GERMANY — Rows and rows of cookies (1,500 to be exact) sat cooling on every available counter space. Snickerdoodle. Oatmeal. Gingersnap. And, of course, chocolate chip.

The fifth and sixth grade students at Black Forest Academy (BFA) had started baking early that morning as part of their annual Impact Day to serve the community. This year, “community” meant hundreds of immigrants at a nearby refugee camp. Thousands of refugees fled to Germany during a mass migration last year, seeking peace and hope
for the future.

The students at BFA, most of whom have transitioned between cultures themselves, know what it feels like to be an outsider. Having lived with their families in Peru, Kenya, Australia, France, central Asia and beyond, they come to BFA facing the same challenges as any other middle schooler, plus some extra ones — like where to call home.

So, when refugees began arriving in Germany last year, these students had a unique way to connect with them. With 1,500 cookies baked and “Welcome to Germany” signs hand-decorated, they headed off to take a small token of God’s love to the refugees’ lives.

The students and BFA staff continue to serve the refugee population. At Christmas, the students took shoeboxes full of gifts, and a former BFA girls’ dorm is now a home for refugees.