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Resiliency and Hope webinar #ShareTheJourney with Congolese Refugees

Reminder about webinar on the Congo this Thursday

Here's the link to sign up for the webinar this Thursday:

February 19 Educational Webinar

Please join Kurt Bonz, Program Manager for Episcopal Migration Ministries; Allison Duvall, Episcopal Migration Ministries' Church Relations Manager; and Katie Conway, Policy Analyst for Immigration and Refugees in the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Office of Government Relations, in a church wide webinar on Thursday, February 19 at 7:00 pm EST. 

Participation is via registration here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6141019095904459265

Resilience and Hope webinar Feb. 17th

 

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King Leopold's Ghost

I've been reading "King Leopold's Ghost" by Adam Hochschild, one of a list of books and essays I'm immersing myself in in preparation for this pilgrimage to Africa. I have to say I can hardly stomach it. Reminiscent of Manifest Destiny evils in North America, the same was being simultaneously exacted on the continent of Africa, often behind the facade of Christian charity.
As I read this history of the late 19th century and into the 20th, I am astounded at the similarity of atrocities of these Western Christian "explorers" and the likes of Boko Haram. It is so easy to be shocked and horrified at the horrors other people groups are capable of and never realize our own. In fact, The US was one of the first countries to approve of King Leopold's brutal acquisitions of land in Africa under the guise of non-existent organizations:

1. “‘The Government of the United States announces its sympathy with and approval of the humane and benevolent purposes of the International Association of the Congo’”

   (Chpt. 5, p. 81).This statement by the American Secretary of State in 1884 made America the first country to approve of Leopold’s Congo Free State, disguised as a benevolent association for the benefit of the natives and for free trade.

Humane and benevolent purposes? In an open letter to King Leopold, George Washington Williams, an African-American explorer was aghast at what he saw upon arrival in Congo. The full letter is here, but blogger abagond, gives a synopsis of the letter:

George Washington Williams, a black American historian, went to see the Congo for himself in 1890, the same year as Joseph Conrad. After travelling more than 2,000 km up river, he wrote an open letter to the king. Here is some of what he reported:

1. Schools: none – thus the “honest and practical effort made to increase their knowledge”.
2. Hospitals: one, built by the Dutch. Most surgeons lacked supplies. This put even whites in danger. (Williams himself would die of disease on his way back to America. He was only 41.)
3. Prisons and chain gangs: where you could wind up for even the slightest offences.
4. Trade: only allowed with the state and at its prices.
5. Power: given up by African chiefs after they were tricked into believing that whites had amazing strength, could withstand gunshots unharmed, could control the sun and would bring peace to all the land.
6. The army: too small to keep the peace and uphold law and order. There were only 2,300 soldiers in a country of over 2,300,000 square kilometres. Much of the country was out of control.
7. Terror: how the army ruled. It burned down houses and shot down people at will, taking their land and making those who lived into slaves. An example: One time a steamer pulled up to a river town. When the people came out to greet the boat as expected the soldiers on board levelled their guns and opened fire, shooting down men, women and children. They took those who lived as prisoners to work on a plantation. The officers fought over who would get the best looking women.
8. Food for the army: not provided by the king. Instead it had to be demanded at gunpoint from those who lived near the posts. Those who refused to give food to the army had their houses burned down.
9. The value of life: One time two officers saw a man coming down the river in a boat minding his own business. They made a five pound wager about who could shoot him dead first. After three shots he fell dead, shot in the head.
10. Sex slaves: brought in from Portuguese Africa by the state and hired out to the highest bidder. The half-white children of such women became property of the state.
11. The slave trade: instead of wiping it out, the state and the army took part in it at all levels. Even knowing full well that hundreds of slaves would be eaten. The army used slaves as soldiers and as mistresses for the white officers.
12. Cannibals: used as shock troops. They delivered heads to the white officers and ate the children.

I will be looking for reasons to believe in humanity as I embark on this pilgrimage. It doesn't make me doubt the existence of God so much as it makes me wonder what God was thinking in creating the human race. I know there are glimpses of inexplicable grace in horrific situations at times. We've read the stories. I hope to have that experience.

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Preparatory Gifts

A friend and parishioner at Trinity in The Woodlands was very concerned about my delicate neck and need to sleep comfortably on a plane bound for Africa. So, in her infinite kindness she bought me THIS:

 

THIS is apparently an Ostrich Pillow. I'm not sure where she found it, as I'm unable to read the Korean tag that is attached. But, let me demonstrate how one sleeps on a plane in this concoction.

I may have to wear it on my head the entire trip because it looks like it could take up half my suitcase. Not sure TSA will understand. For that matter, I'm not sure the other folks on this pilgrimage will understand, either. Maybe I'll just use it to scare the cat.

 

 

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Acronym Language (AL)

Kigeme: A home carved from the hills for Congolese refugees

photo courtesy of UNHCR

So, we are learning the world of governmental and NGO (non-governmental organizations) acronym language as we will be meeting with quite a few of these organizations that are part of the resettlement process for a refugee. A full page of these AOs (Acronym Organizations) was given to us to memorize with the promise of a game of TP (Trivial Pursuit) on the plane. Being rather competitive, I will learn them and win! Here's a list of the AOs:

Commonly used acronyms in refugee resettlement:


UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
DHS - Department of Homeland Security
RSC - Resettlement Support Center
DOS - Department of State
BPRM - Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration
IO - International Organization
IOM - International Organization for Migration
NGO - Non-government organization
USCIS - United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
RA - Resettlement Agency
USRAP - Unites States Refugee Admissions Program
DHHS - Department of Health and Human Services
ORR - Office of the Refugee Resettlement
R&P Program - Reception and Placement Program
CWS - Church World Service
LIRS - Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services
HIAS - Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
IRC - International Rescue Committee
USCRI - United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
WR - World Relief
USCCB - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
ECDC - Ethiopian Community Development Council
RPC - Refugee Processing Center

February 19 Educational Webinar

Background
Over the next 4-5 years, the United States expects to welcome tens of thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), scene of some of the world’s worst ongoing violence and human rights abuses. According to UNHCR, approximately 430,000 refugees from the DRC have sought protection in neighboring countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. In addition, there are some 2.7 million internally displaced people (IDPs) within the country itself.


Of the 5,155 refugees resettled last year by Episcopal Migration Ministries and its network of affiliate organizations, 420 were Congolese and that number is expected to grow in 2015.


How can your faith community support and advocate for the plight of Congolese refugees? How can your congregation prepare to welcome these new Americans into your community?

February 19 Educational Webinar

Please join Kurt Bonz, Program Manager for Episcopal Migration Ministries; Allison Duvall, Episcopal Migration Ministries' Church Relations Manager; and Katie Conway, Policy Analyst for Immigration and Refugees in the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Office of Government Relations, in a church wide webinar on Thursday, February 19 at 7:00 pm EST.


Participation is via registration here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6141019095904459265


Allison, Katie and Kurt will: provide an overview of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), update the current status of Congolese refugees, and suggest what you can do in your community to continue to welcome Congolese refugees as they arrive in our country seeking safety, peace, and a chance to begin their lives again.


Questions are welcomed and encouraged and can be submitted via the webinar chat room or on social media using #ShareTheJourney.

Resources

The webinar content is ideal for Sunday forums, discussion groups, adult formation classes, youth groups, and formation classes. A discussion guide is available here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/files/documents/congolese_refugees_webinar_guide.pdf


For more information Allison Duvall, aduvall@episcopalchurch.org