Haika Kim, another Bhutanese refugee, left his homeland for the Nepal camp in 1992 when he was only 14 years old. Because of the political persecution in his homeland, Kim had little opportunity for education. He eventually married and had two children while detained in the camp but finally came to Salt Lake City in 2009. The young father began his American education at the Humanitarian Center of the Church, a place where he could work half-time, but more importantly study English half-time and be paid for the full day. As his English skills improved, the newcomer moved from job to job, each a promotion, and subsequently a better situation for his family.
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Kim currently serves as the elders quorum president in the Crossroads Square Branch and frequently employs his recently acquired English skills as an interpreter among other branch members.
“It’s remarkable to observe the dedication and determination these people exhibit as they have a second chance in life,” LaFleur, the branch president, explains. “They receive support from the Church in many physical ways, and their hearts respond with love.”