Love the Foreigners Among You

Hello from the Lefever Family! For those that missed our last update, we are working as interns with a local organization called Immerge that focuses on reaching out to immigrants and refugees.  Our outreach consists of developing relationships with immigrant and refugee families in the Lancaster County area,  finding practical ways to help them get established in the community. Before getting involved with Immerge, I was pretty much oblivious to the growth of immigration in our area.  I was particularly unaware of the large number of refugees and the great difficulties they face.  As we learn more through our training and interactions with our new friends, my eyes are opening to their needs and our role in meeting them.  Through this and future updates, I'd like to share some of our experiences with you in the hopes that you will see the needs and want to help too.   One experience came early in our internship when we were introduced to a young refugee family.  The husband and wife come from different religious sects and after marrying, faced significant opposition in their home country.  They fled to the US with the hopes of starting a new life free from persecution.  They are blessed to be receiving aid and housing from local church groups, however with little money, no transportation and poor english skills, they find themselves isolated and completely dependent upon the mercy of others.  After meeting them, I realized how important the work of Immerge and similar organizations is to meeting the needs of this community. Jesus taught us to care for others and showed us the way by his life example.  He made it clear that by serving those in need, we are serving him, when he said "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).  With so many needs and ways to get involved, it can be difficult to figure out where to fit in. Jesus showed us the way by his example when he said, "the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing" (John 5:19).  In other words, we simply need to see what God is already doing, and join in!  As we get acquainted with our new friends and learn more about what God is doing among them, we see that God's heart is for the foreigner in our land.  In fact, foreigners are one of three people people groups who God specifically cares for and asks us to care for.  "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing amount you, giving them food and clothing.  And you are to love those who are foreigners...(Deuteronomy 10:18-19, emphasis added).     We are so blessed to be a part of this team.  Each week there are stories of relationships leading to not only opportunities to help in practical ways, but opening the door to discuss spiritual matters, share the gospel, and study the bible.  Would you consider joining in with us as we meet the physical and spiritual needs of immigrant and refugee families?   Here are some ways you can get involved: Prayer: Please partner with us by praying for us and our ministry to immigrant families.  Pray that doors would continue to open and that our work would be fruitful. Finances: As we make more connections, the time we could spend in ministry grows.  We are hoping to dedicate 20+ hours per week to ministry.  If you are interested in helping support us, see the info below for how you can give.   Volunteers: If you feel the call to help others but haven't yet found an outlet, contact us.  We'd love to help you get connected! Thank you so much for taking the time to read our newsletter and for joining us in our adventures.  We will continue to send out updates via email and our blog on roughly a monthly basis.  Please feel free to share our updates with anyone you think is interested and if you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to one or more of our communication vehicles,  use the links below.  Blessings, Carl & Amy Lefever "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 Financial Support Tax deductible donations may be made in the name of "Lefever Family Missions" to Ephrata Community Church.  Click the Donate button below to give online via credit card, please be sure to include "Lefever Family Missions" in the special notes field.  Checks may be made out and mailed to Ephrata Community Church, 70 Clay School Road, Ephrata, PA 17522.  To ensure donations are directed to our ministry, please note "Lefever Family Missions" on the memo line.  Donate Stay connected with our family and receive our updates (click links to subscribe) If you prefer to receive a hard copy via mail, please let us know Facebook Website Email Share our adventures with your friends (click links to share) Share Tweet Forward to Friend