Face To Face: Praying with the 2007 CWS Calendar

FAMILY FAITH
It's been a long way and a long time between their old home in Uzbekistan and their new home in Richmond, Virginia, but the Muradov family -- three generations -- have finally settled into a new life, with the support of CWS and the Virginia Council of Churches, the CWS refugee resettlement affiliate in that state. In 1990, the family fled their home in Uzbekistan, barefoot and without any possessions, to escape ethnic fighting. With other refugees, they were airlifted to Russia and told they'd spend a month there. But the month dragged into sixteen hard years. With no identity papers, they couldn't get jobs, had no rights, and very little way of surviving, except for farming a small piece of land.

Finally, the plight of the Meskhetian Turk refugees came to the notice of the larger world, and in November 2005, the Muradovs arrived in Richmond. Since then, their two grown sons have gotten good jobs as cabinetmakers. In June, Suleyman (above) was born, and the proud family immediately applied for his Social Security card. "Finally," says grandfather Nuradin (above), "I can sleep again. I don't have to worry about somebody breaking down the door, and all my children are here and free."

"They told us 'one month,' then they forgot about us for sixteen years."

Nuradin Muradov, refugee from Uzbekistan

Facts of Life:
Total number of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide: 12 million

Total number of refugees resettled in the USA last year: 52,826

	FAMILY FAITH It's been a long way and a long time between their old home in Uzbekistan and their new home in Richmond, Virginia, but the Muradov family -- three generations -- have finally settled into a new life, with the support of CWS and the Virginia Council of Churches, the CWS refugee resettlement affiliate in that state. In 1990, the family fled their home in Uzbekistan, barefoot and without any possessions, to escape ethnic fighting. With other refugees, they were airlifted to Russia and told they'd spend a month there. But the month dragged into sixteen hard years. With no identity papers, they couldn't get jobs, had no rights, and very little way of surviving, except for farming a small piece of land. Finally, the plight of the Meskhetian Turk refugees came to the notice of the larger world, and in November 2005, the Muradovs arrived in Richmond. Since then, their two grown sons have gotten good jobs as cabinetmakers. In June, Suleyman (above) was born, and the proud family immediately applied for his Social Security card. "Finally," says grandfather Nuradin (above), "I can sleep again. I don't have to worry about somebody breaking down the door, and all my children are here and free." "They told us 'one month,' then they forgot about us for sixteen years." Nuradin Muradov, refugee from Uzbekistan Facts of Life: Total number of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide: 12 million Total number of refugees resettled in the USA last year: 52,826
	What strikes you about the long journey of the Muradov family? Has your church ever assisted refugees to resettle in this country? If not, might this be the time to consider this remarkable ministry?
	The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. Lev. 19:34
	As they live this day, O God, find those who are lost, separated from those they love, crossing unknown borders, without a country or a home, not knowing where to turn. Cover them safely as a hen covers her chickens. Be their hope and strength in crying out for justice and open the ears of the world to their cries. And may those who reside among us, uprooted from their homelands, find a new home where their history and gifts are celebrated. May we open our hearts in welcome. Adapted from a liturgy on Uprooted People, Asia Sunday, Christian Conference of Asia
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