The timing of our latest newsletter correlates with the holiest season in the Muslim calendar, observed by a majority of our refugee families. The four weeks of Ramadan begin at sundown on Monday, March 11. This period of fasting, reflection, and much prayer is followed by the joy and celebration of Eid, which begins the evening of April 9. Eid is marked by family gatherings, delicious foods, candies (often called “Sweet Eid” for this reason), and gifts for children. For this issue, Ismat Sherzad, who arrived from Kabul in August 2021, shares insight on Ramadan. We also feature for the first time a very involved and truly impressive volunteer couple from active partner church Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ in McLean, who have devoted much time to furthering English fluency for newcomers as well as coaching them on the important path to citizenship.
The Ministry continues to grow, particularly with additional Afghan arrivals from across the Mexican border, who are desperate for support as they work toward achieving asylum status.
At the same time, many of our 2021 arrivals have stabilized and found good jobs, happiness, and fellowship in our community. We also are happy to have three new outstanding volunteer care teams in place, who completed training in January with Melanie Gray, Christ Church’s Director of Outreach & Mission. They now have been matched with newer families with the most need for guidance and friendship. Welcome!
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Life-changing and long-time volunteers Sara Dougherty-Jones and husband Steve Jones, who met in high school in Wilmington, DE, began dating in college. They have been married for 36 years and have two grown children who live in the DC area. Both Sara and Steve were inspired from an early age by their own mother’s volunteer work.
Sara holds an MA from Georgetown in English with a concentration in the teaching of writing. She taught English for many years at the Potomac School in McLean. In 2013, a friend recruited Sara to teach English as a Second Language in the Campagna Center’s New Neighbors program, whose classes are held each semester at Christ Church.
At the time, the school was looking for someone to teach the most advanced grammar class, which Sara ultimately did for an incredible eight years. Little did Sara know how deeply honored and inspired she would feel to work with so many courageous students, many of whom were refugees, as well as how much she would learn about the world from her geographically diverse classes. It was not unusual for a dozen different countries to be represented in a class of 15.
“The tales of success for these highly motivated students are too numerous to count,” notes Sara. Steve was a frequent guest speaker in Sara’s classes and contributed as he was able to help her students assimilate in Northern Virginia.
Steve attended law school at Georgetown University and practiced international trade law at King & Spalding in Washington until he retired at the end of 2019. During his career, Steve did pro bono legal work for refugees that he found deeply rewarding.
Upon retirement, Sara and Steve joined Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington. It was through Sara’s work on the Social Action and Mission Board at Rock Spring that she became involved in its well-established “Welcoming the Stranger” program. As part of WTS,
the church has strong ties with the Christ Church Refugee Ministry. Sara found a valuable niche in sourcing up-to-date educational and employment opportunities for CCRM families and sharing them with members of their care teams, always written beautifully, and with much care. Sara and Steve have also enjoyed making holiday deliveries to families and helping out at CCRM community events.
During the pandemic, Steve began teaching important citizenship classes through New Neighbors, and several of his students have become U.S. citizens. He also tutored one CCRM refugee from Afghanistan over several months to prepare her for the naturalization interview. This spring, he is teaching a hybrid citizenship course (both in-person and on Zoom) through New Neighbors.
Sara has stayed in touch with a group of New Neighbors alumni students by co-teaching a biweekly “Conversation Club” that meets by Zoom.
Sara and Steve have been amazed by the deeply impactful work of the CCRM and by the stories of hardship, perseverance, and success. “One aspect that deeply moves us is to watch the young children of immigrants grow and thrive in the United States”. In addition to deep spiritual satisfaction, “Our work is also motivated by a sense of patriotism. Immigrants are and always have been the foundation of our country, and helping them succeed strengthens our community,” they both shared.
Sara and Steve noted that they feel humbled and honored to help with the CCRM refugees. Just as Sara used to say “the world came to me” in her New Neighbors classroom, they are so admiring of those who are starting a new life in Virginia.
Steve is an avid and lifelong golfer, and Sara loves long walks with friends. They both enjoy travel, reading, music, movies, and good conversations. Their refuge is their beach home in Corolla, NC. Not to be overlooked, they have a beloved Portuguese Water Dog, Janie!
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Ramadan Explanation and Notes with Refugee Ministry Participant Ismat Sherzad |
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Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, is the month in which the Holy Qur'an was sent down from heaven "as a guidance for men and women, a declaration of direction, and a means of salvation.”
