by Gertrudes Samson, Columban Lay Missionary
Britain, October 2015
For us Christians, we believe in
Resurrection. Resurrection is coming back to life after being dead. Jesus died
on the cross and was laid on the tomb, but after three days he resurrected!
Because of that victory of Jesus over death, us Christians are filled with hope
that there is no such a thing as a dead end situation. Thank you God, there is
Resurrection! Therefore there is hope in every hopeless situation. But then, I
must admit, there were times that I asked God: “How about for those asylum
seekers seeking refuge in UK? Can I see hope for them?” Several months, prior
to the end of my first three year-term in 2013, I remember myself starting to
discern whether I would come back to Britain as a lay missionary to renew for
another term. As I discerned, I said to God, “You know God, this help that you
are asking from me seems endless... the number of asylum seekers (seeking
refuge in UK) is not decreasing, and in fact they are continually increasing as
war and conflict increase in different parts of the world". Aside from the
news evidence, I myself could attest that indeed the statistics were increasing
because I was in charge at that time of the statistics of asylum seekers
availing of the services in one of my ministries. Many are not new, but in fact
are waiting already for a long time to have "Leave to Remain" (legal
status to stay in UK). Some have even been waiting for 10 years already. I
recall them crying because of the difficulties and challenges of their
situation. Though they know I am a Catholic lay missionary while they belong to
another faith, still some of them say to me, "Sister, please pray for me I
am having this problem..." Of course, in the Bible, as Christians we are
instructed to pray at all times for every concern (Philippians). But, it also
reminds us that we should accompany our faith with action (James). And we
should show hospitality to strangers, because by doing this without us knowing
it, we might have entertained Angels (Hebrew). I do pray for them, but I still
try to match my faith with actions no matter how small it might be in the eyes
of others. Mother Teresa said that, "not all of us can do great things,
but we can do small things with great love". Many asylum seekers thought
that after they successfully completed their life-threatening exodus from their
county and reached the UK, they were already in the Promised Land. They soon
realised it would just be the start of another form of struggle towards their
freedom. What are the challenges then of the lives of asylum seekers, and how
can we respond? Actually, as I continually get involved in various charities
and churches in Birmingham that are assisting them, I would say there are many
challenges and my list is becoming longer.
One time, one of them poured out
her heart to me when I visited her. She cried a lot and told me of all the
disappointment she was going through. It was winter, she could not go out that
week to buy her food because she was sick, and then her solicitor informed her
that her case was refused. Her mail notice card was not given to her on time
and so the letter and the small parcel she was looking forward to receiving was
returned back to her brother in their country. A maintenance person suddenly
entered her unit saying he would fix something, though she hadn’t put in a
request because there was nothing wrong in her unit, and so she felt her
privacy was invaded. On top of all this, her father also got sick. I tried to
listen to her and cried with her at some point. Did I bring words of comfort? I
do not know if what I said achieved this, and I do not know if what I did was
even enough that day. Afterwards she smiled and said: "I feel better now;
maybe I just needed someone who would listen to me; maybe, just like the heavy
clouds pour down their rain, after that there is sunshine again. Why am I
telling this to you? Maybe because you are in a better position to speak about
these things to others than me." We do not know what a simple short visit
can do to boost spirits on a particular day. It could be as simple as that.
Many asylum are asked for a character reference letter, and I have written
these for those whom I know personally. I write about how good they are as
people, based on my experience, emphasising the good characteristics that I
have observed from them, hoping that the reader will realise that, if only they
are given the chance, they could be an asset to the society and not a burden as
many perceive them. As Pope Francis has said, we should be willing to lend our
voices to marginalised people in our society, especially those who are afraid
and cannot speak for themselves. Many fear that if they do speak out, it might
result in detention and speed up their deportation. So, if we have the chance
to speak to other people about their struggle and to shed light on their
issues, and neutralise the bad media publicity against them, we can take it. If
there is an opportunity for an interview, to be willing to speak about the
issue. If there are campaigns - rallies, demonstrations, petitions, we can be
there or at least give them support. If there is an opportunity to write an
article about them, we can do so too. I am not a journalist nor an expert
speaker or writer either, but I do so when I have the opportunity. (Continued
on next page...) When I recently attended the demonstration and signature
campaign called ‘Dignity not Destitution’ at the City Centre, I had the chance
to speak to several people. Some generously gave their signatures, but some had
negative responses and asked me if I was an asylum seeker myself. I told them I
was not, but I believe that they are here because they are fleeing for their
lives, they do not have a choice, just like the Holy Family who fled to Egypt
because of the persecution of Herod who wanted to kill baby Jesus. I also tried
to answer some of their questions. Some still did not give their signatures but
remain standing there until the demonstration was over. I suppose they stayed
because they were thinking about what they are seeing and hearing. I know such
initiatives are not wasted. It is the Holy Spirit then who will remind them and
continually work in their hearts. Many charity organisations are usually short
of volunteers. Work ranges from simple tasks like sorting clothes and serving
coffee or tea, to a more challenging one like teaching in English classes. As
far as I can remember, based on my experience, one can acquire the skills
needed for whatever task is at hand as you continually immerse yourself in the
work. And that includes teaching in English classes, which I never thought or
dreamed I could do. It is true indeed, God's grace is sufficient for the task
at hand. Actually, these responses are just some examples based on my own
involvement and experiences and I am sure others could still find many other
creative ways to alleviate the struggles of our brothers and sisters seeking
asylum.
WITNESSING
RESURRECTION IN THEIR LIVES
A few weeks before I went back to the
Philippines after my first term in 2013, some asylum seeker friends contacted me
and my fellow lay missionaries, asking us to visit them in their new house to
celebrate with them for they already received their papers. What a big
surprise! As we visited them, we could see that they were now starting a new
life. One of them even said that all the pains and sufferings were gone and
wiped out. Upon my return to Britain, after I decided to renew for another term
as lay missionary, I met one of them on the road. He was already working as a
salesman in one of the shops at the City Centre. I met another one at a bus
stop and he said he had already received his papers and was on the way to his
training for a new job. On another occasion I met another one who also had her
papers. I bumped into another while crossing the street one day and she also
had her papers and was now working. I also met one of them on a bus, and she
said she had her papers and was now happily married. Then there was the
pregnant woman in detention whom her mother in law asked me to pray about, I
met her later in my ministry, together with her baby. She was finally released!
The success stories though are just like a drop in a bucket out of the
multitude who are still waiting. For me, as a Christian missionary who
journeyed with them, it is like witnessing resurrection in the lives of our
asylum seeker brothers and sisters. Their lives are now a living testimony that
there is hope! As my second term as a missionary is now approaching its end, I
am now starting to discern again whether I will renew for another term. I do not
know if this is my last term either. In case it is so, I believe that though
what I was able to do is just a tiny share, and I might not be able to witness
the end of this huge work, still that tiny share was been a part of that little
drop of hope. Maybe if all of us will do our tiny share of what needs to be
done, even only at a particular point of our life, that drop of hope will
eventually become a flood of hope.
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