New Beginnings

St. Columba by the Lake, Montreal, began working on the process to sponsor a refugee family in 2011. It took a while to raise funds—and community awareness—and to make the application. And then the real wait began.

St. Columba was linked with their refugee family, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 2012.

After some setbacks, the church was told in early December 2013 that their family would arrive on the 18th.

Pélagie Kamanda and her four children, a son and three daughters, arrived the week before Christmas. Yvan Dumoulin and Bonnie Brown, congregation members, hosted the family in their home until the church was able to get them their own apartment.

“This past Christmas when the Kamanda family arrived and moved in with our family was very special,” said Brown. “Their time in our home allowed us to connect with each family member and form bonds that will hopefully continue long into their future.”

She noted that a large committee of church members helped with the family’s integration into the community. “We all feel blessed by this family.”

Brown kept a diary of the experience. What follows is an excerpt of the early weeks. —Andrew Faiz

December 18, 2013
They’re here! They seem like a lovely family and were very thankful for our hospitality.

Gracia, the youngest, was anxious to help set the table and stir the soup. Mom said a prayer in Lingala and French. She mentioned her late husband and there were some tears.

They are not used to soup and did not seem impressed. They said they eat cereal, rice and vegetables. They drank water and juice.

Mom and the son, Christian speak French. Adiza, nine, is quiet. Gracia is not shy and asks for things in sign or broken English. Dorcas, the 17 – year – old, looks like mom and is afraid of dogs.

Dorcas had trouble adjusting the water temperature on the tap but soon all were in their new pyjamas. Christian was on the computer looking up his Facebook friends.

December 19
Everyone slept well and all were up at 5:30. Trouble understanding how the tub works. Showers recommended but I think the girls don’t want to wet their hair. Dorcas had washed her family’s clothes by hand and they were hanging over the shower rod. We showed them how to wash their clothes in the machine.

Breakfast was more of a hit. All had cold cereal and we ran out. Orange juice is a hit as well.

We headed for the Canada Services office where we were served by a friendly ex – pat Albanian now living in Montreal. Within 45 minutes, all had received their social security numbers. We then went out to find boots.

Christian and Dorcas are avid Facebook users. They have friends in Edmonton who used to be in the refugee camp and they had a long chat.

December 20
We heard Gracia talking at about 3 a.m. According to Mom when she hears any loud noise she will ask, “Are the soldiers coming?”

By 6:00 the whole family was up. Gracia and Adiza love to set the table, cook and wash dishes. At one point Gracia ran out of dirty dishes and started to get clean dishes to wash. She also likes to wash the doll Martina bought her. She tends to leave her in the sink with the water running. She is very clean.

Today Yvan took Pélagie, Dorcas and Christian to the Medicare office and Pélagie to the Montreal Chest Hospital. She has three follow – up appointments. Dorcas and Gracia have bumps on their skin that bother them. We will go to the clinic tomorrow as they got temporary medicare cards today.

December 21
Woo hoo! Everybody slept until 7:00. I think they may be adjusting to our time.

Yvan took Pélagie, Dorcas and Gracia to Statcare. Doctor would not accept temporary medicare numbers like the hospital did.

I took the girls to the library. Gracia and Adiza took a cart used for shelving books and filled it to overflowing.

Later, Adiza sang us beautiful Christmas carols in harmony with her sister and mother. Pélagie talked about the dire circumstances in the refugee camp in Uganda. She had a long cry. We just held her hands and cried along with her.

December 22
Up early with the sound of wind and freezing rain. Christian got his initiation to shoveling with Yvan.
All had microwave lessons today as they had never seen a microwave. After finding food in the recycling bin, a discussion about garbage versus recycling ensued.

By 8:00 a.m. I had shown Gracia how to make a simple snowman with Play – Doh. Gracia gazed lovingly at baby Jesus on the fireplace. By 8:30 I had reproduced the entire nativity scene complete with wise men.

A warm welcome greeted us at church.

A friend arrived with an amazing supper of sweet potato and peanut stew, two chickens, collard greens, rice and ice cream. Everyone enjoyed it. Adiza gets mad when I use the dishwasher so I had to promise she could wash the dishes by hand. This was her job in the camp and she takes it seriously.

We noticed that only Christian turns his light off at night. The others sleep with the lights on. Perhaps they are afraid of the dark? We have not pressured them to turn them off.

December 23
In the afternoon, “uncle” a.k.a. our son Jordan and “daddy” (Yvan) took Christian, Adiza and Gracia sledding. We were surprised to see Pélagie suiting up as well. They are all embracing winter, which is the only way to survive here.

We are jubilant and tired. As I dug orange Play – Doh out of the drain before bed I am reminded of the things that really matter. Yvan and I were saying today that all our future Christmases will pale in comparison.
All are anxious for Christmas, but for those with very little the emphasis is entirely different. What a nice change.

December 25
Merry Christmas to all!

Dinner was a Haitian feast provided by Rose May. We all ate our fill. It is amazing the appetite the family has. Christian says it is tiring to eat all the time. He slept 14 hours last night.

December 29
All slept in. It was a chore getting people out to church for 11:00.

Mom commented that the church was filled with old people. She didn’t seem to understand why young people don’t go to church here.

January 1, 2014
The morning was spent relaxing. Pélagie discovered money in the wallet she had received as a gift. She wanted to know what it was (a loonie) and if it was edible? This reminds us of how much support the family will need going forward. Mom admitted today that they are still lost in many ways.

It’s an exciting day—their new apartment is perfect! Amazingly the landlord is Congolese and speaks Lingala. He was thrilled to rent to the family and will surely help with their transition into Canadian culture. All the pieces are falling into place.

It’s interesting that Mom turned her bedroom light off tonight for the first time since their arrival. Perhaps she is feeling more comfortable now?

What a great start to the new year!