Former Jonathan House resident Stephen shares his journey of surviving and recovering from forced displacement.
“When you are in the process of seeking asylum, it’s as if nobody wants you here.” This was Stephen’s experience when he first arrived in the United States having fled persecution in his country of origin. “It was very, very scary.”
Thankfully, Stephen found safe, stable shelter and supportive community at IAFR Jonathan House. Originally trained as a medical doctor in his home country, Stephen took it upon himself to learn computer coding while in the asylum process. After two years at Jonathan House, Stephen has moved on into a new career as a computer coder with Cisco. “I was able to use Jonathan House’s resources to forge another path,” Stephen says. “This is something I am always grateful and proud of.”
In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20th, International Association for Refugees (IAFR) did a video interview with Stephen. He reflects on his story of having to rebuild his future in the wake of forced displacement.
We’re so honored at IAFR Jonathan House to walk with people like Stephen, to learn hope and resilience, compassion and kindness, mercy and justice from those who have risked it all to find a safe place to call home.
Watch Stephen’s interview to get an in-depth look into the life-changing impact your partnership with Jonathan House makes.
Shoutout to our featured staff, SJ Holsteen! SJ is our ministry leader here at Jonathan House.
I’m the IAFR Minneapolis-St. Paul Ministry Leader, which means that I’m responsible for guiding and implementing IAFR’s ministry in Minneapolis-St. Paul (including Jonathan House) through strategic planning, partnership, communication, and program and staff development. I also live at Jonathan House Frogtown, our site for women and children, so I’m blessed to share daily life with asylum-seeking individuals who have welcomed me with grace and kindness.
How did you first learn about the plight of asylum-seeking individuals in America?
In 2003, when I was a sophomore in college, I volunteered at a walk-in clinic for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF-AZG) in Antwerp, Belgium. The clinic mainly served migrant populations, many who were in the process of seeking asylum. I learned about what made someone an asylum seeker as well as the many systemic barriers that they face during that process. That experience was very impactful for me, but I didn’t really think about asylum seekers’ experience in the US for many years.
Then, in 2016, I met Sarah Miller, IAFR’s US Regional Director, who was in the initial stages of launching an asylum-seeker housing ministry in the Twin Cities. My experience from Belgium came flooding back to me, and I suddenly wanted to learn everything I could about what the asylum process was like in the US. I learned a lot through my time with Sarah and IAFR, as well as through personal research and attending gatherings of individuals across the US and Canada who were supporting and walking alongside refugees, such as the Refugee Highway Partnership – North America.
How did you first get involved in Jonathan House?
It really started by meeting with Sarah Miller. When she first shared the vision of establishing safe, stable shelter for asylum seekers in the Twin Cities metro area, I had an immediate sense of affirmation in my spirit that it was something Christ was inviting me into, a path down which He was calling me to follow Him. I was living and working in western Wisconsin at the time, so initially I volunteered as I could in my free time – helping write fundraising campaigns and grants. By God’s grace, the funding came in to launch the first house, and at that point, Sarah invited me to be a volunteer member of the IAFR MSP team, helping welcome the first Jonathan House residents and be part of program development. In 2018, I decided to officially join IAFR as a full-time staff.
What’s something that everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?
When I first started engaging with Jonathan House, it struck me how little I actually knew about the asylum process in the US. So, I think reading articles, watching movies, or listening to stories about or by individuals who have sought asylum is a good way to give yourself a base knowledge about the many challenges of the asylum journey. I think learning about that journey opens people’s eyes to the injustice and dehumanization of a reality they might not even have been aware existed. When I visit churches to share about Jonathan House, I’m always encouraged how willing and open people are to learn and how ready they are to respond as they’re able with the radical love and welcome we know in Jesus Christ.
Another thing that US citizens can do is keep informed on national policies or laws that impact our asylum-seeking brothers and sisters. Asylum seekers are in a vulnerable position where they do not have access to democratic processes in a country that is making serious decisions that impact their futures. As an enfranchised citizen, you are able to use your voice to advocate for justice for asylum seekers to our government and your elected representatives.
Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning asylum seeking individuals?
In 2018, the United States received 254,300 new asylum claims, making us the leading recipient of new asylum claims in the world. (UNHCR Global Trends 2018). In the same year, 22,491 refugees came to the US through the federal refugee resettlement program (Migration Policy Institute). Asylum seekers are sometimes referred to as the “hidden refugee population,” and I think this statistic demonstrates that well… most people think of refugees as those who come to the US through resettlement, but each year a far greater number of forcibly-displaced individuals arrive in the US as asylum seekers and do not have access to the system of welcome and support that resettled refugees receive.
What is something asylum-seeking individuals have taught us?
One of my housemates told me once, “If there is life, there is hope.” That was very impactful for me. Because sometimes the past has left us with wounds, sometimes present life feels unbearable, and it can be hard to imagine that things will ever get better or that it is worth moving on. But my sister’s statement encouraged me and reminded me that God does not intend destruction or despair for us; He intends life and hope for us. My asylum-seeking friends have reminded me of this reality again and again, through their stories, their faith, their courage, and their love.
What languages do you speak?
English, French, and Spanish.
Any other line of work you’re in?
Nope.
Hobbies?
I like walking in the woods, reading, and visiting art museums.
** All details and photos used with the individual’s permission.
“You are here, but you can’t go out. You can’t work or interact with others. You’re stuck and you don’t know how long it will stay that way.”
For many of us, this describes life under the recent government’s guidelines for preventing COVID-19. But in fact, this is how a resident of IAFR Jonathan House describes life as an asylum seeker.
“COVID-19 didn’t change anything for me,” he says. “If someone asks what the asylum process is like, I could say, do you remember the inconvenience of COVID-19? Well, that is 15% of what it’s like to be an asylum seeker.”
“For Americans, this is totally new. I can imagine there are challenges you face and possible impacts on mental health with the loss of routine and restricted movement. I feel like with COVID-19, I have an advantage. Considering what I’ve gone through already, this doesn’t take that much from me. I am resilient.”
We’re grateful for this asylum-seeking brother’s willingness to share his story, the lessons of resilience he’s learned, and his encouragement for us as we lean into the recent realities of a global pandemic, economic instability, the murder of George Floyd, and political unrest. Here is what he has to say:
Life Interrupted
Back home, I was the helper of vulnerable people. After graduating from university, I was a manager working with NGOs. I put in a lot of effort to be comfortable. I had my own plans for my life.
But then something happened that changed the whole direction. I had to leave my country. I had been a helper of vulnerable people; I never thought that that would be me.
When I first came to the US, I found myself thinking, “It’s unfair: I’ve been made helpless. I’m not able to afford food or accommodation.” It took a year and a half before I was even permitted to work.
Someone might say, “That’s the law; at least you’re safe.” But it’s still not okay. When you’re able to develop a routine and do something normal, you don’t think so much about what happened to you. It reduces the burden a little. But when you come to the US as an asylum seeker, there are immediately lots of barriers that stop you from being able to go back to normal or from making social connections.
Perhaps I don’t worry so much about safety now, but how can I be stress-free? Without routine, without community, you are mentally stuck and tied up, just thinking about the trauma and how you’re not sure whether your family is safe.
You can start to lose hope and to challenge the very basic things you live for …
You saw the people who were protesting because they were tired of the restrictions because of COVID-19. But as an asylum seeker, how do you protest that you’re so tired?
~ Jonathan House resident
The Road to Resilience
Being an asylum seeker has helped me build some skills of resilience, though. I’m grateful to IAFR and The Advocates for Human Rights for their support. Over the past several months, I’ve had resources that have helped me improve my mental health.
Someone gave me the book The Body Keeps The Score, which has helped me understand trauma, and that people can have many types of traumatizing experiences, like bullying or facing rejections, that they are able to heal from. I’ve learned the importance of routine, of doing activities for yourself that just help you feel normal and grounded, like sharing a meal or biking, being active.
I appreciate the community I have at Jonathan House, too. My roommates are also seeking asylum, so we can relate to each other in the difficulties. It gives me encouragement to be able to talk with people who understand.
