New Americans (formerly Refugee Focus)

Summer was a busy time for the Nigerian family Dayspring has been supporting since April.

Mom Abigail juggled her job as an assistant preschool teacher in Phoenix with raising her four amazing children, working on her English, and improving her skills in the workplace.

With considerable help from our team, she successfully completed nearly 20 online modules as part of the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry. Abigail worked with a volunteer multiple times a week after work to read, learn, and be tested on a variety of material.

These lessons are helping her learn more about preschool education and advance her career. (Abigail, however, has expressed an interest in becoming a nurse and, given her caring nature and smarts, we think she’d make a terrific one. Does anyone have ideas on getting her into an online program?)

The children had a blast during their first summer in the U.S., despite Phoenix’s blast-furnace temperatures. They also became much more ready for the new school year.

The two older kids, known as “The Bigs,” knew almost no English when they started public school in January, and they struggled in all their classes. The Refugee Focus team, which has several teachers, moved into action, creating a plan to tutor the children every morning before they headed off to a nearby Boys and Girls Club for summer camp. They love the BGC, which was packed with additional learning, fun, and the making of friends, and they are attending its after-school program.

All summer, team tutors arrived at the family’s apartment by 7 a.m. every day to practice reading, writing, and speaking English. By all accounts, the older children are much more ready to succeed in third grade and kindergarten this school year. And the tutors are planning Homework Wednesday to keep The Bigs on track.

The two younger children, you guessed it, known as “The Littles,” attend preschool where Abigail works. They are also learning English, having fun, and making friends.

All four children benefited most from music class on Saturday mornings in the apartment with a retired Mesa music teacher and other Refugee Focus team members. The kids are very musical and loved learning from an assortment of music tapes and instruments provided to them.

The children visited a new pediatrician this summer and received mostly clean bills of health. They also went to the dentist for the first time and have bravely faced some significant dental work. These kids are champs, as is their Mom.

The Bigs were rewarded for their hard work with trips to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and immersion in its wonderful Foam Zone, to cool off at the public pool, and to eat pizza! More fun is planned for the fall, so stay tuned.

Abigail is so grateful to Dayspring and all of the people who’ve supported her family in myriad ways, from financial contributions to help supplement her rent and utility payments to donations of a sewing machine and table, a wagon in which Abigail pulls the twins to work, refurbished bikes, hand-made shawls, books, toys, and gift cards. Without you, they would not be so well on their way to becoming thriving Americans.

You may have met Abigail and her children on Mother’s Day when they visited Dayspring for the first time. We’re planning to bring them to church on 2nd Sundays from now on, starting Sept. 14. Come say hello, and consider joining our team (email Janie). Or check out our wish list below. If you’re a seamstress, please consider sharing your skills with Abigail, who has been gifted a sewing machine, notions, and a sewing table, and wants to learn how to sew.

We predict you’ll fall in love with them just as we have.

~Janie Magruder

WISH LIST: