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Soe's Family   Errol's Family

Updates from the ZCO Burmese Family Coordinator Nan Whitaker-Emrich**

**To receive regular updates about this family, and other ZCO news, email Carrie and ask to be put on the listserve.

2/3/09:
Dear Friends,

We are almost a year away from first beginnings of the Refuge Project.  During this year we have provided support for two families of 4 adults and 4 children as they began to establish new lives in this new country. The response of the community to this project has been generous and dependable.  Each time I thought that we were not going to be able to meet the obvious need, someone showed up—people that I have seen or met at the Sangha or people that I have never even heard of just appeared with bags of baby shoes or mini fundraisers for rice cookers or packages of blankets and toilet paper.  We have furnished two and a half apartments with everything.  We have driven to medical and social security appointments.  We have bought clothes and Goodwill-ed.  We have talked in sign language and pointed fingers.   Here is a partial list of some people who have participated:

Chozen shopped at the Goodwill and scoured the monastery providing emergency warm baby clothes and many dishes.
Diatetsu, Jogun, Julie and Christie helped connect us all through the web and flyers.
Carrie delighted the little ones, decorated and helped us feel easy about contact and our funky language skills.
Allen drove and drove and then on a moment’s notice drove again.
Barry helped with the first move as did Pedro (now in Argentina), Colin, Sherri, Kodo, Andy,  and several others.
Nancy, Antonio, Lauren, Nina’s friend, Robin, Fran, Carrie, Judy, Nan’s friend Janice’s daughter, and many more gave furniture.
Nina drove, Bruce drove, Ed drove, Cibyl drove and got to know the Burmese families and how to talk in sign language.
Rinsan saw to it that I always remembered to announce things.
Linda and Darro produced lovely rocking chairs when there was a little one in need of rocking.
Ray worked on both moves as well as driving and Ron provided for two rice cookers at just the right moment.
Two folks from Dharma Punks hefted stuff for the second move and five folks from various Thich Nhat Hanh groups contributed much clothing and household items.
Andy Montgomery did everything many times over and was always happy to be on call.
Bansho and Joman housed furniture for a year!! And let us in and out with great kindness.
Larry and Mia and their household shared their home with Soe and Kyi for 5 months despite the ups and downs of language and mores.
Bruce bought boots in time of need and supplied us with Larry and Mia.
Terri Dubeck and Ethan will teach English in the months to come.
Kodo did everything and brought calmness everywhere she went as usual.
Roberta appeared with two large bags when we needed them including a most beautiful doll.
Michelle and her daughter, Safia, put together a fundraiser party for the Burmese families and SOAR. 
And sock monkeys—handmade—brought at Christmas unannounced and unanticipated—a joyful blessing.
And everyone, all of us thought, hoped and delighted.

We are still committed to help with the support of Soe Myint and Kyi Win until they have jobs.  They will need another $350 a month from us for awhile.  Their financial support from the federal government  runs out after January although they will still receive food stamps, insurance and some other support because of Deal Pur.  Kodo has said that she will personally help with the job possibilities for Soe.   Chozen asked Dawn if she would help Kyi learn to sew and Dawn jumped at the chance and will start the first week of February.  English lessons are in process.  Soe and Kyi will be transferred from SOAR to Asian Family Services for any  on-going case management. 

We have come a long way.  We hope to be able to continue to collect furniture for other families and to help with whatever gifts we feel able to gather for their support.  Once we have a new building we may be able to find a spot for storage and collections.  I have been so impressed by the generosity and reach of the project.  And by the heartfelt willingness of all to be grateful for and open to the work and energy it took to keep it all moving.
Now it is good to look back and relish the fun that we have had and the hope that we have given.  And to notice how much it has given to us all.

Many bows,
Nan

12/1/08: Here are some of the things that are needed now for the Burmese family:

First, we need a volunteer to take Soe to a dental surgery on the 18th of December at 1:30pm and return him home.  He will have a general anesthesia and so should not be trying to ride the bus.  He will also be getting pain medication, and you need to be sure that he takes it home.

Soe needs a pair of warm boots.  He is still wearing sandals.  We need a volunteer to take him shopping at a shoe store. They should be of the quality that he could wear to work for a job that requires standing such as a factory job.

The family needs blankets and a rice cooker (large).

Errol needs a teacher to help him pass his driver's license test.  This includes helping him read the pamphlets (I presume), understand the ups and downs of that situation, make an appointment, and transportation to and from the test.

Because of his congestive heart failure he cannot be employed; however, he does know how to drive and did drive in Thailand.  He needs a way to be useful and helping his family and community by driving the communal car would be quite respected and useful.

