What a Ride!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Ride for Refugees on Oct 13th. It was a great day. No rain. Over a 100 riders in Hamilton. And thousands of dollars raised for refugee ministries here in Hamilton and around the globe. The final tally has not been made yet- but between the 3 sites (Waterloo, Brantford and Hamilton) we are over $225,000.

A big THANKS to Philpott Church for being the official hosts. They  did an amazing job.

The plan is to do it again next year. So we hope we will see even more Hamilton area churches on their bikes riding on behalf of the 30 million displaced people in our world.

Refugee Claimants: what comes after the Hearing

Please join us for a great learning opportunity.

Saturday October 27th
9:30-11:30 am
“The Vine”  corner of Vine St. & Park St. N
 Light refreshments will be served

Presenter: Jeremiah Eastman LLB Immigration Lawyer (and former lawyer with the federal department of Citizenship and Immigration)  Jeremiah is a refugee lawyer who previously worked for Immigration. His unique experiences and knowledge will make for a fascinating discussion. Together we hope to learn more about the Canadian immigration system  so that we can better serve refugees in Hamilton.To learn more about Jeremiah click on this link:
 http://www.carters.ca/lawyers/jeastman.html

Hope you can join us!

God Grew Tired of Us

I just watched the movie “God Grew Tired Of Us“. It’s a great documentary chronicling the journeys of 3 young Sudanese men as they fled their home in Sudan, spent a decade in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, and finally were resettled in cities across the USA. It is definitely worth seeing. I recommend this file for anyone who wants to better understand the huge adjustments refugees face in coming to North America. Of course, not all refugees are coming from such radically different cultures. But many are. I think the experience of the Sudanese Lost Boys has many similarities to the Karen people coming from refugee camps in Thailand. They face many of the same hurdles.

So go to your local video store and rent this movie. Or maybe you can convince your church library to buy it! It will be a good investment.

Ride for Refugees-Every Mile Matters

On October 13th  the Ride for Refugees will bring together churches and individuals with a common desire to raise awareness and resources for serving refugees. By participating in the Ride for Refugees on October 13th, you can involve your friends, family, church or social club in raising much needed  funding for the unique needs and service of refugees along the refugee highway, including refugee resettlement in Canadian  communities. Since 2004 this unique event has raised over $225,000 for refugee ministries here in Canada and around the world. This is the first year to hold the event in Hamilton. There is a great route planned starting at Flamborough CRC and finishing up at Philpott church downtown Hamilton.

Some are riding because they love cycling. Some are riding in response to the sheer mass of refugees in our world, estimated be be 35 million. It could be be that they have noticed the growing number of “new arrivals” in Hamilton and have wondered how to connect or help. Some are riding because they believe that refugees matter to God. They want to ride because Jesus was a refugee himself. 

What’s your reason??

Please join us. Go to www.rideforrefugees.com to register or to sponsor someone else. Or contact hamilton@rideforrefugees.com if you want more information.

A Warm Welcome

Last week several TrueCity church volunteers participated in a welcome gathering for the 36 new Karen people who just arrived in Hamilton the first week of July. They definitely appreciated the warm welcome. The kids enjoyed the crafts we had prepared for them, and we enjoyed the song they sang for us. Everyone enjoyed the pizza  and cake. Well, at least the cake…it might take a bit longer for them to fully acquire the taste for pizza! A special thank you to Crossfire Assembly and Sew on Fire ministries for the beautiful gift baskets that each family received. As one man was leaving he found a translator so that he could communicate his thoughts to us. “I will never forget this party. For the rest of my life I will remember this day. Thank you” he said. Wow. It doesn’t take much to make people feel welcome.

Karen refugee camp live journal

Ever wonder what life is like for the Karen people living in the many refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border? On top of the “usual” challenges of life in a refugee camp they are now dealing with the myriad of issues surrounding re-settlement of the Karen people to countries all over the globe. For some unique and very personal insights into these issues check out this blog entry from a young person who is currently living in Mae La camp.

http://karenrefugee.livejournal.com/

World Refugee Sunday

The Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP) is now inviting churches around the world to celebrate World Refugee Sunday, on the Sundays of June 17 or June 24, 2007.  People can visit the Refugee Highway web page to find a variety of helpful resources, including a downloadable bulletin insert, resource packet, prayer points, and links to other materials: www.refugeehighway.net.

The World Evangelical Alliance is partnering with the RHP to help publicize this opportunity so we are excited that  Christians around the world will raise voices together in prayer for refugees!

Plants are in the ground

Well the garden is on its way to producing some vegetables. The 3 Karen families involved with the garden project, as well as a few church volunteers, have worked hard to get the garden going. They chose to plant cucumbers, lettuce, a few different kinds of peppers, tomatoes, beans, broccoli, spinach and a few other greens. We introduced them to marigolds as a natural way of trying to keep the pests away. We’ll see if it works.

It would be great to have several community gardens around  the city for new arrivals to cultivate. If you know of any land that might be available for this use please let us know.

CartoonsSpeak

CartoonsSPEAK:  A Celebration of the Afghani Political Cartoons of the late Said Rahimi, who was tragically killed in Hamilton on January 15, 2007. 

Early on the morning of January 15, Said Shiraga Rahimi was killed by a train at the Mount Albion Road crossing while delivering pizza to support his wife and seven children. The 35-year-old was a talented political cartoonist whose work, while he lived in exile in Iran and Azerbaijan, mocked the fanaticism that had taken hold in his homeland. He came to Canada in 2005 and Hamilton last year and was planning for a show of his cartoons even as he worked to help his children get the education they need to be successful here.

Saturday June 23, 7 – 10 pm  at The Pearl Company, 16 Steven Street at King William.  Also featuring live music, Afghani hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, and original cartoons and other items for sale. MC for the evening will be CBC radio personality Jeff Goodes.  Featuring four outstanding Canadian political cartoonists: Terry Mosher, longtime political cartoonist for the Montreal Gazette (Aislin); Brian Gable, of the Globe and Mail; Graeme MacKay, of The Hamilton Spectator; and Roy Carless, Hamilton Political Cartoonist.

All money raised by the event will go into a trust fund for Rahimi’s wife and children. 

Tickets are $30 apiece and can be purchased at Bryan Prince Bookseller (Westdale),  the Carnegie Gallery ( Dundas),  Arts Hamilton (Jackson Square),  La Jardinere (Locke St), OPIRG (McMaster University) and The Immigrant Culture and Art Association (Stuart St). Donations to the trust fund can be made at any TD/Canada Trust location to the Rahimi Family Trust at Branch 346,  Account 6312464. 

 Please call 905-524-0606 or email cartoonsspeak@gmail.com for more information.

Philpott Church has ongoing contact with his wife, Karemah. Hope you can join us -it will be a great way to show our support Karemah and her family.

Eva Rothwell Resource Centre

A good place to refer both people who have furniture to donate, and those looking for used furniture, is the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre. It is located in the old Robert Land school at  460 Wentworth St. N  (just a little south of Burlington St.) It is a couple doors down from St. David’s Presbyterian church with the bright red doors and across the street from a small neighbourhood park.

Donations of furniture and housewares are trickling in at times – pouring in at others – and things are starting to get organized. A clothing room is up and running already, and is being capably coordinated by Sue Fowler. Several newly arrived refugees including residents of Micah House – along with members of the surrounding area – have already benefitted from the clothing, housewares and furniture available at the Eva Rothwell Centre.

The Centre hours are: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 9am -12 noon and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9pm. 

Their phone number is: 905-526-1558.