Thanks, Jo--cause for great gratitude and celebration! Ellie :) -----Original Message----- From: Jo Nelson via Earthrise <earthrise@lists.wedgeblade.net> To: earthrise@lists.wedgeblade.net; ICA Dialogue List <dialogue@wedgeblade.net> Sent: Wed, Jan 5, 2022 12:13 pm Subject: [Earthrise] A Contemporary Christmas Story A witness of sorts — some of you may have read this through a link to my blog in the Nelson annual family letter.  This is a true story, happening in real time.  The baby is due in a week.  These events have brought me to a state of profound joy and gratitude.  In these uncertain and dark times, I think we need a storyof joy and hope.  Interestingly, it has resonancewith the story of the Christmas season.  Itell this story with deep gratitude. It is shared without names, photos orprecise locations for privacy and safety reasons.  August An Afghan family has educated all of its children, including7 girls, and 5 of the children, now adults, are in the Western world. Theiroldest son is a lawyer and supports his parents, his wife and children. TheTaliban offensive targets their regional city, killing a lawyer.  They threaten his friend, the oldest son ofthis family, and his family, with death.  The lawyer flees the regional city for Kabul, leaving his pregnantwife and 2 small children with her family in a nearby village, and his elderly parentsin the house he built for them.  The Taliban try to burn down the house of the parents, whohide for several days, fearing they will come back.  Finally they gather their daughter-in-law andthe children, and decide to brave the dangerous road to Kabul to join their sonrather than wait for certain death in their city.     They escape Kabul just after the airport bombing at the endof August on a flight chartered by a non-profit group, with only theirbackpacks of documents and a few clothes.  For the next 4 months they are shuttled from refugee camp torefugee camp, from Doha, to Frankfurt, to Pennsylvania, to New Mexico, toMichigan, homeless but relatively safe.   DecemberOn the last day of November, the whole family are admittedto Canada as refugee claimants.  Animmigration official stages their papers compassionately so that each becomesan anchor person for the next, allowing them all to enter immediately.  They reunite with their youngest son, who is already inCanada, but have to stay in a motel for 3 weeks because there is no availableplace to rent.  The cost is astronomicalfor a family of 6 with no income.  Friends (including a young real estate agent) and the familywork frantically to find rental housing for a family of 4 adults and 2children. Several landlords refuse to rent to a family with only inadequategovernment support. One landlord has a vacant house for rent, but then decidesthat he is not going to rent. He plans to sell the house in January.  A family friend who has tutored one of the daughters and hasknown the family for more than 10 years appeals for donations for householdgoods, clothes, and children’s toys, and many generous people, neighbours,family, and friends of friends respond. One family shares the request withtheir young children, who go through their toys and clothes and donate severalboxes, while a pregnant woman donates baby things that she has herself beengiven.  Finally a wise man, a colleague and deep friend of the familyfriend, decides to break the logjam.  Heworks with the real estate agent, and within 36 hours, he has signed anagreement with the landlord/seller to buy the vacant house with the conditionof immediate occupancy.  The next day thefamily gets the key and moves in.  Thecollected household goods, clothing, and children’s books and toys aredelivered by the family friend, and 2 days later the rental agreement issigned.  The baby, due in a few weeks, will not have to be born in astable, or in a refugee camp. The family does not have to fear bombs orTaliban, and is safe and secure in Canada. They can go on to establishthemselves here.  The family is overcome with gratitude.  Everyone who contributed as well as the family itself isfeeling the joy of the season.  Prayersof gratitude have been offered up in several religious traditions.  ++++++++++++++++++++++ The name of the group, "earthrise," refers to the photo taken on December 24, 1968, showing the Earth rising over the horizon of the moon. The image has become a powerful symbol of mystery, awe, and responsibility.