John K. Kananda, Unity in Diversity Ministry
ABOUT THE BOOK
This is a true story by Martha, a Kenyan High School graduate. She was only 18 when, motivated by desire to have gainful employment, she applied and won green card to live, work and study in USA. The application was a gamble. The win was a surprise but only the beginning of many more surprises. The step by step journey from selection to landing in the United States as legal immigrant is both inspiring and informative. She exposes challenges that confront young people with great promise but limited resources. With no experience she finds herself planning, traveling, meeting and living with strangers. She credits her moral courage to her parents who brought her up in a Godly manner and exposed her to both rural and urban way of life. Dad’s parting words at the airport still linger in her mind “Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven…” James 1:17.
Different views about life in America are expected from relatives and friends to anyone in similar situation. As she contemplates on the positives and negatives, she draws strength from her American host, Joakim who said,
“America is not an advisable destination for the lazy and unimaginative minds. A good test should be: If you can make it in Africa, you will excel in USA”. He went on to say “…When you come to America, work hard; enroll in classes to study and stay focused. Keep good company and avoid anyone who would lead you to engage in self destructive activities.”
The second part of the book is relevant information, readily available in public domain, which Martha found helpful in her settling process in America. It is helpful not only to newly landed immigrants but also those who have been in the country for many years.
THE STORY TELLER
I was born in Murang’a, Kenya, in September 1985 as the fourth child of Christian parents From the day my mother got her first born child, she decided to be a stay home mom and bring us up without house help, which was a daring and remarkable departure from practice of the day. She also took another visionary decision. Her children would spend equal time between city and urban area so that they could bond with grand parents and other relatives to strengthen family ties. Her strategy paid off because she brought up healthy children who believe in God and who are rooted to family values.
Regrettably the first born, and our only brother, was tragically killed in a road accident in 1998 when coming from Murang’a. As the family mourned my parents prayed loudly that God would bless at least one of the girls to take mantle and become the boy of the family. This is due to the Kikuyu traditional belief that every family needs a boy to spearhead inheritance and assure continuity. Eyes were on me because I was very close to my brother.
When I finished high school in 2002, I decided my first project was to build a rural home for my mum just as our brother would have done. I could not get a job immediately and I was getting frustrated. Dad came to my rescue when he enrolled me at a college in July 2003 to train as hair dresser. Later in the year a friend I met at the college, and I applied for Green Card. I won and my life and that of my family changed forever.
My mum’s house is complete and my sisters have gone back to College to complete their studies. God Bless America!
Martha.
Those selected by computer and families, where applicable, are interviewed and on passing have to pay a predetermined visa fee. Currently DV Lottery surcharge for immigrant visa application (per person applying as a result of the lottery program) is $375.00. Other expenses follow including travel to United States, room and food while waiting for legal documments to arrive and the entire process of securing gainful employment. It is important for those seeking green card visas to understand that the U.S. Government does not cover these costs.
As if this is not overwhelming enough, new immigrants have to adjust to American culture and work ethic. Every green card immigrant has a story to tell. The stories range from comfy to downright horrendous depending on where the immigrant is coming from in terms of exposure and experience, their expectations, their hosts, adaptability etc.
What follows is a totally true story as told by Martha, a brave Kenyan girl, who won green card at a tender age of 18 years with just high school diploma, no work or travel experience and limited resources. This is her “learn as you go” experience and, I believe, it mimics that of many other USA new immigrants in same or similar situation. Unity in Diversity is authoring this story in the context of our goal to empower potential and new USA legal immigrants through sharing and exchange of information.
Martha met many people in Kenya, after being selected in the lottery program, who claimed to know USA very well. Unfortunately, they gave conflicting reports about the country and she did not know who to believe. She shares her own experience after relocation and attempts to explain why people have different views about America.
Those people who hosted Martha after arrival played a major role in inspiring her to an early experience of the American Dream. Another great resource was a booklet entitled Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants published by the United States Center for Immigration Service (USCIS). The complete guide is accessible online at the USCIS website: http://www.uscis.gov/. For the sake of those to who internet is not readily available, we have copied text from four sections that Martha found most helpful in Appendix III. The sub headings are listed below.
- Getting settled in the United States
- Education and Childcare
- Learning about United States of America AND
- Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Unity in Diversity Ministry is a Community Based Organization (CBO) whose mission is to empower disadvantaged communities through sharing and exchange of information. One of our projects is engaged in counseling USA new legal immigrants. The target group is prospective and newly landed immigrants and the goal is to make their relocation and assimilation in local communities as easy and as soon as possible. For more information on the organization visit http://www.uidministry.com/ or write to: The Director, Unity in Diversity Ministry, 1622 W. University Dr. Suite B/525 Denton, Tx 76201.
