Loving Greetings to Each of You,

 

     I trust you are all well and hope you have had the opportunity to get outside and enjoy this beautiful spring.

     We recently received the joyful news that the Hussani Family, the Afghanistan refugees that USCW is sponsoring, will be arriving in Windsor within 7 to 12 weeks. 

     I asked Bob McGuire and Donna Voinaroski our Sponsorship Team Leaders to write a short article about what many thought was an audacious project and how, as Ralph Waldo Emerson noted, “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” I also thought it would be a good article to publish in our Unity Canada Newsletter, The Canadian Path, as an inspirational piece encouraging other Unity Centres to listen to their inner guidance and embrace their own bold visions, trusting that the universe will indeed conspire to support those who move with conviction and clarity of purpose. I’ve included the short article and a picture of the Hussani family at the end of this letter.

     We have been exploring our USCW Core Values recently, and this Sunday, we will take a look at our Core Value of Compassion, which was very much at the heart of our decision to sponsor the Husanni family.  The Dalai Lama said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”  I think all of us can agree that we want to be happy, and the Dalai Lama is saying the key to that happiness is the practice of compassion.  The Dalai Lama also said that "compassion is a necessity, not a luxury" and that our survival as a human species depends upon it."

     This week I asked Bob to send me some pictures of the Hussani family to post with the article.  When I received them and looked at them, suddenly it hit me and I broke down and cried, actually sobbed, in gratitude and also in deep sorrow for all the needless wars and suffering going on in the world today.

     I am so grateful for Bob and Donna taking this project on and having the faith to see it through to this point.  A new chapter is about to begin for us and the Hussani family.  I encourage you to give some thought and prayer into what part you might play in helping this family begin their new life in Windsor.  You might consider joining our Sponsorship Team as it plans out its next steps.  It is a big job, but together we can do it.

     I am so happy to be a part of this beautiful spiritual community we call USCW, that we call home. I am happy to be on this journey with all of you.

     Have a wonderful week!

 

Rich blessings and much love,

 

Rev David

 

Afghanistan Family Arriving - A New Journey

 

Yes, it is finally happening. We received notice from Immigration Canada that the family we spent hours of paperwork to sponsor into Canada is arriving in Windsor within 7 to 12 weeks.

 

First reaction, Wow, how exciting. We did it! Second reaction, Oh no. What do we do? What have we gotten ourselves into!

 

After the initial shock, and many deep breaths and prayers, a plan was put into place. With the support of those who have gone before us, and yes, there are many organizations within the community ready to help, we were able to put a settlement plan into effect. Now after nearly a year and a half, we eagerly await their arrival.

 

In November of 2022 USCW received a letter from Rev Cynthia Vermillion asking us to consider helping a young man, Mohammad Hussaini, get his family out of Afghanistan. Mohammed was on the Taliban “hit list” because of his humanitarian work with his friend Jawid. They started ‘Change Makers of the World’ as teenagers (see them on Facebook – ‘Our primary goal is to ensure that every child and individual has access to quality education.’). They both escaped to Pakistan as the Taliban took over the country. Mohammad managed to quickly get a ‘student visa’ and escape to safety through the help of a family living in Springfield Missouri. Rev. Cynthia knew this family and offered to help get Mohammad’s message out to Unity communities in Canada which had a sponsorship program (currently filled).

 

Mohammad ‘s family needed to leave Afghanistan since they too were now being persecuted by the Taliban because of the activities of their son.

 

When we first received this information, USCW, along with the other communities approached, gave out a resounding “No”. Citing: We don’t have the resources; we don’t have the money; definitely not at this time.

 

Reverend David, wanting to keep the door open, invited anyone who was interested to attend an information gathering zoom meeting with Cynthia and Mohammad. We, Donna, and Bob,

attended the meeting, and after hearing Mohammad’s story and learning more about the threat his mother, father and 4 siblings were living under, we both knew helping this family was exactly what we needed to do. Also, by having a zoom call with Mohammad and getting more information, we discovered that many of the concerns and fears seemed to be unfounded or likely easily resolved.

After all, isn’t this what Unity is all about.

 

In early December 2022 we began the process under the Sponsorship Agreement Holders to bring the Hussaini family to Canada. After months of paperwork, and many heartfelt, relationship building, international zoom calls from January to June of 2023, our application was complete. And now it is actually happening. The Hussaini family is coming!

 

It’s been an exciting and sometimes unsettling and growth promoting journey, filling out and refilling out form after form, learning so much about the immigration process, while coming to an understanding about the horrendous struggles faced by people living in a country like Afghanistan. This experience has enriched our lives and made us both better people. We are ready to meet the challenges and accept the beautiful gifts ahead as USCW supports the Hussaini family on their journey integrating into life in Canada. As we make more connections with those already here and have the opportunity to be their guests, learn a bit about their culture, share their food and meet their beautiful families we will continue to grow spiritually and culturally.

 

The important thing we have learned is this- when given an opportunity to do something new and perhaps scary, open your heart, and before saying no, say yes, I will explore the possibilities. Because if you do, like us at Unity Spiritual Centre Windsor, new and exciting experiences await.

 

We too, are sharing the opportunity for a new richer life!

 

Donna Voinaroski 519- 562-7882

Bob McGuire 519-971-2109

Sponsorship Team Leaders

 

 

 The Hussani Family photo: