I don’t know if I’ll ever forget talking to him. I had just finished handing out blankets to a group of people from the back of a trailer on our first day in the Idomeni refugee camp when a guy asked us if we had any shoes. He explained that all of his belongings had been lost when his boat capsized on the way to Greece. Once tossed overboard he only had survival to think about, and that meant swimming to shore, thus leaving behind everything he had brought from home.
Heartbroken, but wanting to know more, we asked for his name, nationality and why he ended up here. His name was Razaak. He was born and raised in Sierra Leone. His parents died at a very young age, and he had been forced to flee due to economic reasons. You could see the brokenness in his eyes, and then he said something that has stuck with me ever since. “We’re wasting our lives. We don’t want to be here, we don’t want to be doing this, every day that goes by feels like we are just wasting away.”
Razaak is one of the economic refugees who has been denied access into Macedonia and thus is incapable of continuing his journey. Currently only Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan refugees are allowed to move freely into the route that eventually leads to Germany and other larger sites where they can become resettled or find extended asylum. A week and a half ago, Razaak and the other economic refugees were forcibly removed from the Idomeni camp, and while they are not here anymore, I think about them often.
These refugees are close to me in age, and yet are stuck in an indefinite state of limbo. They should be working towards hopes and dreams, but they don’t know when they’re ever going to gain a true sense of freedom. Growing up in America, the world feels open to me. I don’t know if I will ever be denied access to a country I want to go to because of my American passport. I have the freedom to pursue my hopes and dreams.
I can’t help but feel unfairly privileged. I have more rights simply because of the country I was born in. It’s been difficult to reconcile my worldly struggles when faced with these people’s problems. This month has been so challenging because I have all the things these people desire: a home I could go to whenever I want, job opportunities, and freedom, and yet I can do nothing to give it to them. All I can do is give them a smile, a prayer, and maybe a coat or a pair of shoes.
My heart is heavy for these people, and it often feels like a hopeless situation. My heart mourns the way they are portrayed by the media. If Razaak taught me of one thing it’s that none of these people want to be refugees, they want the same things we Americans are given simply because of where we were born. He taught me that in situations like this, humility doesn’t look like holding power over them because of my passport, but like mourning these hard times with my fellow human beings, and being thankful for the things I have and did nothing to earn.
I think I’d like to invite you guys into that season of thankfulness with me. There is much to be thankful for that we Americans often take for granted. We are so blessed, and I hope we can live with hearts that recognize that! The Christmas season is a time to be joyful as we prepare for the birth of King Jesus, who gave us eternal life through the cross, something we did absolutely nothing to deserve. Let’s be thankful for that, and every other good thing we have in this world! God has truly given us so much!
I love you guys and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Andy
A couple additional things. First, one of my teammates, Shea, has gone home, her mom has been in a battle with cancer for years now, and after bad news at a recent doctors appointment, Shea went home to spend time with her family. Would you please add Shea and her family to your prayer list as they walk through this time? Second, the final fundraising deadline is at the end of December, and I am just under 900 dollars short. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with me financially on this journey or even just adding my fundraising to your prayer list? I’m so thankful for all the donations I’ve received so far! You guys are what makes trips like these possible!
