Summer is quickly transitioning from Fall to Winter; the long weekends spent enjoying family in the States are feeling so far away. Some of my most treasured memories are afternoons with family, firing up the BBQ and cooking outside. There is a sense of “all is right with the world” when kids are running in circles with cousins, you are sitting with the people who just know you- stress unwinds and you feel connected, a part of something, loved and known. Contrast this with the life of a refugee waiting in a country not their own. In Thailand asylum seekers and refugees are not officially recognized so they hide indoors because to go outside risks harassment or detention. Or also with the life of us who serve in another country, it is often the weekend when you realized “I am alone here”. We all long for those people who are ours, that we are connected to, part of, loved by and known. Being part of community is deep with in us because we are designed this way.
These thoughts occurred as Tim and I visited our friend, an asylum seeker living in Thailand. She lived with us for a year when she was struggling. But has since begun to thrive, now renting a room on her own and trusting God as he provides miraculously for her. Last Saturday we spent the day cooking together, it was her daughters birthday so all the kids played outside eating ice cream as the heat of the day drifted away into evening much the same way it does in my own home of Boston. Maybe that is what led me to this reflection; that Bangkok momentarily seemed to morph into an August evening in Boston.
Family is something I have taken for granted. My friend does not have family. If emergency strikes who does she call? When her daughter is having seizures where is her shoulder to cry on? I have 5 siblings and I don’t know that I have ever considered it valuable. Fun for sure, but I don’t think I have considered the fortune of 5 other people on the planet that care about me and know I exist. Refugees have lost their families to war, famine or have been cut off. They are scared usually knowing very few people, in a strange new place trying to piece together a shattered past and an obscured future.
“Build us a house O God whose rooms are filled with praise, build us a family Father; sons and daughters of love, build us a house O God its walls will echo with peace, build us a family Father children who honor thee. We sing as people that set free, you dream the very best you dream and then we know, our home is what we make in You, You love your children yes You do, we are Your house Your home”. Enter the Worship Circle
This is my prayer for our work here; that with migrant, displaced, exploited people we can build family a home. I am so grateful that the community we have begun to build gave my friend a “sister” to call when her daughter was in the hospital with seizures and that I have a “sister” to spend a warm summer evening with. And as we do this we see the word of God come to life “He puts the lonely in family”. As His Word takes on Flesh we get to see all our hearts awaken to Gods deep love for us.
Consider looking around your own communities for those who are lonely or vulnerable and value the gift of family in your life. And as always please continue to support our work here both financially and with prayer; as our literal presence is an integral part of the change being made in the lives of displaced, exploited and migrant in Bangkok. I am so grateful that we have all of you in our life,
Thank you
In MA for ways to get involved with refugee you can check out this link http://www.refugeefamilyservices.org/index.php?/site/tp_involved