|
|
MARCIA’S STORY The first time I saw wild turkeys, I was in the yard of the Wilson's’ yellow mansion and thought that it was purely an optical illusion. I fixed my eyes on those fat brown animals that were eating from the hand of the old woman, wrapped in her purple shawl, and could hardly believe what I was seeing. My husband gave a quick glance at those fantastic animals and walked towards the car with the key in his hand, while I observed the scene completely paralyzed. “Let’s go”, he said, “they’re just turkeys”.
That was one of the houses we cleaned weekly: 2 ? hours of hard work in exchange for $85. I, who was always used to working comfortably seated in front of a computer, would leave the houses which we cleaned with terrible backache. I wondered how my husband, at 60 years of age, could do so much more than me at 39.
That was our life in the United States, where we decided to live for two years until my Canadian Visa was issued. The reason why my husband left Canada and I Brazil was simply to be together until the Canadian documents for me and my family were issued and we could all finally immigrate to Canada. We had decided to go to the United States for a short time, but it ended up being a long honeymoon, spent working and saving money to move to Toronto with my family. When the documents were ready, we traveled to our countries of origin, him to Canada and me to Brazil. We were apart for six months until the consulate issued the visas and finally we flew to Toronto in October 2004.
I never dreamt of leaving Brazil to immigrate to another country. I had a stable job in the Bank of Brazil and more than 19 years in my career, four sons to guide through life, a marriage that broke down, but a good life in Brazil. Finding a second love at 35 years of age and to be in love to the point of leaving everything behind was a huge turn-around in the life of my family and for me. My sons were going to come with me.
We arrived in Toronto on a fall day and the boys loved the yellow and red leaves already falling from the trees. My husband was already here waiting for us, working two jobs so that he could receive us. Meanwhile, we had to live in two rented rooms of a house. We had to share the washroom, kitchen and living room with other families. When we arrived with ten huge suitcases, after a flight of ten hours, we only had two rooms without beds, just mattresses on the floor for the boys. There was no money. My husband was working during the day so that we could eat at night and we were all scared.
In spite of the elderly landlady’s kindness to accept us (one family in two rooms, when everyone else was living one person per room), the other tenants started to complain that now the washroom was always busy, that there were too many people, and the poor lady had to ask us to find another place to live. With the only money I had in my purse ($1200 which my father gave us for the trip because at that stage we had no more savings) we managed to pay the last month’s rent for an apartment and we moved with the suitcases, some old chairs which the landlady found for us and a table. We only had cereal and macaroni and cheese to eat.
We struggled for several months. Some days I was so depressed that all I wanted to do was to stay in bed. My 15 year-old son cried continuously and complained that he had left his girlfriend in Brazil and blamed me for his unhappiness. My oldest son quickly found employment in a restaurant but felt very lonely. The youngest one hated school, which had longer hours than in Brazil. Over there he only spent 3 ? hours in school. Here, the time in school seemed like an eternity for him. “Mom, it’s all your fault!” “Mom, why did you do this to us?
”There wasn’t enough money to feed everyone; we had to eat little, we who had plenty in Brazil. My husband worked like crazy so that we would lack nothing. Life was hard, not only because of financial problems, but also because we felt lonely, without friends, with nobody. I remember that during that period I spent my time “rescuing” my sons; one day one was depressed, the next day the other one was depressed. I slept very little, worked at home, took care of household chores and lived stressed-out. But, my husband and I were o.k. Or at least more or lesso.k. We didn’t even remember that we were just starting our life together. Sometimes we would fight and then everything would return to normal. We were a new couple and had to deal with the difficulties common to the beginning of a relationship.
One day I decided to look for assistance in The Salvation Army. Someone told me about Florence and I decided to take my 15 year-old for a chat. There we listened a lot and also talked a lot. It was the first truly friendly face that we met. I will never forget. As a consequence of meeting Florence, my son Lucas decided to look for the church denomination which he belonged to in Brazil. There he met his girlfriend. This summer, when I gave him the plane tickets to visit his dad in Brazil, he asked: “Mom, do I really have to go?”
My oldest son’s wife has arrived. My second son finished his first job and will start working as a junior accountant next week. He also studies accounting at George Brown College. My youngest son still finds that school is too long, but he is happy.
