Meet the Bahatis
Posted 09/01/2023
A small group of parishioners has been getting to know and assisting this family of 7, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are sponsored by the Cleveland field office of USCRI (U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants). Now it’s YOUR turn to meet Simon (dad), Ansira (mom), and their children Penina (19), Sarah (16), Rebecca (14), Esther (12), and Philemon (6)! Join us in giving them a warm welcome at the Parish Picnic on September 17th!
Several folks from the newly-formed St. Paul’s Refugee Ministry have been meeting twice weekly for English practice with Simon and Ansira in their current East Cleveland house. The family has planted an amazing backyard garden with donated tools (Lay Weeders) and plants (OSU Extension). Fun outings to the Museum of Natural History and the West Side Market have been especially important as this recently arrived family makes Cleveland their new home after spending 12 years in Zambia. Maybe not-so-fun have been a couple of necessary visits to the CWRU School of Dentistry.
We invite you to read Simon’s letter of gratitude (find the link below). He is a pastor in the Pentecostal tradition, and both he and Penina are currently employed as Environmental and Food Services, respectively, at University Hospital downtown.
If you would like to know more about this outreach ministry, please contact Rev. Patricia or another member (Diane Banyard, Lynn Bayer, Bill Carter, Jennie Kaffen, Heather Nelson, Jeff Spero, Tom Wise). We meet the last Wednesday of the month from 7-8 p.m.
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