Through the availability of community and building up a routine, I’ve learned resilience over time. I feel much stronger now. My perspective on my experience has started shifting. Yes, it was bad; it could have been worse. I’m still alive. I’m learning the stories of many people who have overcome trauma, and I know I’m not alone.
An Asylum Seeker’s Perspective on the Pandemic
America is a country where life never stops. COVID-19 came abruptly, and no one could predict the impact it would have on the world. Especially here in the US, nothing like this has happened in living memory. Then, the events surrounding the killing of George Floyd were also a new, uncertain experience for many people.
But for me, I could relate it to things I experienced in my home country. Where I come from, there are cycles of post-election violence, where even if you’re my neighbor and we grew up together, politicians will pit you against each other based on ethnicity, and then you’re no longer my friend.
With protests there, the police will just kill people. So, when these ethnic clashes happen, life stops. People are afraid to go outside. You see people stocking up, like at the beginning of the pandemic. Once, when I was starting university, it lasted for three months. People were running out of food. It was such a terrible time.
So, the restrictions of COVID-19 reminded me of these times at home. And because I’m an asylum seeker, being stuck felt familiar. But I imagine for many Americans, the loss of routine and community is a new and uncomfortable challenge.
The greatest impact that COVID-19 has for me as an asylum seeker is that it means more waiting in terms of my asylum case. This is difficult because the time spent waiting to rebuild your life is already so long, and makes you feel like you have no value.
I know that Americans can relate to how difficult this is. You saw the people who were protesting because they were tired of the restrictions because of COVID-19. But as an asylum seeker, how do you protest that you’re so tired? Here in the US, we have no political voice.
An Asylum Seeker’s Encouragement for Uncertain Times
Because of the pandemic and other events, there are people who have a lot of uncertainty right now. Some have lost jobs, some are separated from their loved ones, some are struggling emotionally. My encouragement for these people is: the challenge might look beyond you, you might think you won’t come through. Your emotions may even get so much that it feels like you’re better off dead than alive. I can assure you: you will definitely come through. The situation of COVID-19 is not permanent. Keep hopeful.
Faith and hope is what gives you strength. For myself, I hope God gives me the opportunity to see my daughter again someday.
I could sit and feel sorry for myself, but instead, I try to look at the next person and consider what they’re going through. For example, I think of George Floyd’s family, I think of his young daughter who just lost her father. How do you think that little girl feels?
Every human being has their own journey. My experiences are a blessing in disguise. It has made me empathetic toward other people.
Resilience doesn’t mean a perfect state; I still slip back, I still ask lots of questions. Stuff is going to happen in life that deeply affects you, but that cycle is necessary for resilience.
When I first arrived in Minnesota, it was in the middle of January, in the deep winter. I was in shock! Now, I’ve come to appreciate the seasons, and see in them an important symbolism. The winter is going to end. No matter how hard life is, you know the winter will end. And even when you are deep in January – the sun is still going to rise.”
* * *
This asylum-seeking resident recently received his work permit, and is currently working toward a certification as a nursing assistant. He’s excited to come alongside and affirm the stories and journeys of the patients he will serve in health care settings.
Shoutout to our featured volunteer, Elisa Walt! Elisa manages administrative work here at Jonathan House.
“I have the privilege of working behind the scenes in scheduling and organizing things so we can work smoothly to serve our residence.”
How did you first learn about the plight of asylum-seeking individuals in America?
In growing up overseas in an environment that worked closely with refugees, I was introduced to the life of asylum seekers fairly early on in my life, learning about the journey and the hardships of those seeking asylum and now much it differed from my own life. From there there the Lord slowly but continuously opened my heart and eyes to asylum seekers globally.
I first learned about Jonathan House after reaching out to IAFR in search of ways to walk alongside asylum seekers.
What is something everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?
Get connected! There are so many different organizations that work one on one with asylum seekers, be a voice for many people right now that don’t have the ability to speak for themselves.
Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning Jonathan House’s cause?
One of the main statistics that surprised me to learn was that Minnesota has some of the highest numbers of forcibly displaced people who have either received asylum or are seeking it.
What is something that the Jonathan House residents have taught you?
