Seeds Will Grow

Over the last week, I’ve been flashing back in my memories to my teenage years when we had a 40th birthday celebration for my mom in a church basement in Warrenton, Missouri. I was 15 years old at the time. This year, we’ll celebrate her 65th birthday and her retirement from a long career in nursing!

It’s not just my mom, though. I’m getting older, too. This is the last day of my 30s, and I’ve been told it’s all downhill from here. When put that way, it encourages me to go for a walk… although it’s anyone’s guess how all this downhill walking will impact my ancient knees!

Starting today, I’m joining We Choose Welcome to walk in solidarity with immigrants and refugees. (That simply means I’ve got a good reason to exercise!)

I plan to walk 3.1 miles (5 km) each day for a total of 93 miles (155 km) in the month of June. Maybe I will walk less, but maybe I will walk more!

I am asking my friends to donate any amount they choose per mile/kilometer that I walk – maybe 25 cents, $1, $2, or even more! No worries if you cannot donate money! Maybe you can walk in solidarity and raise money with me?

The money we raise will provide food assistance to Sudanese refugee families through a Sudanese, refugee-led organization called Trauma Rescue Aid that Malik and my dear friends began back in 2024 (here’s a webinar I did with them back in February). My goal for the month is to raise $4,000, which is enough to provide corn flour for one month for the more than 700 refugee families who have registered for food assistance.

Not everyone can donate or join me in walking this month, but maybe all of us could learn a bit more about the challenges immigrants and refugees face in our world today? If you look, there are probably local opportunities for you to learn and connect with organizations who are serving immigrants and refugees in your community. Solidarity isn’t abstract—it’s embodied in personal relationships—so I pray for deepening relationships across divisions so we can understand each other, connect as human beings and friends, and collaborate together for the common good.

As I walk in solidarity with refugees this month, how much money per mile/kilometer will you pledge? Donations for Trauma Rescue Aid can be sent HERE.

Do you want to walk in solidarity? Our steps are not just symbolic, they are a reminder that although we walk by choice, many walk to survive. Join the walk HERE.

Just want to learn for now? Start HERE or HERE or HERE.

Want to connect with local organizations? A simple search for “refugee support organizations near me” or “immigrant mutual aid (your city)” should do the trick.

As I walk, I will be praying for the well being of immigrant friends and family displaced by war. Please pray with me.

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