It is with very mixed feelings that I share with you the Ayub family has made a decision to move to California to be near family friends from Pakistan.  Since their arrival, their long term goal has been to relocate to California so that the girls could all pursue careers in homeopathic medicine and be close to friends from Malaysia that immigrated to California a  year or so ago.  Recently they reconnected with some old family friends from Pakistan that they had lost touch with for many years.  This family now lives in Bakersfield, CA.  They have offered for the Ayub’s to come in July and house sit for them (rent free) for 3-4 months as they are traveling home to Pakistan to be with family there.  This family runs a salon and while they are away, the Ayubs will run the salon and have the opportunity to collect all the profits during that time.  They have spent these past few weeks trying to discern the best future for their family and have decided this is an opportunity for them they should not pass up.  They will be close to people who have a shared history with them and whom they consider family.  And they will be able to enjoy a similar climate to Pakistan in a town that has a strong Pakistani community. 
The Ayubs will be leaving on June 27th.   Binish and Mahwish will learn the family business and what needs to be done for the home while their friends are away.  Munzza will be caring for some children that their friends take care of with the help of Ali.  Maria will continue to work on her GED. They are hopeful that they can save some money during this rent-free period and secure permanent jobs and move on toward fulfilling their goals as there is good opportunity for work for all the family once they relocate.  Most importantly, they hope to be able to continue working to get the children’s father/Munzza’s husband to join them in CA from Pakistan where he has been for the last 7 years due to health issues. 
World Relief (with our help) has been able to assist and guide the family through many of the important initial steps in acclimating this family to their new country, helping them adjust and find a welcoming home in the U.S.  Their records are being transferred to a World Relief office in California which will remain in contact with them and offer guidance.
The entire family is so very grateful for the support that CPC has provided and while they are excited about this new opportunity, they are all sad to leave the friendships they have made here.  This family has touched the lives of our Good Neighbor Team members in powerful ways and it will be hard to say goodbye.  Munzza, Mahwish, Binish, Ali and Maria will be missed. Please continue to lift them all up in prayer as they make yet another journey to another new place.  

Some of my favorite memories growing up in Winston-Salem involve trips to the Children's Museum. Climbing through magic carpets, playing dress up, cooking gourmet meals in the plastic kitchen, the Museum seemed magic to my 8-year-old imagination. When I found out last week that the Children's Museum (now called Kaleideum) was hosting an evening of free admission to refugee children, I knew we had to get the kids there no matter what!

​Friday afternoon, Diane and I loaded the family in our cars and headed downtown. We were the first group there, so after being greeted warmly by an employee at the door, I realized...these kids had run of the whole museum! I don't know who was more excited. The magic carpets I climbed on as a kid were right by the door, so while one boy was thrilled to climb and tumble through the structure, the older one tugged my sleeve to explore the library. I've got the scars on my elbows to prove that no one was shy to climb through the giant hanging nets outside! The adults and kids alike had fun practicing their English in the alphabet zoo, though the baby was more interested in dancing to the beat of the hammer coming from the giant letter H! As more refugee children arrived, the parents chatted and the kids played dress-up together no matter their language barriers. I can't thank the people of Kaleideum enough for opening their space to this community. They have created free passes for any refugee family to go to Sci Works or the Children's museum for free. I'm constantly in awe of how welcoming the people of Winston are to these families. The kids were so mopey to leave, but I know there will be many more summer adventures at Kaleideum!

Written by: Sarah Hoyle