I was one of about a dozen, who travelled by school bus to Toronto to meet the Congolese refugees. The yellow bus was brimming with anticipation and unanswerable questions.
On Thursday, Feb. 11, the bus left the parking lot at Beaver Valley Community Centre at noon, packed with winter coats, hats, mitts and boots for a family of six. Also on board were three ladies representing Beaver Valley Outreach - Mary Johnston, Mary Jane McCrea and Lynda Burns; three students from Beaver Valley Community School - Erin Hogan, Madison Pearson and Elora Tarlo; and members of the Beaver Valley Open Door - Sharon Chapman, Richard Griffith, David Morgan, Adrienne Corti, Carol Solursh and Bill Morris.
The sun shone brightly for the trip to the airport. On board the bus, we all started with a moment of silence to think about the Kemu family traveling to Canada, and praying for their safe arrival.
Later, we started to wonder what the rest of the day would hold.
How long would they be in immigration before they could exit the gates to see us? Would they know we were there waiting for them? What would they be wearing? What would they look like? What language would they speak?
Finally at the airport, we arrived at the same time as the Kemu's flight, but we knew we still had to wait for them to finish their paperwork at Canada's immigration office.
Jessica Jackel, a York University student and resident of The Blue Mountains who spent time in Africa and learned Swahili, met us at the airport. We also met Dr. Rob Patterson, a translator who lived in Kenya and worked with Refugees to send them to Canada. He brought two Congolese friends who came to Canada as refugees eight years before.
Two hours passed while we waited at the arrivals gate, holding posters that said Karibu Kemu (Welcome). Some of the group rehearsed a song - "Karibu, tu-na-pend." (Welcome, we love you.)
At last, a family of six Congolese, dressed in new sweaters and new shoes, came quietly out of the sliding doors, scanning the crowd of people waiting to welcome their parties. They smiled at the sight of our signs and grinned wide as they greeted us all with hugs and hand shakes. We managed, Karibu, and heard "hello" back. Anyone watching our group would never have believed we were strangers meeting for the first time.
Conversations erupted between the new family and each member of the group. Quickly we learned that the Kemus spoke fluent French in addition to Swahili, and they had picked up some English along the way. They're flight was long, but without complications. They were happy to be in Canada.
Arlette Cinde Kemu, the mother, told me she tried not to spend too much time with her community before she left so that she would have to learn English.
The BVO volunteers quickly outfitted the family in winter clothes, with a simple explanation "it's cold out there."
We said goodbye to Dr. Patterson and his two friends, and brought the family back to the bus. Jessica came back with us, translating Swahili whenever she was needed.
The ride home was quieter. All three young girls fell almost immediately to sleep.
Landry, the oldest child and only boy, and his father Gustave watched the countryside fly by in the window.
Landry said he and his family were living in a refugee camp in Zimbabwe. That's where they learned English - and his is very good. He said they didn't know the language spoken in Zimbabwe, but mostly everyone knew a little English.
He said they have waited two years to come to Canada.
Finally, the school bus pulled up to the Kemu's new home on Bruce Street; the one that Open Door volunteers have been getting ready for a couple months.
A crowd of residents lined the sidewalks with welcome cheers and signs. More hugs and smiles and the family made a beeline to their home.
Inside the young lady, Audrey, the beaming Vanessa and little, shy Benitta were shown their new room full of clothes and toys. They darted from corner to corner and in and out of the closet, discovering new things. All the while, smiling brightly.
Downstairs, Gustave, Landry and Arlette, were given the keys to their new home in Thornbury, Ontario, Canada.
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