We continue to need someone to do simple word recognition teaching and someone else to help the older kids understand their homework assignments.  If you are interested (you do not need to be an ESL trained person); please talk with me and I will explain more.

Many thanks to all of you who have supported these families with such love and goodwill.

Please contact Nan at nanallenwe@comcast.net

11/10/08: Dela Pur, the 2 year old who we are sponsoring along with her mother and father, needs winter clothes--warm winter clothes.  She wears size 2T which is not the same as size 24 months, believe it or not!  The family is having a hard time with the cold.  I just went to Goodwill and bought a snow suit, one sweater, one pair of jeans, and a dress.  It cost $35.00.  We need a source of good hand-me-downs from a little one just one year older.  Or some good old fashioned aunties who will Goodwill shop.  Goodwill seemed low on kids clothes, but the used stores are quite expensive--$5 per item at least.

She needs a couple of jackets that are quite warm, several sweaters, lots of pants, some tights and socks, turtle necks, etc.  I will try to get her shoe size.  A raincoat would be great.  She will grow out of this asap so just go with the seasons.

Donations can be brought to the sangha and left on the table in the back. 

10/14/08:
There are lots of supplies needed by Soe and Win and baby Dela Pur as they move into their new apartment.  If you can help with one or more of these, please bring your gift to Dharma Rain when you come sometime this week. Leave them on or near the table in the back of the "tea room". 

Here is a list:

broom, dustpan and mop with pail
scouring powder, dish washing soap both for machine and for sink
sink drainer and mat, dobies or scruffy scouring pads
dishcloths and sponges, kitchen wastebasket (smaller size)
bathroom soap, bath tub mat, toilet brush and plunger, waste basket
waste baskets for the living room and two bedrooms

And also, if anyone has an extra living room chair, that could be put to use.  We will pick up. 
Please contact Nan at nanallenwe@comcast.net

8/20/08:
It has been a long time since I last wrote an update on the Burmese families whom we are sponsoring.  Soe Myint, Kyi Win and their daughter Dela Paw have been here for two months.  They have completed all their initial medical and dental appointments; social security identification and Oregon ID and are living in a room at a house on 32nd and SE Clinton within walking distance of Errol and Sarah's extended family at SE 28th and Rhone.  In the early morning the family leaves their one room and heads for the 28th street community for breakfast and spends the day with their friends surrounding them.  They are attending ESL training at IRCO for three hours each day taking turns caring for Dela Paw. They cannot get reimbursement for childcare until they each have a full time jobs.  The family will also be receiving WIC food support each month in addition to their food stamps and small monetary allotment.

Dela Paw celebrated her 2nd birthday on 8/8/08 which was the 20th anniversary of the 1988 uprising to overthrow the dictatorship in Burma---an important date for Burmese people everywhere.  She had two parties with cake and presents--one at her church and one with another family. Some concern expressed by her doctors that she had anemia seems to have been alleviated as her parents have introduced a higher protein diet. 

Errol remains unable to work and has just completed his third outpatient surgical procedure.  Currently the family is living on Sarah's salary alone.  All three children, Mo, Christian and Peter, have been involved with on-going English lessons during the summer.  Olga Condon, their SOAR caseworker, will be referring the family to Asian Family Services for continuing support. The children will be attending a back to school safety program facilitated by Kathy Win of Asian Family Services.  Carrie Schneider will be working with the children to see how we can provide whatever supplies and clothing not available through Asian Family Services.

I have been told multiple times by many contacts that the Burmese children will learn to speak English quickly both because of their young and supple brains and their intense lessons in public school.  However, their parents are much more likely to remain almost completely Burmese speaking which will limit their chances to make a good living.  English is essential for their employment possibilities and for navigating this culture with ease. 
  
                                                           WISH LIST

Volunteers to give one hour a week to teach words in English to Soe and Kyi.  No teaching skills required.  Just a little willingness, humor and delight in connections that are made while stumbling.   Please contact Nan at nanallenwe@comcast.net.

6/15/08:
Bill Coddington, Carrie Sneider, Allen and I just saw the new family at SOAR for the first time.  After our meeting Allen and I spent most of the day with them.  Soe Myint (42) arrived Thursday night from Burma with Kyi Win (33) his wife and their daughter, Dah Ler Paw (21 months).  Soe was born in the countryside and grew up "without an education".  He herded cows until his early teens for his father who was a farmer.  He went to live in Bangkok at 16 and has lived there working as a carpenter, mason and electrician.  He lived in the Umpiem Camp in Thailand for two years.  Soe's native language is Karen.  His wife, Win, lost her mother at birth.  She reads and writes Burmese which is her native language.  She lived with Buddhist nuns until she was 17 years old and then with her Aunts until 2002.  She met Soe in Bangkok in 2002 and they were married.  She has been employed for one year in a clothing factory doing ironing.  Neither speak any English.  Dah Ler is about as bouncy a young person as you could imagine seeing after a round the world trip.  Carrie brought beads and toys to keep her occupied through mountains of paper signing.  And she got lots of pictures!  All three of them seem to be in good health.  They were all animated, interested in the world around them despite the shockingly long journey and the obvious culture shock.  Soe, Win and Pur will be staying with Errol for the next one-two months.  We will hold off on finding a temporary apartment to give them some time to settle in. They will enjoy the support and comfort of Errol's family while they get acclimated. 

