they both became US citizens! Along with their marriage, Meena’s baptism, and the birth of their son, Ethan, this was a highlight of their lives in America.

Shortly after his arrival, and with the encouragement of his sister Shiva, Gagan became very much involved with CFNA as an evangelist, as he had served in a similar capacity while in Nepal. Indeed, through his leadership, the New Life Bible Fellowship was formed at the Peace Center and established as a satellite of Ascension Lutheran Church. It began with 25 members. Now, their Sunday morning meetings at the Peace Center and/or Ascension draw over 80 participants. Through Ascension, there have been 39 baptisms, 53 confirmations, and 7 children currently attend Word of Life.

In addition to working on her English language skills and managing a household, Meena works full time as a packager at the Volpi Food Company. Her biggest challenge, however, has been coping with the enormous amount of change that has taken place in her life. Her father has passed away, and her mother and brothers remain in Nepal. She, therefore, very much looks forward to the times she can gather with other Nepali people for special events at the Peace Center, such as the Sewing Class. These gatherings, including the New Life Bible Fellowship, provide opportunities for fellowship and encouragement and, along with it, a sense of well-being and hope.

Our congratulations to Gagan and Meena in their new identities as citizens of the US, as well as members of His Kingdom. Please join us in keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.

By Rev. Al Buckman with Gagan Gurung, and Meena Rai

Citizen Gagan

Meena becomes a citizen

Help and Hope

Jacqueline with Webster Gardens friends

Jacqueline and Rev. Stanish Stanley

“Pastor, I am tired. I am working hard, but I am struggling, and I need help to pay rent. I think I have diabetes, and I want to check with a doctor.” This was Jacqueline Danga’s explanation for why she was late for a CFNA-sponsored Health and Wellness Screening.

Life for a resettled refugee can be tough depending on how quickly they can learn English, find a job, and begin to keep up with the quick-paced way of life in America. Having recently suffered a debilitating illness and without an extended family to provide support, Jacqueline had fallen seriously behind on her rent and was pleading for help.

Born on October 20, 1961, in the Kasai Province of southern Congo, then called Zaire, Jacqueline’s life was normal until a civil war broke out in 1991 during a nationwide power struggle. Her husband was killed, and Jacqueline was forced to flee with the remnants of her family to the Nyarngusu Refugee Camp in neighboring Tanzania. She lived there for 14 years. In 2012, she was cleared for resettlement and came to St. Louis with her son and two orphan dependents. His daughter, Agnes, now 27, remained behind and now lives in Lubumbashi, Congo.A fluent speaker of French, Lingala, Kitetela, and Swahili, Jacqueline soon became a serious student of English. She also began looking for work and was soon employed as a housekeeper at St. Louis University Hospital. She now holds a similar position at Washington University.

A baptized Christian from birth, she began attending New City Fellowship shortly after arriving in St. Louis. More recently, she has attending Webster Gardens Lutheran Church with friends she met at the Peace Center. Interestingly, the rent assistance CFNA was able to provide was from an account established by funds received from Webster Gardens a year ago.

Since her arrival in St. Louis, Jacqueline’s greatest difficulty has been living apart from family members (her son now lives in Massachusetts), and the support they would normally provide. Her greatest joy has been meeting friends at places such as the Peace Center. Her dream is to become a citizen of the US and own a home.

We wish for Jacqueline a true sense of well-being including recovery from her diabetes. We also wish for her the peace which only our Lord and Savior can provide.

By Revs. Stanish Stanley and Al Buckman, with Jacqueline Danga

Seventh Annual CFNA Golf Benefit

A record-breaking attendance of 109 golfers enjoyed spectacular weather on the beautiful golf course at the Norwood Hills Country Club. More than 20 corporate and individual sponsors partnered with CFNA to support this special event to garner more than $35,000. We praise God for these blessings!

After golf, happy players and dinner guests gathered to enjoy the Hospitality Hour and a delicious dinner. Pastor Greg Smith welcomed all the participants and the evening program began. The first speaker, Don Juebel gave a strong Christian testimony telling of his dad’s exodus from Nazi Germany. This was followed by the moving and powerful testimony of Gagan Gurung (Click to see some of the current events in his life) reminding all of us of the power of God’s love in Christ to change lives and empower people to reach out to those in need. The evening was made more special by the opportunity to purchase the newly printed biography The Unexpected Missionary which tells the story of Gagan’s life.

