Our Refugee Family Moves Ahead
Thanks to his characteristic determination and some able assistance from several St. C's volunteers, our refugee Dad, Fridoon, began a job in his field last week. His freshly minted resume and good interviewing skills netted him entry-level work with a Rockville HVAC company (and on his first try!) Fridoon had extensive experience in the field in Afghanistan, but the route to becoming a fully licensed HVAC technician in the U.S. is a long process of apprenticeship, study and exams. Thanks be to God, Fridoon has taken the first step. Also with help from parishioners, he is closer to getting his driver’s license – having gotten over the hurdle of the written test. Soon he will take the driving test.
Fridoon and Shakeba's sons, Siddiq, Omer and Usman, are enrolled in summer school and English language programs over the next couple of months. And they continue their passion with soccer in a Montgomery County Parks and Recreation program.
Shakeba has taken English classes at Montgomery College and is making her way around grocery stores with ease. The family has been attending services at a Silver Spring mosque every Friday, and observed Ramadan, with the parents and oldest son Siddiq adhering to daylight fasting for 40 days.
None of this would have been possible without the Khwaja family's courage and resilience, and loving support of all kinds (and miles and miles of driving) from devoted St. C's parishioners. Thank you, St. Columbans, for giving so much of your time, talent, and treasure – to help this wonderfully deserving family. They have been a great gift to our parish – as we hope we have been to them.
