Finding Purpose in Life

“What is my purpose in life? Where am I headed?” Marcel needed to understand this for himself. Life had many twists and turns over the years, ups and downs were something Marcel could count on but still these questions haunted his mind.

At the age of 20 Marcel found himself a very wealthy man because of an inheritance that had come to him and his wife. They lived the life many would expect when someone suddenly becomes wealthy. Young and free, Marcel and his wife decided to move to London, England to try life there. After five successful years in London with a brief intermission back in Brazil Marcel decided to move his family back to his homeland and enjoy the life they had left.

They arrived in Brazil, chose one of their three apartments to live in and one to sell so that they could fund their next adventure – owning a franchised ice cream store. After 3 years of legal fees, business regulations and draining a large part of their resources for living expenses, owning the franchise did not work out. Their credit card became a monster card. Debt overwhelmed them. The lifestyle that they had become so accustomed to had to change.

As a last-ditch effort Marcel, through talking with a friend, decided to head to India. The intent was to start a clothing store with Indian clothing which was a very popular product in Brazil. After racking up his credit cards and adding another loan to his debt load Marcel purchased a ticket to India, boarded a plane and headed towards a life changing experience he had no idea was in his future.

Marcel’s friend had been actively working in India to help children get the education they needed to be successful in life. As he stood in a small school in rural India, Marcel could see something meaningful. His friend lived purposefully. Helping people find their place in community appealed to Marcel. He stood there taking in all that was around him aware of the effect it was having on him.

Something changed that moment, perhaps it was the way Marcel viewed the world or maybe it was the way Marcel viewed himself in the world. Nevertheless, Marcel knew what his purpose was – to help people from different nations find their place in community.

When Marcel arrived home from his trip he and his wife discussed the possibility of moving to another country to work with international people. They decided that this would be the future for them and their children. What better purpose than to help people find a new life in a new country. They had experienced this themselves and knew some of the challenges that would be faced. Canada, open to immigration and a nation of immigrants itself, seemed like the perfect place to pursue this dream.

The plan was put into motion. Both Marcel and his wife would pursue a nursing degree because nurses are what Canada needed. During his time in school, Marcel also took on a position in a local NGO in the city they were living in Brazil. It was not long before Marcel became the director of the project which helped children in difficult situations find meaning in life. The project was very successful and gained notoriety among influential people in the country.

And then, in a single day, all the dreams and hopes were gone.

The diagnosis came swiftly. Marcel needed to act fast. If he didn’t, he could lose his life. The day after the cancer diagnosis Marcel stepped down from his position as director of the organization that he had grown so successfully. For the next two weeks he went from doctor to appointment to test to find some answer that would save his life. At the end of those two weeks he had surgery to remove the mass and was submerged in an array of treatments. These treatments lasted months and were both physically and emotionally draining on Marcel and his family.

Marcel wondered about his dream of working with international people in Canada. With health concerns such as his, Marcel knew that Canada would never allow him into the country. Would he have to give up his dream? Would he have to let this new found purpose go? This also pressed on his mind as he struggled to find meaning in all that was happening to him.

After nearly two years of uncertainty Marcel was cleared of cancer. The purpose that he had found in India was still with him. Now, he waited anxiously to hear if Canada would accept the application that he had put in years earlier. Doctor reports about his health were sent from Brazil to Ottawa to help with the final decision.

A letter from the Canadian government finally arrived. He wondered what the decision would be. He felt his chances of going to Canada were small. He held his breath as he opened the letter. The medical report had been approved. Relief flooded over Marcel. The letter confirmed that he could live and work in Canada temporarily. Marcel was excited about what was waiting for him and his family as they prepared to pack and move on to another adventure in a far off country.

Three years after the cancer diagnosis and the uncertainty of not knowing what would become of life, Marcel is sitting in a coffee shop in a community in rural Manitoba telling about his experience of finding purpose in life. Not long after arriving he landed a job in the field that he had so hoped to work in – as a settlement worker doing exactly what he had purposed to do in that life changing trip to India – helping people from around the world find a new life in a new country.

