We met the Matangi Family 7-8 years ago when our girls (Elaina & Ardele) became close friends in their kindergarten class. Our families also became good friends later that same year. They are a family who are near and dear to our hearts. They are hard-working, humble, generous, faith-filled people who have always bent over backward to help and serve others! The Matangi Family (Evidence, Jessey, Arlene, Ardele, & Anele) came to the US after Evidence was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in Statistics to study at Purdue University. Evidence received his Masters Degree and Ph.D. from Purdue, and also held a Post Doctoral role at Purdue before accepting an Assistant Professor position at Taylor University. He applied for a J-1 Visa Waiver and received a statement of "No Objection" from their home country of Zimbabwe, which would allow them to stay and work in the US without needing to return home for 2 years. However, the US immigration system has been extremely backlogged due to COVID. They waited for more than 1.5 years for a response from the US Government, contacted members of Congress etc, to no avail. They never received a decision about their waiver application. Meanwhile, their visas expired Dec 31, 2024, so in obedience to the law, they made arrangements within the allotted 30 days to return home to Zimbabwe for 2 years. In all the craziness of planning to leave the country for 2 years, they didn't realize one of the kids' passports had expired until they were at the airport to fly home. They are all Zimbabwean citizens, so the Zimbabwe Consulate was contacted, but they would not approve their return home! At this point, our friends couldn't stay in the US legally, they couldn't return home either, so they traveled to Canada as refugees. Although they were initially treated as criminals, enduring almost a day without heat, food, or water, God provided an officer who recognized the injustice present in their situation. He made a way for them to return to the US and apply for asylum. They got to work right away getting everything in order (which required trips to Chicago, DC, finding a lawyer, etc) and the application was submitted. However, they are NOT ALLOWED TO WORK until 150 days after the submission of the application, which would be November 10. Through savings and the gifts of generous friends and family, they have been able to pay their bills for the past 6 months; however, their funds will run out by next month. We are looking to raise $6500 to cover 4 months of bills (~$500/month) and mortgage payments ($1100/month) until they can work again in November. Would you please consider supporting these generous, law-abiding, hard-working, God-dependent immigrants? Sincerely, Molly Ahrens Checks can also be mailed directly to: Jessey Matangi 5884 N Huntington Rd Marion, IN 46952
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