What a tremendous blessing to have the largest group ever gathered for this worthwhile benefit tournament that will help resettle new Americans in the Saint Louis area. There are so many challenges as people resettle to a new country, a new language, and a new home. The generosity and love of so many people is such a blessing. Who would believe that newcomers to America will receive the following assistance because of this benefit golf outing?

• Health and Wellness Screenings

• Life Skills Training

• Home Furnishings

• Tutoring

• English as a Second Language Classes

• And, many other helpful programs

Much planning, careful coordination, and many volunteer hours made for a successful and genuinely fun day. Many thanks to the Golf Committee and the leadership of Carol Buckman, Committee Chair.

Donations and gifts continue as this is being written. Once again, thank you all. Our hope and prayer is to continue this tradition next year and expand the wonderful ministry of Christian Friends of New Americans. As always, we trust our gracious Lord and Savior to bless this ministry in building His Kingdom.

By Rev. Eric Erkkinen with Carol Buckman Photos by Ron Virus

Team Wendt

More Friends

Friends

Deli Lunch

Vicar Lewi Jermiya

Vicar Lewi Jermiya

Jermiya Family

Arobat

The Unique Journey of an LCMS Vicar

Jermiya Wedding

“The day the soldiers came to arrest my father and mother before taking them off to jail was the worst day of my life. But God meant it for good.”

Then 17 years old, Lewi had been born and raised in Barentu, a town of approximately 35,000 in northwestern Eritrea. In 2000, during the Ethiopian/Eritrean War, the town was invaded and his parents were arrested and taken off to jail. A month later, his mother returned. He never saw his father again.

Lewi, together with many other Barentu residents including family members, fled to the Shimelba refugee camp in Ethiopia approximately 100 miles away. Established by the United Nations, the Shimelba Camp quickly grew to a community of approximately 10,000 Eritrean refugees.

Shortages of food, water, clothing, transportation, and just about everything else are Lewi’s lasting memories. Though work was scarce, at one time or another, he taught basic computer shills, served as an English to Amharic, Tigrinya, or Kunama translator for Doctors Without Borders as well as for the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees). Pay averaged approximately 70 Birr ($2.00) per day.

Lewi is a third generation Lutheran, his grandfather and father having been members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea. While in the Shimelba Camp, together with others, he managed to establish a Lutheran church. His responsibilities included preaching, teaching and training leaders for several home Bible studies. When he left for resettlement to St. Louis, this congregation had grown to almost 500 members. Prior to his departure, he met and married a lovely young lady by the name of Arobat. They now have a young daughter named Malidaya.

Shortly after arrival in St. Louis, Lewi was connected to the Ethiopian/Eritrean Bible Fellowship through the efforts of their leader, the Rev. Teddy Workeneh. With Rev. Workeneh’s recent departure for Atlanta, Lewi now provides servant leadership for this Fellowship. Interestingly, he serves them in much the same way he served the members of the Lutheran Church in the Shimalba camp in Ethiopia—through preaching, teaching, and encouraging emerging church leaders.

Earlier this year, Lewi applied for admission to Concordia Seminary’s EIIT (Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology) program. Having been accepted, he was accorded the status of Vicar in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. “I am both pleased and humbled to have been accepted as a seminary student and will do my best to complete these studies.”

Within days of his arrival, Lewi was assisted by the International Institute to find employment as a maintenance worker at the River City Casino. Though this enabled him to begin providing for the needs of his family almost immediately, he is now seeking other means of employment. As he continues the journey, Lewi asks that you keep him, Arobat, and Malidaya in your prayers.

By Rev. Allan Buckman with Vicar Lewi Jermiya

Kick Off

After-School Tutoring is Back!

Brainstorming

After a great summer vacation, one would expect kids to be a little lethargic about wanting to go back to school, and even more so about CFNA’s After-School Tutoring Program. But for New American Shresti Gurung (8 years) from Bhutan, the question was, “Pastor Stanish, when is Peace Center starting?” “Tuesday, September 3,” was my answer.