Jorie’s Story

Jorie came to Canada in July of 1995. Before she left for Canada her brother asked her what she would do if something went wrong? Her family was so far away and there would be no way to help her in a new country. Jorie told him with absolute resolution that he should not worry, she would take care of herself.

Jorie’s Story…

I became a pen pal with a Canadian man through a mutual friend. We would write to each other often. As time passed we became more and more interested in each other. The things he would write resonated with the values that I had and I thought to myself “This is the one.” We wrote to each other for 2 years before he asked me to come to Canada and meet his family. Three months after arriving, we were married. We started our new life together in Ontario.

After a year of marriage and a new baby, things became very difficult.

The abuse started slowly. First, he would swear at me or not talk to me for long periods of time. I didn’t know any of his friends and never met the neighbors. He would keep me away from everyone. He was the only contact I had in this new country. I was alone.

One night, when he was in a fit of rage, he tried to force me to leave the house. I refused. He pulled the baby from my arms and left with my son. Later on, he called and told me to leave the house; that he would send me back to the Philippines. I told him that I would not go without my baby. He refused to give my baby back.

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know who to talk to or who could help me. I was in a new country with different rules and laws. I felt lost and alone.

I remembered my friend who had introduced me to my husband. She now lived in Edmonton and she was the only contact I had in Canada. I called her and told her what had happened. Her husband advised me to look in the phone book for a local Crisis line.

When I called the Crisis Centre, the woman I talked to was so good to me. She listened to me and waited until I stopped crying. She told me about all the resources that were available in the area that I lived in. I found out that there was a shelter that I could go to and that there was legal aid who could help me get my son back. It took several weeks but eventually my son was in my arms again.

After two years of separation from my husband our relationship seemed to be getting better, and I thought he had changed. We were seeing each other regularly and eventually we got back together.

The first year was okay.

The second year was the worst I had ever experienced.

My feelings were difficult to describe – I didn’t want to leave. I wanted my child to have a father but the abuse was intolerable.

In the end, I didn’t have to make the choice. In the middle of the night, I was forced out of my home completely alone, unable to take my son with me.

“I would never wish any woman to go through what I went through.”

I went to the neighbor’s house. They didn’t know who I was. I knocked at their door for half an hour. They finally answered the door and I asked to use the phone. I called the RCMP and asked them to take me to a shelter.

Once at the shelter, I called the one family in Canada that might know me. My husband had a daughter from a previous relationship who was in foster care in Steinbach. I called the family and immediately they offered to help me. This was the beginning of a changed life for me. They kindly took me into their home and helped me to try and sort out how to get my child back. I remembered that I had a court order from the first separation and because of that, the police were able to go pick up my son and bring him back to me.

We settled in Steinbach, a growing and increasingly diverse immigrant community, and I was able to make friends. I took a program to upgrade my skills and found a job. This really helped to boost my self-esteem and confidence in my abilities. After much support and encouragement from the people I had met as I restarted my life in Steinbach, I passed my Life Insurance License Qualification Program (LLQP) and became a Sun Life Financial Advisor. This gave me a lot of flexibility with time so that I could help where I wanted to most – with newcomers who had just arrived in Canada.

I was also fortunate to meet a man who was kind and thoughtful. He cared for me and for my young son and invited us to attend his church in Steinbach called Southland Church. I have learned so much there and have grown in my walk with God. I have had a heart for others my entire life and now my heart is full as I help others within my church and in the community. If someone is struggling with life and relationships and if they are alone, I am able to understand what they are going through. This gift from God to help others has helped me grow into an independent person. I have much joy helping others as others have helped me and I am forever thankful that God led me to Steinbach, Manitoba.

