Dear Partners in the Gospel:

We’re immersing ourselves in the story of Ruth and Naomi and Esther this summer (2 books of the Bible named for women!) Both are interesting in a couple of ways: 1. Ruth and Naomi are ‘outsiders’ who end up becoming ‘insiders’. Esther is also an outsider who becomes and insider-though not exactly by choice. And, 2) God doesn’t speak or act in either book! Imagine that! Yet these writings invite us to consider how God is working in our lives and in the lives of others “behind the scenes.”

The world around us is always full of insiders and outsiders, and (like in these two books), someone or some groups of people are always vulnerable to the misfortunes of life, or the evil schemes of others.

Twenty years ago this summer, St. John’s and Our Savior’s Lutheran in West Bend partnered in the resettlement of the Umarov family, one of many refugees displaced because of WW2 (where national boundaries were breached and people were forced out and were never really welcome in the place they were relocated to. Google “Mesketian Turks”)

OMahmat & Minizhat, plus their 3 sons, his mother, their one daughter-in-law, and two lovely little granddaughters came to America as refugees officially vetted and approved by the US State Department, which contracted with Lutheran Social Services to help re-settle them. We had an empty parsonage. Our Savior’s and St. John’s folks teamed up to help furnish the house, figure out shopping, get them to English language classes, get them to job interviews, and all those good things!

It wasn’t long before the 3 young adults and their dad found work, got driver’s licenses, got two donated vehicles (with the help of our Motorhead ministries!) and welcomed their new friends and new opportunities!

Today, Mahmat and the others are all US citizens. The 3 sons own and operate a fine auto repair business in Waukesha; they are all married with children, and are homeowners. Asma, the little girl who came here as a newborn, is getting married in July! (The dear grandma and Minizhat have passed away.) And the family continues to be eternally grateful for the kindness and hospitality that we were able to show them.

In times when there is way too much “us against them” and “insiders” vs. “outsiders” in this land and around the world, we give thanks that God still works through people like us to show hospitality; and that God works through people like Ruth and the Umarovs to show that all are-and are to be-part of the family of God! Sadly, our US refugee program has been shelved. And the Lutheran Social Services resettlement staff were let go. But we can still be the voices for those who long for a land to call ‘home’!

-Pastor Paul