Are you ready for some word vomit? Ok, well here goes….
I spent a week in Belgrade Serbia hanging out with Afghanistan refugees. They became my friends, they treated me like a sister and welcomed me into their homes, no questions asked. They only showed us kindness and acceptance. I must admit before Belgrade I was uninformed, and unaware of just how big the refugee problem is, and how much they just want a safe home.
The friends we made all live in the “Barracks” which is basically and abandoned train station. A little over 1000 refugees live there with little shelter from the elements. They invited us into their homes which is basically a mat on the floor with a few possessions hanging around. Often, they would make us a cup of instant coffee or offer us a biscuit, they were beyond hospitable. I met a man who had an MBA and had his own construction business in Afghanistan when the Taliban killed his Business partner, and then threatened to kill him as well so he fled. I got to work in a make shift clinic where guys would come in with foot wounds from walking so much in bad shoes, and or from not having good footwear during the winter months. I met a man who was shot in the leg, and just didn’t want to be around the war anymore, so he fled too. So many men and boys just trying to get away from violence. In Afghanistan at the age of 18 men have to either join the Afghanistan army or the Taliban, they simply have to do their time. So many of them flee to Iran, then Turkey, and then up into the Balkans which is where we met them in Belgrade. Coming from America my eyes were blind to this problem, I didn’t know it was this bad. On the walls of the barracks they wrote these words. Reading this put this situation in whole different perspective for me. I would run away too!
So what did we do with them? Yes, they are all Muslim, we weren’t there to convert, we were there to love, to be hands and feet. We took them out for coffee, we shared meals with them, we even took the younger boys to see “Beauty and the Beast” one afternoon. We wanted to do things that would give them a normal life again, if only for a short time. Everyday a group of volunteers make all the guys a hot lunch, its quite a task! My team got to help them in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and washing dishes. This is a picture of what lunch time looks like everyday.
These guys arent asking for much really, just a safe place to start a business, raise a family, go to school and get a degree, or even just play cricket. They are running from the guns and war and the rest of the world is closing their doors. My prayer is that they find a place of refuge, and that they come to know the savior that loves and accepts them no matter their nationality. I hope to someday meet them again in much better circumstances, where there isn’t talk of bombs being dropped or friends being shot. The Lord is in control I know that, but until He comes back, lets love them well.
It as an eye opening, unforgettable month. I know my words did not do it justice so here are some of my friend’s thoughts that might give a better perspective.
http://katieogle.theworldrace.org/?filename=not-just-refugee-person-like-you-and-me
http://ashleynirmalnath.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=will-we-be-who-weve-always-said-we-are
http://angelawilcox.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=stories-from-serbia
If you are interested in reading more stories from the refugees, not from a worldracer check this out.
https://thecoffeelicious.com/refugee-stories-from-serbia-along-the-train-tracks-973f81b492d8
Like always, thanks for reading and following my journey! your prayers and continued support mean the world to me! I will see you all soon! I cant believe its month 8 already, expect a blog about Thailand soon!