Since moving to Steinbach, Jorie has been actively involved in helping others in a variety of ways. She co-founded an organization called SEMFA (SouthEast Manitoba Filipino Association) to help newcomers from the Philippines settle into the Steinbach area. She has used her home not only as a refuge for women who are in abusive relationships but also for newcomers who needed a temporary place to stay. She has befriended many people who have been alone in a new country.

As Jorie wrote, she met and married a wonderful man who understands her passion to help those in need. Jorie is one of our citizens who keeps Steinbach a vibrant city and a place people feel comfortable calling home.

Better Together

“We have to move out. We have no place to go.”

The woman from whom the statement came sat across from me. She looked scared and lost. Her 18 year old son stared blankly ahead.

“Where will we go? We have no money, no job, no food, no home.”

This conversation started a three-week collaboration between multiple community agencies. When the family first entered our doors they had two suitcases that held all their worldly possessions. They did not own a blanket or a pillow or a dish to eat off of. Four months previous, the family had landed in Canada in another province, fled an abusive relationship there, then lived in a shelter until a family member invited them to Manitoba. After they arrived it wasn’t much better. Within several weeks of arriving in Manitoba they were on the verge of being homeless. Not knowing English made finding a job impossible. Without a job they could not rent an apartment or buy food. Life was looking bleak.

Listening to their story was overwhelming. If something wasn’t done they would have no place to sleep. I was not sure what the next steps would be. Who would I call? Who would help someone that has little if any connection to the community?

One phone call led to another. People in the community began offering suggestions of others they thought might be able to help. Soon there was a network of people and a pool of resources that would help make adjusting to life in a new country, even though the circumstances were difficult, much better.

We were able to secure finances much quicker than initially thought thanks to the kindness and efficiency of an agency in the community.

Within a few days we found a landlord who was willing to work together with the family and their limited budget. Then came the enormous task of setting up a home from scratch. The family needed everything from pots and pans to toilet paper. After a few phone calls and a couple of names, we were able to secure furniture, bedding, housewares and even toilet paper through Steinbach Outreach and the generosity of a family who’s elderly parents were moving.

Moving day came. Individuals who did not know the family stepped in to help them move. The delivery of all the household items that had been collected over the past week filled their new apartment. As each bag was opened and piece of furniture was placed, a sense of pride and stability filled the room. After six months in a foreign country with nowhere to live, finally the family had a place to call home.

There have been people who have offered rides to the grocery store when needed, individuals who have brought necessary things like food, a vacuum cleaner and friendship to help the family begin their new life here in Canada. There has been a role for anyone who wanted to help, in whatever capacity they could. As a community, we have had the wonderful opportunity to work together.

Together, we have had the wonderful feeling of having helped create a home.

Together, we are a remarkable community!

Education Equals Bright future

Thierry Tshiswaka spent the first 23 years of his life growing up in the western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo with his family. Life in the western part was good. In 1998, Thierry, without much thought of safety or security, moved to Kivu, a province in the east of the Congo that was enveloped in war, violence and poverty (see “Kivu Conflict – Background” at the end of this story for details).

Thierry spent exactly one year in university before he had to flee for his life.

As a young teen, Thierry was involved in demonstrations that spoke out against injustices that he saw around him. As he grew into a young man he continued his stand against these injustices and became involved in a youth movement, a movement that wanted fair treatment for everyone regardless of ethnic backgrounds.

During his one year in University, Thierry became more and more involved in this youth movement. Tensions rose. There were rumors that a certain group of young people were being targeted. Friends and acquaintances around him started to go missing, some apprehended by the authorities, while others were kidnapped. No one was sure what would happen next. Thierry decided he needed to leave the Congo for his own personal safety.

“When something like this is going on, they try to track some people; I thought it was wise for me to leave.” ~ Thierry Tshiswaka

On a day, just like any other day, without letting his family know what was happening, Thierry left.

He only told the people in the house where he was living that he needed to leave. They helped him cross the border into Uganda where he boarded a bus to Kampala and then to Kenya.