On that day, 30 New American youngsters and 10 volunteer tutors assembled to kick off the 2019–20 After-School Tutoring Program. For Shresti and her brother Sanjay, and many others like them, this was the after-school activity they had been waiting for: an opportunity to engage with American tutors and New American friends while finishing homework and learning more about Jesus.

Students and tutors

With a registration of 45 students from seven birth nations, this ministry thrives because of the commitment of many faithful volunteers. Almost 30 from various Lutheran and non-Lutheran congregations serve on Tuesdays and Thursdays, engaging New American youngsters academically and relationally. As Tuesday tutoring supervisor Jennifer Janssen put it, “The goal is to provide kids living in a violent neighborhood with a safe space where they can learn and improve their life skills while being surrounded by the love of Jesus.”

This goal was also affirmed in a Tutoring Kick-Off training event on Sunday, Sept. 15. Attended by 17 volunteers, the training included the sharing of tutoring strategies, brainstorming concerns, and student issues as well as encouraging one another through the sharing of skills, resources, and prayer. As CFNA Board Chair Rev. Dr. Buckman observed, “This meeting clearly exhibited the commitment of our tutors as they continue to participate in a challenging but life-changing cause for New American kids.”

As CFNA’s tutoring program heads into its 13th academic year, we are grateful for the many hands and hearts that come together to support this outreach activity. For the many volunteers who give of their time and skill, for the various churches that support this ministry with funds and school supplies, for Restore St. Louis as it continues to provide hot evening meals, for program leaders Jennifer, Klea, and Sandy (who organize, manage, and keep records), CFNA appreciates and thanks all for their Christ-centered service.

We hope and pray these New American students will be drawn closer to Jesus as they grow in their successful acclimation to American society. More significant, we are truly thankful that many of these students, together with their families, have found their way into nearby churches, including four or five Lutheran congregations.

Prepared by Pastor Stanish Stanley Executive Director, CFNA

Music Camp

Kathy and Friend

Paying careful attention

2019 Participants

Editor’s Note: Last year CFNA reached out to G.I.F.T.E.D. (God’s Intelligent Fortified Talented & Educated Dreamers)to provide our first ever music camp. It was a huge success and G.I.F.T.E.D. was asked to return. Established in 2009, G.I.F.T.E.D. is a 501 (C) (3) Nonprofit Music Mentoring Program. The program uses music as a form of intervention, assisting youth in accomplishing individualized goals, deterring negative behavior, promoting self-esteem and self- confidence.

During the week of July 29th to August 2, 2019, God's Intelligent Fortified Talented & Educated Dreamers (G.I.F.T.E.D.) partnered with Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) to host it 2nd Annual Music/Mentoring Camp.

Led by Founder and Executive Director Min. Kathy Horry, G.I.F.T.E.D. presented basic music theory, taught several new songs, demonstrated proper breathing techniques for singing, presented a brief history, as well as, a demonstration on the various types of guitars and drums. In addition, the youth were mentored on the importance of respect and believing in yourself. Attendance throughout the week fluctuated but 25 youth were present on Friday, August 2, 2019, for the Talent Explosion held at the Peace Center, St. Louis, MO.

The youth ended the week with several tangible things like a signature G.I.F.T.E.D. t-shirt, snacks, lots of new friends and more. They also left with a better awareness of their musical gifts, additional music knowledge and a sense of self-confidence. Several in attendance commented that the children "Never sounded better." When asked if they would like to do something like this yet again, all of the youth responded with a resounding "Yes!"

G.I.F.T.E.D. was honored to work with CFNA and looks forward to developing a long-lasting partnership.

