Step 8 - Seek Community Help - Distance 600 km
The Parable of the Lost Coin: Luke 15: 8-10
“…what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.”
REFLECTION: Zahra does not give up but sought many different avenues until finally our congregation, along with Nest-Saskatoon, agreed to sponsor Nadia, Ibrahim and Rahma.
There was much rejoicing upon hearing this news. Zahra gathered her family, friends and Augustana members, and she and others prepared a bountiful and delicious meal for all to share.
SILENCE
God of joy and peace, we celebrate and give thanks with Zahra and her loved ones and are grateful for the pleasure and privilege of journeying with them as we wait and hope for the safe arrival of Nadia and family. May this be so! In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
The Albed/Alhamad/Wahid Story
After the disappointment of finding out that Nadia, Ibrahim and Rahma did not qualify for family reunification, Zahra did not give up. She contacted agencies and government officials who might be able to help. Finally, she was directed to Augustana because of its connection to the refugee settlement group Nest. She and Kais came to Augustana on Sunday, July 29, 2018 to ask for help. At its meeting in September 2018, Augustana church council agreed to respond to Zahra's request by inviting Nest to canvas Augustana members for financial and other support.
On January 5, 2019, Zahra's family, helped by friends from the Syrian community in Saskatoon, served a superb meal for Augustana members. The family told the story of their escape from the Syrian civil war and the need to bring Nadia and Ibrahim to Saskatoon.
Augustana members and others in the community responded generously. Within a few months more than $26,000 had been donated or pledged to support the application to bring Nadia and her family to Saskatoon. This exceed the amount required by the federal government to cover startup costs and living expenses for the first year for a family of three.