Exodus World Service
- Michelle Fank
- Sep 27, 2019
- 6 min read
If you follow me on social media you probably saw I shared a personal project I took on to collect and deliver a care package to a refugee family in the Chicago area.
I felt myself feeling discouraged about what I saw around me, on the news, what I heard people saying and feeling like SOMETHING needs to be done but not sure how I could personally make a difference. I knew I couldn't look back on this time in history where there is such a divide between people and know that I just stood by doing nothing so I looked for a way to help, even if just a small amount. I told myself that if everyone did just one small thing a HUGE impact can be made.
I found out about Exodus World Service through my church and decided to look more into what types of volunteers they needed. Maybe I can't travel globally right now to help but opportunities to serve others are all around us. There are multiple opportunities available but I chose the care pack. This provides a family with household items they might need along with encouragement to let them know they are welcome.
Key Facts About Refugees
Over 25.9 million people are living outside their home country as refugees. This is the largest and longest global refugee crisis ever recorded.
Refugees do not choose to leave their home country—they are forced to flee due to war or persecution.
Refugees are displaced on average for 17 years.
Global conflicts create 37,000 new refugees every day.
Over half the world’s refugees are under age 18.
Less than 1 percent of refugees are resettled to a new country per year. Of those that are resettled, refugees do not decide which country they are resettled to.
Refugees entering the U.S. are the most thoroughly vetted individuals allowed in our country.
What is in a care pack?
I started putting together a shopping list of what items fit the family I was assigned. I thought that others may want to step in and help but didn't fully expect anyone to and was prepared to fulfill my promise either way. It was encouraging to see people share my posts, offer encouragement and even donate items. With your help we were able to collect everything on the list! {OK I ran out of time to pick up a flower bouquet the day of but...}
The day of delivery I had everything organized by type of item and in separate boxes/containers to make sure I could actually carry it into an apartment building. The drive to the city was easy...of course parking is always a struggle {that day their whole street was closed off to repave} so I budgeted extra time to ensure I could drive around looking for non permit parking. Finally I found an open spot and walked to the address to meet the Exodus representative. She helped me carry the many boxes of items back to the apartment building door and calls the number listed on the paperwork...no answer. Thankfully it was a nice night and we wait a few minutes and a girl comes out the door. We ask her what her name was and if she is part of the family we were looking for {don't want to use names} and she says yes and confirms her mother's name etc. but we don't live here. Ummmmm what? We confirm again it is the right family but she points down the street...we live there! So we pick up all the boxes and start to follow the girl. Honestly i'm thinking the whole time...are we sure this is the right person? This seems odd. We keep walking and walking and asking, where is your building...just a waved arm in a general direction is all we get. By this point we have all dropped things more than once {nothing broke thankfully} and I am profusely sweating. Finally after what seemed like a mile {aka 3 city blocks} she takes us down an alley and through a fence to the house. Thankfully they just lived on the 2nd floor!
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from the visit but frazzled and tired from the trek I gladly welcomed the ice water the mother quickly rushed to bring us. We were instantly welcomed in with hugs and told to sit down and rest in front of the fan. I noticed the freezer was completely empty except for the water jugs inside...the fridge was equally empty. We moved into the dining room which also served as a bedroom for 3 children. Off that was a small bathroom and a living room. We didn't go further so I am not sure if there was a bedroom as well but the family was living with the bare minimum. It made me think of my own home with an overflowing fridge and pantry and furniture in rooms I rarely use. How much I take for granted.
Despite the language barriers we were able to communicate for a while with the mother and her youngest daughter (9). The family came from Eritrea, a northeast African country on the Red Sea coast. From there they went to Ethiopia and then the United States in October of 2018. Throughout our visit we also met her son (22) and middle daughter (14) who both were kind and welcoming. The other daughter (20) was at work. Both oldest son and daughter work to support the family and the 2 younger girls attend school. They loved to hear about our families and told us about their friends and favorite subjects in school. It was clear that they were a close family and their mother beamed with pride at her children.
The amount of strength this family has to come here and work together to support one another despite struggles or where they came from is astounding. It really puts any of our "problems" into perspective. I would have loved to be able to find out more but our time was limited and the language barriers kept the conversation pretty simple. I do hope to be able to keep in contact with the family in some way if only just to send notes of encouragement from time to time. I truly hope that knowing that someone cares about them and is willing to try and support them even after being in the country for a while is an encouragement and that the items brought can help lighten the financial burden at least a little for their family.
The experience was definitely a reminder of how blessed most of us are and I was happy to be able to help but also felt like it was still not enough...It is so easy to go on with our day and ignore what is going on because it doesn't directly impact our personal lives.
Not to act as if after one service project I am saving the world but I think it is important for all of us to get out of our comfort zones and find ways to help one another. Remember that we are all people just the same... no matter where we come from, our gender, ethnicity, religion or skin color or financial standing. Stand up for HUMANITY not our political party or discomfort with someone different from ourselves.
Exodus specifically works with Refugees but of course there are many types of people and reasons why someone would flee their original country and I strongly believe that the technical label of a person shouldn't change their right to humane treatment, compassion and safety. I challenge you to stop and think. What if this was YOUR family, YOUR children...how would you feel?
This specific organization is Christian based and I believe that the basis of Christian faith commands us to care for and stand up for others but in no way do I think that being of a different faith {or no faith} in any way should keep people from banding together to help one another. If you feel more comfortable working with a different organization- that's OK. Just get involved in some way.
I thought I would share the Mission and Values listed on the Exodus website. I encourage you to read more about what they are doing to help and if you are interested to get involved. They even offer training and simulations to help others understand what the refugees are going through and how to best serve the refugee community.
Exodus World Service mobilizes the Christian community to welcome and befriend refugees. We do this by educating churches and individuals about the plight of refugees, connecting volunteers with refugees through practical service projects, and empowering people to be champions for refugees.
Exodus World Service, a Christian organization, is steadfast in its commitment to the following values:
Hospitality
Welcoming “the stranger”—the refugee—into our lives without reservation. (Matthew 25:35)
Relationships
Living out Jesus’ command to love one another (John 13:34) by prioritizing authentic and caring relationships.
Dignity
Upholding the value and dignity of all people as image bearers of God (Genesis 1:27) regardless of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group.
Mobilization
Calling and equipping the local Christian community to put faith in action. (James 2:17)
If you have read this far...THANK YOU. You may be thinking, man Michelle you got a little serious for a shopping blog but this is something that has been on my mind for a long time. For me it all ties together...where or how we spend our money, how are our items made, what kind of impact does it have on those in the process or the environment. I love to support brands that do good and give back so it only seems natural that I would personally do the same. I hope you feel challenged to step out and see what you can do in your own community or situation.
XOXO Michelle
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