By Kathy Horry with Rose Lucas

Ellie Mackowski

Ellie Mackowski

Editor’s Note: CFNA was blessed to have had Ellie as a Lutheran Young Adult Corps intern for 10 weeks this summer. From Scottsdale, AZ and currently attending Concordia University Nebraska, Ellie shares with us her reflections. Christian Friends of New Americans matters to me because I love children and I have really enjoyed getting to know all of the kids involved with the various programs CFNA offers. Clearly, all of the programs are designed to instill curiosity in unbelievers as well as deepen the faith of new believers by introducing them to the unconditional love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I was also pleasantly surprised over and over again by the kind of God-loving, amazing staff and volunteers who have become involved with this ministry, and was so blessed to have had the chance to learn from them. Even though I was a stranger to Saint Louis, the people of CFNA welcomed me as one of their own, and I am so thankful for that love and kindness.

Highlights included the short car rides with many of the New American children which provided an excellent opportunity to get to know them in the context of their experiences, families, and passions. The Arabic and Nepali sewing classes were another genuine source of learning and enjoyment. Even though I did not know much about sewing when I started, the volunteer women serving this ministry were most helpful and patient with me and my lack of knowledge and skill. All of them were so pure of heart, and I will not forget the laughs and good times as we stitched beautiful articles of clothing together.

Working with Pastor Stanish Stanley and his family was another great part of working with CFNA, as they were especially welcoming and helpful when I needed assistance or some encouragement. The same may be said for co-interns Riley Schelp and Peyton Anderson, as well as other staff members and the volunteers who give so much to this organization.

My biggest challenge had to do with my lack of experience working in a cross-cultural setting. My time with CFNA provided me with lasting insights regarding the challenges and opportunities in this kind of ministry.

By Ellie Mackowski Lutheran Young Adult Corps

Wisdom Week

Watermelon Eating Competition

With a grant from The University of Alabama, Lutheran High School South graduates organized a sports and life skills camp for New American teens associated with CFNA. They called it “Week of Wisdom.” The goal of the camp was to inform and equip the participants to make wise choices even in the face of peer pressure. But that’s not all! What would a camp be without having a little fun?!

“There is a mission behind the fun,” said Riley Schelp, an intern at CFNA, who organized the event. “The key to working with teens and urban youth is drawing them in with something fun and then teaching them something along the way.”

Schelp, who runs track at the University of Alabama, applied for the grant from the University. She solicited the help of other Lutheran South graduates, including Cody Schrader, who plays football at Truman State University; Dawit Mulat, who will run for Lindenwood University this fall; Kritika Basnet, a premed student at St. Louis University, and Trevor Fiala, a Concordia University Nebraska student who plans to work in teen ministry. The graduates brought other collegiate athletes with them, including Megan Patton, who runs track at the University of Alabama and Jaden Barr, quarterback at Truman State.

Event Staff. (l _r) Megan, Riley, Amri, Sumitra, Aminata, Cathy.

The teens from CFNA met at Lutheran South daily for a healthy lunch and then listened to guest speakers who addressed topics like drug use, pornography, sex, and suicide. The heavy subjects were then followed by a little fun, including scavenger hunts and relay races. The teens participated in soccer, football, and even cooking instruction as part of the Week of Wisdom camp.

“They are talking about real stuff,” said Carol Buckman, advisor of education ministries at CFNA and founder of the organization. “And they are learning skills to cope with reality - the heart wrenching and the great.”

By Riley Schelp Sophomore, University of Alabama Member, Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood

Toilet Paper Relay

Meeting for Bible Study

CFNA Scholarships Make a Difference

Patricia Massalay

David Mulat

Secondo Kaka

In its thirteenth year, the CFNA Scholarship Program continues its support of New American students as they attend Lutheran schools in the St. Louis region. This year, 3 students graduated from the Lutheran High Schools, and two from Word of Life.

Secondo Kaka, who was born in Eritrea, has been supported since he was in fourth grade at Word of Life and graduated from Lutheran North in May. He plans to attend the University of Missouri St. Louis, majoring in biology. Patricia Massalay, who arrived in St. Louis from Sierra Leone just three years ago, graduated from Lutheran South and will probably attend the Florissant Valley campus of St. Louis Community College since her family moved to Florissant right after she graduated. David Mulat, born in Ethiopia, has been supported since fifth grade at Word of Life. He graduated from Lutheran South, where he earned the Social Science Department scholarship. He will be attending Lindenwood University with a substantial scholarship; he will study international relations and participate in track and cross country.

