What happened? Over the 20 years of the war in Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of Afghans bravely served alongside and supported American troops. When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, their lives became unspeakably dangerous for those left behind. Thousands of Afghans have been safely resettled in the United States. However, the new administration has canceled one of the major programs that allowed them to come to the United States, leaving the legal status of Afghans here in limbo. The President has also suspended the refugee pipeline, and our Afghan allies are not exempt.
How can I pray? Give God thanks for the courage of our Afghan allies. Pray for those in the U.S., that they will be surrounded by loving community. Pray for those waiting in Qatar, Albania, and Pakistan. Pray that God draws especially close to those in hiding in Afghanistan and that a path appears for a way out. I had the privilege to be on a prayer call with a family hiding in Afghanistan. The mother asked us to pray that her children would have an education and that, in the meantime, she would be equipped to teach them at home with no resources. Please pray for that family.
What is one more thing I can do? This problem feels inescapably large, but you can make a difference for one family. We’re preparing to welcome an Afghan family to Holland, Michigan, on March 1! (They arrived in the U.S. before everything changed, and the only plane seats available landed them on the West Coast when the only people they knew in the country were here in Michigan.)
We’re working to furnish their first home! Here is a spreadsheet of their needs. If you live locally, message me, and I can pick up your items or let you know where to drop them off. If you don’t, you could order something online and send it to my house! (If you need my address, respond to this email, and I’ll send it to you!) If your finances allow, could you check one thing off this list?
