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| When Sudanese refugees
came to Des Moines in the early 1990s, they were sponsored by
St. Ambrose Cathedral downtown. James Kueth and his
Sudanese countrymen said to the refugee coordinator, "We
appreciate your hospitality, but you know we are Presbyterians."
When asked if the Sudanese men would be welcome at Cottage
Grove, Pastor Madsen said, "Sure," and we were off and running.
CG Church has helped the
Sudanese bridge various gaps. While the church has helped
translate the Sudanese culture to the Des Moines community, the
Sudanese have also offered an important lesson: they
really live the idea that it takes a village to raise a child.
The Sudanese have a true collectivist society, which stresses
caring and responsibility for every individual in the group.
| When the
Sudanese first came to Des Moines, they were
happy with any kind of job. Not many employers
gave them a chance. Though they may have had
skills back home in Sudan, they could only earn $6 or $7
an hour here. Gradually they got better jobs.
Some have become Certified Medical Assistants and are
now working at Des Moines' largest hospitals. But
not many have yet entered the professional ranks,
despite earning advanced degrees. |
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Many of the men work at the beef processing
plant in Perry. Many of the women do cleaning for
businesses in Des Moines. |
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Arabic worship
service |
Nuer worship service |
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in the chapel |
in the sanctuary |
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Roberta Victor has been touched
by the infectious spirit and strength of the Sudanese. She has
spent the past several years working with a special group of
Sudanese called "The Lost Boys," who lost all family members and
arrived in the United States on their own. "These are people
who experienced repeated traumas. They bury it really well,
yet they are still gentle people," she says. Given the
incredible struggles and atrocities that these youth experienced
from an early age, art therapy has been an important way to help
open healing conversations. |
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Roberta with some of
The Lost Boys |
Roberta and John Piot
looking at drawing |
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