Kibur Bezabin, whose family is from Ethiopia, and Ezekiel Samking, who was born in Sierra Leone, both graduated from Word of Life. Kibur is moving to Atlanta with his family; his father took a pastoral call there. Ezekiel is going to Lutheran South.

In 2018–19, the CFNA scholarship program supported 12 elementary students at 4 Lutheran schools: Word of Life, Immanuel Olivette, Grace Chapel, and Christ Community. In addition, the program supported 13 high school students at Lutheran South and Lutheran North.

Funds for all these scholarships came from generous individual donors, congregations, a parochial school in St. Charles County, and the National Ministries program of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. All of those gifts were matched by a generous grant from the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, which has supported this program from its inception.

By Judith Meyer

Eagle Scout Benefits CFNA

Ready to Play!

Caleb Hutchison and Pastor Stanish Stanley

Growing up with Christian Friends of New Americans has made a great impact on my life. Through the Family-to-Family ministry, I had the privilege of connecting with an amazing family from Nepal at an early age, gaining experiences that would change my life and the way I viewed the world forever. Much more recently, however, I had a unique opportunity to give something back to this incredible community through my Eagle Scout Project. While this construction project certainly taught me much about leadership and responsibility, it also led me to be a part of something much larger than myself. Ultimately, it allowed my troop and I to equip CFNA with one more platform from which they can impact lives in St. Louis.

My Eagle project journey began one year ago during Spring Break from 8th grade when I met with Pastor Stanish Stanley to discuss a possible Eagle Scout Project at the Peace Center. After reviewing many possibilities, we finally settled on doing something to improve the lower-level art space. Pastor Stanley requested two new chess tables for the room so he could begin a chess club for refugee children. He also asked me to build a small drawer to store the chess pieces… which turned out to be much more challenging than I had originally thought! After hours of planning and design, my Scout Troop joined me for a workday this spring to build the tables from scratch. Many additional hours were spent meticulously painting the chess boards before I had the privilege of delivering the final product to the Peace Center. The chess tables turned out beautifully and will be a great addition for the future CFNA Chess Club!

The process of organizing and leading my Troop to construct the tables was a fantastic experience and taught me much about planning and problem-solving. Teamwork also played an extremely important role in the completion of the tables, as I could not have done any of this on my own! My prayer is for God to use these new chess tables as an instrument through which people can connect over a game of chess, bringing the entire community together. I hope that relationships are formed and strengthened around these two handmade tables and that God will continue to be glorified through the awesome ministry of CFNA.

By Caleb Hutchison

Persistence

Flora and Eric with the Ford Focus

Buying and registering a vehicle in America can be tough to navigate, regardless of where you come from. But when you are from a foreign country and don’t even speak the language, tough can quickly become nearly impossible.

Fortunately, volunteers like Pastor Ted Wuerffel are available to help, making the process a little smoother—and opening up a new world of possibility—for the New Americans CFNA serves.

When Andy and Betsy Sell decided to sell their 2009 Ford Focus a couple of months ago, they told Pastor Stanish Stanley they wanted to open up the sale to CFNA families in need of a vehicle. Around the same time, Eric Mukindi and Flora Muvara, a married couple from the Congo, came to the Peace Center with the hope of buying a car—a necessity, they felt, for securing new job and educational opportunities for them and their three children.

Pastor Stanish connected the family with Pastor Wuerffel, who helps with pre-exam driver’s testing at the Peace Center and had assisted another South City family with their car registration. Pastor Wuerffel spent a day walking Eric and Flora through the Missouri Department of Transportation forms for the sale and registration of the vehicle.

But the whole process, like many legalities, turned into more of an ordeal than the pastor had anticipated. After waiting in the Maplewood DMV License Office, the trio discovered that because Eric and Flora rent their home, own no other vehicle, and legally own no property in general, they could not provide proof of paying city property tax. They needed a waiver, so they and Pastor Wuerffel headed to City Hall to get one.

Ted Wuerffel

This, too, took several hours to play out because Flora does not yet have a driver’s license, Eric is legally blind, and the two have different surnames—in the Congolese culture, a woman does not take the last name of her husband when she marries.

