The sound of a refugee’s voice speaks courage. When I shake a refugee’s hand I sense the warmth of their heart. With a pat on their shoulder or even embrace a refugee, I feel a refugee’s strength and resilience. But when I look through a refugee’s eyes, it is impossible not to see the pain of their past or even the suffering of today.
Once I was asked, “Claire, what is the best part of your ministry?” Quickly I answered, the time when I told a mother that Canada has issued visas for her family, after long years of separation due to processing times, money needed to complete the process, complicated forms and paper works. But, finally, they are ready to come. What a feeling that day. For me I thought I was on top of the world. Can you imagine the happiness of the mother? The person smiled at me and said, “You are very lucky to have a job so rewarding.” As the person was ready to leave, I said, “That's not fair. Why don't you ask me what is the worst part of my job?” The person was shocked to hear that from me. “There is bad side?” “Yes,” I said. So he asked me, “What is the worst part of your job?” I said, “When the same mother came back to me shortly after the family had arrived and tearfully said to me, “What I have done?” Please pay attention to those words – she blamed herself right away. “My children do not know me – they do not need me and they are even mad at me. My husband said he only came tell me he no longer loves me. The family I waited for in 6 long years, I lost them in less than 6 days. What do I do? Help me? I stayed alive, worked everyday. The only thing that kept going was knowing that one day; I will have my family back.” Sadly, those 6 years of waiting and separation, children felt abandoned. That should not have happened, but it did. The years of emotional and physical disconnection tore this refugee family apart. The person that asked me looked at me and said, “I am so sorry. I had no idea refugees suffer even when they are here already in Canada.”
So I ask everyone to keep this in mind as we celebrate refugees’ freedom when they make it safely to Canada, we also have to honor the pain brought out by memories. As we are excited to welcome refugees, we also mourn the death of those who died and continue to die due to war and conflict. As we rejoice families reunited, we also must remember those family members refugees were forced to leave behind.
For refugees, do not forget – your courage is stronger than any challenges. Your resilience is wider than any obstacle. We honor your joy as you made it here safely in Canada, but trust that we also honor your pain. Always remember hope is there. Hang on to hope. Do not ever lose it.
For the rest of us, let us not hesitate to take every opportunity to show compassion and understanding to refugees who continue to suffer. Let us show refugees our love and understanding.
Guest Blogger Claire R., Ministry Specialist for Inland Protection of Refugees for the Diocese of London, and I am Proud to Protect Refugees.