The culmination of an emotional 20-month journey unfolded in San Diego Sunday as a father seeking asylum from political persecution in the Democratic Republic of Congo joined his family in North Park for a “welcome home” party at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Contantin Bakala’s family had been waiting for the day for a long time as he had been separated from his family for more than a year and a half.
With the help of a translator, Bakala described seeing his family for the first time after 20 months apart.
“I felt joy, pure joy when I hugged them and kissed them,” he said.