“When you are doing something like this you have to be stable because I didn’t want to call them [family] and tell them what I am going through. I didn’t want to hurt them. If I would talk to my mom…I didn’t know how she would feel.” ~ Thierry Tshiswaka

For several months, Thierry’s family did not know what had happened to him. He did not contact them because the situation he was in was unstable and he did not want to worry them. The first few months in Kenya were difficult. Thierry was unable to work in Kenya because he didn’t have a work permit. He survived by working illegally for cash. Each day he would go to a corner street where people were looking for laborers. Sometimes he would find work and sometimes he didn’t. This came at a great risk to him. If he was caught working with no work permit he could be deported.

Through conversations Thierry heard about the UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) and made an appointment. After Thierry told his story of fleeing his country he received refugee status in Kenya. Although refugee status came with the right to be a refugee it also denied Thierry of the very thing he needed to do to have a stable life – the right to work. The only rights that were attached to the official document were the rights to live and work within the refugee camp. Thierry didn’t know if he wanted to live in the camps. He had heard stories of how difficult life was in the refugee camp. He waited and thought about what his options were.

After a two-year stint in Nairobi, working illegally and struggling to survive, Thierry decided that life within the walls of the camp might be easier than what he was experiencing. He packed up the little that he had and made the move. Thierry become one of 55,000 refugees living in the camp hoping for a better future.

“They (refugee camp) were supporting us…some food, some medical attention, some other stuff. Even though it was not enough but at least if you have a little you can manage.” ~ Thierry Tshiswaka

Thierry entered the refugee camp in 2002. Once inside, Thierry had access to medical attention, some food and, most importantly, legal work. Over the first few years Thierry was one of the fortunate few who was able to find work doing odd jobs. In 2004 he also placed an application with the UNHCR to come to Canada. Soon after, the application was forgotten as Thierry looked for ways to improve his situation. The camp was looking for people to become teachers. The refugee camp in collaboration with a school in Kenya made it possible for some people to get an education. It was here that Thierry decided to go back to school to become an elementary school teacher.

Becoming educated proved useful for Thierry. Opportunities to teach within the refugee camp abounded. Thierry found himself teaching in front of classes with 80-100 children. He also found part time employment tutoring children in other areas of the camp. Although, he was paid only 10% of the wages that the nationals were paid, still Thierry was able to buy necessary things like food and clothing which kept him from being the poorest of the poor.

Poverty permeated the camp. Life was a bit easier for those who found jobs but many people had no work and could not afford necessities such as clothing or school supplies. It was frustrating to work and live in these conditions. Thierry was desperate to leave. He wanted a life where he could have a future. He started to explore other options. He called home to his family and asked if it was safe to come back.

“It’s like God was telling me something… I just gave up but God told me ‘NO, you still have a chance.’ “~ Thierry Tshiswaka

It was during this time, seven years after Thierry had sent the initial application to come to Canada that he received a letter from the Canadian High Commission inviting him to an interview that would determine if he was eligible to go to Canada. Still, Thierry did not dare to dream of a different future. Many people had interviews but never received a visa to travel.

Days turned into weeks, and then months still Thierry heard nothing. Six months later he received his visa. He stared at the piece of paper in his hands and knew his life had changed forever. Excitement filled his heart and mind but this wonderful news of a future was kept quiet. Thierry only shared his good news with a close friend, not wanting to draw attention to his good fortune. Thierry had seen people who had received their visas end up dead before they ever left the camp.

He continued life in the camp as he always had, getting up in the morning, going to work, teaching those left in his care as best he could.

And then the day came, ten years after his application, Thierry silently drifted out of the lives of those around him, left the few things that didn’t fit into his bag in the mud-brick shack that he lived in, boarded a bus and left.

