I met a man this week who is a refugee from Pakistan.
His home country is no longer safe for him. He was studying his masters of divinity in Pakistan and during that time was sharing the gospel on the streets. Him and his friends were known by the authorities for doing this. He was captured, beaten and imprisoned for sharing his faith. He spent months in the same prison Osama bin Laden was held in until he finally escaped. Now, if he returns to his home he will be shot and killed.
He told us his story, not with pity, but just to share part of who he is. He wants not only his story, but the story of refugees to be brought to light. And so he introduced us to more and more refugees who have their own unique stories.
Unfortunately, their struggle is similar.
If they go home they will be killed because of religious persecution, political unrest or other reasons.
They can’t work here in Nepal because the Nepali government doesn’t recognize them as part of their people. If they happen to find someone who will hire them illegally, they will pay them unfair, ridiculously low wages. They are under the UNHCR and receive refugee status from them. And, in theory, they would receive an allowance from them for basic food needs. However, their allowances have either not been granted, been decreased or revoked. The UNHCR doesn’t have enough funding for refugees everywhere and so these people in Nepal are not considered to be in dire enough need to receive anything.
Imagine being in a foreign country and not being able to go anywhere, let alone home. You need to struggle to rebuild or find somewhere to go. Somewhere where you will be accepted and where you can call home. I can’t really even comprehend it.
And, yet these people have peace. They are crying out for help. But they are also resting and trusting in the Lord. So as much as I am praying for change and seeking action, I am praising the Lord for his goodness and grace thus far.