These unusual circumstances initially prevented the two from registering joint ownership of the vehicle. But with Pastor Wuerffel’s help—and persistence!—the couple was able to arrange a somewhat convoluted but valid way to ensure that they both had legal rights on their car’s paperwork.

Once the registration was finalized, Pastor Wuerffel spent even more of his time teaching Flora about the basics of car ownership and handling.For Pastor Wuerffel, the most rewarding part of the experience was “to know that [Flora’s] ability to drive and helping [the couple] get into that good used car opens up many doors for them… It’s almost an essential thing in America to have personal transportation.”

If you have a car to donate or sell at low cost, or if you are interested in helping CFNA families navigate the legal system or learn to drive, please contact CFNA at mail@cfna-stl.org.

By Samantha Hoyt Lutheran Young Adult Corps

Baptisms and Confirmations

Ready for membership

Fellowship

The class with Pastor Tanney

On Sunday, June 9, 2 Nepali people were baptized and 27 confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church in urban St. Louis. This was one of their largest confirmation classes in the past 70 years.

Five years ago, members of the small but growing Anugrah (Grace) House Church approached Rev. Michael Tanney to request space at St. Johns for their weekly fellowship. It should be noted that Anugrah members were made up entirely of recently arrived refugees from Nepal. What began as little more than a commercial transaction developed into a relationship as a bond with Rev. Tanney began to grow.

When asked, “Why does St. Johns matter to you?” Anugrah leader Nabin Samal will tell you that “the members of St. Johns want us to be there, and they have kind hearts. Not only did they provide us with worship space, they also hosted picnics which always turned into warn fellowship events. Moreover, Rev. Tanney always provided messages of hope and joy whenever we invited him to preach at our worship gatherings.

”In July, 2017, Anugrah Church leaders, Nabin Samal and Bhim Mongar, began a careful study of Luther’s Small Catechism under the guidance of Rev. Tanney. Seven months later, they were accepted as members of St. Johns. In June, 2018, a class for all 35 members of the Anugrah Fellowship was started. The class continued meeting weekly with Rev. Tanney until shortly before their confirmation on June 9.

When asked about the future, Nabin will be pleased to tell you about his plans to work with others to reach out to the more than 1,000 unbelieving Nepali people in the St. Louis area. Additionally, he also hopes to start another missionary effort among Nepali people living in Ohio.

Nabin, Bhim, and six others now meet weekly at the Peace Center in a Leadership Formation class sponsored by Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA). Upon completing this class later this year, they hope to be enrolled in Concordia Seminary’s Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT). In addition to Pastor Tanney and the members of St. Johns, please pray for Nabin, Bhim and all of the recently confirmed Nepali members as they continue their spiritual journey in the multiethnic environment of urban St. Louis.

By Rev. Al Buckman with Rev. Michael Tanney and Nabin Samal

My Journey: Charles Nshimiyimana

The soccer player

Charles, now 18, was born and raised in the Nyakivale Refugee Camp in western Uganda. His parents had fled there to escape a brutal civil war raging in Congo. When he was 15, Charles, together with his mother and three brothers, were selected for resettlement in the United States. His father had left the family some years earlier, and a married sister remained in Uganda.

In addition to seven years of primary school, memories of those years were of herding goats for his mother at age 6. At age 11, he began herding cows; 30 of them. They provided their only source of income, which was badly needed to supplement the monthly allotment of corn flour provided by the Uganda government.

Resettlement took them directly from the Nyakivale Refugee Camp to Atlanta, Georgia. A year later, the family moved to St. Louis, and upon arrival, Charles enrolled as a freshman at Roosevelt High School. His previous education had been the primary school in Uganda. In May, Charles graduated first in his class of 98 students, having completed the four-year program in just two years. He had also been selected as Roosevelt’s Post-Dispatch scholar/athlete of the year. See the following link for details.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/scholar-athletes/roosevelt-charles-nshimiyimana/article_2fc41906-721c-11e9-b39c-13fe9939379e.html

The graduate

Charles notes that he arrived St. Louis with minimal English skills, as instruction at the school in Uganda was in Swahili. Shortly thereafter, he became aware of CFNA and its After  School Tutoring program through a friend who was active at the Peace Center. Charles credits this program, along with the mentoring provided by Mr. Gary (Gary Krekow), with providing him with the language skills he required for his successful graduation from Roosevelt.

