After years living in Cairo, Egypt, Sudanese refugees Ruben Odragwa, his wife Kawthar Komi, and their two teenage nephews Jonathan and Johnson (Shakir) Odragwa landed in Newark International Airport on September 20, 2005. The family was met at the end of a long flight by Ruben’s brother, Darius, who lives in North Berkshire County, Massachusetts. They continued on by car to Darius’ home, where they were welcomed by additional family and members of St. John’s Church, Williamstown, and St. John’s Church, North Adams.

Years ago, St. John’s (Williamstown) sponsored a Vietnamese family and a Bosnian family. Assisting the Odragwa family was another opportunity for the congregation to further its mission to transformative in the world and in the parish.” This sponsorship transformed into a community-wide effort, bringing people together from various parishes and towns. As it happens, Ruben’s brother Darius is married to the pastor of the First Congregational Church in town, the Rev. Carrie Bail, whose parish also rallied around the refugees. When folks from St. John’s in North Adams agreed to help move furniture and be present to these newcomers, we knew we were part of something truly wonderful.

Since their arrival, Ruben and his family have been busy establishing their lives in the Berkshires.  Besides adapting to a New England autumn and moving into their own apartment in North Adams, the boys have started at a new school, and both Kawthar and Ruben have found employment. The transition to life in the United States is proceeding positively, thanks in large part to the assistance being provided by the community.

Rather serendipitously, two years ago St. John’s hosted Ruben’s mother, Raile Daffala, an Anglican deaconess of the Episcopal Church of Sudan in Khartoum. As a result of her visit, the Sudan Relief Task Force was also established, an ecumenical group that promotes educational mission and advocacy work on behalf of the Sudan. Also, Mother Raile is remembered weekly at St. John’s through offerings collected in her name for local and national outreach initiatives.

Parishioners of St. John’s have been profoundly impacted by their relationship with the Odragwa extended family, as it has made us aware of our ability to affect change in the world. We welcome Ruben, Kawthar, Jonathan and Shakir, and pray for continued support for them as they further adjust and settle in as new members of our community.