Refugee Family
During our hundredth anniversary year we became aware of a family in Kenya, refugees under the Geneva Convention criteria, that had relatives in Canada. The relatives asked us if we would consider sponsoring this family for immigration here. Our Mission and Outreach Committee looked into the matter, and a decision was made to do so. Members Of the Committee attended a workshop on sponsorship, gathered information on the process, contacted a worker at the United Church Head Office in Toronto and took a proposal to the congregation. We had learned that our chance of a successful outcome was 50%. Nevertheless, the congregation approved our proposal and we began a process that took three and a half years to complete.
We were sponsoring a family of five. The parents were Oscar Baramfatanya and Marie Nahimana, and the children were Diacre, Gratia and Angelique. A long period of waiting began. There were delays in processing documents and in arranging interviews and medical examinations, and despite all of our efforts, we seemed to receive very little information on the status of our application. It was not until the spring of 2003 that the family was informed that it was cleared for immigration to Canada. Exit visas were the next priority. No refugee family can leave Kenya without one. It took nine months for this further process to be resolved, and it involved much e-mail correspondence and general frustration. Finally, in March 2004, we received assurances that the family would be placed on an aircraft from Nairobi to Heathrow (London) and from Heathrow to Toronto by mid-April. That schedule was aborted when, at the time of boarding the aircraft, it was discovered that a mistake had been made on one of the exit visas. The family was denied embarkation and had to wait another full month before leaving Kenya.

In the weeks before the arrival of Oscar and family, our congregation had done a marvelous job of readying and stocking an apartment with items of furniture, dishes, utensils, foodstuff, hardware and bedding, and we were quite ready for their arrival. They settled quickly into life in Saskatoon, and we were gratified to learn that the "culture shock" about which we had been warned did not become manifest to any significant extent. The children took to their new life like ducks to water. Diacre found himself a summer job selling knives. Oscar and Marie found part-time work in the autumn of 2004. The children had no difficulty in settling into school and have made good friends. In the spring of 2005, Oscar found steady full-time work, and in the late summer of 2005, Marie also found a full-time job.

From November 1st, 2005, this family has been financially independent. Their adjustment to Saskatoon and Canadian ways has been greatly aided by relatives who have been here for a few more years. They all have high hopes and dreams for the future. During the winter months of 2006, Oscar managed to find an automobile. This has given the family more independence. They have all adjusted to winter in Canada, although if the parents were pressed on the subject, they would say that they really prefer warm weather to cold. We feel we have benefited immensely as a faith community by our sponsorship of this family and we know they will contribute wholeheartedly to life with us.
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