Immigration Ministry Team

Immigration News

Plymouth members have been accompanying the Darwish family from Palestine for the past 16 months as they've built a new life in Fort Collins after fleeing violence in their homeland. Learn more about the Darwish family here.

Supporting the Jan Family from Afghanistan (read article)

Updates

May 2023
We held a forum with the family and a slideshow reviewing the last year. View the slideshow here.

February 2023
We are searching for a volunteer to assist with and file the IRS return for the Jan family. They have completed the VITA information sheet and collected all necessary documents but Kalil's work schedule makes it difficult to arrange an appointment during VITA's hours. If you have the experience and willingness to provide this service to them, please contact Ruth Lieurance.

September 25, 2022
The Jan Family came to Fellowship Hour at Plymouth and received a blessed shawl. Blessing below:

May 4, 2022
o Khalil works at landscape and café jobs; he uses an ebike.
o ESL is going very well for all. Mehr’s English is improving and she received her driver's permit.
o The family joined with the Muslim community for Iftar to break fast
o Nargis made 3 high school friends and enjoys school
o Zabi and Masih are doing very well & looking to soccer camp
o Sana's language fluency is expanding

Alan

April 8, 2022

We number 20 trained volunteers now...from the community and Heart of the Rockies Church (Disciples) and Plymouth UCC.

We held a training event Friday, April 8, for team support and learning. Activities during the training included acquainting the family with the community, tutoring English with the parents and schoolwork with the children, support for their transportation needs to go shopping, medical appointments and work, and mentoring them in budgeting and home management. The team also looked ahead to anticipate and respond to future needs.

The support form the partner churches and the Fort Collins community continues to be strong. The Team thanks and appreciate each person for their interest in and support for the Jan Family.

Alan & Linda

Week of March 20

Going to the home of the Jan family from Afghanistan has always been a pleasure.

They greet with, "Welcome to my home," and a big smile. Both Mehr and her husband Kahlil went to school for 12 years and studied English in their country. Kahlil didn't like English, which explains why Mehr, who did, finds our language easier. We probably agree that English is difficult, having more words and more verb tenses than most languages, so we are aiming now for understanding.

Mehr's family and the computer translator help when needed. Teaching English to someone with very limited prior learning requires lots of pictures, lots of charades, and a willingness to look silly. The student undoubtedly feels embarrassed, so it helps if both parties laugh a lot and struggle together. Patience is also needed, more on the part of the learner than the teacher, as progress is usually slow. Being able to express one's thoughts are perhaps the most important goal. We are told that the three older children (15, 11, and 9), who came with more English, are doing well in school and Nargis, the oldest, has found a friend in her ESL class.

As soon as more people are allowed to visit with the family, conversing with them will be very helpful, as long as they try to speak slowly and simply!

Karen Smith

Week of March 13

The Jan Family support team continues to provide support and assistance for their physical, educational and emotional needs. As spring break started, plans were made for a wide variety of activities for the family. Many team members volunteered time to introduce them to fun activities in Fort Collins.

The Immigration Ministry Team is preparing biweekly updates about the family and our shared ministry. There will be a new bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall with photos and activities. The first posting will feature the Jan children at school, play and a birthday party. In addition, Team members will write about their experiences accompanying the Jan Family in their journey in a new home and new country.

A video presentation is available: "Toxic Charity" is about supporting families (who may have trauma) through their refugee experience. Moderated by Irene Hassan, Minister for Refugee and Migration Services with the UCC, it features Chaplain MacArthur Flournoy talking about helpful approaches for accompanying refugees.

You can support the family through your prayers, donations and advocacy on immigration and Afghan parolees.

Thank you, Plymouth UCC members for your welcome and support of the Jan family!

Learn MORE about the Team

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
FROM PLYMOUTH CHURCH

*** This section under construction. ***

HISTORY OF THE IMMIGRATION TEAM

MINISTRY PROGRAMING

Forum Presentations upcoming
Support given
Meal delivery program
Mission Trips

RESOURCES

Biblical mandates
Your Family’s Immigration Story.
America’s History of Immigration:
- Brief History
- Flow of History-- Gathering people
- US Immigration Timeline
Books
Films
Articles
Videos
Organizations

Get Involved

The ministry team meets monthly to plan education and community outreach activities for the congregation, network with the UCC and community organizations, and study the issues around immigration and refugee resettlement. New members are always welcome. Click the button below to contact someone from the Immigration Ministry Team and request to get updates.

Contact the Immigration Ministry Team