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In 2017, I met the E. family from Afghanistan who moved to Denver through an amnesty program. I had the honor of sponsoring them through Lutheran Family Services. M.E. worked as an HVAC technician at the US Embassy for 6 years before gaining refugee status. Finally, he was able to move to the US with his wife, A., and their 1-year-old daughter, S. For the past three years, M.E. has worked incredibly hard to support his family, to pay back the US Government for the flights from Afghanistan, and meet all the requirements for a green card status. A.E.'s English has greatly improved and they are integral members of their refugee community in Aurora, Colorado. I greatly admire this family's perseverance and courage.
A few weeks ago, M.E. and A.E. traveled with their two young daughters back to Kabul to meet their families. They thought this might be the only feasible time for years to come with the government change. Family is sacred in their culture. This homecoming trip was a momentous occasion, a great testament to all their hard work to start a life in a foreign country.
On the day the E. family landed, the Taliban stormed Kabul, threatening to kill anyone with a green card or US status. The E. Family bought flights home immediately only to lose the money and to face the Taliban. They were herded like cattle outside the airport. The US military ushered the family into a terrifying detention center. They were next shipped to Qatar where they were held for three days with no food or water. Shuttled in the middle of the night with no communication, they lost all their belongings and their clothes were soiled with human defecation due to the dire lack of facilities and provisions. Starving, unsure of their family's safety, they were next flown to Washington, DC, and held further for paperwork processing. M. had to pay for a hotel for three more nights while waiting for clearance. He found a way to walk to a Walmart to buy his family new clothes and then book more flights back home to Denver. None of these expenses were expected, nor the trauma of being ripped from their families. Back in Kabul, M.E.'s family is missing in the recent bombings near the Kabul airport.
The E. family needs help to make rent this month. Their case managers at Lutheran Family Services are inundated and unable to help process any assistance requests at this time. I'm praying we can answer the E. family's plea for help. Any amount helps and even just sharing the link with others is a great donation of time. Please consider spreading the word!
UPDATE: I am so humbled by the overwhelming response. Let's see if we can go above and beyond their asking amount!! The E. family could pay for medical bills, replacement costs for all their lost luggage and clothes, more international calls home, and rent for October. When they can afford to do so, they also send money to family members back in Afghanistan. With only a few days until the US government pulls out, any support for their loved ones would be monumental. I can't tell you what a blessing this is, I told E. about the donations and all he could manage to say was, "God bless you."
A few weeks ago, M.E. and A.E. traveled with their two young daughters back to Kabul to meet their families. They thought this might be the only feasible time for years to come with the government change. Family is sacred in their culture. This homecoming trip was a momentous occasion, a great testament to all their hard work to start a life in a foreign country.
On the day the E. family landed, the Taliban stormed Kabul, threatening to kill anyone with a green card or US status. The E. Family bought flights home immediately only to lose the money and to face the Taliban. They were herded like cattle outside the airport. The US military ushered the family into a terrifying detention center. They were next shipped to Qatar where they were held for three days with no food or water. Shuttled in the middle of the night with no communication, they lost all their belongings and their clothes were soiled with human defecation due to the dire lack of facilities and provisions. Starving, unsure of their family's safety, they were next flown to Washington, DC, and held further for paperwork processing. M. had to pay for a hotel for three more nights while waiting for clearance. He found a way to walk to a Walmart to buy his family new clothes and then book more flights back home to Denver. None of these expenses were expected, nor the trauma of being ripped from their families. Back in Kabul, M.E.'s family is missing in the recent bombings near the Kabul airport.
The E. family needs help to make rent this month. Their case managers at Lutheran Family Services are inundated and unable to help process any assistance requests at this time. I'm praying we can answer the E. family's plea for help. Any amount helps and even just sharing the link with others is a great donation of time. Please consider spreading the word!
UPDATE: I am so humbled by the overwhelming response. Let's see if we can go above and beyond their asking amount!! The E. family could pay for medical bills, replacement costs for all their lost luggage and clothes, more international calls home, and rent for October. When they can afford to do so, they also send money to family members back in Afghanistan. With only a few days until the US government pulls out, any support for their loved ones would be monumental. I can't tell you what a blessing this is, I told E. about the donations and all he could manage to say was, "God bless you."
