Author: Tim

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Leaving Home

Refugee Centre in Malta – photo credit: Tim Barnes – IAFR

One of my colleagues posted this line from a Somali poet (Thanks Shanna!)

“No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark” – Warsan Shire (Somali Poet)

Wow, this rings so true with many of the conversations I have had with those who have been displaced.  The challenges and risk of seeking refugee, dwarf in comparison to the conflict, conditions, and fear at home.  When I see and hear about their experiences on the journey, I cannot begin to imagine what they have left.

Our Director of Church Training, Rachel Uthmann, and our team have put together a one hour webinar on Refugee Realities.  If you have interest in better understanding the global refugee situation, this would be a great place to start.  The webinar is being offered two times this week.  

The first time is Wednesday, June 6 at 9 am CDT.  You can sign up here.

The second time slot is Thursday, June 7 at 7 pm CDT.  You can sign up here.

We hope you will join us at one of these times.

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Education

Meeting with leaders in Uganda – photo credit: IAFR Canada

Education of refugee children is an incredible challenge in refugee environments…an issue that has moved a number of us in IAFR.  The topic comes up repeatedly in our discussions with refugee church and community leaders during our visits to refugee camps. 

A few of our colleagues from IAFR Canada and Jake Tornga, from IAFR USA, are currently visiting refugee environments in Uganda…and once again the issue of education has come up.  How do we help refugee children receive an effective education so they can become influencers of future change in their countries?

Here are some things IAFR is doing:

Partnering with a church in the DC area to provide scholarships for several refugee girls to attend boarding school outside the Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Finding resources to help support pre-schools started by refugee churches in Dzaleka Refugee Camp.

Working on a possible project that would allow the Dzaleka Christian Churches Union (DCCU) to start and operate a primary school in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp.

Exploring other educational opportunities for asylum seekers in the European context.

Education is a significant avenue to help refugees survive and recover from forced displacement.

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Grief

There are some days that grief comes in this work.  I received a message over the weekend from one our pastor friends in a refugee camp.  His sister-in-law and her family had been deliberately burned to death in their dwelling in the country from which my friend and his family had run.  

A country in Europe is drafting laws that would make it a crime, including jail time, for giving a cup of water or a sandwich to an asylum seeker in this country.

In our own country, we are separating children from their parents at the border and apparently losing track of where some of the children have been placed.  Many of these coming across the border are fleeing for their lives from violence and murder in the countries from which they come.

All these could be politicized.  That is not my intent.  I grieve that we have lost touch with the fact that all these are real people, created in the image of God, the same as you and I.  

Lord, have mercy.  

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Privacy

Privacy is the word this month.  With the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) going into effect tomorrow, everyone is scrambling to update their privacy policies.  And of course, IAFR is no exception. 

My job for the day was putting the finishing touches on our new and updated Privacy Policy.  Not exciting work but required work so everyone in IAFR can keep carrying out our vital mission. 

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TED


(photo by Tom Albinson/IAFR)

One of our IAFR convictions are that refugees are more than people in need.  In fact they have much to contribute and are people from whom we can learn.  This has certainly been true in my IAFR journey.

I am so excited that others are discovering the same thing.  A friend of mine posted a link this morning that announced that a TEDx gathering will be taking place in Kakuma Refugee Camp next month.  If you are unfamiliar with TED Talks, they are short, powerful talks (less than 20 minutes) on a variety of topics, shared at events around the world and online.  I have been a fan of Ted Talks for a number of years, finding them a great source of learning, encouragement, and challenge.

Kakuma Refugee Camp, one of the locations where IAFR serves, currently hosts more than 185,000 refugees from numerous countries.  The speakers for this event will be current and former refugees and others who are interested in impacting the refugee situation.  The event will be live streamed and I plan to watch. 

If you are interested in finding out more about this event, you can find it here.

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Knowledge

I have many opportunities to talk about my work with IAFR.  When people find out what I do,  they are often naturally curious about the refugee situation and how IAFR is working in that space. Many are not aware of or are misinformed about the issues.

Someone once said that knowledge is power, which is one of the reasons that we created the IAFR Toolbox.  This may sound like an advertisement (okay maybe it is a little) but the Toolbox is a great resource to increase your knowledge about the millions of people who have suffered displacement.  And knowledge can often lead to action.

Check out the IAFR Toolbox here.  And let me know if you have questions or feel free to share in the comments what stood out to you.

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Board

 (sorry Kristel…I don’t have a picture with you in it yet)

Once a month by video conference and once a year in person, the women and men of the IAFR US Board meet together.  These are people committed to the vision, mission, and integrity of IAFR.

Yesterday was our monthly board meeting, a fitting end to a week of meetings that led to refocusing, encouragement, and renewal.  I am grateful for these women and men who bring their experience, energy, insight, and support to the work of IAFR.  Thank you for all that you bring to this vital work!!

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Connecting

Wrapping up my time in Minneapolis IAFR office.  One of the highlights of today, was connecting with some of our teammates around the world.  We have a once a month IAFR video call for all that are able to join us.  Hearing updates, communicating organizational happenings, and praying together is always so encouraging. 

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Whiteboard

A big part of leadership, is discerning the direction to go and then moving people, resources, etc in that direction….going from “here to there”.  I actually like both parts; the discerning and the moving.  I also like whiteboards to try to capture thoughts, ideas, and direction.

That is what this week is about, as the IAFR US Executive team and the Service team meet in Minneapolis…discerning, planning, and moving.  I am also reminded this morning, as we jump into day 2, that this is not a frivolous exercise.  We are talking about millions of people who have been forcibly displaced.  People who are desperate for hope.  The challenges are large and the obstacles  many.  

But we have a big God and a great global team.

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Next Week


High speed internet access and close to an airport. That was my agreement when I joined IAFR nearly 4 years ago. I appreciated the opportunity to work remotely from home and not disrupt the family with a move at that point. And four years later, I still do.

But early Monday morning, I will make my way to the airport and head to the IAFR US office in Minneapolis for the week. There is much we can do through video chatting, messaging, and email. But there are some times you need to be in the same room, face to face, with a whiteboard in front of you. This is one of those times and I am really looking forward to it!!

Prayers appreciated for wisdom, clear thinking, and spirit-led discussions.