All able-bodied Muslims are expected to fast during the month of Ramadan from dawn until dusk. This is complete abstinence from food, drink (even water), and sexual relations.
Fasting starts from 2:00 a.m. and ends almost at 5:35 p.m.
Age 14 is when children begin to fast, and my three children are not of that age yet.
My 82-year-old father, who took the perilous flight from Kabul with the family, stopped fasting upon leaving Afghanistan, even though healthy. It is optional for the elderly, and not expected of pregnant women.
It's a long story to tell but when someone by choice misses a day of fasting and he/she is healthy, he/she has to pay for it, according to Islam. You have to release 60 prisoners from prison or feed 60 people a full stomach for a month to pay for one day of missing fast. I know this sounds weird but I can explain this in detail someday.
There is no specific food that is specially for Ramadan, but we need to eat dates to break the fast each evening, then have a normal dinner. Everyone likes to have Bolani (a delicious type of vegetable-stuffed and fried flatbread), rice, meat, soup, and other types of modest foods.
Normally a Muslim has to pray five times a day, but there is a special prayer for only Ramadan.
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Wessam Metlaly (above, with daughter Sarah), originally from Egypt, often shares her delicious rice pudding at our big Community Dinners. It always disappears quickly. Volunteer Laurie James from Hope United Church of Christ has worked closely with Wessam and their family for several years and claims that she is the “Number 1 fan of Wessam’s pudding.”
From Wessam:
To make the rice pudding:
Ingredients:
1 cup of white rice
4 drops of vanilla
2 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of sour cream
two tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of cornstarch
2 tablespoons of rose water
mixed nuts, raisins, and coconut powder* for decoration
Steps:
First, wash the rice. In a large stockpot, add rice with 3 cups water and the vanilla. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium for about 20 minutes, continuously stirring to make sure it’s not burning or stuck.
Keep stirring until the rice is cooked and soft; then add 2 cups of milk and the sour cream and stir them together well for about 20 minutes on low until the mixture gets thick. Add the sugar.
Add 2 big tablespoons of starch and mix it well with 1/4 cup cold water; then add this to the rice pudding gradually, continually mixing;
Remove from heat and add the rose water.
The rice pudding is ready now for serving in small bowls. We decorate each one with nuts, raisins, and coconut powder.
Wessam says, “I wish everyone will find it easy and do a great job with the results to get delicious rice pudding.”
*Wessam notes that coconut powder can be purchased at Halalco supermarket (5912 VA-7, Falls Church, VA 22041) or any H-mart.
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A jubilant Benard Kwi, originally from Cameroon, was awarded U.S. citizenship in January, following her five years living in Alexandria. Benard works as a dedicated Certified Nursing Aide at partner Goodwin Living and also somehow found the time to take extensive courses and earn a certificate in IT to open up new job opportunities for the future. Her smart and delightful children, Solidard and Mungai, bring much joy to her and our Refugee Ministry! Congratulations! |
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Higher Education Forum
This forum was created specifically for our Refugee Ministry high school students & families, many with college admission in mind.
The forum will be held in the Alexandria City High School Cafeteria (3330 King Street) on Thursday, March 14, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. ACHS counselors, Northern Virginia Community College representatives and advisors from The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria will present information about financial aid, the application process, preparation tips for middle and high school students and much more. Translation will be provided as will a pizza dinner at the beginning of the evening.
Spring Refugee Community Dinner
Please mark your calendar for 6:00 p.m. Saturday, April 28.
Our next large celebratory dinner will take place at partner Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill’s beautiful facility, both inside and out, including a favorite playground for children. A lovely Halal dinner will be provided, and we will have a beautiful spring theme and decorations. Immanuel friends, Thank You for hosting us again! More details and volunteer signup to come.
3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304 (at the corner of Quaker Lane, across from the Virginia Theological Seminary)
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Thank You to Our Partners
The Christ Church Refugee Ministry flourishes because of our relationships with our partners. The time, talent, and treasures brought to this ministry by the volunteers and community members are extraordinary and impact so many people!
Church of the Holy Comforter
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Fairlington United Methodist Church
Goodwin Living
Grace Episcopal Church
Hope United Church of Christ
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill
Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School
The Falls Church
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