These people have been in a refugee camp situation in Africa for over 10 years, and one of the wives died in the camp back in 1993 (I think that was the year). Imagine just sitting in a camp with 20 000 other people, year after year. People around you dieing from the many diseases and malnutrition. Others have seen the atrocities of genocide. You are a number…that’s all. And you have no power to change your situation. It is dangerous in the camps at night, you can’t just wander around.
But the Aust. Govt. offers a select few humanitarian visas if you can raise the necessary funds to relocate, have medicals and process your application. Its about $7000 per family on average. Many are reported to surrender their applications for lack of support. And they wait…
Either of 2 small Ethiopian families in the near future, and that’s exciting. Its been a bit hard being involved only with the administrative side of things, ie;fund raising, going to meetings etc for almost a year. I had plans of embracing people and showing them a different life….but it takes fund raising before any of that can happen.
Its funny, you know, it was the Angelina Jolie movie "Crossing Borders" that finally pushed my button. I’d seen yet another emotional movie that ‘got me in’ but realised that being moved by a movie was still part of the ‘entertainment experience’. I could say… "what a powerful movie…hey I even cried". And I’d still be a consumer. A consumer of emotion. The onscreen drama yet again delivered by engaging my emotions…I’d got my money’s worth….But not this time!
However, she says, "The more I've travelled, it's impossible not to start to get angry, to see where things could change or what causes certain things - who's responsible and who isn't."
It was just as Bono said, its not charity....its about justice! And justice demands an action…charity doesn’t. ..charity relies upon goodwill. I have to say I admire people who for them justice is an action. A heart response that demands engagement. In fact I’m driven by them. They are the heroes in this world.
It was just as Bono said, its not charity....its about justice! And justice demands an action…charity doesn’t. ..charity relies upon goodwill. I have to say I admire people who for them justice is an action. A heart response that demands engagement. In fact I’m driven by them. They are the heroes in this world.
A friend of mine is the Director of one of our regional laboratories. He’s not a Christian to my knowledge but soon he resigns to leave for the south Pacific to give himself as a volunteer. I’v had dinner with him and listened to his desire to serve. What about his superannuation, his career development etc etc…well I guess it boils down to perspective.
And soon we too will be taking delivery of people like those we have seen in movies like Hotel Rwanda. It will be a challenge and we are busy seeking the appropriate cultural training….but it will be good ..it will be right. And I hope, in some way, encouragement can be found to follow how He leads your heart to follow through in the most creative ways