There is a whole list of different things that I have learned from my asylum seeker friends. One of the most impactful ones has been joy in the midst of hardship. Along with how to cook some wonderful food!
What languages do you speak?
I speak German and English.
Is there any other line of work you’re in?
Along with working with Jonathan House, I work at Spyhouse Coffee, come by anytime for some coffee!
What are your hobbies?
Some of my hobbies include; making and drinking coffee, baking and cooking, being in nature, creating art and spending time at a coffee shop reading.
I’m the Jonathan House Program Manager, which means I’m responsible for the day-to-day operations of Jonathan House, including the program and the premises.
How did you first get involved in Jonathan House?
Tom, the president of IAFR, told me about Jonathan House after I had just returned from Italy where I’d been doing volunteer work with another organization. At that time, Jonathan House was just an idea; it didn’t exist yet. After my time in Italy, I was looking for a way to continue working with displaced people, and the idea of working here in the Twin Cities with Jonathan House appealed to me. It just felt like a good fit.
What’s something that everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?
I think it’s important to be well-informed. There’s a lot of misinformation out there because the immigration and asylum-seeking issue has been a fairly hot and trendy political topic for some time now. It can lead to false perceptions of people. I think it’s important to hear firsthand experiences from asylum-seekers themselves. There’s plenty of that stuff that can be found online, in podcasts, and in books. If I were to make a shameless plug, our website is a good place to start.
Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning asylum seeking individuals?
Concerning asylum-seekers in the United States, something that surprised me is how long they need to wait before they can get a work permit. It’s a minimum of 180 days, and that’s a minimum. It can take longer than that.
What is something asylum seeking individuals have taught us?
Gratitude. Just an appreciation for life and other things that I too often take for granted. I distinctly remember a friend who, every time he prayed, he always thanked God that we all woke up this morning, and he’d continue to say, “because some people went to bed last night and never woke up.” And I knew that that had been an actual reality for him. Those weren’t just empty words, and that’s something that’s always stuck with me: an appreciation and gratitude for just being alive.
Hobbies?
I love outdoor activities. This time of year, I spend a lot of time at the family farm making maple syrup. Really, anything that gets me out in the forest: backpacking, camping, rock climbing, canoeing, snow shoeing, etc.
Kelsey is our Community Coordinator here at IAFR Jonathan House.
“I oversee our trainings, volunteer system, and overall engagement. I also work pretty closely with our residents regarding some aspects of our programming, such as goal meetings. During this time, I meet with residents to discuss their ambitions for the future and together we work through steps to get where they want to be.
I really like this aspect of the work because it is a tangible way to provide support (and maybe some hope), and it gives me a chance to get to know our residents better. It has also become a way to just share life. We all have hopes, dreams, disappointments, insecurities, and so forth, and when our residents are willing to take time to share those intimate feelings with me, I feel a deep sense of connection and joy. I hope they do too!
How did you first learn about the plight of asylum-seeking individuals in America?
I don’t remember exactly, but the first time I was really struck by the situation I was interning with a Boston based nonprofit. Through my work there I ended up becoming close friends with a displaced family that was in a really horrible situation at the time. Even in the midst of it, they were constantly taking time to care for me physically, mentally, and spiritually and I was touched by the mutual benefit of sharing our lives.
How did you first get involved in Jonathan House?
I first got involved with asylum seekers in Rome, Italy. I was studying there and volunteering at a drop-in center, which I later learned was run by IAFR. I ended up really loving the work there and went back to Italy for a time with IAFR before returning to the United States to work with Jonathan House. In between my two stints in Italy I was interning at a nonprofit in Boston where we were exploring community style housing options for displaced people and I connected with Jonathan House at that time to interview them for a research project. I never would have imagined I would end up working with them at the time!
What’s something that everyone can do to help the cause of asylum-seeking individuals in the US?
I guess I would say that all people who have been displaced are far more than people in need. There is a temptation to label people in a certain manner when we read only one part of their story. At Jonathan House for example, our residents are not only seeking asylum, they are also doctors, language gurus, international finance managers, parents, expert knitters, basketball and soccer fans, incredible chefs, curious, funny, bright, and a million other things. They are full humans who have, due to circumstances out of their control, found themselves in a hard spot.