As Charles put it, “(CFNA) helped me with what I needed most—better English skills. This enabled me to complete high school in just two years. It not only encouraged me to do well but also to help others.”

Charles’ favorite subjects are math and science, and his dream is to become an engineer, or perhaps a nurse or medical doctor. He is presently enrolled in Forest Park Community College, where he plans to study for two years before enrolling in the Missouri University School of Science and Technology at Rolla, provided scholarships are forthcoming. Another possibility could be Concordia University, Nebraska.Charles is an active member of Timothy Lutheran Church. In addition to spiritual nurture, he very much appreciates the fellowship and warm welcome he receives there. We wish Charles the very best and our Lord’s richest blessings as he continues his journey.

By Rev. Al Buckman, CFNA

Reflections

Samantha

When I applied to join the Lutheran Young Adult Corps in December of 2017, I had no idea what I was getting into. I thought I was going to be doing ten months of rebuilding and urban renewal, using my time and power tool skills to serve the people of New Orleans. I was taken aback when I received my placement last April. Not only was I not going to Louisiana, but I also was being asked to do an entirely different kind of ministry from anything I had ever experienced before. I was both excited and apprehensive. It takes a lot to push me out of my comfort zone, but the idea of working with immigrants and refugees (and even children) definitely managed to do that. So it was with a combination of nervousness and excitement that I started working with my first English class on August 11, 2018.

One of the first lessons I learned through working at CFNA was the beauty of relinquishing control. I spent my first several weeks on the job anxiously trying to force things to go according to plan and schedule before I realized that God does so much more through us than we could have ever imagined. Driving people to job interviews was seldom as simple as I expected it to be. But in taking time to share meals and coffee with people in their homes, I was able to show them that I (and God, through me) cared about them personally.

Even more than that, I was astonished by how much people were willing to give in return. Most of the refugees I met are some of the kindest, most giving people I have ever encountered. I came down with pneumonia in October, and during the time I was sick, I was overwhelmed with gifts of tea, shawarma, falafel, soup, and other foods (that I never have been able to identify) from CFNA’s Arabic Muslim community. It was beyond humbling to see how people who have lost everything are so eager to give from whatever they do have.

Serving with the After-School Tutoring program and working with several of the families outside of normal programs was an incredible opportunity that I didn’t know I needed. Dealing with kids has never been my strong suit, but all of those bright and smiling (and sometimes screaming and crying) faces taught me patience, the importance of loosening up, and just what an honor it is to be able to pour into someone else’s life. Seeing the kids improve academically and open up emotionally made every frustrating minute worth it and reminded me that God gives us what we actually need, not what we think we need. We just have to be open to the journey.

Working with refugees and immigrants has taught me more than I ever hoped to learn about kindness, strength, hope, and resilience. Hearing people’s stories of the traumas they have experienced and seeing how they stay so positive both opened my eyes to how much suffering there actually is in the world and reassured me that God is still working in the midst of it. I was expecting to be placed here to serve others, but what I gave could never measure up to what I have received through the experience.

CFNA is a wonderful ministry, and I have seen firsthand how it changes lives. It has been an honor to be a part of that in some small way. As I move on to the next stage of my life, I don’t know exactly what I will be doing, but I pray that God will use the lessons I have learned and the person I have become as a result of my time here to continue to further His kingdom for the rest of my life.

By Samantha Hoyt  Lutheran Young Adult Corps

Emerging Church Leader (Part 2)

Nabin Samal

Nabin Samal

Editor’s Note: In the April issue we introduced Nabin and the “Nepali Anugrah (Grace) Church” to our readers. In this issue, Nabin shares more about his refugee experience.

