Hebron

City of refuge

I wonder how we would act if we were put in this situation? You were in Australia and a distant or not so distant country came here and started killing your family: your wife, your mother or father, your sister or brother, your girlfriend. You have a chance to flee the country so you do so. In a nearby country, you are held in a refugee camp for 14 years. You see your babies growing up around you in something like a prison; Regimes come in constantly and steal what little you have; Prostitution rackets are set up and children forced to comply; People getting murdered all around you. Then comes the opportunity to escape. People come and tell you, "Give me money and I'll get you to another place where people really will love you and enjoy you being there." You say yes, hand over about US$15000 and they smuggle you to a distant land via who knows where.

If you are lucky, you make it alive. The authorities of that land capture you and lock you up for 3+ years. Detention: is it right or wrong? I think that is something we have to answer ourselves. But this is a true story for many people. Perhaps not as extreme, but I wanted to, in a short few lines, try to give you a glimpse of how a refugee must feel when they embark on this road. Years of their lives lost without any chance of getting them back. I'd rather not concentrate on the rights or wrongs of our government, but concentrate on the question of how can I make a difference in some of these guys lives. We can make a difference and the more I grow to understand refugees, the more I realise I need God to make a difference and God wants me to make a difference as well.

"The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the lord your god." Leviticus 19:34

An idea pioneered with the October 2001 DTS, the refugee ministry is a great chance for YWAM to work in the community and an ideal ministry for the DTS outreach. Not only that, it is a wonderful opportunity to shine the light and love of Jesus in a practical way, to get some cross-cultural experience, to practice communicating with people who speak very limited English and to accept abundant hospitality from the refugees we visit.

Our work is both practical in regards to bringing furniture as well as offering friendship and eventually introducing our new friends to the Lord. Many are very lonely and isolated in this Country, not knowing culture, language and how everything works. We visit often providing help in many areas and offering a smile even when we can't speak the language.

One story that is remembered well as we go about this work is of a team that went to take a load of furniture to a family. One of the guys bounced in and gave the man a big hug and said Welcome to Australia. The man broke down in tears and our team were worried that they may have offended him but when he was able to compose himself he shared how he had been in Australia for many months and they were the first ones who had shown him any signs of welcome. It broke our hearts when we heard this but also spurred us on to do more and to remember that simple acts of Kindness can bring so much joy. It is the simple things that make people feel loved. I want us all to be that love giver.