August Newsletter
Written By Inasmuch Community Society
Inasmuch supports Refugee Claimants in the Fraser Valley, and we do so by providing transitional housing and living support for Persons in Need of Protection as they seek asylum in Canada.
We are compelled by God’s love, so we advocate for and empower Refugee Claimants by providing physical, emotional, and community support as they seek to rebuild their lives in Canada.
We Are Created for Community
We talk a lot about community and it’s because we believe in how important it is for our wellbeing. Life is infinitely better when we have people around us who care, notice our needs, and help us meet those needs. We aim to do the same with Refugee Claimants who come to us for support.
Community meets a very real need for our clients, and we believe that community is one way that we can respond to the call to love one another the way we love ourselves.
Gathering Our Community
We are planning a gathering this week for our previous and present residents. One way Inasmuch facilitates community is through 3 annual events where we gather with current and past residents, and other guests. These gatherings provide opportunities to create new friendships, connections and a warm community - not to mention delicious food from different cultures!
Do you want a taste of what we get to experience together?
Try this recipe at home!
Rice Pudding - from a Friend of Inasmuch
Ingredients
1 Cup of rice
2 Cups of water
6 Cups of Milk
1 Cup of sugar
3 tablespoons of cornstarch
1 tablespoons of vanilla
1 teaspoon of rose water
Wash the rice and strain it.
Boil water.
Add rice to the water and let it boil for 4 minutes.
Simmer for 45 minutes or until it’s completely cooked.
Add the 6 cups of milk and keep stirring until it starts boiling.
Once boiling, lower the heat and add the vanilla, rose water and sugar.
When you feel the thickness that you want - turn off the heat.
Pour it into serving cups and garnish with coconut flakes, pistachio, walnuts or anything you want.
82 Newcomers Have a Better Handle of the English Language Thanks to Volunteers
The Inasmuch Community ESL course saw 82 students work through conversation practice, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, vocabulary and grammar, and so much more.
The program ran January through June and will start again in September. This program created a wonderful opportunity for community connection, friendships and opportunities for newcomers to meet others in similar circumstances.
Our Inasmuch Community ESL course is looking for more teachers to accommodate the needs of newcomers in our area. We expect just as many or more students this fall! Do you have previous teaching experience? Are you looking for an opportunity to create a warm, welcoming, comfortable experience for ESL students who are excited to learn?
If you or someone you know fits that description, please reach out to Betty Lou our Inasmuch Community ESL Coordinator at esl@inasmuch.ca
Classes begin September 12, 2023 and you can sign up to help teach or assist in our morning classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 am to noon, or our evening classes the same days from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Reach out to Betty Lou at esl@inasmuch.ca or complete the Volunteer Application Form for any volunteering inquiries.
We Exist Because You Care
Big impact is created when people rally together.
Inasmuch is here and serving Refugee Claimants who had no choice but to leave their home country in order to keep themselves and their immediate family safe (and alive). No one plans to be a refugee.
Refugee Claimants leave their homes, their countries and everything familiar as a last resort. Most arrive with only what they can carry. Most have very little time to prepare for their journey to Canada.
Many Refugee Claimants arrive in Canada without weather appropriate clothing. They don’t know where their next meal will come from, or where they will rest their heads that evening.
Refugee Claimants arrive in a state of crisis and, add to this, grief. They are grieving the loss of life as they have known it, their culture and people they love who were left behind. Many feel betrayed by their country which became a place that was no longer safe for them. Their basic human rights were betrayed by the country which was supposed to be home.
Your monthly donations allow Inasmuch staff and volunteers to gather around persons in need of protection, to provide community and support.
What happens next is miraculous.
We see our residents come alive, find joy, find a new reason for living, realize that the trauma they experienced is not their fault, and even through the struggle, rediscover their value and dignity. There is often emotional, physical, and spiritual healing that happens, and it’s beautiful to witness.
You can be a part of this process. Your monthly support allows our work to carry on.
Our 2 homes cost about $4000/month each to run and house up to 10 people each.
Please consider a regular ongoing donation of any size you are comfortable giving. Inasmuch is a registered Canadian Charity and all monetary gifts are tax receiptable.
When you volunteer, donate, pray for and with us, it all comes together to create real impact in real lives.
Take John (names have been changed to protect the individuals we serve), for example, who wrote to us:
I wanted to express my sincere appreciation and my deep gratitude for all the help you gave me during my stay at Inasmuch.
Whenever I have gone through difficult times, you have been there to listen to me, advise me, and support me.
Your confidence in me has given me the strength to continue my perseverance and to meet the challenges that have come my way.
Keep me posted on all your activities at Inasmuch, as I will always be a volunteer.
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