We want to be in touch to THANK YOU for your part in the letter-writing/phone call campaign last month. Over 150 letters were written urging action. You too may have received the response that this particular family’s file is one of the top priorities for attention in MP Will Greaves office. The volume of correspondence may well have initiated the promise of a 15 minute online call with the IRCC regional representative sometime toward the end of April. While we would have hoped for the opportunity much sooner, we will use the 15 minutes to our greatest advantage to gain an understanding of the delay in securing the safe passage for this family, and to call for the earliest action possible in light of the ever-growing grave danger in which they find themselves.

Meanwhile our sponsorship coordinating team is in touch with the family via video chat every two weeks. They are so clear, every single time, that our team AND the ever-widening circle of supporting people is a literal life-line. Their gratitude is palpable as is their deep longing to finally arrive and meet us all firsthand. When that happens, I know you will be struck by the immense goodness and love of each member of this family.

We had a further glimpse of this when we spoke together just this past Sunday. Recently we’ve added a new dimension to our video chat where we come up with a question that enables us to get to know each other that much more. This time it was their turn to bring the question. What 3 words describe yourself, and why? The words they offered about themselves were remarkable in any event and all the more given their circumstances. Some of their words: Patient. Kind. Brave. Strong. Empty (as in available and eager to learn and discover). Energetic. Positive. Patient, Kind and Positive were repeated multiple times!  Imagine, after 4 years of waiting, living within 2 rooms, and for the last year under the growing threat of being discovered and deported.

Your continuing support for this family – through your prayers, your financial contributions, your letter-writing, your donations of household goods – means life.  And for us all when we finally meet face to face.

With great gratitude,
Karen Dickey, for the coordinating team
Marg Brown, André Fontaine, Marg Lunam, D’Arcy McPherson, Elvira Sentes, Bev Tracey, Raymond Yee

Ministries And Programs
James Bay Refugee Initiative