The Gurung Family
We are happy to welcome Yam, Bishnu, and Sangam Gurung!
On September 21, 2011, our first refugee family arrived from Bhutan.
Bhutan is a tiny Buddhist kingdom situated between India and China. More than 100,000 ethnic Nepali Bhutanese have fled or were expelled from Bhutan since the early 1990s due to a violent and repressive anti-Nepali regime that denied them property, education, and healthcare. The majority have been living in refugee camps in Nepal ever since.
Unable to return home and shut out of neighboring countries, the U.S. began a process of resettlement in 2008 and aims to open its doors to 60,000 Bhutanese refugees over the next couple of years.
The Gurungs are the first Bhutanese refugees to arrive in this area. Other family members are scheduled to come in the next several months. 
After a few days of extreme jet lag, the Gurungs are beginning to enjoy the temporary housing that St. Joseph secured for them near the University, close to the trail system, and within walking distance to grocery stores. They have learned how to use a washing machine, microwave, and shower – all for the first time. This week, Sangam started Kindergarten at Root Elementary. And his parents, Yam and Bishnu, began daily ESL classes at Ozark Literacy Center. They have made friends with priests and monks; Catholics; Hindus; and Buddhists.
They are happy to have a fresh start.
January 2012 update:
After three months in Fayetteville, the Gurungs decided to move to St. Paul, MN, where the rest of their family had been resettled as part of the U.S. program for Bhutanese refugees. The Gurungs are deeply grateful for the warmth and hospitality that St. Joseph provided them as their host family during the hardest period of their transition. A special thanks to all the St. Joseph parishioners who volunteered their time and money to provide housing, furnishings, transportation, medical care, ESL tutoring, and, most importantly, friendship. We are happy to see the Gurungs reunited with the rest of their family and offer them our continued support and prayers.
Together with our partner Catholic Charities, we hope to welcome a new refugee family in the next several months and will update you soon. For more information on the St. Joseph Refugee Resettlement Program, please contact Sara Bishop at .
