Lucy Reflects

"If you put yourself in another person’s space, you will know them.” -Mustafa Nuur

Mustafa Nuur and his family are Somalian refugees living in Lancaster. Their lives were turned upside down when a terrorist group murdered Mustafa’s father and they had to immediately flee. There wasn’t even time for a funeral. After spending years at a refugee camp in Turkey, Mustafa, who is now 27, and his family came to Lancaster County with the help of Church World Services.

For the most part, Mustafa’s family was welcomed, but there were times when people made them feel unwanted in the community. Those negatives experiences gave Mustafa an idea and in 2017, Bridge was born, an organization dedicated to educating people on refugees while sharing a meal. The events take place in a refugee home surrounded by an authentic foods and good conversation. All the proceeds benefit the refugee families.

“We try to build connections with many communities in Lancaster,” Mustafa tells me. “With Bridge, I try to be creative and bring people who necessarily won’t come to the same table to eat together.”

I met Mustafa on the rooftop of Tellus 360, where shared a lot of good conversation and food (his stand Xulbo has the best samosas). On December 14, I was able to check out his multi- cultural experience with an Amish and refugee meal. The event was held at the Amish home of Ivan and Martha Beiler (their farm was made famous when the movie “The Witness” was filmed there). Though it was a cold and gloomy day, there was plenty of warmth and good company in the event space above the barn. Even the goats below couldn’t help but sing along as we celebrated each other’s company upstairs.

The luncheon was a collaboration of Bridge and LoKal Experience, who offers tours throughout Lancaster.

“Growing up with Amish ties, I have always been deeply rooted in their culture,” says Phil Lapp owner of LoKal. “I wanted to facilitate an introduction with newly placed immigrants to Lancaster to try to show them what a true community looks like.”

“The Amish and Mennonites were refugees as we all were,” Phil continues. “Their stories are similar to our refugees, only 300 years apart. There are a lot of good people that need refuge and Lancaster has built its legacy on doing that. Why stop now? Let’s show the world what it means to embrace people who aren’t like us.”

Mustafa and other refugees shared stories their stories with guests. A young man was fleeing from being forced into Isis. Another described the blood flowing through the streets of his war- torn home like rain. Stephanie Gromek from Church World Services spoke about how CWS resettles refugees and how we can all help them feel welcome. Then about 75 strangers feasted on food from Iraq and Somalia, like samosas, turmeric chicken, and eggplant stew. The Amish contributed a large pot of authentic Lancaster County chicken pot pie and piles of whoopie pies. As we ate, Congo refugee Shadack Bunkete crooned on his guitar while his voice echoed the lyrics “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, a long way from home.”

It was an awesome sight to see, Amish and refugees sitting across from one another sharing a meal and good company. My heart and belly were full, and I felt honored to be there.

“I wanted to make this connection to retell the story of refugees in two different times,” Mustafa explains to me. “Also, to make sure the refugees see how people can make Lancaster Home.”

I’ve always supported refugees living in Lancaster County. After hearing more stories, I’m even more proud to call Lancaster my home. More importantly, that refugees can call it home, too. Ivan Beiler said it best, although they are financially poor, they are culturally rich. And isn’t that what truly matters?

A special thanks to Mustafa Nuur and Phil Lapp for chatting with me and for giving our community such a special gift. For more information on either organization, visit www.bridgeexperience.com or www.lokalexperiences.com.

We’d like to hear from you, do you know a refugee family who has settled in Lancaster County?