Finding My UK Family - Sinem Güven
My name is Sinem. I come from Turkey. I came to Southampton three years ago with my husband and my two children. My son is 19 & my daughter is 14 now.
Like everyone, Lockdown is not easy for us. It is emotional. Especially living apart from loved ones - my parents, my husband’s parents - they’re still in turkey, and at the beginning of the lockdown, we were really worried about their health. We have been following the news about Turkey, and here, but it’s not easy for us. It’s especially emotional. We sometimes feel alone, and we don’t feel safe to go outside - it’s a strange feeling, one that I have never had before. But since coming to Southampton, before lockdown & during the crisis, the Church has helped us in too many ways to name.
After we came here, I was searching for somewhere to learn English in Southampton - because I was (and still am!) afraid of making mistakes when talking, and I needed practice in speaking. I found Above Bar Church, and I wrote to them about their English Language Cafe - three years ago. You honestly wouldn’t believe it - they have helped my family in every part of our lives. Now, we have a lot of friends at the church. So although I’m apart from my blood family - missing my mum - some ladies at the church have really treated me like their own daughter - it’s incredible. I love the Above Bar Church community.
And then when we got to lockdown, they’re also doing very well, with Sunday service online and other initiatives. After every Sunday service we meet as a small local group on Zoom, and we pray for each other and discuss our last week. It’s great. I really feel their emotional support every day in lockdown. They send me texts, they call me - some of the people in the group have been friends a very long time, and have known each other for far longer than me, but they treat me like their daughter and their family member. It’s so precious for me.
And my daughters group - the church continue with youth group via zoom, playing games, and bible time. It’s really good support for them. They need friendship - so it’s really good for them.
If I talk about my love for the Church, I will speak forever!
If anyone is considering whether or not to ask the Church in Southampton - any church, not just Above Bar Church - for help, I would give the advice not to hesitate to ask. Because if you think about it as a family, just like you would for a real family member, you can get help with any part of your life - not just emotional - maybe you need shopping or something, or need care - they will be there for you.
I can safely say - go for it!!