18!

We receive young adults. Refugees who come over as unaccompanied minors are kept in detention until they turn 18. On that day (happy birthday!) they are released with an immigration check in date and court date. Most often they are dropped off with us. After dinner we celebrate with a birthday dessert complete with candles. While checking them in as soon as they arrive, we call their sponsor to let them know that they can now travel if they will get them a ticket. Usually there is a very short turn around time. The 18 year old will stay with us for a night or two before heading on to their destination. 

We had one who had been with us a bit longer. She had run away from home with a cousin to come. She does have family in the states but they weren’t getting it together to buy the ticket. It worried us to send her on, knowing that life is going to be hard and it didn’t feel that she was headed to a stable environment, but this is what we do. We help people to move on so that they can get a start. Take their chances. We are not the answer. We can’t solve it all. It is too complex. But we do a piece. We try to help. We pray and wish them well. Knowing that that might not be enough to make life easy but it might be all that we can do. 

How does it feel, to be so ready for independence and yet still be so dependent on others even family. And yet not have those who can or will help. How does that mess with a person's self worth, self esteem. For some I think it makes them work harder to prove themselves. For others it grinds them down. 

Grace and peace. Love and a helping hand. Little by little.