Something everyone can do is be aware of both of those things when they meet an asylum-seeker. Sensitivity to the fact that seeking asylum in the U.S. genuinely puts you in a very vulnerable situation that sometimes requires tangible help, and sensitive to the fact that “asylum seeker” is one title of many.
Is there a statistic or fact that has surprised you concerning asylum seeking individuals?
I think one thing that is surprising is that, according to the most recent statistic I have seen, asylum seekers are waiting an average of 1,000 days to have resolution on their cases. That is nearly three years of living in uncertainty, sometimes with lack of access to services to help meet the most basic needs, let alone sustaining “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
What is something asylum seeking individuals have taught you?
I have learned a lot from the willingness of my asylum-seeking friends to open their lives to me. They have shared stories and wisdom that they have collected along their lives journeys, they have shared practical advice and perspective in my moments of difficulty, they have shared hugs and tender moments of laughter, they have fed me, given me clothing, then given me more food! I guess to sum it up, they have taught me a lot about what it means to love someone openly, and without condition, in a way that invites you to let your guard down, knowing you are safe enough to come as you are.
What languages do you speak?
English and Italian. I also studied German in school, but it would be a stretch to say I speak it now. I also have built my Oromo vocabulary to a solid 5-10 words, so it seems that should count for something.
Do you have any hobbies?
Reading, studying Italian, yoga, going to the gym, and cooking.
** Photo and details used with permission of the individual.
“Imagine you are alone in a jungle, being chased by wild animals,” Stephen says. “And you come into a clearing with a hut. A man shouts to you from the door of his hut, ‘Come into my house to escape this danger. I’ll protect you.‘
But then as you try to enter the hut, the man says, ‘Okay, wait – you can only enter into my hut as far as your head.‘ So then, your head is in safety, but the rest of your body is still outside, exposed to the wild animals who want to eat you… This is what the US asylum process is like.”
When he arrived in Minnesota seeking asylum, Stephen experienced homelessness in a dangerously cold winter. Because of supporters like you, he has been able to pursue and receive asylum from the safety and stability of Jonathan House. He now hopes to promote safety and peace for others in his home country through political advocacy. Photo: Grace Ogihara
“I don’t see any government support for asylum seekers in the US,” Stephen continues. “For anyone who declares asylum seeker status, you are on your own. You are rejected. You can’t work. You don’t have a work permit. You’re already fleeing from danger, you basically ran for your life, you come with nothing, and then in the country where you seek protection, there’s nothing to help you.
“For asylum seekers who have traveled thousands of miles, a safe place to stay is the most important thing. This is what I would say to the US government: Let the whole person in.“
All the asylum-seeking individuals who come to IAFR Jonathan House experience the same obstacles as Stephen did: legal restrictions that unnecessarily keep them in a place of extreme vulnerability and dependence while they seek safety from the persecution or trauma they have fled.
Security, the first item on IAFR’s Continuum of Response, is crucial to helping an individual survive and recover from forced displacement. Without access to security, refugees will not be able to survive.
For asylum seekers who have traveled thousands of miles, a safe place to stay is the most important thing.
Stephen, Jonathan House resident
IAFR Jonathan House steps into the gap so asylum-seeking individuals are protected from outside dangers while they seek asylum in the US. In Stephen’s words, we ‘let the whole person in.’
“Thankfully, I didn’t have to be on the street. I could be on the street if not for Jonathan House,” he says. “With shelter, I have actually been able to move forward. My stress and worry-level decreased.”
Since coming to Jonathan House, Stephen has received asylum, giving him the crucial promise of security that he will not be sent back to persecution and personal danger. He has dedicated himself to learn computer coding so that he can now get a job to rebuild his life here in the US. He is also motivated to use his own sense of security to politically advocate for those still trapped in war and danger in his country of origin.
Through your partnership with IAFR Jonathan House, you make a life-changing impact for change-makers like Stephen by ‘letting the whole person in.’ You help provide security to our asylum-seeking neighbors by making sure they have access to safe, stable shelter.