And what about me? After working as a babysitter for a while, I inaugurated my own Home Daycare this past July. I met several families through internet ads and today I have several clients. I am also helping my daughter-in-law who arrived recently to meet a few families so that later on she can have her own home daycare.
I know that there is still much to conquer before we realize all our dreams. We want to buy our own house, our children as well; we want to be very happy. Life today, two years later, is nothing like the life we had when we arrived. We are happy, and are in the on-going process of improving our family- life and as a couple.
The most important ingredient was never missing: a great love between us and our sons and a big determination to live in this country. And now that life is more stable, I have had time to realize that life is like a fisherman’s boat, which rocks back and forth, back and forth…Who knows? One day I may see wild turkeys again, but this time in my own yard.
ESL STUDENT ALEJANDRO GIRON SAYS THANK YOU 
 Alejandro singing at the Canada Day Celebration.  Alejandro demonstrates macrame art at World Refugee Day. BEAUTY DIKITO ’S STORY I came to Canada from Africa on July 5, 2001. When I arrived I knew nobody, but I met a woman who escorted me to The Salvation Army shelter. There I told the staff about the problems I had in my country and they answered me: “You are welcome here!” The next day they started helping me to complete Immigration and Housing applications. You know what? All the things they helped me with, I succeeded in. Really, to tell you the truth, I enjoyed staying at the shelter, because it was the first time I received anything freely: food, shower, bedding and even some pocket money each week. Surely it was a miracle and I thank God.
In 2002, I decided to go to school at The Salvation Army Immigrant & Refugee Services Centre. After I started to school I became ill and went to the family Doctor. He sent me to the specialist and they found that I had breast cancer. On June 7, 2002 I had to go for surgery. In the hospital I was praying: “God, help me! I don’t want to die. I want to go back home and see my family.” That was my prayer. I said to God: “But do Your will.” I was lonely and very afraid of the surgery. To my surprise, after surgery, I opened my eyes and saw Ivy beside my bed! I wanted to cry loudly, but had neither strength nor power. Tears just fell from my eyes. Ivy aid:“Beauty, don’t cry. Majors Doug and June sent me here to give you money so that when you are discharged you will take a taxi to go home.” In my mind I said: “Thank you, Lord. You answered my prayer.” Ivy worked at The Salvation Army E.S.L. school as a Secretary.
When I was going through these hard times I received a phone call from home telling me that my mother lost a leg because of diabetes. At that time I had no money because I had to stop working due to my illness. I went to school and told Florence about it. Florence works at The Salvation Army as a Settlement Counselor. She said: “Beauty, I cannot guarantee it, but will try my best.” After a few days she invited me to come to her office. She said: “Good news! Come and take your mother’s wheelchair.” Really, it was a miracle. I thank God. I shipped the wheelchair to my mother. After a few days I called my mother asking about the wheelchair. She told me that when my sister pushes her in the wheelchair, it’s as if she were on a plane!
I was sick and my mother was sick at the same time. I had a hard time, but with God everything is possible. At school my class was on the second floor. On the first floor there was a Women’s League Group which met every Wednesday afternoon. I decided to join them, but when I felt very sick or down, I would not attend. I would call them and Captain Darlene always prayed for me through the phone. Those prayers helped me. I felt better after prayer.
Now let me tell you something. I am 51 years old, but if you saw me face to face you would see that I’m like a 40 year-old because of Jesus who died for my sins. I grew up in a Christian family, going to church every Sunday. One day I told my mother: “Mom, I’m sick and tired with your church; too much bowing and knee down.” At that time I didn’t know what I was going to church for. I thought going to church was to wear a new dress or best clothes, not knowing that my body is a temple of God, in and out. Now I can see the difference, because if I am praying or asking God for anything, I feel it in my mind and heart. This is a true story. I thank God for all He has done for me. Now I am a Salvation Army Soldier.*
I would like you to read John 14:1- 4. I want to thank Canada’s government and the people living in Canada. Canada is a sweet country. God bless! * A Salvation Army soldier is a member of a Salvation Army church (Corps). |
Mariusz Leopold, an ESL student at Immigrant and Refugee Services, came to Canada two years ago from Romania. In his home country, Mariusz was a student and a journalist. But it is musical performance which is dearest to his heart. Recently, Mariusz delighted the students and staff of our ESL school with a performance during coffee break. Mariusz loves to play blues, jazz and renaissance music. He has a Canadian dream:
“to play good music for the people of Canada”
In the New Year, Mariuz will be offering free
guitar classes at our Labatt Ave. office on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. |
|
|
The following is the true account of the refugee journey of one of our ESL students. His identity has been withheld at his request.
