Saturday was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, day ever at Bedlam Farm. The RISSE refugee and immigrant soccer team – recent arrivals from different areas of the world – came to our town for a day out in the country and a window into a warm and generous and open side of America.
I can’t say enough about what a great day it was for me, for Maria, for the animals on the farm, and for parts of our community. The refugee kids – 16 plus their teacher Ali (Amjad) – came to our farm first.
We herded sheep with Red and Fate, climbed trees, hugged and brushed donkeys, saw Treasure Wilkinson’s baby goats, asked a zillion questions.
We then headed six miles to Pompanuck Farm where Scott and Lisa Carrino served fresh-baked pizza from their wood-fired ovens, and showed the kids their beautiful farm and retreat center. They fed the fish on the pond, walked around the fields, toured the gardens.
It was a beautiful meal under an open tent.
Then we drove down the hill to Bejosh Farm where Ed and Carol Gulley showed the kids new calves, old barns, milking parlors, farm dogs, Peacocks, new corn plantings, dairy cows, sheep and coats and served heaping bowls and cones of ice cream and homemade brownies.
Just about everyone was exhausted by 4:40 p.m., when the RISSE van headed back to Albany, N.Y. We all loved these wonderful children, many of whom have suffered greatly, but who have kept their hearts and spirits and affectione for people.
Last year, their refugee center was burned to the ground by arsonists who have never been identified, and all the tires on their vans were slashed. Ali tells them again and again that this is not the real America, this hatred and fear. I hope we showed them that today.
I would be proud to call any of these kids my own.
As the above photo shows, I let groups of these kids into the pasture with Red, Fate and the sheep.
They admired Red, but identified with Fate and her crazed racing around.
Some of them decided to herd the sheep with her, which she loved.
They cheered her on, hugged and petted her, and even chased after the sheep with her (above.) She loved it.
They had a million questions, this was the first time any of them have been out of Albany to see the countryside or the true nature of America.
I can’t say enough about today, except that we will do it again a dozen times this summer, until every one of the 100 children at the RISSE Summer and Day School for immigrants and refugees has come to our farm, herded sheep, had pizza, and swum in the Pompanuck pond, and seen cows and eaten ice cream at Bejosh Farm.
Our small town is rising to the occasion. Ken Norman, our farrier, is going to demonstrate trimming and equine care; Mandy Meyer-Hill, a massage therapist and healer, is going to talk to the kids about dealing with stress, physical and emotional. This is becoming a community thing, which makes it even more precious.
There wasn’t a difficult second at any of our farms today. The kids were loving and appreciative and curious. The bond between them and Ali (Amjad Abdullah Mohammed) is strong and poignant, he is much like a father to these young men and women. Maria has such a gift for connecting with people, one of the kids, Thet Naing Min, was fasting today in keeping with the holiday of Ramadan, and stayed back while the others ate.
Maria skipped lunch to sit with him and talk to him.
These children are further evidence that they have not come to America to harm us or take our jobs, they have come here to live, grow and be free, just like most of the rest of us. Many have come to escape awful brutality and violence. Maria loved the day just as much as I did, and she will show the next arrivals her studio and talk about her work. This is a wonderful day that we shared with one another.
Early this evening, Ali texted me: “Thank you so much, we really had a great time. The kids are so happy, they all had a good time and send a big thank you. We made it home and they were all sleeping on the way. Thank you again.”
I was afraid we overdid it – maybe three stops were too many – but All said the three stops were “awesome” he said the kids began the day with soccer practice and were tired but happy. It was, he said, an awesome day. They all invited Red and me to come to their next soccer came Thursday. I’m going to try.
It was an awesome day for us, too. One of greatest days in the life of Bedlam Farm.