to the U.S. because it was the biggest and most powerful country they knew, and they hoped they’d have a better life there. Meanwhile, in Chicago members of Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church began making plans to welcome the family. Working with RefugeeOne, a local partner of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), the congregation collected goods to furnish the Bhattarais’ apartment and collected donations to cover their first three months of rent. “We saw this as a ministry of welcome, welcoming
the stranger,” said Craig Mueller, a pastor of Holy Trinity, which was a RefugeeOne sponsor for 12 years. “Essentially, it is a ministry of grace.” With tickets covered by LIRS (an expense they
paid back in five years), the family flew to the U.S. A few members of Holy Trinity and RefugeeOne staff greeted the Bhattarais at O’Hare International Airport and took them to their apartment to get acclimated. “In the beginning, it was really difficult for us.
We didn’t use cars or buses or anything like that. We didn’t use a computer,” Bhattarai said. RefugeeOne staff supported him and his wife
through case management, employment and immigration support. As part of their sponsorship, Holy Trinity members mentored the Bhattarais while they acclimated to life in the U.S. That’s how the family came to know Rita Schnell. A retired music teacher and active member of
Holy Trinity, Schnell had an instant connection with the family. “They both spoke English and that made it easy for me,” she said. “I told them right away, if there’s anything you don’t understand just let me know.” Schnell was there early on to help the family
deal with a roach infestation in the apartment, working with RefugeeOne to advocate for their safety. When Chandra was pregnant with her son Arpan, now 7, Schnell drove her to and from doctor appointments. “I sat with Chandra when she was in labor. Her mother wasn’t here and she was scared to death,” she said. As Arpan grew up, Schnell accompanied them
to the pediatrician and sent him subscriptions to Ranger Rick and Highlights for his birthday. Although Holy Trinity went on to support other
refugee families, Schnell has kept up a special relationship with the family. “She became our friend,” Bhattarai said. “She is like family to us.” Schnell has been touched by her relationship
with her “extended family” as well. “They’re just a delightful family, and I’m happy they have found success,” she said. “A year after Arpan was born, Hasta said, ‘Oh, you are just like our mother.’ ”
Bhattarai and his family—wife Chandra and sons, Arpan, 7 (right), and Archan, 2—sit on the front steps of their home. As refugees from Bhutan, they received help acclimating to life in the U.S. with the help of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago.
Teaching again at the garden Through their own ingenuity, and with support from Schnell and RefugeeOne, the family’s sense of security and stability has grown since they resettled in Chicago. Bhattarai’s first job was at O’Hare, and today
he works as a doorman at a hotel in downtown Chicago. Chandra is tutoring and just finished her master’s degree in math, with hopes of teaching soon. They’ve moved from two apartments to a house with a small garden in the backyard, and have two young boys.
MISSION & MINISTRY •
LIVINGLUTHERAN.ORG 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52