Refugees get holiday spirit

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20101225/NEWS01/712259924#refugees-get-holiday-spirit

By Cindy Gonzalez
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20101225&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=712259924&Ref=AR&Profile=1020812&maxw=490&maxh=275
REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD Abdi Ibrahim, 18, center, is ready for a sleigh ride with five of his eight Somali siblings as Gerald Timmerman takes the reins during a Christmas party at the Timmerman Ranch near Springfield, Neb. Gerald’s daughter, Betsy Timmerman, has been a mentor to the refugee family for six years.


’Twas almost Christmas and the Timmerman cattle ranch was aglow with holiday cheer.

A majestic pet horse named Ginger stood hitched and ready for sleigh rides.

Young Timmermans played. Adults set out pizza and other favorites of soon-to-arrive guests whose journey here began, well, years ago in a far off and different land.

Then around noon they came: Maryan Mhando and most of her nine children in an SUV driven by second son Abdi. The little girls in hijabs and boys in stocking caps ran toward the huge house on 10 frost-covered acres.

While somewhat reminiscent of Annie and the orphans visiting Daddy Warbucks’ mansion at Christmas, this was not the first time the Somali Bantu refugees had made the trip from the South Omaha projects to the Springfield, Neb., ranch.

For six years, Betsy Timmerman has mentored the family and invited them to her childhood home for special occasions. Theirs is a rare relationship not only because of the extremely different worlds from which she and they came, but also because of Betsy’s deep involvement that has altered the kids’ paths. One, for example, now prospers after she helped get him into Boys Town. Another she guided to college.

Especially at family holidays, Betsy, 42, said she reflects and appreciates how the refugees have changed her, too. She giggles at how it all began, as sort of a fluke.

FULL story and more photos at link.