We were accompanied throughout the first meeting by Moses Rain (40-ish) who has been in this country for seven days and speaks excellent English, Burmese and Thai. Since he had already been through the SOAR system and thru Social Security, he was a great help getting the family through the process.  Moses was brought up in the Church of England, and had early schooling in English.  He told us that he had been active in the resistance movement against the current Burmese regime and that it was no longer possible for him to make a living in Burma.  He was also sponsored by Errol's father-in-law and he is staying with them as well. Moses will probably test out of IRCO's ESL classes next week and will be looking for a job ASAP.  Since he arrived alone, his finances are even tighter than the families that we are assisting.

Soe and Win will spend the next week in medical and social service appointments.  Their first meetings with IRCO for ESL, employment and bus travel will begin their second week here and continue until they are employed (and for several months after).  Pur will stay with Sarah's father's wife who is certified as a child care provider while the parents are going to classes and appointments. 

Because the State Department regulations for refugee finances are very complicated, I do not as yet know how we will assist this family without jeopardizing their other monies.  I will be talking with SOAR tomorrow about what can be done and what not.  I will also talk with Errol today about what equipment the family may need immediately. 

6/05/08:
We will need to find a short term apartment for the new family arriving June 12th.  We have been told by the apartment complex that a place will not be ready for them until August at the earliest; and it is worth the work of two temporary situations so that they can finally be with their community. We have time to find it since they have a temporary home with Ngwe Tin. 

I have also heard that Errol is in intensive care for a liver problem.  The receptionist at SOAR who is Burmese visited with him yesterday and says that he is in good spirits.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. While she was visiting, Olga was enrolling the children in a summer program that will be focused on their English skills and will help with childcare now that Sarah has a job--beginning today--at a local hotel.  These SOAR people are certainly amazing.

Please let me know of any apartment possibilities in the SE 28th and Rhone neighborhood.  The family is required by the federal rules to have a one bedroom.  We will be supplementing their income because their monthly allotment is so small prior to their employment.  It will be extremely valuable for this family to stay close to Errol's family for companionship and support, including childcare for the little one.

6/04/08:
The arriving family is made up of a man and his wife and their 2 year old girl.  We will be doing much more for this family than the last as we will be their only sponsor.

The family will be greeted by Ngwe Tin (a sponsor with us for this family) at the airport.  Ngwe Tim (pronounced?? Nawetine as one word) is Sarah's father and the father-in-law of Errol.  The new arrivals will stay with their family for the first two months, until a more permanent home can be found.  

Friday, June 13th will be the first meeting with the family at the SOAR office. We will get introduced and make initial plans for driving and future support.  Please let me know if you can come.  I will let you know the exact time as soon as I know. 

We will be driving the family to their appointments with Social Security, doctors, SOAR, etc.  There are usually about 10-12 appointments in the first two weeks.  Please let me know at what times you might be free to drive. The more drivers, the easier the load for everyone.  We will also need to supplement income for this couple as they have no relatives here and their income from the government will be considerably less than Errol and Sarah's.  We will know more about this soon.  We will also be furnishing their apartment (so let me know if you have any furniture to donate).

Information about this new family is scarce.  They lived in the same refugee camp as Errol and Sarah and their family.  Neither one knows any English.  The father has worked as a day laborer and a carpenter.   The mother has no known work history.  The child will be two on the 8th of August.  Perhaps we can give a birthday party??!!  The family belongs to the same church as our other family and so will have considerable emotional and psychological support from that source.  Ngwe Tin's wife is a licensed child care provider and will most probably take care of the toddler while her parents are in ESL classes and working.  This is an invaluable gift for the new family.

At the Friday meeting they will get a check for a considerable amount that is a one time gift.  However, they may need coats, shoes, etc. before this check.  I will be calling Errol to ask what is the immediate material support that this new family needs.  And I will send out a request as soon as I have that information. 

I will send information out on the listserve on a regular basis.  Please feel free to respond using the listserve** or to contact me (Nan) here. 

 

 

 

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