I’m not sure I have the words to tell you how happy I was within minutes of bringing about a dozen of the refugee children from RISSE to the Powell House Youth Center, where counselor Mike Clark made them instantly welcome, and had them dancing and laughing and talking more joyously and openly in 15 minutes than I have seen them being all year.

Mike has been a counsel at this Quaker Youth (and adult) Retreat in Old Chatham, N.Y. for 18 years, and it was astonishing to see how skilled and sensitive and knowing he was with these children, who are habitually shy and cautious, and for many good reasons.

They just loved the place, as the video and photos will show. I’ve seen these kids in different settings, and I’ve never seen them open up so completely and quickly to anyone as they did to Mike and the Powell House.

They felt completely at home there, and it was a joy to see this  empathetic and intuitive professional at ease. These children speak five different languages and have communicated with Ali and one another partly through a common understanding of soccer.

Mike showed them around the building – where they would sleep, eat, play and have some time to themselves. He told them there would be no cell phones, laptops or video games and other electronics during the May retreat – we just wanted them to see the Powell House today.

He asked them about their lives and stories, he showed them where they would eat, sleep, play and think. Then, he said, “let’s play some games. I have all day.” He was exceptionally generous with his time and his skills as a counselor.

“This is about people,” he said when the kids looked stricken that they couldn’t bring their cell phones, “we want to get to know you.” Some of the kids looked at him in disbelief, but by the time we left a couple of hours later, everyone was laughing and smiling and asking if they could come back sooner.

Ali and I were thrilled at how excited and relaxed the children were to be there. Honestly, this was my dream for them, Ali’s too, and Ali will have his own basement bedroom during the retreat. It’s important to him and the kids that he be around. I’ll spend a night as well.

By the time we left, the kids were playing chess, ping-pong, guitar and reading books in the library. It was good to hear they might have a couple of days away from social media and screens.

Ali has been driving this kids all over New York State for years to offer them support and community, and he said it would be wonderful to see some other teachers help. At this retreat, he said, he might even be able to sleep.

This is just what we wanted for them, a structured, safe and healing place to go with trained counselors to guide them and help them talk about their lives and selves. I felt better than ever about this retreat, and I thank you so much for helping make it possible.

Maria came also, she was just as pleased and excited as I was. And Red hung out in his usual easy and loving way. Two of the children are afraid of dogs, and we tried to work with them and Red. He’ll wear them down.

I gave the Powell House a second check today, I’ve paid $1,400 so far and expect to give them the remaining amount in the next few weeks, I have until May.

I have a personal history with the Powell House, a gorgeous mansion and woodland acres donated by the late Elsie Powell to the New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. I attended the Powell House when I needed a retreat, and so did my daughter Emma. I know what a special place it is, and they specialize in holding retreats for young people who need one.

Their mission statement is quite accurate: “It is a place to be safe and open, a time to rest and reflect, and a group in which to feel deep relationships. You bring yourself and not much else: a commitment to respect and be present for the other attenders, some clean clothes, a willingness to be open to the experiences that present themselves… It is a weekend to step back from the busy world and leave behind the stuff that clutters our lives.
We sing, dance and slouch on the couch. We swim, sled and swing. We play games, learn names and share a massage. We sit, we run and we nap. In the midst of all that, we connect with ourselves and each other.”

They keep their promises, the Quakers have been helping refugees and immigrants for years. Even though I no longer live in New Jersey, I’m a member of the Montclair, N.J., Meeting, which I will always consider the center of my spiritual life.

I also began discussions with the Powell  House staff today to see if we can’t get some of the other RISSE students – the younger boys and girls to some youth retreats, as well as the girl’s basketball team there over the next year. They will love it there.  It may be possible to get some financial aid for their programs, I’m gathering the forms. It would be much too expensive to fund-raise all of these visits through the Army of Good or me, so I will ask for help.

The individual retreats – the soccer team and the basketball team – are something I can handle, hopefully with your help and in the Fall.  I hope to help them get to the Powell House for a week of camp in the summer.

This was a great joy for me, and for Ali. I’ll put up a video of one of the games they played, and photos of some of the things they did. I’ll also put up a photo album on Facebook. Thanks again. I almost started crying when I saw how happy these children were being there, how safe they felt, how right the Powell House is for them.