My wife, Carol, has always tried to seek out ways to help our daughters learn that there is more to the world than the comfortable one in which we live. Last year, our church took on the task of sponsoring a Burmese refugee family. Carol immediately became involved in a number of ways, including helping them to learn English. Our 11-year-old daughter and I have gotten involved as well, mostly by the "osmosis" that comes from getting to know people. We have been able to celebrate some of their Muslim religious traditions/holidays with them, and to help introduce them to some of our cultural traditions (how we celebrate birthdays, for example). Though our daughter is not the most adventurous soul when it comes to trying out new foods, she has even been game enough to try out some rather spicy foods in the spirit of getting to know our new neighbors!
Get to know Lancaster's newest neighbors from around the world. Contact Lancaster's largest refugee agencies, Church World Service and Lutheran Refugee Services, to learn how.
Photo by Matt Lester, Matthew Lester Photography.