I stood my ground as the mob of refugees, hungry for hope and a bite to eat, restlessly shifted behind me. To literally be standing in the midst of such desperation and pain overwhelmed me. I held a child in my arms to relieve her exhausted mother who had been holding her ever since the sun came up hours before. Their eyes reflected the pain and fear that had been plaguing them for far to long.
The people stirred. Our attempt was to let just a few refugees into the camp at a time to avoid overcrowding, but this was far easier said then done. As they rushed me and my squad mate Steven, I could hear the cries of a mother. I turned around to see tears running down her cheeks, and the desperate look on her face. She was calling for her child, who had gotten separated from her in the midst of all the chaos. Looking around I saw what I assumed had to be her daughter. I quickly lifted her up and yelled out at the surrounding mob to get out of the way as I forced myself through the sea of refugees. I reached her mother and put the child back in her arms, as waves of emotion swept over me.
Is this reality?
Our refugee camp is located on the north side of the island of Lesvos, Greece. From where we’re stationed, you can see Turkey just a few miles across the Aegean Sea, but these few miles have been devastation for far too many.
Each day thousands of refugees make the trek across these waters. Their means of transportation is either a rubber or wooden raft constructed for a leisurely float down a river, not the treacherous waves of the sea. Smugglers on the Turkish boarder load upwards of 60 refugees on these rafts designed for 10 people at most, and force them out into the unknown.
Over my time here I’ve had the privilege of talking with and getting to know a few of the refugees who come through our camp. To give you a little insight into the reality of the situation, here’s a compilation of their stories…
A group of six hundred refugees and myself paid a smuggler 1,000 euro a piece to be lead on foot across the Iran border and into Turkey. The 18-hour trek with no food or water was brutal. The smuggler would beat the women and children who couldn’t keep up.
From there, it took 3 weeks of travel on foot and buses to reach the coastline. We had no other option but to sleep out under all the elements, and find food wherever we could. Once we got to the Turkish coast we were treated like “cows and dogs”. Smugglers and locals would throw rocks at us as we laid out for 3 more days waiting for our chance to make it onto a “death” boat.
Finally our time came. The sun had long ago descended below the mountains and the night air gave off it’s forbidding chill. We were forced out into the rocky waters at gunpoint. Half way across the motor died. Because of the weight of 60 of us in the small raft, water had seeped in and now came up to the neck of the children who were seated. We sat there, uncertain of our immediate fate. 30 minutes went by until the motor miraculously kicked back on, and onward we went. After an extremely cold and wet 3 hour journey, we stepped foot on European soil.
A few nights ago, rafts carrying 150 refugees capsized in the dead of night. Many of them didn’t make it to the morning.
Being so close to such pain and persecution has made this all very real to me. To be completely honest, I’ve asked God why many times. It’s been extremely hard for me understand how all this is part of His good and perfect plan…
But here is what I know.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I’ve been reading Hebrews and came across this incredible passage I find quite applicable.
…Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not ye see everything in subjection to him. But we see him… (Heb. 2:8-9)
This is not the time for me to seek the “why”, but rather the Who.
Today I hurt, but I must choose to walk not in my own understand, but in His perfect love. He is a good, good Father, always.
Please be praying for God’s power to run wild at the root of all this back in Syria and Afghanistan. Also, for wisdom, strength, healing and peace for all the refugees and volunteers involved. Love you all!
