Prayer Meeting

Global Neighborhood will be hosting a time of prayer.  We will gather together to pray for refugees, the organization, and the future.  Please join us.   It will be held at New Community Church (1003 E Trent Ave) from 4:00-5:00pm on Friday, June 26.

Hope to see you there!

New Staff!

We’re lucky enough to have a new staff member! A few weeks ago, Ruth Stoops joined us as Director of Physical Resources and started things out with a bang as she negotiated our new relationship with Classy Rack.

She is primarily concerned with organizing in-kind donations that we receive at Global Neighborhood. When you donate something, she sorts it out and gets it to the place that needs it most, be that directly to a refugee family or to a Classy Rack voucher that will help refugees buy what they need most urgently.

Ruth is a blast and a great addition to the Global Neighborhood family. We are excited to have her with us.

If you would like to contact Ruth about making an in-kind donation, please email her at ruth@global-neighborhood.org
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘And I will make you fishers of men.’” – Matthew 4:19, NIV

- J.R.

World Refugee Day

This Saturday, June 20^th, is World Refugee Day. The theme for this year is “Real People, Real Needs”. At Global Neighborhood, we have the privilege of meeting these very real people and building relationships with them. However, we know that many of them left behind a beloved homeland still in turmoil, and loved ones left to face the uncertainties of life in refugee camps. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recently released an assessment showing that 30 percent of the needs of refugees that they serve around the world are unmet. High Commissioner Antonio Guterres shares that during this global economic crisis, “those of us who work with refugees are struggling more than ever to meet even their most basic needs.”

Please join with us in praying for the millions of people who have been uprooted from their homes and are without proper nutrition, access to water, or health care, and are at high risk for abuse and violence. We believe that Christ’s hope can shine through the darkness of these times and pray that God will provide for and protect our friends and their loved ones across the globe.

- R.S.

What’s a Green Card?

Update – Global Neighborhood Offices

Thanks to you, we have finally found some affordable offices, for just around $300 a month. Now we need to pay for them so that we can move in!

If you know anybody who might be interested in committing some money to help pay our rent, you could tell them about this chance they have to support the refugee community here in Spokane. If you don’t know anybody, you can keep on praying for us.

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” – John 5:30, NRSV

- J.R.

Sharing a Meal

     Sitting down to share a meal with a new refugee family is always an exciting experience!  The diets of different people groups vary immensely.  The colors, smells, and tastes are beautifully diverse.  Many of our staff members have had the privilege to eat home-made Nepali food, in particular.

     Rich flavors and textures are just the beginning of the fun.  Smiles are shared as we stumble over the pronunciations of the vegetables, seconds are served, and a spirit of friendship is fed as we feast on this delicious, nutritious food.   The generosity of these families is always displayed through the bustle in the kitchen when guests arrive.  Food is universal, and these friends connect to us by opening their homes and sharing their native dishes.  Americans have much to learn from our Nepali friends – both in health and hospitality! 

      If you are interested in getting to know some of our friends, please contact Amy, our Volunteer Coordinator (amy@global-neighborhood.org).  

-R.S.

Global Neighborhood Offices

Global Neighborhood Offices

As Global Neighborhood grows, we are starting to need a centralized location for meetings, committees and a more streamlined transportation system. We hope to find a location within three or four blocks of the STA plaza in downtown Spokane so that refugees will be able to come to our office with a single bus.

Size is more or less irrelevant: even a single room would be a start.

You can help. If you know of any potential office space – donated space would be best! – we would love to hear from you. If you don’t know of any options, you can pray for us.

“So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24, NRSV

-J.R.

An Speech in Cairo with Local Implications

Today in Cairo President Obama made a landmark speech in an effort to reach out to the Middle East and the greater Muslim world.  Whatever your political persuasion, I think that everyone can agree that peace and generosity is much needed between the US and this part of the world.  We at Global Neighborhood are particularly aware of this need.  Every day we work with Arabs and with Muslims.  They are people in the most unique of situations – torn from their homelands as a result of American action (or inaction), often because they worked to help the American military, they now face prejudice and hardship while trying to build their life in a country they love but many of their countrymen hate.  These are our friends and those we get to serve.  They are Christian, Muslim, and everything in between.  As an organization we have dedicated ourselves to learning more about every person of every culture in order to understand them and view them as they truly are – children of God.  Our hope is that each and every person would also take up this challenge – and it is a challenge.  It is a challenge to overcome prejudice, fear, suspicion, and difference in language and culture.  But it is a challenge that is well worth taking up because when it is, one quickly sees the beauty of all people.  We have a long way to go, but as President Obama said, “So long as our relationship is defined by our differences we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace…”

It is encouraging that we as a country have reached out a humble hand of grace.  We hope to do the same thing in Spokane.  Doing so is the first step in building a Global Neighborhood.

Here is the full-length video (approx 56 min) of the speech:
                                               

-B.H.

Partnership with Classy Rack

Global Neighborhood has made an exciting partnership with local thrift store, Classy Rack.  The Classy Rack is part of the Union Gospel Mission in Spokane.  (To learn more about the work they do, visit their website: http://www.ugmspokane.org/ClassyRack.aspx)   They have generously agreed to accept donations from Global Neighborhood and give vouchers in return for refugees to make in-store purchases.  This allows Global Neighborhood to meet a greater amount of physical needs and gives refugees more variety and more accessible goods. 

This program also allows Global Neighborhood to accept more donations, as we are no longer limited by storage space and other constraints.  So, if you have items that refugees do not have an immediate need for, donating them can still provide exactly what a refugee might need.

If you have items in good condition that you would like to donate, please contact our Director of Physical Resources at ruth@global-neighborhood.org. 

Much thanks to all the folks at Classy Rack and UGM who have made this program possible! 

-R.S.

GN Hoopfest Team!

With HoopFest quickly approaching, we at Global Neighborhood thought it was about time to make a basketball team. Currently on the roster: Michael Craviotto, Brent Hendricks, Emad Mohammed, John Riggs.

It’s great that we have a team. The roster, however, is not-so-strong. Michael Craviotto is our strongest member, having proudly been part of his highschool freshman C team. Brent Hendricks and John Riggs each had very positive experiences in fourth grade summer camps, and Emad is bravely tackling the challenge of learning all the rules – ironic, considering that he is undeniably our best basketball-thrower.

We would greatly appreciate your prayer as we enter into this great endeavor. Really. And, if anybody with actual experience is interested in volunteering their time as a coach, we would appreciate that too.

-J.R.