Haven on Garland is a warm, supportive temporary residence for four Afghan women who have left that war-torn nation — with its extreme strictures on the rights of women and girls — in order to pursue their dreams of higher education.
That residence is overseen by Sarah and Shawn Hyska. Its formation was the result of some arbitrary circumstances. Sarah had lived in Uganda for 12 years as a missionary. A visit back to the States — to Lynchburg — coincided with the global outbreak of COVID-19. Uganda quickly closed its borders, and Sarah was, in essence, stranded in Lynchburg. She met and married Shawn, who works in finance and is an ordained Presbyterian minister.
Together, they envisioned starting a ministry together and purchased a too-large house. Their intent was to provide temporary housing for visiting missionaries. But the immediacy of the United State’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the resumption of Taliban rule altered the couple’s priorities. A friend who was a college professor had been involved in helping Afghan girls write their college application letters. One of these girls was now studying in Lynchburg — would Shawn and Sarah consider housing this student? The answer was a resounding, heartfelt “yes.”
That “yes” turned into the registered nonprofit Haven on Garland, home now to four college-aged Afghan women. Haven on Garland is a small but vital part of a larger, extensive endeavor to get Afghan women out of their repressive country and give them a chance at higher education.
There are other organizations that arrange for exit from Afghanistan, which is an especially complicated and potentially dangerous undertaking. The U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and no embassy. Afghan women are required to travel with a male family member. The process involves traveling with a man to a neighboring country, visiting the U.S. Embassy there, and beginning the application for a student visa. And none of this, of course, is out in the open.
Shawn and Sarah undertake this mission with dedication and warmth. The four Afghan students are an active part of the house with free rein and participation in the family dinners. There is also a sensitivity and openness to engaging with some hard conversations and honest discussion. And Shawn and Sarah are a resource in deciphering some of the mysteries of the United States.
Not only are these four women facing a huge rupture, away from their turbulent country and far from their families, but they must grapple with the endless day-to-day trials that everyone goes through — roommate and personality conflicts, getting an ID, opening a bank account, doctor visits. Those things — that leap into adulthood — are hard enough for English-speaking, American-born college students. Shawn and Sarah are there to guide them every step of the way.
The two are acutely aware of the enormous trust that these women’s parents have bestowed upon them. A large part of honoring that trust is nurturing these women’s Muslim tradition — making sure there are times for prayer and serving family meals that adhere to the strictures of halal. Some students needed to fast all day during the period of Ramadan. Shawn and Sarah, recognizing how hard it is to go all day without food or drink, made a point to have food available immediately at the end of every day.
Space constraints necessitate that the number of students living at Haven on Garland is held at four, but both Shawn and Sarah are wondering what else they can do. If there are more educational opportunities in Lynchburg, how do they make that happen and bring more women from Afghanistan? Complicating an already complicated situation is the fact that a high school education — obviously the bare-bones minimum for even considering higher education — may be a thing of the past for Afghan girls.
There is also a need to make connections with the growing network of organizations that are aiding the people of Afghanistan. Shawn and Sarah can also envision the day when boys as well will want to leave Afghanistan for educational opportunities abroad. What then?
Shawn and Sarah are fully aware the need is great. It will probably get even more urgent. But this only spurs Haven on Garland to increase its efforts. GN
