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Liz: Glad you joined the Network! I have a question for you and everyone working with poverty and immigration issues in Postville and surrounding communities: How do all of the many faith based and community based organization work together on this? So far, it seems that the many organizations have been working amazingly well. I am honored to be part of a community that makes this topic a priority. Carolyn
Hi Liz,
Your recent story of a late winters night with members of our Guatemalan community friends was absolutely soulful and even spiritual. What an inspiring story of relationships formed in moments of need and necessity.
One of the smaller communities of refugees (if you will) was a small number of Palauns who came to better themselves. They were not "illegals." They were simply dumped on and I suspect swindled out of pay, rent, housing, honesty, self-esteem, etc., by a handful of people running a large company in the area. They lost their jobs, their dwelling, their source of financial base: pretty much everything except their resiliency and determination.
Both individuals and many faith based organizations, without any advanced warning managed to come together help alleviate the housing, food, clothing, fellowship problem. It wasn't putting people in 5-star quarters or providing epicurean wonders at meals. It was providing a rough existence with whatever side-amenities that might be occasionally had. They were essentially adopted by numerous individuals and organizations.
There was an additional wonder. The sharing and relationship was not one-way. Those who had nothing of great physical gifts, and certainly less financial - the Palauns - shared their friendship, insights, personal resources and spirit with Decorah. They joined groups for meals and accepted what Decorah had to offer. They were thankful. They participated in events put on by their new friends. They joined in our organizations activities as contributing participants as they could - choir members, helping friends, program presenters, and showed their appreciation in many, many ways;.includiong involving locals in their ethnic/cultural activities - almost certainly to show and exchange appreciation for what had been offered.
Most of that community have moved on to job opportunities in other areas of Iowa. Most things seems to be going well for them. For some there are still some difficulties. For both the Palauns and those of us from the local region, the interchange continues. The friendships are not forgotten.
I belong to one of the faith organizations that worked with the group when they were here. Several of the Palauns came to choir rehearsals, attended our services, and sang in the choir, joined in our 'coffee fellowships,' participated in monthly 'after service soup and ...' More impoprtant, they offered the community, in the short time they were here, a cultural program and involved locals. Talk about reciprocity.
On their last Sunday here in Decorah, they came and sang with the choir even though they could not stay for the entire service...they had to catch their ride to Marshalltown. They provided us a going-away presentation in Palaun and English before they left. Knowing they were leaving the congregation presented them with a going away gift. As they left after their presentation, I don't believe there was a dry eye in the entire assembly of people (Palauns and Americans) even though hands were waving and forced smiles were present. We were losing friends and it would appear they were also. We've managed to maintain contact with a number of members even though they have moved on to new locations and different circumstances. Hopefully they gained something from their stay in the Decorah region. We gained from their visit.
Not all 'refugees' are Guatemalans, Mexicans, Eastern Europeans, or Palauns. Some are folks who've lived here for years and have drifted off from our remembrances because of social and cultural difficulties. Some are folks who are hanging on to their friends and neighbors in hopes of maintaining self-esteem and being able to come back, some just because they don't want to give-up.
Everyone is (or should be) considered a valuable human capable of contributing to our culture, our society and our resilience. Those three items and a knowledge of sustainability is what can keep this part of the world we live in a sustainable quality of life region regardless of what we face - climate change, food shortages, higher priced energy due to depleting petroleum, insecurity, being overly globally interdependent, financial disasters due to misplaced priorities, and sometimes just plain personal ideological averice.
There's lots of positive hope available to us. Let's make use of it!
Peace and blessings of another season of joy, hope and possibilities.
Erik E
It's when souls touch each other that humanity takes on new meaning. It is still happening to visitors from a concerned and caring community. It also happens within the community between those in some form of need on occasion and those who, at that occasion, find themselves able to assist. That's what makes community.
What's a community. Everything within the reach of our caring.
Sustainable Future Network
Building on the existing work for a sustainable future in Northeast Iowa.
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-Cerrisa
Your recent story of a late winters night with members of our Guatemalan community friends was absolutely soulful and even spiritual. What an inspiring story of relationships formed in moments of need and necessity.
One of the smaller communities of refugees (if you will) was a small number of Palauns who came to better themselves. They were not "illegals." They were simply dumped on and I suspect swindled out of pay, rent, housing, honesty, self-esteem, etc., by a handful of people running a large company in the area. They lost their jobs, their dwelling, their source of financial base: pretty much everything except their resiliency and determination.
Both individuals and many faith based organizations, without any advanced warning managed to come together help alleviate the housing, food, clothing, fellowship problem. It wasn't putting people in 5-star quarters or providing epicurean wonders at meals. It was providing a rough existence with whatever side-amenities that might be occasionally had. They were essentially adopted by numerous individuals and organizations.
There was an additional wonder. The sharing and relationship was not one-way. Those who had nothing of great physical gifts, and certainly less financial - the Palauns - shared their friendship, insights, personal resources and spirit with Decorah. They joined groups for meals and accepted what Decorah had to offer. They were thankful. They participated in events put on by their new friends. They joined in our organizations activities as contributing participants as they could - choir members, helping friends, program presenters, and showed their appreciation in many, many ways;.includiong involving locals in their ethnic/cultural activities - almost certainly to show and exchange appreciation for what had been offered.
Most of that community have moved on to job opportunities in other areas of Iowa. Most things seems to be going well for them. For some there are still some difficulties. For both the Palauns and those of us from the local region, the interchange continues. The friendships are not forgotten.
I belong to one of the faith organizations that worked with the group when they were here. Several of the Palauns came to choir rehearsals, attended our services, and sang in the choir, joined in our 'coffee fellowships,' participated in monthly 'after service soup and ...' More impoprtant, they offered the community, in the short time they were here, a cultural program and involved locals. Talk about reciprocity.
On their last Sunday here in Decorah, they came and sang with the choir even though they could not stay for the entire service...they had to catch their ride to Marshalltown. They provided us a going-away presentation in Palaun and English before they left. Knowing they were leaving the congregation presented them with a going away gift. As they left after their presentation, I don't believe there was a dry eye in the entire assembly of people (Palauns and Americans) even though hands were waving and forced smiles were present. We were losing friends and it would appear they were also. We've managed to maintain contact with a number of members even though they have moved on to new locations and different circumstances. Hopefully they gained something from their stay in the Decorah region. We gained from their visit.
Not all 'refugees' are Guatemalans, Mexicans, Eastern Europeans, or Palauns. Some are folks who've lived here for years and have drifted off from our remembrances because of social and cultural difficulties. Some are folks who are hanging on to their friends and neighbors in hopes of maintaining self-esteem and being able to come back, some just because they don't want to give-up.
Everyone is (or should be) considered a valuable human capable of contributing to our culture, our society and our resilience. Those three items and a knowledge of sustainability is what can keep this part of the world we live in a sustainable quality of life region regardless of what we face - climate change, food shortages, higher priced energy due to depleting petroleum, insecurity, being overly globally interdependent, financial disasters due to misplaced priorities, and sometimes just plain personal ideological averice.
There's lots of positive hope available to us. Let's make use of it!
Peace and blessings of another season of joy, hope and possibilities.
Erik E
It's when souls touch each other that humanity takes on new meaning. It is still happening to visitors from a concerned and caring community. It also happens within the community between those in some form of need on occasion and those who, at that occasion, find themselves able to assist. That's what makes community.
What's a community. Everything within the reach of our caring.
Erik E
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