Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 7: Thankful
by, Laxmi Gurung, Refugee Ministries Coordinator
Last week, I was able to return to Kansas from visiting my family. This time with them was one of the most unforgettable moments in my life. It taught me to live for the simple moments and appreciate the relationships I have with my loved ones. I felt so blessed, and I couldn’t stop thanking God, because not many people were able to be with their loved ones during this difficult time. I kept thinking of those who are facing this time alone, because I can't imagine how I would have done it without my family.
Laxmi (right) with her sister and dad!
My family means everything to me and when they moved to Pennsylvania there were so many things that I missed doing with them. My dad loves cooking and I love eating. While I was in Pennsylvania, he made a lot of my favorite Nepali dishes. After a long time, it was good to see my dad enjoy cooking and serving his family. I was also able to help my little brother with his online classes and make my sister her favorite, spicy Nepali snacks (chatpate) almost every night. There were nights we played card games, completed puzzles, and watched old movies together until we fell asleep. My grandparents like gardening and I learned a few lessons from them on how to plant chilies and tomatoes. I’m not a gardening person but being able to spend time with them made me feel so blessed and happy. My grandparents were upset that I had not moved with them.
When I went to visit them they were very happy to see me, but they didn’t want me to come back to Kansas. However, I knew that it was time for me to come back because of all the responsibilities I have as a grown-up. While I was there, I stayed connected with my co-workers and my program groups online. But, I still felt like something was missing because I was far away. I loved being with my family, but I also wanted to be there for my community during this difficult time.
Silly picture time at Refugee Youth Club!
As soon as I came back to Kansas, I started calling the people that were in my programs about their needs during this time. Mission Adelante was providing food baskets and gift cards for families in our community. I made an appointment with each family and I was really excited to meet them. I still had to be cautious and wear a mask and gloves. A few days ago, I went grocery shopping for one of the families that are involved in our programs because the husband had tested positive for Covid-19. I’m glad that I was able to help them during this time.
Also, last week a girl from Refugee Youth Club had a birthday! A volunteer, Laina Willoughby, had this amazing idea of dropping off a piece of cake at every girl’s house and eating together during our video call to celebrate. She made a delicious cheesecake and Phul Maya and I helped distribute them. We always celebrate birthdays together and we didn't want to miss this one!
Since I have come back, I finally feel like I'm doing something for my community. I am very thankful to God for giving me a wonderful time with my family, but I'm also glad to be back and involved in the community. Being able to support people in the community during this difficult time is such a blessing. I just can’t wait for our summer trimester to start so I can see all our amazing volunteers and precious kids! Let's all keep praying for each other and for everything to go back to normal.