After moving to St. Louis, Nabin and his family quickly learned one set of challenges had been replaced by another. Work, though available, was not easy for a refugee to find. Bus routes could be complicated and punctuality at any work site was expected. Accustomed to walking three, five, eight miles or more to shop or attend school, they had never imagined a vehicle could be regarded as a necessity. That quickly changed however, and the search was on. It took four months to find a vintage, high mileage, entry level vehicle they could afford.

And there were cultural challenges as well. For example, in the shame/honor society in which Nabin grew up, to make direct eye contact during a conversation was regarded as a sign of disrespect. In American culture however, anything less than direct eye contact could make a conversation awkward, or worse. Ditto for questions having to do with identity. Here Nabin learned that identity is determined pretty much by what you do. In Nepal on the other hand, you had no identity expect insofar as you were a member of a group.

Anugrah House Church

Shortly after arriving in St. Louis, Nabin began leading a small Nepali house church, which rather quickly began to grow. In need of more space, they reached out to St. Johns Lutheran Church located nearby, where they began meeting as members of the Nepali Anugrah Church. What began as little more than a commercial transaction, however, developed into a relationship, even as a bond with the pastor of St. Johns (Rev. Michael Tanney) began to grow.

The story of what became of the relationship between the Nepali Anugrah Church and St. Johns Lutheran Church will appear in the next issue of CFNA E-News.

TO BE CONTINUED…

By Rev. Al Buckman with Rev. Michael Tanney

Missouri Botanical Gardens

On the pathway

The opportunity to expand a student’s horizon is one of the great joys of working with the After-School Tutoring program. This year, we have been blown away by the many opportunities we have been given to introduce our kids to new activities and places. The most recent of these was an invitation to the Missouri Botanical Garden Family Night, thanks to Jennifer Hartley, Epiphany Lutheran Church member and manager of the Garden’s schools program.

On Thursday, May 9, 21 Peace Center students were accompanied to the event by 15 volunteers. They enjoyed dinner, educational opportunities, and free access to the grounds, including the popular Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden. Several of the volunteers were from Faith Young Adults, a group based out of Faith Lutheran Church.

“The Botanical Garden always makes for a great time, but it was the kids that really made this trip memorable,” observed Ben Lange, one of the group’s leaders. “They were so fun and excited. We could’ve visited just the Schnuck’s exhibit, and it would have been just as enjoyable because of the sheer joy and energy inside of them!”

On the log

The students were similarly thrilled with the trip. After an evening of climbing ropes and rocks and excitedly running through the gorgeous scenery, 11-year-old Jonathan Muhire summed up the sentiment expressed by everyone there: “When are we coming back?”

By Samantha Hoyt Lutheran Young Adult Corps

Freedom Run

Friends

Fun walk

Young runners get started

One of the greatest things about our Christian faith is the community that comes with it. God did not design humans to exist on our own—we all depend on one another for support and strength. It is the same with ministries.

At Christian Friends of New Americans, we make an effort to partner with other people and organizations to showcase what we do and provide opportunities for others to get involved. One of our steadfast partners is Concordia Seminary, who generously allows the use their campus for our annual 5K Freedom Run.

“The 5K was a great opportunity for Christian fellowship between the Seminary and Christian Friends of New Americans,” commented first-year seminary student Peter Deberny. Peter has been faithfully volunteering with our After-School Tutoring program since January and also served on the event’s planning committee. “It was a fun and exciting experience.

”The Freedom Run, held on Sunday, May 5, was a friend raiser and a fundraiser for CFNA. It also provided a chance for people of the seminary community to get a sense of our purpose and to interact with some of the people we serve. Eighteen competitive runners vied for prizes while 54 others, including a group of New American children, enjoyed the beautiful weather while either running for fun, walking, or volunteering. Adding to the festivities were walking tacos, served in conjunction with Restore St. Louis, and a performance by our New American Folk Dancers. In addition to being an enjoyable experience for everyone involved, the occasion raised over $3,000 to support various CFNA ministries. Our thanks go to Dr. Ben Haupt for his words of welcome on behalf of Concordia Seminary. We thank God for partners like this, as well as for everyone who made the day possible. 

By Samantha Hoyt Lutheran Young Adult Corps Photos by Ron Virus

The winners. Brian M (l. 1st) and Charles N. (r. 2nd)

They are off!