My life was destroyed in West Africa when my relationship with another man was discovered. I got arrested. The community in which I lived got involved. The Imam of the mosque nearby my house called for my destruction. Consequently, my house was ransacked and my family was driven out. I fled and I landed in Toronto.
When I first arrived I was inconsolable and I knew nobody to turn to. I didn’t speak English and I came from a totally different culture. I even hid from people who come from West Africa. I remember wandering alone in parks, going walking in the streets all night long because I couldn’t sleep.
Things have improved since then, thanks to God and some good people and organizations that helped me. First, in my shelter called Matthew House, I got a lot
of counseling. I met there a lot of people I could talk with to exchange ideas. They organized prayer for us and took us on trips. In my school at The Salvation Army, I learned to read and write English. That has given me more tools and confidence in dealing with my environment. I have now gained some kind of hope, although my immigration status is unclear. I’ve started dreaming again and making projects for my future.
I keep going to school, praying that one day I will be able to live again as a normal person.
Unfortunately, just as he finished writing this for submission, our student discovered that his refugee claim has been rejected. As the government has not implemented the Refugee Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, his only option now is to petition the Federal Court for permission to hold a judicial review of his case. This action will be costly and the outcome is by no means certain.
...and the journey continues.
- as told to Florence Gruer
Hi! My name is John I was born and raised in Magadalia, where religious persecution forced me to seek ohn.protection in Canada. The process to obtain protection was difficult, but government representatives recognized my credibility and believed the evidence I presented regarding the persecution suffered due to my faith. A few years after becoming a Permanent Resident of Canada, I sponsored my new bride. We had met in France when we were teenagers attending language training courses. Wouldn’t you know it? She arrived in Canada on a 1st of July! We were so happy to be reunited and the following year were blessed with the birth of our first-born daughter. My wife joined English as a Second Language classes while I continued working.
Our family life came to an abrupt halt when I suffered serious injury at work. Although Workmen’s Compensation was available for a period of time, eventually I was asked to go back to work. The pain was so intense, that I only lasted 2 weeks and had to stop again. Pain cannot be measured with medical equipment; it is impossible to quantify, so I had to find the medical reason for this pain to prove that my suffering was real. Finally, a specialist found the root cause and I am in the process of proving my case to a review board. Meanwhile, our small family used up all the savings we had and were left with enough money for a few days’ worth of groceries. Against my will, I approached Social Services for financial assistance until my case is resolved.
The first blow was that after many years in Canada, due to my accent, the intake worker insisted that I phone back with the assistance of an interpreter. I was referred to The Salvation Army’s Immigrant & Refugee Services for assistance. The Settlement Counsellor phoned Social Services and gave me the
receiver, encouraging me to go through the intake process in her presence, which I did successfully (without the need for interpretation!). More blows were in store for me. The Social Services worker presented me with some very harsh facts. She told me that her office would inform the Immigration
department that I was in default of my wife’s sponsorship; that all the money paid by Social Services to our family would be a debt against
me; that if I do not repay the debt, any refunds owed to me by the government in the future could be deferred to the Social Services department. To survive, our family had no choice but to accept these
conditions. This income has helped us to stay in our small basement apartment and buy groceries. I hope and pray that in the future I will regain my health and will no longer need financial support.
I wanted to share my story with you so that the next time you hear or read about a sponsorship breakdown, you will remember me and will know in your heart that we are not cheaters or system abusers.
Remember that in spite of hard work and dedication, workplace accidents happen, jobs are lost through downsizing, workers are laid off… Throughout this very humbling and humiliating experience, I have had the love and support of my wife and we will work together to provide our daughter with a better life.
(Based on a true case. Client and country names have been changed to protect confidentiality.)
|
