Jonah
Revelation 10
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
What is the refugee journey like? Some of us may think that the refugee journey ends once they have reached safety, but it is a long road ahead to establish a new norm. IAFR (International Association For Refugees) created a continuum of response, where there are two main components—a red line and a green line. The red line is the emergency response. When a person experiences humanitarian disaster and lacks security, water, shelter, food and medication, the aim is to bring the person to some stability, where these areas are met. Afterwards, the green line is the recovery work. IAFR explains, “Often refugees find themselves viewed only as people in need. Recovery work helps re-humanize people and restore hope. Recovery work seeks to strengthen community, faith, emotional well-being and
personal capacity. It also includes getting behind the ideas and solutions of refugees themselves, recognizing the important contributions they offer in finding solutions to their displacement.”
At the refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece, very few refugees choose to settle there. The majority stay for several months and maybe even years before continuing in their journey to other parts of Europe or the western world. Despite the extreme challenges along the journey, the residents are discovering a deeper sense of hope through community and connection. In fact, a faith-based community is seen as a vital aspect to people’s recovery. The kindness and presence offered by caring volunteers have a lasting impact as the residents take their next step in the journey ahead.
One time, Rob Perry, a missionary with IAFR, who oversees the volunteers at the refugee camp in Lesvos, encountered a young Palestinian man riding his bicycle. This man was so glad and thankful to see Rob. The man shared that he had received refugee papers and was free to go to Athens, but he chose to stay on the island. He said that his entire family had been killed, he had no one to prepare the way for, so he was tired of moving forward. Rob listened caringly and then encouraged him to go to a church near the camp to be in community. They agreed to meet on Sunday to go together. The reality is that different versions of this man’s story are repeated a thousand times over through the lives of those who live at the camp.
Recovery work is not getting people to be “normal” again, but is the willingness to plod through the darkness, the struggles and the hopelessness with them, and gently calling them to find their home, their hope and their future in Jesus.
Father God, I pray for this man that Rob encountered, and others, like him, who have lost so much. May You comfort them in their loss and give them a living hope that is found only in You.
Revelation 10
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
What is the refugee journey like? Some of us may think that the refugee journey ends once they have reached safety, but it is a long road ahead to establish a new norm. IAFR (International Association For Refugees) created a continuum of response, where there are two main components—a red line and a green line. The red line is the emergency response. When a person experiences humanitarian disaster and lacks security, water, shelter, food and medication, the aim is to bring the person to some stability, where these areas are met. Afterwards, the green line is the recovery work. IAFR explains, “Often refugees find themselves viewed only as people in need. Recovery work helps re-humanize people and restore hope. Recovery work seeks to strengthen community, faith, emotional well-being and
personal capacity. It also includes getting behind the ideas and solutions of refugees themselves, recognizing the important contributions they offer in finding solutions to their displacement.”
At the refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece, very few refugees choose to settle there. The majority stay for several months and maybe even years before continuing in their journey to other parts of Europe or the western world. Despite the extreme challenges along the journey, the residents are discovering a deeper sense of hope through community and connection. In fact, a faith-based community is seen as a vital aspect to people’s recovery. The kindness and presence offered by caring volunteers have a lasting impact as the residents take their next step in the journey ahead.
One time, Rob Perry, a missionary with IAFR, who oversees the volunteers at the refugee camp in Lesvos, encountered a young Palestinian man riding his bicycle. This man was so glad and thankful to see Rob. The man shared that he had received refugee papers and was free to go to Athens, but he chose to stay on the island. He said that his entire family had been killed, he had no one to prepare the way for, so he was tired of moving forward. Rob listened caringly and then encouraged him to go to a church near the camp to be in community. They agreed to meet on Sunday to go together. The reality is that different versions of this man’s story are repeated a thousand times over through the lives of those who live at the camp.
Recovery work is not getting people to be “normal” again, but is the willingness to plod through the darkness, the struggles and the hopelessness with them, and gently calling them to find their home, their hope and their future in Jesus.
Father God, I pray for this man that Rob encountered, and others, like him, who have lost so much. May You comfort them in their loss and give them a living hope that is found only in You.