One week later Thierry found himself in Canada, meeting the group that had sponsored him. They helped him find a place to live, answered questions about Canada and helped find a job. Within four months of landing in Canada Thierry had the one thing that had eluded him all those years in Kenya – stability. Thierry’s goal was one of independence. He did not want to rely on others. He wanted to create the life that he had always wanted – that included continuing his education. Thierry was going to university.

In 2012, Thierry made his way to the University of Winnipeg to enroll for classes where he found out that he needed to improve his English. He spent the next six months taking English classes and then registered for university in 2013.

Thierry is pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work and continues to study part time as he supports his family and pays for his education through his full time job.

“I’m glad and it is also not easy. It (going to university) is a sacrifice. We decide to do so because in the future it may help.” ~ Thierry Tshiswaka

Thierry has also started saving money for his seven month old son’s education. The gift of education will be waiting for his child when he graduates from high school. He knows the difficulties and challenges of getting an education in other countries. Thierry also knows the freedom that an education brings – opportunities for jobs and a better future regardless of the circumstances that surround you, not only for yourself but for your entire community.

“When you have the knowledge you can put it into practice and you can develop your community.” ~ Thierry Tshiswaka

Kivu Conflict – Background

While the Democratic Republic of Congo has the natural and human resources to thrive, it has the unenviable distinction of having the lowest GDP per capita in the world – $600 compared to $53,000 in the United States. (Reference)

Continued instability has put reliable health care out of reach for many Congolese. A high incidence of sexual violence in eastern Congo also increases the demand for skilled medical care. (Reference)

It is within this context that Thierry’s story occurred.

What Happens When You Never Give Up?

In the winter of 2016, Sascha Birohi and his family were finally together again. They had been separated on and off over several years because of delays in immigration documents and difficulties finding work in Canada. More often than not Rosalina had found herself as a single parent in a strange and new country. Feeling alone, she waited for her husband’s immigration papers to be finalized so that he could be part of her and their daughters’ life in Canada.

“We couldn’t believe that we would be here one day.” ~ Sascha Birohi

Life in Germany was becoming increasingly challenging. Safety issues and a concern for the country’s future had Sascha determined to start a new life in a new country that would give his family the opportunities his home country couldn’t afford them.

When Sascha finally arrived in Canada, finding a job in Steinbach was a difficult task. He was confident that his English was good and he would find work quickly but after months of handing out resumes and talking with employers Sascha felt frustrated and disillusioned. Those months proved to be a challenging and difficult time as he worried about how he would feed his family. Cupboards emptied; there was no money for necessities of life.

It took months before he was called for an interview which eventually led him to being hired at Tim Horton’s. Although this wasn’t in his field of expertise he gratefully accepted the position knowing it would give him the Canadian work experience he needed to give his resume more credibility.

“I had a good job in Germany but I do this for my kids and for my wife.” ~ Sascha Birohi

Over the next few weeks Sascha worked several casual and part time jobs. Exhausted but thankful for the opportunity to support his family, Sascha worked day and night, rarely sleeping.

Sascha still hoped for a job in the field in which he had been trained – IT Engineering. After many sleep deprived nights working long hours and juggling a multitude of schedules, a job offer from an agriculture company came. This job would use some of his previous experience and IT engineering degree he had received in Germany and he would have the opportunity to learn new skills in a field that he had not worked in before. His wage would increase and there would be benefits for the family.

“When I came here people were so friendly. They helped me in my situation that was so hard for us.” ~ Sascha Birohi

Sascha and Rosalina are thankful to be in Steinbach. From the very beginning Sascha’s “never give up” attitude has seen him and his family through challenging times. Sascha knows from experience how difficult and overwhelming it is to navigate new systems in a new country. It is in those difficult times where Sascha and Rosalina have found support in community organizations, their church, and individuals. People have gone out of their way to help Sascha and Rosalina with finances and finding work. Through all of this, friendships have been created and a community of care and trust has been established. Sascha encourages others to continue to reach for their dreams despite difficulties that may arise because the rich rewards of friendship and community are waiting for everyone.