In 2016, shortly after I started with Lutheran Disaster Response, I visited the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan. Among those I met was Louie*(pictured), 19, and his family. While visiting him his barbershop, we talked about his hopes for the future. “I think it’d be very difficult to go back to Syria,” Louie says. “I just want to go somewhere that is safe, where I can make a life for myself.” Three years later, having learned of several long-standing and new migration crises, Louie’s words ring true for forcibly displaced people across the globe.

UNHCR shared updated numbers showing that over 70 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes by violence, poverty, war, discrimination and marginalization, natural disasters and the effects of climate change. This equates to one person fleeing their home every two seconds.

On this World Refugee Day, we acknowledge those who make the hard decision to leave home, often leaving everything behind, to seek safety and a new life for themselves and their families.

In 2018, Lutheran Disaster Response supported over  1.1 million dollars in work with refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons – people from Venezuela, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Myanmar, and elsewhere. With the continued partnership of companion churches, partner organizations, and ELCA synods and congregations we will continue to bring hope in the face of suffering to people on the move.

If you haven’t already, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to explore what is happening both in the U.S. and the globe relating to global migration and how our church, through Lutheran Disaster Response, other ELCA ministries, and partners, are walking with our neighbors on the move.

Nearly 69 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes by violence, poverty, war, discrimination and marginalization, natural disasters and the effects of climate change. This year, for World Refugee Day – the international observance, held on June 20^th, dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees around the world – Lutheran Disaster Response will add our church’s voice to the conversation to build awareness around global migration. The ELCA is already engaged in several responses to critical crises, including migrants, internally displaced persons, and host communities, in the global and domestic context. We have relationships both within the ELCA and with global companions through which we walk alongside communities through providing humanitarian assistance, extending a welcome to the stranger and encouraging those in power to work for peace through just policy.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter next week as we explore what is happening both domestically and internationally around global migration and how our church, through Lutheran Disaster Response, other ELCA ministries, and partners, are walking with our neighbors on the move.

Second Chances: A Migrant Story

By: Rev. Jaime Dubon

As told by Ingrid

In 2013, Juan began the journey to the United States, spurred by extreme poverty and lack of opportunities in El Salvador. He left his wife, Ingrid, and their two children behind.

After several days of walking and taking a public bus in El Salvador and Guatemala, Juan made it to Mexico. There, he attempted to get on “La Bestia” (The Beast) – a network of Mexican freight trains used by migrants to travel from the southern region of Mexico north towards the U.S. border.

During his attempt to climb aboard, his legs were trapped by the wheels of the train, causing him to lose both his legs. The seriousness of the injury caused Juan to be in an incredible amount of pain. He almost died.

With the aid of a friend, Juan arrived at a local hospital, where he spent several weeks before returning to El Salvador.

A block from Juan’s home is Our Redeemer, a congregation of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church (ILS). The pastor, Francisco Aguilar, heard about Juan’s story. Pastor Aguilar is one of many pastors who were trained through ILS’s migrant program, La Pastoral del Migrante.

Pastor Francisco visited Juan and Ingrid’s home to offer spiritual support. After talking and listening to their story, he prayed and gave them a food basket.

Through another part of the program, Juan and Ingrid were given seed money to start their own business. Having already known how to weave before migrating and having learned the Mexican style of weaving while recovering in Mexico – a style highly valued and sought after in El Salvador – Juan used the seed money to buy supplies to make hammocks. Now, Juan and Ingrid sell their products at the local market, and that income allows them to support their family.

After the horrible experience in Mexico, including the loss of his legs, Juan never gave up hope. Instead, he, Ingrid, and their children have grown stronger together as a family. And with the accompaniment of the church, they are moving forward.

The Salvadoran Lutheran Church, with support from Lutheran Disaster Response through the AMMPARO Strategy, works to go beyond pastoral and psychosocial care, to offer practical and economical means for families, like Juan and Ingrid, to thrive in El Salvador.

Rev. Jaime Dubon is the Area Desk Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for ELCA Global Mission.

Be a part of the response:

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Please pray for the communities who were impacted by these destructive tornadoes. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Pray that God will deliver comfort to those who mourn the loss of loved ones and strength to those who are working diligently to care for affected communities.

Give

Gifts to “U.S. Tornadoes” will be used to assist those affected by tornadoes until the response is complete.

Connect

To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:

• Share this bulletin insert with your congregation and encourage support.
• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
• Check the Lutheran Disaster Response blog.
• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on Twitter.
• To download a PDF version of this report, click here.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Please pray for the communities who were impacted by these destructive tornadoes. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Pray that God will deliver comfort to those who mourn the loss of loved ones and strength to those who are working diligently to care for affected communities.

Give

Gifts to “U.S. Tornadoes” will be used to assist those affected by tornadoes until the response is complete.

Connect

To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:

• Share this bulletin insert with your congregation and encourage support.
• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
• Check the Lutheran Disaster Response blog.
• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on Twitter.
• To download a PDF version of this report, click here.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Please pray for the people who have been affected by wildfires in California. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Pray that God will deliver comfort to those who mourn the loss of loved ones and strength to first-responders who diligently work to contain fires and care for affected communities.

Give

Gifts to “U.S. Wildfires” will be used to assist those affected by the wildfires until the response is complete.

Connect

To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:

• Share this bulletin insert with your congregation and encourage support.
• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on Twitter.
• To download a PDF version of this situation report, click here.